2018 Playoff Capsule: Division II, Region 8

Division II, Region 8 is loaded with programs accustomed to playing in November. Seven of the eight teams have made 10 or more trips to the playoffs. Then there is Little Miami. The Panthers are making just their second trip to the postseason and first in 26 years. They are also one of six teams from the old Fort Ancient Valley Conference (FAVC, circa 2011) in the tournament. Here is your guide to the 2018 OHSAA Division II Region 8 playoffs.

**All games start 7 p.m. Friday, November 2^nd
THE BRACKET
Regional quarter-finals
#1 Winton Woods (9-1) hosting #8 Olentangy (5-5)
#4 Edgewood (8-2) hosts #5 Little Miami (8-2)
#2 Kings (9-1) hosts #7 Anderson (7-3)
#3 Troy (9-1) hosts #6 Harrison (7-3)

PLAYOFF HISTORY
Anderson: (12th appearance, 13-10) – 2018, 2017, 2016, 2009, 2008 (State Runner-up), 2007 (State Champion), 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1996, 1994, 1992
Edgewood: (13^th appearance, 12-12) – 2018, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003 (State Runner-up), 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 (Regional Champion), 1998, 1997
Harrison: (12^th appearance, 5-11) – 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2006, 1997, 1989, 1988 (Regional Champion), 1987
Kings: (14^th appearance, 13-13) – 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999
Little Miami: second appearance, 1-1) – 2018, 1992
Olentangy: (13^th appearance, 9-12) – 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2008, 2006, 2005, 1999, 1996, 1995, 1992
Troy: (14th appearance, 6-13) – 2018, 2017, 2016, 2011, 2010, 2004, 2000, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1992, 1989, 1986, 1985 (Regional Champion)
Winton Woods: (10^th appearance, 11-8) – 2018 (State Runner-up), 2017, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009 (State Champion), 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1998

Kings head coach Andy Olds (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

THE COACHES
Anderson: Evan Dreyer (24-9 at Anderson, fourth year; 68-37 overall, 10^th year)
Edgewood: Scott Clemmons (42-30 at Edgewood, seventh year; 42-30 overall)
Harrison: Derek Rehage (15-6 at Harrison, second year; 15-6 overall)
Kings: Andy Olds (180-54 at Kings, 21^st year; 180-54 overall)
Little Miami: Nate Mahon (18-12 at Little Miami, third year; 39-24 overall, sixth year)
Olentangy: Mark Solis (44-16 at Olentangy, sixth year; 145-66 overall)
Troy: Matt Burgbacher (29-14 at Troy, fourth year; 81-31 overall, 10^th year)
Winton Woods: Andre Parker (69-30 at Winton Woods, ninth year; 69-30 overall)

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Winton Woods has won nine in a row since dropping the opener, 13-3 versus Trotwood-Madison. The last four victories during the Warriors current winning streak include 2018 GCL South champion Division I Moeller and their league counterpart Elder as well as Edgewood (their potential next opponent).
Olentangy started off 1-4. The Braves closed out the season winning four of their last five. They are 1-4 in games decided by seven points or fewer.

Little Miami RB Luke Patten (photo courtesy of LMHS)

Edgewood has not given up an offensive touchdown since losing to Winton Woods, 21-7 in Week 7. The Cougars started their roll with a 20-0 shutout of Little Miami in Week 8. The Edgewood defense has held foes to 13 points or less seven times this season. The Cougars have two senior backs with over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing – Elijah Williams (1,217-15) and Wade Phillips (1,232-15). The defense has four different players with three takeaways – Tanner Polsini, Lincoln Howell, Evan Brown and Justin Hiltbrand.
Little Miami has two losses and they were to SWOC rivals Edgewood and Harrison who are in this bracket. The Panthers only victory versus a 2018 postseason squad was Mount Healthy (Division III, Region 12). The defense has created 28 turnovers with 14 interceptions for 289 return yards and two pick sixes. Ryan Kerman (four), Cordell Oeder (three) and Connor Jones (three) have combined for 10 of those interceptions.

Kings averaged just 17.7 points in its 1-2 start. During their current seven game winning streak the Knights have averaged 47.8 points. Kings has three seniors with more than 1,000 yards rushing in their careers – Nak’emon Williams (3,152), Ashton Koller (1,188) and Jake Stylski (1,093).
Anderson ran for just 713 yards over its first seven games (101.8/game). The Redskins have churned out 793 yards on the ground over the last three weeks (264.3/game).

Troy has given up 14 points or fewer eight times. The Trojans only win versus a playoff team was against Butler (Division III, Region 12). Seven of Troy’s nine wins were against teams that finished .500 or better. Only two teams on the Trojans schedule finished with losing records.
Harrison closed the regular season with five straight victories. The Wildcats last loss was to Edgewood 42-35 back in September. They are 3-2 versus teams that made the OHSAA tournament with triumphs over Butler (Division III, Region 12), Mount Healthy (Division III, Region 12) and Little Miami. Losses were to Edgewood and Anderson.

Winton Woods RB Miyan Williams (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

WHO YOU SHOULD KNOW
#1 WINTON WOODS
Miyan Williams, Jr, RB – Has run for 2,000 yards (11.0/carry) with 26 touchdowns. Williams has eight games of 178 yards or more on the ground including five tilts of 220 yards rushing and a career high 320 yards rushing against Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (8-2).
Raequan Prince, Sr, ATH – Can change the game in a heartbeat and has a knack for deflating opponents momentum and mojo. Prince can beat you on a reception or a return and has done it in the biggest of games.
MiChale Wingfield, So, QB – Forced into the fire when starter Isaiah Andrews went down. Wingfield has started the last six games and has thrown for 440 yards, ran for another 343 yards and accounted for 11 touchdowns (six pass, five rush).
Melvin Pleasant, Sr, LB – A relentless battler. Pleasant has been in on 53 total tackles, recovered three fumbles and has two-and-a-half sacks.
Anthony Booker, Sr, DL – A real force inside who uses brute strength to overwhelm offensive linemen and has recorded seven sacks on the year. Booker is still weighing his option as he has several offers on the table.

#8 OLENTANGY
Connor Haag, Sr, QB – A big arm who has had several 300 yard passing games this season. Does a great job of managing the game and not turning the ball over.
Luke Reidel, Sr, WR/RS – A top receiver for the Braves who demands attention on every play.
Caden Kaiser, Sr, WR – A great compliment to Reidel at wideout. Kaiser is a chain mover.
Zach Shiblaq, RB/LB – Capable of running for 100 yards on any given Friday, Shiblaq is Braves top threat in the ground game.
Ian Drummond, TE/DL – A great lineman on both sides of the ball at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds. Drummond has verbally committed to Elon.

Edgewood RB Wade Phillips (photo courtesy of ScoutingOhio.com)

#4 EDGEWOOD
Wade Phillips, Sr, RB – Has run for 1,232 yard and 15 touchdowns. Phillips leads the Cougars with eight receptions, 260 receiving yards and three touchdown catches. He has returned two kickoff and a punt for scores. Phillips had 1,358 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground as a junior.
Elijah Williams, Sr, RB – A model of consistency, running for 1,217 yards with 15 touchdowns. Williams has run for 99 yards or more in nine games this fall.
Evan Brown, Sr, LB – Can cause havoc in a game. Brown has recorded four sacks, recovered a fumble and has two interceptions including a pick six.
Justin Hiltbrand, Sr, TE/OLB – Has a team high seven sacks with two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Tanner Polsini, Sr, LB – When healthy Polsini is very productive with two sacks and three fumble recoveries in six contests this season.

#5 LITTLE MIAMI
Luke Patten, Sr, RB/LB – Has done it all for the Panthers. Patten has 1,097 all-purpose yards (567 rush, 440 ret, 90 rec) on 107 touches and 10 total touchdowns (six rush, two ko ret, one rec, one punt ret). He has recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass on defense.
Brody Reder, Jr, QB – A two-year starter who takes what the game gives him. Has shown vast improvement as a junior with 1,013 yards passing, 371 yards rushing while accounting for 21 touchdowns (12 pass, nine rush) and committing just four turnovers (two int, two fumb).
Trent Dawson, Sr, RB – Emerged as one of the SWOC’s most pleasant surprises in ’18. Dawson has 937 yards and 10 scores rushing. He ran for more than 100 yards six times in the Panthers firs seven contests.
Ben Blevins, Jr, OL/LB – One of the top juniors in the SWOC. Blevins will play a more influential role on defense in the playoffs.
Gabe Huffman, Sr, LB – Has a team high seven-and-a-half sacks with four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

#2 KINGS
Nak’emon Williams, Sr, RB – Has 1,422 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground with seven games of 120 yards rushing. Williams ran for 221 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season meeting with Anderson. He is 54 yards short of 4,000 all-purpose yards along with 3,152 yards and 44 touchdowns rushing in his career as a Knight.
Ashton Koller, Sr, QB – A dual threat with 1,839 yards of total offense (1,059 pass, 780 rush) and 19 touchdowns (10 passing, nine rush). Koller has five games of 110 yards rushing or more with three of those being against playoff teams including Anderson.
Jake Stylski, Sr, LB – The leader of the Knights defense. Stylski has run for more than 1,000 yards in a Knights uniform.
Jay Cheatham, Sr, DB – Led the ECC with six interceptions in 2018 including two against Anderson.
Ty Stylski, So, ATH – Had 73 all-purpose yards with touchdowns receiving and rushing in the regular season matchup with Anderson.

Anderson OL Zeke Correll (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

#7 ANDERSON
Zeke Correll, Sr, OL – One of the best in Ohio. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Correll has verbally committed to Notre Dame.
Joey Newton, Sr, WR – A dynamic player who has 47 receptions for 783 yards, a team high 12 touchdown catches, 1,486 all-purpose yards and 15 trips to the end zone.
Eric Curless, Sr, WR – Is the Redskins top receiver with 71 receptions and 980 yards to go along with seven touchdowns catches. Curless had 14 receptions for 116 yards versus Kings in Week 4 but only has a combined 13 catches over the last three games.
Jimmy O’Toole, Sr, LB – A Second Team All-Ohio selection as a junior. O’Toole has followed that performance up with a six-and-a-half sacks and six forced fumbles senior campaign.
David Thompson, Jr, QB – In his first year as a starter, Thompson has thrown for 2,464 yards and accounted for 30 touchdowns (23 pass, seven rush). He had a season high four turnovers (three int, on fumb) in the first meeting with Kings.

#3 TROY
Jaydon Culp-Bishop, Sr, RB – The Trojans workhorse has 1,881 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground. Ran for a career best 399 yards and six scores against Greenville in Week 9.
Sam Jackson, Sr, RB/LB – Has been a stud for three years. Jackson has 78 total tackles and seven sacks this season. The senior has tallied 167 total tackles, seven sacks, two fumble recoveries, nine interception, 460 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns (19 rush), during his career.
Shane Shoop, Sr, WR/LB – A three-year starter who gives the Trojans production in all three phases of the game. Shoop has 179 total tackles, forced six fumbles, recovered three fumbles, intercepted three passes (one pick six), amassed 1,049 all-purpose yards with nine trips to the end zone at the varsity level.
Spencer Klopfenstein, Sr, TE/DE – The lanky 6-foot-4 Klofpenstein has a team best 23 receptions and 323 receiving yards. He has 23 tackles and a sack for the Trojans defense.
Blake Burton, Sr, LB – Leads the Trojans with 87 total tackles and 18 solo takedowns in the last two games.

Harrison WR Levi Tidwell (photo by Linda Lyness Maxwell)

#6 HARRISON
Connor Kinnett, Jr, QB – Has thrown for more than 2,300 yards and accounted for 28 touchdowns (22 pass, six rush) in his first year as a starter. Kinnett has thrown at least two touchdown passes in seven games.
Levi Tidwell, Jr, WR – Leads the Wildcats in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches with 11. Tidwell has at least four receptions in all but one game this season.
CJ Young, Jr, WR – A big play receiver. Young has averaged more than 20 yards on 69 receptions with 13 trips to the end zone over the past two years for the Wildcats.
Jace Fette, Sr, WR – A real leader on the offense who is one of Kinnett’s top targets. Fette has thrown for four touchdowns, been on the receiving end of four scores and found the end zone twice on the ground.
Cam Hering, So, RB – Has come on strong over the last five tilts. He makes the Wildcats a real threat running the football.

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