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Best Bets: Week 14

McNicholas head coach Mike Orlando (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

What a week it was all over the Tri-State area as teams battled again in postseason play. Upsets ruled the day as heavy favorites and even teams we saw as historically good were defeated. While most teams in the area put this season behind them, the cream of the crop still remains alive with a state championship on their mind. The GCL Co-Eds, SBAC, and ECC highlight this playoff edition of the Best Bets.

NO. 1 PIQUA VS. NO. 7 WINTON WOODS
OHSAA Division II, Region 8 Final – at Northmont H.S.

How about those Warriors? After losing one of the best coaches in the area and a multi-year starter at quarterback, many counted Winton Woods out, especially after losing two of three to start the year. However, head coach Chad Murphy and the playmakers on both sides of the ball had other plans. 

They got revenge on the LaSalle Lancers with a 42-25 win last week. The Lancers defeated the Warriors twice in a row before this game. The difference has been the explosiveness of the offense and a defense that has been excellent all year. KC Spears and Tyreke Spikes both had excellent games as the Warriors outgained the Lancers 407-87. 

We expect great things from Spikes every week, but Spears took it to another level. He carried the ball eight times for 228 yards which included an 83 yarder to the house. With playmakers now stepping up alongside Spikes, this offense is even harder to stop. 

Piqua, the top-seeded team in this region, enters this contest unblemished at 13-0 and essentially all year weren’t challenged. The defense has been excellent, allowing less than 10 points in eight of their 13 wins, and through their first 11 games were averaging well over 40 points per game. Although in their past two games the Indians have looked much more human. They only beat Withrow by four and it took a comeback to beat Edgewood. 

The one eye-popping stat with Piqua is that they have either tied or won the turnover battle in every single game this year. When you play that efficiently, there is no surprise you are winning each game. Winton Woods is explosive, but does have the tendency to turn the ball over. If the Warriors can take care of the ball and don’t give the Indians extra possessions, they can win this game handedly. 

Dealing with the tandem of Brady Ouhl and Jasiah Medley is going to be a tough task for the Warriors. Ouhl has 1461 passing yards which is second in the MVL and Medley has 1,959 rushing yards which is almost 300 yards more than the player behind him. The Warriors will be the most athletic and explosive team Piqua has played, they must use that and play disciplined if they want a chance at the regional title.

NO. 1 GRANVILLE VS NO. 6 WESTERN BROWN
OHSAA Division III, Region 11 Final – at Teays Valley H.S.

The Broncos continue to open eyes during their Cinderella season. From 2010-2019, this program didn’t record a single playoff win. They accumulated three appearances, and were held winless every time. This is a new era with head coach Nick Osborne and star quarterback Drew Novak, who was leading the entire nation in passing yards just two weeks ago. T

Western Brown has been winning games at the hands of their offense. They have scored at least 35 points in every game this season. Novak has 4,886 yards through the air and 1,068 on the ground. With a good performance this week, he will be joining the ever so exclusive fraternity of quarterbacks who threw for 5,000 yards and ran for 1,000 in the same season. 

His brother Dylan Novak is one of his favorite targets and has 1,257 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Teammates Logan Campbell and Zachery Chisman are right there with him to give the Broncos a three-headed monster at receiver. 

Granville comes into this game undefeated at 12-0, but after cruising through their first 10 games, they have won by the skin of their teeth the past two weeks. The Blue Aces defeated St. Francis DeSales 19-12 and last week defeated London by a score of 15-14. 

They will have to rely on that stifling defense more than ever. This matchup comes down to a Granville defense that hasn’t allowed an opponent to score over 20 points yet this season versus a Bronco team that averages well over 45 points per game. 

The Broncos are in a tough spot because we know their defense is susceptible and will give up points. Granville has a good offense that can score in bunches as well. Expect some big numbers in this game. Both teams will be aggressive and the Blue Aces know they won’t hold Western Brown to under 20 points like the rest of their opponents. The fireworks will be early and often, and the team with the last possession might ultimately win this game.

NO. 1 BADIN VS. NO. 3 BELLBROOK
OHSAA Division III, Region 12 Final – at Trotwood Madison H.S.

This game is a rematch from a Week 2 meeting that Badin won, 17-7. Just like that game, the Rams have been rolling because of that stifling defense. They have allowed under 20 points in 10 of their twelve wins, and it’s been more impressive in the playoffs as they have pitched two shutouts and gave up 10 points last week against St. Mary’s Memorial. 

Landyn Vidourek and Jack Walsh lead a potent offense that averages 254 rushing yards per game. This team will continue to rely on their senior duo to carry them. 

The Golden Eagles play solid defense themselves, but they are carried by an offense that scores points in bunches. They are on a run of eight consecutive games of scoring at least 35 or more. This includes four 40-point performances, two 50-point performances and a 60-point outing. The engine is senior running back Seth Borondy, who has an eye-popping 2,613 yards rushing and averages over 200 yards per game. It is worthy to note that his worst game came at the hands of the Rams when he ran for 87 yards on 23 carries, the only game where he averaged less than four yards a pop. 

This game will come down to the trenches and who takes care of the ball. Bellbrook has a defense that has given up at least 20 points in three consecutive games so look for Badin to be aggressive. The last time these teams met, the Golden Eagles turned the ball over three times while the Rams had zero. They must take care of the ball and match Badin’s physicality to have any chance in this game.

NO. 3 MCNICHOLAS VS. NO. 4 CLINTON-MASSIE
OHSAA Division IV, Region 16 Final – at Princeton H.S.

This is an epic battle between two teams having storybook seasons. The Falcons are coming off arguably the single most impressive win of the year as they took down top-seeded Wyoming by a score of 42-14. 

They outgained the Cowboys 442-58 on the ground and for maybe the first time ever, C.J. Hester wasn’t the best running back on the field. He wasn’t the second best either, because the duo of Carson Van Hoose and Colton Trampler both ran for over 100 and scored two touchdowns. Trampler was also the leading tackler on defense with nine total tackles. 

Clinton-Massie is healthy, clicking on all cylinders, and we knew about their high-octane offense. What really makes the Falcons dangerous is their improved defense. In two of their three playoff games they allowed 14 points or less. 

The Rockets have been impressive as well and are now in completely uncharted territory. This program has three playoff wins total since 2013, and now come into this regional final with three blowout wins and having one of the best seasons in the history of the program. 

Pierce Taylor and Ty Snyder lead an offense that has been humming in the playoffs, averaging 43 points per game. 

Chaminade and Badin have been their best two opponents and although they went 1-1, it took OT to beat Chaminade and they were beaten badly by the Rams 48-21. On the contrary, you can look at their games against Roger Bacon, Highlands, and Alter when they went 3-0 and allowed 34 points total in those three games and see what they’re capable of when they put it all together.  

The biggest key in this game will be the Rockets’ run defense vs. the Falcons’ rushing attack. McNicholas allows 141 yards per game. For the Rockets to have a shot in this game, they are going to have to score points. You can’t stop the Clinton-Massie running game altogether, you can only hope to contain it. The Rockets must hold onto the ball, and come ready for a shootout. This game will be physical and hard-nosed, the team that wants it more will be regional champs.

GAME OF THE WEEK
Make sure to check out the COMPLETE PREVIEW for this week’s Blitz 5 Game of the Week, Moeller vs. Lakota West.

 

 

 

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