AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR (PER DIVISION) ~ STATE SEMIS

[Bleeding Red]

I would like to see 12 in and give the top 4 byes. The quality of football in the 1st and 2nd round would be better.

This would also give teams reason to play a tougher schedule because you could loose 3 or 4 games if your schedule is tough, and still get in. This would make the regular season better also.

Look at the kentucky playoffs this year, Ashland was 9-1 and got whooped by Dixie Heights who was about .500. But they played all those big schools around Cincinnati/Newport. In Ohio they probably wouldn't have made it doing this as a D2 or D3 school.

Year-year-out we see teams get in that aren't deserving because they play a bad schedule but go 9-1 or 10-0. Where teams that play a good schedule sometimes get penalized. You could play Logan 5 overtimes and loose 50-49, and another team could beat Manchester the same way and their win is worth more. Something seems wrong with that.

Taking 4 teams? What if you are a 5-5 D6 Marion Local team playing in the MAC against St. Henry, Coldwater, Delphos St. Johns, Vesailles, Anna, etc. Is taking 4 fair?

You hit the nail on the head. Funny thing is, the MAC could possibly have 2 state champions from the SAME conference this year!

And people think the SEOAL and SOC II is a tough conference to play in!

[maniac66]

I agree if Athens had stayed in the SEOAL they would have pushed hard to finish 5-5. My point is that they did finish 9-1 and never made the playoffs in a very tough region 7. And that isn't the kids fault they played the games given but that goes hand in hand with playing a schedule that lets you get to the playoffs league stength included. Maybe Athens isn't worried about playoffs right now it is easier to attract kids to a winning program than a perennial losing one. And if the tvc does expand into 2 divisions or possibly 3 divisions as being rumored then this may play out pretty good for them. I don't criticize them for their move I applaud them for making the move from a league that they had been in for so long. But if the playoffs was expanded to 12 or even 16 teams what do you think would have happened to Athens then ina strong region like 7. I think 8 teams are plenty and when you start looking at records like Athens and wondering about acceptence to bigger playoffs you open a can of worms. Look at the SEOAL it put 2 and if things fell right it could have been more and then we could have had 2 or more state champions. Like I said nothing against Athens making the move they made. What Athens did may work out better for them down the road as Ironton did by leaving easier travelling going to Russell and surrounding schools than Logan and others in the SEOAL. Ever school has to do what is best for it and sometimes that means making changes and rolling the dice on a schedule that will help you make the playoffs.

[Orange and Brown]

I agree if Athens had stayed in the SEOAL they would have pushed hard to finish 5-5. My point is that they did finish 9-1 and never made the playoffs in a very tough region 7. And that isn't the kids fault they played the games given but that goes hand in hand with playing a schedule that lets you get to the playoffs league stength included. Maybe Athens isn't worried about playoffs right now it is easier to attract kids to a winning program than a perennial losing one. And if the tvc does expand into 2 divisions or possibly 3 divisions as being rumored then this may play out pretty good for them. I don't criticize them for their move I applaud them for making the move from a league that they had been in for so long. But if the playoffs was expanded to 12 or even 16 teams what do you think would have happened to Athens then ina strong region like 7. I think 8 teams are plenty and when you start looking at records like Athens and wondering about acceptence to bigger playoffs you open a can of worms. Look at the SEOAL it put 2 and if things fell right it could have been more and then we could have had 2 or more state champions. Like I said nothing against Athens making the move they made. What Athens did may work out better for them down the road as Ironton did by leaving easier travelling going to Russell and surrounding schools than Logan and others in the SEOAL. Ever school has to do what is best for it and sometimes that means making changes and rolling the dice on a schedule that will help you make the playoffs.

The TVC already has 2 divisions

[91blue14]

I agree scheduling is tough at times and the better you are the harder it is but if you look at Athens who switched leagues and went 9-1 and missed playoffs.

Athens enjoyed a tremendous turnaround this past year under Coach Adams, and I couldnt be happier for them, but I respectively submit that had the DII Bulldogs remained in the SEOAL, their 9-1 would have been closer to 5-5 if even that. Logan and Ironton would be definite butt kickings, and Warren, Jackson, and Portsmouth would have been difficult to beat as well.

I know travel was mentioned in Athens decision to leave the SEOAL and that has been discussed ad nauseum on here and frankly their leaving is their business and no one else's. And if league trophies is their goal, the TVC is a good fit for them. However, that league can never prepare them for the DII playoffs, and even if they ever make it in, they are certainly looking at a one and out, and probably another butt kicking in the process.

Case in point....look at their region (DII-7) and tell me who you think they could have competed with had they made it in. Heck, Logan is in their region and as great a team as theyve had the past five years, the playoff wins have been hard to come by.

your clicking. it would be tough to be in region 7 with that schedule.

[Orange and Brown]

Well, the playoff seeds returned to more of a "normal" look in week 12. Of the 48 teams remaining in the six divisions, 26 (54%) are 1's and 2's.

Only four #8's are still alive, and Maria Stein Marion Local, who entered the playoffs with a 5-5 record and a #5 seed in in the DVI-24 regional final against #7 seed Fort Loramie.

My personal picks for state championships have taken a real hit. I lost St Ignatius in DI last week, and Louisville in DII in week 11 to a #8 seed. I still have Steubenville and Mooney in DIII (I couldnt make up my mind(, Alter in DIV, Coldwater in DV, and Delphos St Johns in DVI alive.

There are still 16 undefeated teams alive:

DI- Solon, Dublin Coffman, Cin Anderson
DII- 0
DIII- Mooney, Cin Wyoming
DIV- Chagrin Falls, Clinton Massie, Kettering Alter
DV- Cuyahoga Heights, Patrick Henry, Fredericktown, Ridgewood
DVI- Wynford, Norwalk St Paul, Delphos St Johns, Ada

There will be four matchups of undefeateds for regional championships this weekend:

DIV- #1 Clinton Massie vs #2 Kettering Alter
DV- #1 Fredericktown vs #6 West Lafayette Richwood
DVI- #4 Wynford vs #2 Norwalk St Paul, and #1 Delphos St Johns vs #2 Ada

Seeds remaining are as follows:

#1- 13
#2- 13
#3- 6
#4- 3
#5- 4
#6- 4
#7- 1 (Fort Loramie 10-2)
#8- 4 (Canton McKinley 8-4, Marion Franklin 10-2, Springfield Shawnee 9-3, St Henry 9-3)

That was really neat to look at the breakdown like that!!!! Thanks gahs4ever

[pappy1]

This is a geat thread and a very informative way to follow the playoffs.

[Orange and Brown]

There are some really good matchups. Should be a great weekend of football. I just wish SEO still had a dog in the fight!

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

we came an overtime period, from being one of them, so proud of the fighting tigers.

[Paladin]

This week, I like Elder & Glenville in I.............Lake Catholic & Winton Woods in II.....................Mooney & DeSales in III.........Chagrin Falls & Alter in IV..........Ursuline & Coldwater in V............. St. Paul & St. Johns in VI

[FANOSPORTS]

We could very easily have all 6 champions as Catholic schools this year. The only 3 exceptions I see that could happen are Glenville winning DI (just because of their ALL-STAR) lineup, Winton Woods in DII (as Mentor moved up from DIII and Woods is loaded with athletes) and Coldwater in DV (because they've proven they can beat Catholic schools before). IMO, the locks for Catholic schools are DIII, DIV and DVI.

[fuzzhead]

Mooney just putting it all over Steubenville. . .

Braylon Heard is awesome.

[RogueWarrior1965]

Youngstown Ursuline 48 Ridgewood 6. Sounded like a pretty ugly game. #5 Conrad was reportedly out in the first quarter with a probable concussion and he was able to re-enter the game after being cleared by EMS to only then go out again with a shoulder injury. Hopefully he is ok. Looks like another private school in the State finals.

[fuzzhead]

He's going to WVU according to the announcers.

[85inside]

I cant wait until friday. That is going to be three dandy finals games. Mooney vs deslaes will be awesome and I am hoping my Coldwater Cavs can win another state title. What a program they have developed down there.

[fuzzhead]

After what Mooney did to Steubenville last night, I can't see DeSales staying within three TDs of the Cardinals. I've seen DeSales play Watterson twice this year and they're pretty good, but Heard is the best RB I've seen all year long and the o-line is just dominant.

[pappy1]

Braylon Heard of Mooney 23 carries for 303 yds and 3 TDs. Wonder if JT has heard of him since he is from Youngstown...lol

I watched some of this game on STO. Over 100 of those yards came on two consecutive offensive plays. He went 40+ for a score and on their next offensive possesion he went 60+ for a score on the first play of that series. Both plays the blocking was outstanding. He has tremendous speed and was untouched. He had a great cutback to an open lane on the 60+.

[fuzzhead]

He also had a 90+ yard TD. . . 94 yards, I believe.

[wrestler87]

Sounds very impressive. I haven't seen him play. I wonder how he handles it when the team doesn't block so well this deep in the playoffs? Has he ever had a weak line? That's a question JT might have to answer! Hehe.
I hope for OSU's sake JT gets a QB who doesn't forget his fundamentals when the chips are down.
He should look into a few replacements this year anyways. Wonder who he'll take?

[Lamont Cranston]

Interesting... after much discussion on here the last few weeks, all 4 schools playing in the d1 and d2 finals this year are "public"

[FANOSPORTS]

He's going to WVU according to the announcers.

We'll take him, thank you !!!!!