Region 9

[TigerBacker#1]

Line play is important regardless of type of offense being run. Also the running game of Athens has helped set up the pass for the Dawgs. Athens has a nice back In fact a great back for the TVC and SEOAL. However many of the teams in the region see similar backs every week. Also to say all the Dawgs routes are short is ...short sighted.

That being said I want Athens to advance. But it will be much different than the kind of teams they have seen for 10 weeks.

[Iggy25]

Paladin, you have no clue as to what you are talking about. I have covered and seen numerous state title teams. I know talent and a good team when I see one. Athens is a VERY good team. The offensive line is the only question as to how far they go. Burrow picked apart Shawnee last year and that was a very good Shawnee team. Paladin, you are just mad Logan has fallen apart and Athens has become a power. If you man cover Athens, you will be torched. Because if the blitz gets there, Burrow can take off. He does it all the time and did it against Shawnee last year. How is the run game in trouble? Please enlighten us, all knowing. From a coaching standpoint, Logan has looked awful for years. And Athens has been the best team in the region. What are they supposed to do? They play your "incredible" SEOAL (that I might point out is quickly going to fall apart) and destroy them. Trust me, this is a very tough region. But Athens can beat anyone in the region. Not saying they will, but definitely can. The only reason Thurgood stopped Athens was incredible pressure. When Burrow had time they had open receivers. Go ahead, great coach, man cover Athens. The game will be over at half unless somehow you can wrap up and bring a TON of pressure.

BINGO, you answer your question, the O line! the bullpuppies will lose in the 2nd or regional final due to the blitz and the lack of an outstanding O line! Don't give me this crap about being 10-0 because the bullpuppies have fail to play a good team except for Trimble in the Jamboree game and we all know what happened in that game! The bullpuppies(as my friend MOON likes to call them) Look out for Marion Franklin because they are similar to Thurgood Marshall! There speed will hurt the bullpuppies defense and that game could come down to which team will score last and defensive stops! Again Lets me be clear the bullpuppies does not play teams week In and week out like what's in the Columbus City League!

Remember that Athens only ran five plays in that scrimmage and Trimble could not stop Trae Williams. Play it again this week. Athens by 21. It is more the edges for the offensive line. Give Burrow enough time, they will dominate offensively. He doesn't need a ton. Notice how he almost never sits back in the pocket too long. How much do you really know about Marion-Franklin? I guarantee you have never seen them play and you are making that assumption. Good job.

[BA11A]

Again, I never said the routes were short, that type of offense is built to take advantage of zones and man. And once again everyone knows that Athens will see different types of teams once the playoffs hit that is why it is called the playoffs. The best teams are in so the competition will be better. I just think to many people evaluate with emotion and not enough knowledge of the game. If Athens bows out in the first round so be it, it happens everyone knows you have to be skilled with a little luck on your side. With tat being said good luck to all TVC playoff teams, enjoy the ride.

[TigerBacker#1]

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You see that is the problem. All worthy opponents will neutralize Williams without significant success by the lines. I would go so far as to say Williams is the best running back Trimble has seen all year. That will not be the case should the Dawgs draw Desales. Also I m also a Trimble fan. Trimble has a great high school line. But at the end of the day I would choose Desales line by this time of year. And the db's have seen plenty of talented receivers. And if it is Desales they will play keep away from Athens. Even Burrows can not complete a pass from the sidelines

[93Bulldog]

Athens has a nice back In fact a great back for the TVC and SEOAL. However many of the teams in the region see similar backs every week. Also to say all the Dawgs routes are short is ...short sighted.

That being said I want Athens to advance. But it will be much different than the kind of teams they have seen for 10 weeks.

I have been watching games every week on STO, TW311 from around the state ... They all DON'T have backs like Trae Williams.

[Iggy25]

Keep away doesn't seem to work, unless you can shut down the offense and only one team has been able to do that. Shawnee couldn't.

[LHS 72]

Athens has a nice back In fact a great back for the TVC and SEOAL. However many of the teams in the region see similar backs every week. Also to say all the Dawgs routes are short is ...short sighted.

That being said I want Athens to advance. But it will be much different than the kind of teams they have seen for 10 weeks.

I have been watching games every week on STO, TW311 from around the state ... They all DON'T have backs like Trae Williams.

Yes granted Williams is a good back, But if he is needed in the backfield to help block, I know of some ways to use him if that's the case but with a good defensive team they might have all kind of blitz packages, and these teams will have speed which Athens has not seen this year! Have you ever heard of Bullets?

[Pol pot]

Face the fact Paladin and others who do nothing but criticize, success is not defined as having to mak it to the State Championship game, and all but 7 of the State's 700+ teams will end the season with a win in week 15. Getting to the Regional Championship game is an accomplishment, one that not many schools ever make, and few from the SE District has ever made.

[doubleplay643]

Can someone start a Region 7 Topic for a certain someone on SEOP's and that way a certain someone with his delusions of grandeur can go on that topic page and basically have a conversation with himself...making his own comments, then replying to his comments with how brilliant he is?

Paladin, please go start your Region 7 thread now...we know your position on Region 9, excuse yourself from the conversation and go to Region 7 please.

You can issue comments and then reply to them with how smart you are....perfect for the image you have of yourself, your ego, and you being a legend in your own mind and all.

[Pol pot]

Why is Paladin no longer coaching? Did he accomplish all that could be done in the profession and quit after they named the stadium after him?

[Paladin]

A quick review of last year shows how lucky Athens was to get as far as they did. Their region last year wasn't very strong, which worked to their advantage. This years region isn't the same weak sister they had last year. Last year they opened with Circleville, a team who finished 6-4 to limp into the playoffs as they lost their last 3 games( crushed is more like it) , and four overall. Losing to Athens finished them at 6-5. Then , Athens catches a lucky break and gets Shawnee but barely edges them 36-35. Shawnee finishes 8-4 ( 7 -3 regular season). But then, Athens then faces a real playoff team in Thurgood Marshall and gets blown out 60-21 . Marshall, of course goes no farther as they got beat by Bellevue who gets whipped by SVSM. Competition..

No need to get upset with my opinion. I'm just stating facts and the history of last year. This year is a problem for them because the region is much more competitive and Athens has been living this season on poor SEO teams that won't have them prepared to meet the talent they will face.

Facts . Just the cold , sobering facts.

P.S. -- I just saw the Shawnee film from last year too. Yep, they weren't very good. But you won that game. Congrats.

[doubleplay643]

Why is Paladin no longer coaching? Did he accomplish all that could be done in the profession and quit after they named the stadium after him?

Yep must have but instead of calling it the PalaDome.....they called it the PukaDome

[Pol pot]

So, can you please post your resume so everyone can see the volumes of success you've had Paladin? I'm sure the Muskingam Valley PeeWee association misses all the hard work you put in while you were the concessions manager over there!

[Iggy25]

A quick review of last year shows how lucky Athens was to get as far as they did. Their region last year wasn't very strong, which worked to their advantage. This years region isn't the same weak sister they had last year. Last year they opened with Circleville, a team who finished 6-4 to limp into the playoffs as they lost their last 3 games( crushed is more like it) , and four overall. Losing to Athens finished them at 6-5. Then , Athens catches a lucky break and gets Shawnee but barely edges them 36-35. Shawnee finishes 8-4 ( 7 -3 regular season). But then, Athens then faces a real playoff team in Thurgood Marshall and gets blown out 60-21 .

No need to get upset with my opinion. I'm just stating facts and the history of last year. This year is a problem for them because the region is much more competitive and Athens has been living this season on poor SEO teams that won't have them prepared to meet the talent they will face.

Facts . Just the cold , sobering facts.

P.S. -- I just saw the Shawnee film from last year too. Yep, they weren't very good. But you won that game. Congrats.

How was Athens lucky? They had to fight their way back with sophomores against a team that came close to winning a state title the year before. How was the region not strong? Alter was one of the best in the state. Thurgood was very strong. Yeah, look at some of the other regions, including region 7. Come on. And so if this region is better this year, how is it so horrible to you? Yeah, Circleville was a low seed and for good reason. Athens earned an easier first round game. Come on. That is the way most regions are. But you wouldn't know much about winning in the playoffs with the Chieftans, would you? How in the hell was Shawnee not a real playoff team? You are absolutely clueless. You state no facts, just your incredible bias. Sorry that your team is no good. I am guessing Alter was no good then. they only had one of the best teams in the state but got beat by a good Shawnee team, which I will note is again ranked in the state again.

[Raider6309]

Its Athens, everyone from SEO thinks Athens is the rich school. Even tho Athens has an old school that leaks bad. Athens could make to the state in football and basketball, area schools will still find something to criticize. I would love to see burrow average 500 yards a game passing in the playoffs. This team has a lot more firepower than the team that lost to thurgood. They just dropped too passes. Costly drops before half that should have made it 28-21 at half, not 35-14. Athens ball to start the second half. But it was freshmen and sophomores playing seniors. And playing an inner city Dayton school

[bman]

Why does every other post thread on this board have to turn into a bash Athens thread? Is the TVC strong? No. Is Athens' schedule the toughest? No. Does Athens have a pretty good football team? Yes. Would Athens still be the favorite to win in the SOC and MSL, probably playing some closer games along the way? Yes. The only league I may not consider Athens the favorite in around here would probably be the SCOL because of Massie.

As for Region 9, hopefully Logan Elm gets past a tough Hamilton Township team tomorrow and can squeeze into a home game. I'd love to see a LE-Athens matchup in Week 12 if both teams are fortunate enough to still be playing.

[doubleplay643]

So, can you please post your resume so everyone can see the volumes of success you've had Paladin? I'm sure the Muskingam Valley PeeWee association misses all the hard work you put in while you were the concessions manager over there!

Uh-oh PolPot, you have just opened yourself up to his reply where he will regale us all with his trophies still on his mantle and his all SEOAL days, and it goes on and on.

His head coaching career at Rosecrans or Crooksville (south of Zanesville, but it has been too long ago for me to remember exactly...or perhaps at the time it just wasn't that big of deal for me to remember lol) was not particularly exceptional. He will have you believe otherwise though...ergo his legend.

The thing here is everyone (99%) of SEOP's in Week 11 once their team is eliminated gets on the bus for Athens, Trimble, Burg, Valley, and any other SEO team that makes it, but instead of heading north to the forums for their Regions he prefers to belittle people...over compensating I imagine.

[LHS 72]

Oh so funny!!!!! all of you bullpuppies supporters are so gullible letting that old PALADIN get into you guys mind!

[Tyler_Durden]

I actually find it even more amusing that every time there is a topic where Athens is included there are more Logan people conversing on it than anyone from anywhere else. They must not have anything else to talk about...

Oh, and the post about beating Athens offense with Blitzes and man coverage... LOL, good luck with that. Athens probably HOPES teams will do that.

[doubleplay643]

Athens over DeSales
Marion Franklin over Chillicothe
Dover over Tri Valley
Brookhaven over Logan Elm

Then:
Athens over Brookhaven
Marion Franklin over Dover (toss up)

Finally:
Sorry but Marion Franklin over Athens...

If indeed that is the way the top 8 get seeded once we know for certain Saturday afternoon.

But another regional final appearance that returns yet again a majority of their line-up for next year...pretty darn good.