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Best Bets: Week 13

Harrison quarterback QB Dickie Engel (photo by: Sandy Mahoney/X: @InMotionBySandy)

Survive and advance mode is on across the tri-state area. No one cares how good their opponents were during the regular season or to this point of the playoffs. Everyone is scratching and clawing to extend 2023 one more week. Victories at this point are going to be well-earned, but some of the most gratifying and memorable achievements of these kids’ lives. Time to find out who wants it the most.

Here are this week’s Best Bets:

#9 MASON vs. #5 MOELLER
Jake Sweeney Automotive Stadium, Princeton High School

When the year began Moeller (8-4) expected to be in this position, but the road to get here has been tougher than the Crusaders imagined. Mason (7-5) has been the surprise team in Region 4 with victories over top-seeded Milford (11-1) and Lebanon (7-4). The Comets have done it with defense, allowing just 14.0 points per game. They have given up just 19 total points over their last four contests. Star running back Jordan Marshall is back for Moeller, who is looking for its third straight regional championship. Marshall has 1,333 yards and 19 touchdowns in the playoffs in his career. Mason played Moeller tough in this same game, last November, falling 24-16. The Crusaders had a 24-0 advantage with six minutes left in that affair.

Mason LB Kai Woolfolk (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

#1 ANDERSON vs. #5 HARRISON
The Hawks Nest, Lakota East High School

Harrison (9-3) is one of the feel-good stories of 2023. The Wildcats, who went 1-9 a year ago, had a “take-notice” road win at Northmont (8-4) last week. Harrison has a very balanced offensive attack led by running back Cole Koops, quarterback Dickie Engel and receiver Luke Rogers. Koops has 1,310 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns (17 rush). Engel has accounted for 25 touchdowns (20 pass, five rush) with 14 scoring strikes to Rogers. Anderson has won eight in a row and done so with dominant performances on both sides of the ball leading to an average margin of victory of 30.75 points in those triumphs. The Raptors are deep on defense with 10 players having at least 30 tackles, eight players having between two and six sacks and five players with four or more passes defended.

Anderson TE tight end Caden Piening (photo by: Kelsey Rebman / TriStateFootball.com)

#1 CLINTON-MASSIE vs. #4 ALTER
Monroe High School Hornet Stadium

Old postseason foes rekindle their playoff rivalry for the first time since 2016. This game will be all about who controls the line of scrimmage. Clinton-Massie (12-0) has run the ball on 563 of its 589 offensive plays this season. The Falcons are averaging 327.3 yards per game rushing with 54 touchdowns on the ground. The Alter (9-3) rushing attack appears to be set for years to come with sophomores Noah Jones, Rod Owens and Mike Rose. They have combined to run for 1,650 yards (Jones-965) and 29 touchdowns. This is the 22nd consecutive playoff appearance for Clinton-Massie and 20th in a row for Alter. The two schools have combined for 14 regional championships and five state titles in that span.

Alter RB Noah Jones (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

#1 VALLEY VIEW vs. #5 PURCELL MARIAN
Robinson Field, Ross High School

The Division V, Region 20 final four features three SWBL Buckeye squads – Valley View Waynesville and Brookville. Valley View (11-1) is in pursuit of its second straight regional crown. The Spartans ended a 20-year drought between trophies last fall. They are led by senior quarterback Caden Henson. The senior has accounted for at least three touchdowns in every game this season (30 pass, 17 rush) while amassing 3,120 yards of total offense (2,221 pass, 899 rush). He has been incredibly good with his feet, running for at least 146 yards three times and nine touchdowns over the last five tilts. Four Spartans have found the end zone 11 times or more – Micah Valenti (21), Henson (17), Caleb Musgrove (12), Jed Lynch (11). Purcell Marian (10-2) running back Jayel Harris comes to play in big games. The junior has five games with more than 215 yards rushing as well as 2,003 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground this season. The Cavaliers haven’t won a regional title since 1997.

Valley View RB/DB Micah Valenti (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

GAME OF THE WEEK
Make sure to check out the COMPLETE PREVIEW for this week’s featured game, #3 Lakota West versus #2 Princeton.

 

 

 

 

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