Davidson's ride might come to an end against Coffman. (Photo by Jay LaPrete/OhioSportsShooters.com)
Division I
Region 1
Who: No. 2 Solon (12-0) vs. No. 5 Glenville (11-1)
Where/When: Parma Byers Field, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Glenville has the speed and athleticism to cause havoc against anyone. Solon is very focused on both sides of the ball. Turnovers played a huge role in the Tarblooders’ win over St. Ignatius and should play a big part again.
Pick: Glenville
Region 2
Who: No. 3 Massillon (9-3) vs. No. 8 Canton McKinley (8-4)
Where/When: Akron Infocision Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The first time these two met, the Bulldogs out-physicaled the Tigers in a 35-21 win. They also took away wideout Devin Smith with Angelo Powell at defensive back. It’s hard to beat a team twice, but if anyone can beat Massillon again, it’s McKinley.
Pick: Canton McKinley
Region 3
Who: No. 2 Hilliard Davidson (10-1) vs. No. 1 Dublin Coffman (12-0)
Where/When: Marv Moorehead Memorial Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Coffman beat Davidson 10-7 in Week 8 in Colton Caldwell’s debut at quarterback. He had 176 yards total offense and has rolled ever since. Davidson is used to playing in close games. This one should be another defensive gem.
Pick: Davidson
Elder will need to catch everything in order to beat Anderson. (Photo by Jim Osborn)
Region 4
Who: No. 3 Anderson (12-0) vs. No. 4 Elder (9-2)
Where/When: Nippert Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Any ideas on a winner? Anyone? No? That’s what we thought. Anderson has scored 61 points in two games. Elder has knocked off St. Xavier with incredible defense. The Redskins will need all their firepower they can muster against the Panthers.
Pick: Elder
Division II
Region 5
Who: No. 3 Ashland (11-1) vs. No. 1 Lake Catholic (11-1)
Where/When: Green Memorial Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Lake Catholic and Ashland will go to the air more than the ground on Friday. (Ron Schwane/Ohiosportsshooters.com)
Outlook: Tecmo Bowl lovers unite. This one features two of the best quarterbacks around in Cougar slinger Jerrod Runyak and Arrows hurler Marcus Fuller. No doubt about it, this is the most intriguing matchup, offensively. It might come down to whoever has the ball last.
Pick: Ashland
Region 6
Who: No. 6 Maple Heights (10-2) vs. No. 1 Toledo St. Francis DeSales (11-1)
Where/When: Harmon Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: As Devonte’ Ransom goes, so go the Mustangs. The senior running back churned up 185 yards last week in a win over Toledo Central Catholic and added 170 yards and three scores in a win over Rogers. Shaq Washington is a viable option for Heights as well. DeSales’ defense has held both its playoff opponents to 10 points or less. This one will be won in the trenches.
Pick: Maple Heights
Region 7
Who: No. 3 Brookhaven (10-2) vs. No. 8 Marion-Franklin
Where/When: Gahanna Lincoln Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: It’s hard to pick against Marion-Franklin because it beat predicted state champ Louisville in the opener. It’s tough to doubt Brookhaven, which has a stout defense. The Bearcats have a heady quarterback in Tajuan Green and strong running game behind Donivan Lipsey. Verlon Reed is a smart quarterback who seems to make the right decisions for the Red Devils.
Pick: Brookhaven
Region 8
Who: No. 2 Winton Woods (10-2) vs. No. 4 Trotwood-Madison (9-3)
Where/When: Mason Dwire Field, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: Anyone get the number on that truck? Trotwood-Madison was supposed to be fodder for Turpin last week, but crushed the Spartans 43-7 behind Antwan Gilbert’s 263 yards rushing and three scores. Winton Woods did what it was supposed to do against Tecumseh, rushing for 439 yards in a 40-7 win. Blink and this one will be over. Run defense – well, duh – will determine the outcome.
Pick: Winton Woods
Division III
Region 9
Who: No. 2 Poland Seminary (10-2) vs. No. 1 Cardinal Mooney (12-0)
Where/When: Falcon Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: Braylon Heard, Karrington Griffin and Ray Vinopal are horses in the backfield for Mooney and Alex Zordich doesn’t make too many mistakes at quarterback for the Cardinals. Poland quarterback Colin Reardon needs to make smart decisions for the Bulldogs. The defense, led by Luke Wollet, is what pushes Poland.
Pick: Mooney
Region 10
Who: No. 2 Bishop Watterson (9-3) vs. No. 1 Columbus St. Francis DeSales
Where/When: Dublin Coffman Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: DeSales beat Watterson 17-10 in Week 7, but needed a comeback to do it. Chi Chi Ariguzo picked off a pass on the 5-yard line for the Stallions and watched Nick Gentile race 61 yards for the go-ahead score on the ensuing drive. Watterson has lost four in a row to DeSales, but that might be just what the Eagles need in what should be a great game.
Pick: DeSales
Region 11
Who: No. 2 Dover (11-1) vs. No. 1 Steubenville (11-1)
Where/When: Canton Fawcett Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: The Big Red has put up back-to-back 34-point games behind a strong Dwight Macon. Dover had to go to overtime to beat Canal Fulton Northwest. If the Tornadoes have any shot at all, they’ll have to step it up defensively against a Steubenville team that has won 59 of its last 62 games.
Pick: Steubenville
Region 12
Who: No. 2 Wyoming (12-0) vs. No. 8 Springfield Shawnee (9-3)
Where/When: Dayton Welcome Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: The Braves pulled off the upset in Round 1, beating Goshen 28-7 and then did it again in a 21-14 win over Logan Elm. It’ll take a lot to do it three times in a row as the Cowboys are used to playing close contests, winning both playoff games by a combined nine points. Kyle Seyfried’s poise behind center is the magic Wyoming needs.
Pick: Wyoming
Division IV
Region 13
Who: No. 6 Woodridge (10-2) vs. No. 1 Chagrin Falls (12-0)
Where/When: Twinsburg Tiger Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: No doubt Woodridge is performing a rain dance as we speak. Chris Trinetti can sling it with the best of them and the Tiger quarterback is hot, having thrown for 346 yards and five touchdowns last week against Lakeview. The Bulldogs will need a big day from running back Anthony Kelly to succeed.
Pick: Chagrin Falls
Region 14
Who: No. 3 Orrville (9-3) vs. No. 5 Ottawa-Glandorf (10-2)
Where/When: Tiffin National Field, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: What? You mean Orrville has a quarterback? In a long line of great hurlers at the school, Joey Besancon is just the next for the Red Riders. The senior completed 16-of-26 passes last week for 282 yards and three scores in an upset of No. 2 Genoa Area. Ottawa-Glandorf, which has scored 76 points the last two weeks, doesn’t want to get in a shooting match here.
Pick: Ottawa-Glandorf
Region 15
Who: No. 2 Ironton (10-2) vs. No. 5 Coshocton (10-2)
Where/When: Nelsonville-York Boston Field, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Coshocton shocked the world last week with a 15-12 win over previously unbeaten Amanda-Clearcreek and it’ll need that kind of performance against an Ironton squad that loves to run and hit harder. Heath entered last week with two 1,000-yard backs, but the Fighting Tigers stoned them both.
Pick: Ironton
Region 16
Who: No. 2 Alter (12-0) vs. No. 1 Clinton-Massie (12-0)
Where/When: Centerville Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: This one is the pick of D-IV. Reigning state champion Alter has all the confidence in the world after walloping Carlisle 41-0. The Knights can’t get too cocky, though, as Massie has put up 73 points in the last two games. If this were Vegas, this game would be a pick-em.
Pick: Clinton-Massie
Division V
Region 17
Who: No. 3 Youngstown Ursuline (8-3) vs. No. 1 Cuyahoga Heights (12-0)
Where/When: Aurora Inkstop Field, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: Cuyahoga Heights quarterback Zach D’Orazio put an end to all doubters with an incredible, 231-yard, three-touchdown performance against Hawken last week. He’ll find the slate a little tougher this week. Ursuline has viable offensive options in Allen Jones and Akise Teague.
Pick: Ursuline
Region 18
Who: No. 2 Tinora (11-1) vs. No. 1 Patrick Henry (12-0)
Where/When: Fred Brown Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: It appears Tinora should have the upper hand because it doesn’t have to leave the city, but that’s not the case against a Patrick Henry squad that rolls into Week 13 with a ton of confidence. The Patriots have scored 41 points or more in nine of their 12 games to date and have one of the best quarterbacks around in Dylan Kingan.
Pick: Patrick Henry
Region 19
Who: No. 6 Ridgewood (12-0) vs. No. 1 Fredericktown (12-0)
Where/When: Johnstown-Monroe Frank Chambers Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: Fredericktown got the scare of its life in a one-point win over Wheelersburg last week when the Pirates fumbled on the 1-yard line with 36 seconds remaining. Ridgewood counts upsets against Oak Hill and Minford so far. If the Generals get out early, they can find themselves in the Final Four.
Pick: Ridgewood
Region 20
Who: No. 2 Coldwater (11-1) vs. No. 8 St. Henry (9-3)
Where/When: Wapakoneta Harmon Field, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: Another rematch. These two met in Week 7 with Coldwater coming out a 17-0 winner. If the Redskins expect to win, they’ll have to shut down Keith Wenning behind center and get a big game from their own field general in Brad Stahl. Stahl threw for 257 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-14 win over West Liberty Salem last week, so that’s not a stretch.
Pick: Coldwater
Division VI
Region 21
Who: St. Paul (12-0) vs. No. 4 Wynford (12-0)
Where/When: Ashland Community Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: Wow! St. Paul can put up points. The Flyers have put up 42 points or more 10 times this season and haven’t scored less than 27 all year. If Wynford has a chance, it will need to figure out how to stop quarterback Eric Schwieterman. That’s something no one has been able to do all season.
Pick: St. Paul
Region 22
Who: No. 2 Ada (12-0) vs. No. 1 Delphos St. John’s (12-0)
Where/When: Findlay Donnell Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: This one is the pick of D-VI. St. John’s has had little trouble getting up for big games as witnessed by its win over Coldwater earlier in the season. Ada can score at will as seen in its 77-point affair with Toledo Christian. This should turn into a defensive-minded game, which favors the Blue Jays.
Pick: St. John’s
Region 23
Who: No. 6 Grove City Christian (11-1) vs. No. 1 Malvern (11-1)
Where/When: Zanesville Sulsberger Memorial Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: GCC upset Bishop Rosecrans in Round 1 and then had an easy go with Shadyside in the semifinals. Malvern, which stumbled in Week 9, has blown out its last two opponents. If the Hornets can get another big game out of Steve Dishong, they might reach the state semifinals.
Pick: Malvern
Region 24
Who: No. 7 Fort Loramie (10-2) vs. No. 5 Marion Local (7-5)
Where/When: Wapakoneta Harmon Field, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: How good is the Midwest Athletic Conference? The Flyers went 5-5 this season and made the playoffs. They’ll likely find their way back to the Final Four if past history has anything to say about it as they won the state crown two years ago. Fort Loramie will need another big night from Mitch Raterman, who scored five touchdowns in a 63-21 win over Southeastern. Don’t leave your seat for this one.
Pick: Marion Local
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