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Best Bets: Ohio Friday – Week 14

It’s state semifinal week in Ohio, and two area teams remain in Divisions II and III – one from the Cincinnati area and another from suburban Dayton.

La Salle is the top seed out of its region, and Trotwood-Madison was third in its D-III bracket.

Both need just one more win to advance to the state championship game, and both will play their games on Friday.

Here are the Best Bets for Divisions II and III in Ohio for Week 14:

La Salle's Jeremy Larkin (Michael Noyes/TSF).

La Salle’s Jeremy Larkin (Michael Noyes/TSF).

La Salle (11-2) vs. Perrysburg (13-0) at Piqua, Friday, 7:30 p.m. – The No. 1 seed in Division II, Region 6 faces the undeafted second seed in Region 4. La Salle has scored at least 40 points in its first three playoff games, averaging 47.7 points per contest. Perrysburg, a southern suburb of Toledo, also boasts a high-powered offense, scoring at least 34 points in every game this season and has posted at least 40 points 10 times this year. Lancers RB Jeremy Larkin rushed for 160 yards last week and averaged 13.3 yards per carry in a blowout of Kings and has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in all three postseason games. He has gained over 250 yards three times this year, including a season-high 303 in La Salle’s playoff opener vs. Vandalia Butler. For the year, he has 1,611 ground yards and 25 touchdowns and has caught 24 passes for 604 yards and eight more scores. The Lancers are the last GCL South team remaining in the OHSAA playoffs. Perrysburg QB Trevor Hafner has for 2,588 yards and 32 TDs with just four interceptions. He has also rushed for 775 yards and 12 scores. Zach Honsberger is the team’s top receiving threat with 27 catches for 1,027 yards – a 26.3-yard average – and 16 scores. Josh Haynes leads the team in rushing with 1,055 ground yards with 16 TDs. These teams have no common opponents, which makes predicting difficult, but the Yellow Jackets will be a tough team to take down, even with La Salle’s formidable defense.

Trotwood-Madison (10-3) vs. Toledo Central Catholic (11-2) at Sidney, Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Trotwood-Madison has emerged from Division III, Region 10 as the No. 3 seed, as its offense has kicked into high gear since mid-October. The Rams are averaging 44.6 points per game during its current five-game winning streak. Trotwood-Madison has coasted through the playoffs to this point, outscoring its three postseason opponents, 109-36. Raveion Hargrove has rushed for a ridiculous 2,814 yards on 230 carries for a 12.2-yard average, and he has 37 touchdowns on the ground. During the Rams’ winning streak, he has gone for 385, 361, 190, 371 and 321 yards. QB Markell Stephens-Peppers is just a sophomore and is already a strong presence under center. Toledo Central Catholic edged Benedictine, 31-30 in overtime last week and has won its last four games by an average of 6.5 points. After back-to-back losses to open the season, the Fighting Irish have won their last 11. These teams also have no common opponents, but if Toledo Central Catholic can’t slow down Hargrove, it will be nearly impossible for the Fighting Irish to beat the Rams.

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