Best Bets: Week 13

Week 13 is here and that means we are two weeks into the postseason and the stakes are getting higher by the minute. Everyone is pumped as we move forward from the players and coaches to the fans and administration. We have reached the regional semi-finals and there are only 16 teams left playing football in each division in Ohio. Being a part of the sweet 16 is a great accomplishment but it also gives the feeling of wanting more. That is just where we stand as teams that have made their way this far don’t want their season to end and will be giving everything that they have to make it a step closer to a state championship. Everyone wants to go from sweet to elite and the only way to do that is by winning a ballgame this weekend.

 

This week we have another slate of high-level and appealing matchups. These are the types of games that us football junkies dream about and can’t get enough of. The regionals are kicking off with a bang and no one is covering their ears. This week St. Xavier looks to right their week one loss against Lakota West. Mount Healthy tangles with Anderson with offense aplenty. Harrison and La Salle make a claim for the best of the westside and Indian Hill looks for an upset of taft. We’ve got offense, we’ve got defense, we’ve got it all this week and just two nights of sleep separate us from a night of fervor.

 

Who will draw a line in the sand and move on? Can Mount Healthy pull a massive upset by outscoring Anderson? Is La Salle ready to return to glory? Friday night will tell us all. Here are the Best Bets for week 13.

DIVISION I, REGION 4

 

#6 ST. XAVIER VS #2 LAKOTA WEST

 

St. Xavier is 9-3 and winners of five in a row as they have hit their stride late in the season. One of those losses came in week one when they visited Lakota West in a tight ball game. The Bombers will be looking to even the score this week with the stakes being very high. The Bombers are averaging 33 PPG during this winning streak and have been productive defensively. The three losses for the Bombers have come by a total of 16 points as Steve Specht’s squad has been in every game this season and they would like that to be the case on Friday night.

 

Chase Herbstreit has been the leading man for St. Xavier. The senior quarterback has been a leader not only by example but vocally as well. Herbstreit is close to 1500 yars passing on the season and nears 600 yards on the ground in his dual-threat abilities. Daniel Vollmer has paced the rushing attack with 628 yards on the ground and Jake Britt is the man they look to most in the passing game. Kobe Clapper led the conference in tackles and finished fourth in sacks as he is considered the premiere defender in the league by being named co-defensive player of the year.

Lakota West had yet another strong season in the GMC as they were co-league champion. The 11-1 Firebirds lone loss came in a game against Princeton and were really only tested again by these Bombers. The West offense has been its usual potent self as the Firebirds average a tick under 39 PPG. The defense is a premiere unit as well as they suffocate opponents on the regular and have only allowed 7.8 PPG on the year. West has only given up 14 or more points three times in the entire season.

 

Sam Wiles has been the head of the snake for West on offense. The senior quarterback has been torching opponents with his legs over the course of the season. Wiles finished fourth in the GMC with 1,087 yards rushing. In the passing game, he has been effective as well by throwing for 1,347 yards. Braydon Johnson and Kenyon Norman are tough and quick runners in the backfield and Trey Barnette is a deep threat at wide receiver. Grant Beerman and Micah Markley have led the team in tackles and are seemingly in on every play.

 

The Bombers are playing great football and Lakota West has been dominant all season. This is a tough one to call but the Firebirds have unfinished business. A trip back to the regional final awaits them. West wins.

 

DIVISION II, REGION 8

 

#5 MOUNT HEALTHY VS #1 ANDERSON 

 

Mount Healthy was a second-place finisher in the SWOC and have won five games in a row to reach the sweet 16. The Owls have been electric in their performances, including a 30-14 upset of fourth-seeded Badin last week.  Mount Healthy can score with the best of them and that is just the chance they’ll get on Friday night. Defensively Mount Healthy has come along as the season has and will need to be at their very best this week.

 

Jahmeir Spain is the unquestioned engine to the Owl train as the quarterback has been sensational this season. Spain has thrown for 3,577 yards and 40 touchdowns to pace the Owls. Ace Cooper, Jai’mier Scott, and Larry Fannon are his trio of wideouts that put the pressure on every secondary in the area. They’ve combined for around 2,900 yards receiving on the season. The Owls boast a pair of high-level defenders as well. Raishawn Cotton and Tyshawn Spain have led the team in tackles this season and love to get after the quarterback.

 

Anderson is the ECC champion and defending state runner-up. They have picked up right where they left off and have rolled through the season. The Raptors are 12-0 and looking to get back to the state title game with a win in mind. The Anderson offense has always been the standard as the Raptors once again can fill up the scoreboard. The Raptors are putting up a staggering 51.3 PPG this season and have scored 49 or more points eight times including a 78-point outburst in the first round. The Raptors defense has truly been the story however as Anderson hasn’t had to rely on simply outscoring opponents. They only allow 8.9 PPG.

 

Justice Burnam has been lights out in his second stint as starting quarterback. He has thrown for 3,404 yards and 40 touchdowns on the year and completes 75% of his passes. The experienced Trace Jallick has been his favorite target and Durrell Turner can put in work on the ground if and when teams spread out to stop the aerial attack. Aiden McClanahan and Caden Piening also get going as pass catchers and can help break a game wide open. Alex Stanyard has 9 sacks to pace the defense.

 

Mount Healthy has a ton of offense but the Raptors have a little more and a better defense. Raptors roll to another regional final.

#6 HARRISON VS #2 LA SALLE

 

Harrison is the SWOC champion and have had some impressive wins this season as they have reached the final 16 in Ohio. The Wildcats are 10-2 and have won six of their last seven games. Harrison is a balanced unit who can hurt you on the ground or through the air depending on what the game calls for. Their offense has been explosive, and their defense has proven to be up for the task in many games this season. Cole Koops has been the leader of this team and has put in his work offensively. As a running back, Koops has rushed for 1,858 yards as a physical runner. He has also scored 19 touchdowns. He brings a toughness to the Wildcats squad that has them capable of playing with anybody. Quarterback Dickie Engel has passed for 2,024 yards and Josh Addelsburger has been his primary target deep. Defensively Harrison leans on a pair of big-time tacklers in Logan White and Jayden Little.

 

La Salle was competitive in the grueling GCL South and managed to finish third after a win in “The Pit” against rival Elder. The Lancers are 10-2 and have some momentum as they look to return to their championship years. They will have that opportunity on Friday night. Quarterback Pat McLaughlin has been the gas that fuels the Lancers. McLaughlin is an adept runner and passer from the QB position and has shown his ability to beat teams either way throughout the season. He has passed for 1,255 yards and rushed for 620 yards on the year. Max Welter has been a reliable target for him in the passing game. The defensive gives up a respectable 15.2 PPG and Brady O’Conner has been a key piece on that side of the ball with 86 tackles to lead the team.

 

The Lancers are battle tested and were a few plays away from a second-place finish in the GCL South. A physical tough defense should make things difficult for the Wildcats. La Salle will loom large in a win.

DIVISION IV, REGION 16

 

#9 INDIAN HILL VS #5 TAFT

 

Indian Hill is 9-3 and are working on one of their best seasons in recent memory. The Braves finished third in the CHL and look to pull an upset to make it even further into the playoffs. Indian Hill slipped past a solid Clinton-Massie team last week but will need to contend with a different brand of football this week as Taft is a speedy bunch. The Braves average 32 PPG and have had outbursts this season that they will want to continue on Friday night. Defensively they allow 16.5 PPG which can be a good recipe for victory.

 

Devlan Daniel has been a key cog for Indian Hill on offense. He has rushed for a league leading 2,179 yards and 32 touchdowns. The sophomore has been a dominant figure this season and will only get better and better. Ethan Cole has also been a solid piece in the backfield as a runner. Evan Riggs and Penn Picton have led the team on defense as they provide a physical presence and aren’t afraid to hit hard.

 

Taft is 10-2 and have won 6 in a row all in dominant fashion. The Senators have gotten hot late and have scored 44 or more points in all of those games. This includes a 76-point barrage in a win against Western Hills last month. Taft is coming off of a shutout win last week and look to continue their domination this week. They have a slew of athletes on both sides of the ball that make things very tough for their opponents.

 

Monsanna Torbert has been great at quarterback. Torbert has thrown for 1,827 yards on the year and rushed for 569. The sophomore has amassed 30 total touchdowns and is getting better every week. Eddie Holloway and Lorenzo McMullen have been constant threats in the passing game at wide receiver as they can beat you deep at any given time. Defensively the Senators have relied on a bevvy of talent. Aaron Dowdell Jr. and Adam Kirtley both have 112 tackles. Bryce Brewster (16.5), Jayden Bowden (14.5), and Chayse Mack (10) are all sack masters.

 

Taft has speed and firepower. The Senators will bounce the Braves in this one.

 

GAME OF THE WEEK

Make sure to check out the COMPLETE PREVIEW for this week’s featured game, #4 Princeton vs #1 Moeller at Mason High School.

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