Here are my picks for the regional championship games…I am not familiar with some of the teams, so I will simply make a pick based on strength of schedule, etc., without commenting on hows or whys.
Division I
1. Cleveland Glenville-Mentor – This game will be played at Lakewood Stadium. Glenville knocked off St. Ignatius and Boardman to get to this match-up with the defending Division I runners-up. I’ll take Mentor.
2. North Canton Hoover-Brunswick – This game will be played at Byers Field in Parma. Hoover is the lone Federal League team left and become the underdog. They have a high-powered offense that has sputtered – until late game the last two weeks. Brunswick also is a high-octane team that can be contained by a defense like Hoover’s. Offense will be the key to this game. I’ll take Brunswick (sorry, Vikes).
3. Hilliard Darby-Dublin Coffman – This game will be played at Moorehead Memorial Stadium in Upper Arlington. This is a 1-3 match-up. Both teams had convincing wins to get to this game. Darby’s crosstown rival Davidson took the state title last year. Is it Darby’s turn this year ? We’ll see next week…I’ll take Darby.
4. Cincinnati St. Xavier-Cincinnati Colerain – This game will be played at Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati. St. Xavier was the consensus #1 in the state. They are the class of the state. Colerain is no slouch, though. But I will take St. Xavier.
Division II
5. Mayfield-Parma Normandy – Normandy returns to Bearcat Stadium in Bedford, where they knocked off Tallmadge last week, making them the best until beaten. Mayfield won bith of their games by a total of 8 points to get to this point. I’ll take Normandy.
6. Ashland-Sylvania Southview – This game is at Fremont Ross Paul Stadium. Now that Tallmadge is out, Ashland may indeed be the class of Division II. I’ll take Ashland.
7. Louisville-Columbus St. Francis DeSales – This game is at Lexington. Louisville…the team that split with Lake (beating them in the playoffs) and Hoover. It’s midnight in the Constitution City too…I’ll take DeSales.
8. Cincinnati Turpin-Cincinnati Anderson – This game will be at Princeton Mancuso Field at Viking Stadium. In the 1-2 match-up, I have to stick with the undefeated top seed. I’ll take Turpin.
Division III
9. Cortland Lakeview-Mentor Lake Catholic – This game will be played at Solon Stewart Stadium. Lake Catholic, albeit the lower seed, is now the class of the region (now that Walsh Jesuit is out). I’ll take Lake Catholic.
10. Sunbury Big Walnut-Clyde – This game will be played at Tiffin. Big Walnut will likely be the state runners-up, no holds barred. I’ll take Big Walnut.
11. Canal Fulton Northwest-Newark Licking Valley – This game will be played at New Philadelphia Quaker Stadium. The class of Division III versus the team that hung 40 on Hoover in week 2…and still lost. They haven’t lost since. This could be considered the TRUE Division III title game at this point, but I’ll take Northwest.
12. Cincinnati Indian Hill-Monroe – This game will be played at Kings Stadium at Kings Mills. Both these teams have hung a lot of points on its opponents, but Indian Hill has won its playoff games more convincingly. I’ll take Indian Hill.
Division IV
13. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney-Steubenville – The real Division IV championship game (this game) will be played at Fawcett Stadium in Canton. All the other Division IV games hold little importance compared to this one. Steubenville is the defending Division III champ: Mooney is the defending Division IV champ. However, Mooney is the best team in the state. They have beat the likes of Mentor and Warren Harding this season. I think they can handle the Big Red…I’ll take Mooney.
14. Pemberville Eastwood-Marion Pleasant – This game will be played at Findlay. Eastwood struggled for a 1407 win last week, where Pleasant has breezed through better. I’m taking the upset here: I’m taking Pleasant.
15. St. Clairsville-Williamsport Westfall – This game is at Gahanna Lincoln Stadium. St. Clairsville, if not for Cardinal Mooney, is the class of Division IV. I’ll take St. Clairsville.
16. Coldwater-Clarksville Clinton-Massie – This game will be at Dayton Welcome Stadium. Coldwater is the underdog, but they knocked off Kettering Alder and hung 59 on them (true Alder scored 52 themselves, but the winner has the bigger number on the scoreboard). I’ll take Coldwater.
Division V
17. North Lima South Range-Youngstown Ursuline – This game will be played at Austintown Fitch. Another 1-2 match-up. I forsee an upset here too…I’m taking Ursuline.
18. Hamler Patrick Henry-Findlay Liberty-Benton – This game will be at Findlay Dommell Stadium. Definitely a hometown thing for Liberty-Benton, but Patrick Henry is the class of Division V. I’ll take Patrick Henry.
19. Columbus Bishop Ready-Fredericktown – This game will be at Lewis Center. A 1-7 match-up. Sorry, Cinderella…I’m taking Ready.
20. West Jefferson-Maria Stein Marion Local – This game will be at Troy Memorial Stadium. Two undefeateds meeting in a regional 1-2 match-up. This is what the playoffs are all about. I’ll take West Jefferson.
Division VI
21. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon-Norwalk St. Paul – This game will be at Tiffin. Hopewell-Loudon is the team that knocked off perrenial Division VI powerhouse Mogadore. I’ll take Hopewell-Loudon.
22. Arlington-Ada – This game will be played at Lima. This is a 3-4 match-up, with Arlington having upset top-seed McComb last week. Ada has won by slight margins both weeks. I’ll take Arlington.
23. Newark Catholic-Shadyside – This game will be played at New Philadelphia Quaker Stadium. Another 1-2 match-up. Newark Catholic has won at key times during the regular season, but Shadyside won one more game than did Newark Catholic. What does that mean ? Absolutely nothing…I’ll take Newark Catholic.
24. Sidney Lehman Catholic-Springfield Catholic Central – This game will be played at Piqua. This is a 2-5 match-up, SCC being the 2 seed. SLC beat top-seed Covington last week 8-7. Not convincing, but a win. I’ll take Springfield Catholic Central.
waynesfield goshen has a pretty tough defense this year, they should have beat anna, but they just gave up 2 big plays. I think they could go pretty far this year. watch out dont take this team very lightly because they’ll suprise you.
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