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Best Bets: Week 12 

Winton Woods RB/DB Zae Jennings (photo by: Shelby Frieszell / TriStateFootball.com)

It’s time for step two in the quest for an Ohio state title as the regional quarterfinals have arrived in the 2023 playoffs. There were very few surprises and upsets in round one. Division VI, Region 24 was one of two regions in the entire state that saw all eight home teams be victorious. Division I, Region 4, Division II, Region 8 saw eight of their top nine seeds move on. Division III, Region I2 and Division IV, Region 16 had seven of their top nine seeds win.

Here are this week’s Best Bets. 

#6 ELDER AT #3 LAKOTA WEST
There aren’t many teams playing better than Lakota West (9-2). The Firebirds have won nine in a row after dropping their first two games of the year. The defense is allowing just 5.2 points per game (with four shutouts) and the offense has an average margin of victory of 33.9 points per game during the current winning streak. Elder (7-4) quarterback Ryan Brass, the GCL South Co-Athlete of the Year can take over a game. The senior has thrown for 1,488 yards, run for 1,044 yards and accounted for 32 touchdowns (25 rush, seven pass). The Panthers defense will need to tighten their reins. They have given up 30-plus points to five of the seven teams on their schedule that have winning records. Lakota West has 48 touchdowns, scored by 20 different players.
 
#6 WINTON WOODS AT #3 WITHROW
The two most athletic and best defensive teams in Division II, Region 8 square off in this titanic battle. Look for a low scoring affair where mistakes will be amplified. Keep an eye on how both quarterbacks handle defensive pressure. Withrow (10-1) signal-caller Luke Dunn has been outstanding, throwing for 2,168 yards with 32 touchdown passes and only five interceptions despite not playing in the second half of seven games (running clock) this season. Winton Woods (8-3) sophomore gunslinger Bryshawn Brown is making his sixth varsity start. He will need help from a banged-up backfield to keep the Tigers defense in check. The Warriors are only averaging 12 points in Brown’s starts. The Winton Woods defense is giving up just 8.1 points and no one has scored more than 20 points on them this fall. Junior linebacker Justin Hill leads the way for the unit with 13.0 sacks and six PBU’s.

#9 McNICHOLAS AT #1 CLINTON-MASSIE
The good news for McNicholas (6-5) is that this Division IV, Region 16 contest will be played in November. Clinton-Massie (11-0) upped its winning streak in October to 27 games after blasting Dunbar last Friday night. The visiting Rockets will need to find a way to slow down a Falcons’ rushing attack that is averaging 334.7 yards per game with 51 touchdowns. Add in a Clinton-Massie defense that has only allowed more than 14 points once all season and McNick has a serious uphill climb to conquer. Don’t expect the Rockets to be fazed by Clinton-Massie’s unbeaten record. McNicholas has played seven teams that have seven or more wins and only two squads with losing marks this season.

#6 WYOMING AT #3 TAFT
This will be the 10th meeting between the two schools since 2014. Wyoming (10-1) has won all nine of those affairs. Taft (9-2) has played the Cowboys tough in the series but scoring points hasn’t been easy averaging just 4.1 points per game in those nine losses. Senators Tayshawn Banks is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. The senior has found the end zone 15 times over the past two campaigns (five rec, four IRs, three PRs, two KRs, one FR). Wyoming has battled injuries all season long but appears to be getting healthy at the right time. Junior running back Joel Hancock has five straight games with more than 100 yards rushing and 11 total touchdowns (10 rush, one rec) since coming back from an injury.

GAME OF THE WEEK
Make sure to check out the COMPLETE PREVIEW for this week’s featured game, #5 Moeller at #4 St. Xavier. 

 

 

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