Region 19...who wins and why?

[Jesco White]

Alright folks, no offense to any of the websites that use averages to make projections, but I want to hear from YOU the fans who have watched some of these teams play and researched the others!! Who's gonna win this region and why? Let's breakdown the games and project by round and have some fun with it!!

By the way.......Let's go SOC!!!!

[coop]

#2 Valley vs. #7 ridgewood
#3 GH vs #6 Crestview


#1 Wynford vs #8 Smithville
#4 N-Y vs #5 West


Valley 27
Ridgewood 21

GH 28
Crestview 20

Wynford 35
Smithville 24

West 31
Nelsonville York 27


Rd #2

Valley 28
GH 12

West 20
Wynford 19


Reg Title game:

Valley 33
West 26

Regional Champ:

Lucasville Valley



Biased? Of course...BUT every one of you reading this KNOW Valley has a GREAT chance to win it. I feel like they have the MOST dynamic offense in the region, and the defensive side of the ball isnt too shabby either. Grandview appears to be ALL run from what I have seen on film, and thats not a great formula for the playoffs. Ridgewood has beat a couple good teams, but they just dont seem to react well to the SOC style of play (1-3 the last 4 years) West is a STRONG powerful team who has expierence in the playoffs as well. That said, if the 2 teams I have in my regional title game LOSE friday night, I cant say I would be shocked. All 8 teams are very good.

GO INDIANS and GO SOC!

[Steely Dan]

If these are the actual matchups (since it is not official until tomorrow sometime), here's how this old-timer sees it:

Valley vs. Ridgewood - Ridgewood seems to have issues playing south of I-70. That will be the case this year. Arguably, Valley may be the best all-around team that Ridgewood has traveled south to play in their travels to God's country. Valley.

Grandview vs. Ashland Crestview - Grandview has two true quality wins on their schedule, @ West Jefferson, and the nailbiter against Liberty Union. Crestview has played a mediocre schedule. I'm going with Grandview.

Bucyrus Wynford vs. Smithville - This one is a little tough to call. Wynford is the #1 seed, but I am a little skeptical about the quality of their schedule. Four D VI teams on their schedule. The Smitties, on the other hand, have been in the dance many times, playoff tested. I'm going with the upset here, and taking Smithville.

NY vs. West - In my humble opinion, this will be, by far, the most physical of all four opening games. Game is at Boston field, bunch of pissed off Buckeyes strapping it on after the heartbreaking loss last night, I'm going with Nelsonville, in a super tight contest. Buckeyes by 2 points. I've said on another thread, this one will certainly be worth the price of admission!!!

So, if I understand the bracket correctly, based on coop's assumptions, here's round two:

Lucasville Valley vs. Grandview Heights: Neutral site: I'm going with Valley. And that is more with my heart than my head.......

NY vs. Smithville: NY and their fans bring this one home. Buckeyes And that pick is more with my head, than my heart.

FINAL:

Lucasville Valley vs. Nelsonville York: If the Buckeyes play turnover free, hard-nosed defense, and play keep away from Valley by running the ball: Buckeyes

If the Buckeyes start chucking the ball all over the place because their run game isn't getting it done, advantage, the Indians, and Lucasville goes to the final four.

I'm going with my head on this one, and not my heart (even though I like and respect both programs), Valley moves on. Just my opinion, please respect it, and don't try and piss in my Wheaties!!!! :122246

[KVDW]

Ridgewood came south last year at 10-0 and was handled by 8-2 Wheelersburg, so with the records exactly the opposite this year, logic would say that Valley should take care of business here.

Their win over a good D4 Martins Ferry says they can play some football but then they had a couple of losses that surprize me, too, so............ I still think Valley can take them.

[coop]

If these are the actual matchups (since it is not official until tomorrow sometime), here's how this old-timer sees it:

Valley vs. Ridgewood - Ridgewood seems to have issues playing south of I-70. That will be the case this year. Arguably, Valley may be the best all-around team that Ridgewood has traveled south to play in their travels to God's country. Valley.

Grandview vs. Ashland Crestview - Grandview has two true quality wins on their schedule, @ West Jefferson, and the nailbiter against Liberty Union. Crestview has played a mediocre schedule. I'm going with Grandview.

Bucyrus Wynford vs. Smithville - This one is a little tough to call. Wynford is the #1 seed, but I am a little skeptical about the quality of their schedule. Four D VI teams on their schedule. The Smitties, on the other hand, have been in the dance many times, playoff tested. I'm going with the upset here, and taking Smithville.

NY vs. West - In my humble opinion, this will be, by far, the most physical of all four opening games. Game is at Boston field, bunch of pissed off Buckeyes strapping it on after the heartbreaking loss last night, I'm going with Nelsonville, in a super tight contest. Buckeyes by 2 points. I've said on another thread, this one will certainly be worth the price of admission!!!

So, if I understand the bracket correctly, based on coop's assumptions, here's round two:

Lucasville Valley vs. Grandview Heights: Neutral site: I'm going with Valley. And that is more with my heart than my head.......

NY vs. Smithville: NY and their fans bring this one home. Buckeyes And that pick is more with my head, than my heart.

FINAL:

Lucasville Valley vs. Nelsonville York: If the Buckeyes play turnover free, hard-nosed defense, and play keep away from Valley by running the ball: Buckeyes

If the Buckeyes start chucking the ball all over the place because their run game isn't getting it done, advantage, the Indians, and Lucasville goes to the final four.

I'm going with my head on this one, and not my heart (even though I like and respect both programs), Valley moves on. Just my opinion, please respect it, and don't try and piss in my Wheaties!!!! :122246

Nice picks, and I like the comments, eventough we disagree on a few matchups, I also understand what you said. I went with West because its the SOC, gotta back the conference. Valley and GH played back in 05, and back then GH passed alot more, they seem to run, run, run, being one dimensional in the playoffs is tough.

CANT WAIT TIL FRIDAY NIGHT!!

[Bishtakes]

Steely,
You are dead nuts on..I've read your posts for years and I totally respect your prognosis of high school football. I still haven't figured out which team you root for or what city/town you live in, but that doesn't matter.
GO BUCKS!!!

[ChainMan]

I understand your bias to your local teams but only one school from the SOC has made it to the state semis in the last 10 years.

[SOCMAN05]

Very True Chainman Valley and West will have there hands full , 1 through 8 they are all tough teams, but these 2 teams with there style of play are going to be a tough out for anyone !

[coop]

I understand your bias to your local teams but only one school from the SOC has made it to the state semis in the last 10 years.

Oh we know....and the last time a team had an offense like this in the SOC....2002 West State Finalist...

[Steely Dan]

Steely,
You are dead nuts on..I've read your posts for years and I totally respect your prognosis of high school football. I still haven't figured out which team you root for or what city/town you live in, but that doesn't matter.
GO BUCKS!!!

Bish - You have a PM. :122245

[crab_apple4]

I feel like Valley is going to come out of the bottom half of the bracket. I think their offense will be too much for Ridgewood this week and I like the match up against Grandview and/or Crestview. The top half of the bracket is pretty nasty, because I feel like Wynford, NY and West are up there with Valley as the top teams in the region. I'm going to say that the winner of the NY-West game ends up facing the Indians for the regional title. I believe Valley has the most fire power in the region and their defense matches up well against power running teams. I think the key to the Indians winning the region is turnovers... If Valley doesn't turn the ball over they are a very tough team to keep up with. So with the homefield advantage and the possibility of all 3 games being played on turn, I'll take the Indians to win the region. And of course my bias meter is on full blast! 8)

[Westfan]

I would love to see West and valley advance. West will have their hands full with ridgewood. They are well coached. If they get through that and face GH, that will be the first team they have faced that is as fast or faster than them. They too are a turf team that has played good competition.

West will have its hands full with NY. Not looking past that.

[coop]

I would love to see West and valley advance. West will have their hands full with ridgewood. They are well coached. If they get through that and face GH, that will be the first team they have faced that is as fast or faster than them. They too are a turf team that has played good competition.

West will have its hands full with NY. Not looking past that.

Valley played GH back in 05, they were pretty quick back then too. I think IF Valley gets past RW, they can take care of GH...they are so one dimensional with the run, they rarely pass.

GOTTA GET through friday first.

[FANOSPORTS]

Grandview's RB got hurt last week and sat out the whole second half, haven't heard how bad. The QB Rouch (pronounced Roach) led them back from a deficit by himself in that second half against Liberty Union by running, running and more running. If the RB is still out it'll be Crestview vs. Valley somewhere around C-bus in the second round. If he plays they'll win and Grandview would play Valley probably in Athens or Logan. A Portsmouth West - Wynford game would probably be held somewhere like Hamilton Township and a N-Y - Wynford game would probably be held around the Johnstown area. Columbus has a lot of turf fields in and around the outerbelt but they like to use most of them (Gahanna, Dublin, etc.) for DI, II and III most generally as they can handle the bigger schools better. Now that Hartley (southeast side) has turf they could have put in for extra games this year but it'd have to be DIV, DV or DVI because of parking issues. The seating is great but it's all on street parking. Stand by !!!!!

[Westfan]

I would love to see West and valley advance. West will have their hands full with ridgewood. They are well coached. If they get through that and face GH, that will be the first team they have faced that is as fast or faster than them. They too are a turf team that has played good competition.

West will have its hands full with NY. Not looking past that.

I meant Valley will have their hands full with ridgewood. :122248

Valley shouldn't be looking past Ridgewood, but GH can pass, they just didn't need too IMO. He did throw once in the 2nd half, and it was right on the money about 25 yards. The way that QB hides the ball and uses his fakes while being extremely quick/fast, he is the real deal.

[Burg_Grad_77]

Bucyrus Wynford vs. Smithville - This one is a little tough to call. Wynford is the #1 seed, but I am a little skeptical about the quality of their schedule. Four D VI teams on their schedule. The Smitties, on the other hand, have been in the dance many times, playoff tested. I'm going with the upset here, and taking Smithville.

Steely Dan, I see what you're saying about Wynford playing four D VI schools, but on that same token they did play and beat a DIII team in River Valley that made the playoffs. So I have a hard time picking against them. Just sayin'.

[Steely Dan]

Bucyrus Wynford vs. Smithville - This one is a little tough to call. Wynford is the #1 seed, but I am a little skeptical about the quality of their schedule. Four D VI teams on their schedule. The Smitties, on the other hand, have been in the dance many times, playoff tested. I'm going with the upset here, and taking Smithville.

Steely Dan, I see what you're saying about Wynford playing four D VI schools, but on that same token they did play and beat a DIII team in River Valley that made the playoffs. So I have a hard time picking against them. Just sayin'.

Understood. But I still like the Smitties. They are playoff tested. Wynford, on the other hand, I don't know about any of their playoff history. I will always pick a team with some post season history over a team with a better record who may have never been in the dance before. And BG77, my old buddy, you know what I'm sayin' on that one........ :122249 :122249

[philbilly]

I would not be surprized if NY comes out on top in this bracket.

[Mercerville Monster]

Steely Dan, I see what you're saying about Wynford playing four D VI schools, but on that same token they did play and beat a DIII team in River Valley that made the playoffs. So I have a hard time picking against them. Just sayin'.

Wynford has bounced between D5 and D6 the past few state counts. They hold the states longest current regular season wins streak winning 58 in a row. Their last loss came in week 2 of the 2006 season.

[Westfan]

Steely Dan, I see what you're saying about Wynford playing four D VI schools, but on that same token they did play and beat a DIII team in River Valley that made the playoffs. So I have a hard time picking against them. Just sayin'.

Wynford has bounced between D5 and D6 the past few state counts. They hold the states longest current regular season wins streak winning 58 in a row. Their last loss came in week 2 of the 2006 season.

Impressive no matter who you play