Top Ten teams

[loganlocos]

hawkeye -

They return 15+ starters from a 4-6 team that included losses to Brookhaven (D1 playoffs), Logan (D2 playoffs), Zanesville (D2 playoffs), Big Walnut (D3 State Champs), and Portsmouth (D4 playoffs), and Ironton.

They play a very tough schedule and might struggle to get better than 6-4, but I don't punish a team for playing a tough schedule. Not many other teams would have faired much better against those six teams in our area of the state.

Just the way I see it.

[hawkeyepierce]

hawkeye -

They return 15+ starters from a 4-6 team that included losses to Brookhaven (D1 playoffs), Logan (D2 playoffs), Zanesville (D2 playoffs), Big Walnut (D3 State Champs), and Portsmouth (D4 playoffs), and Ironton.

They play a very tough schedule and might struggle to get better than 6-4, but I don't punish a team for playing a tough schedule. Not many other teams would have faired much better against those six teams in our area of the state.

Just the way I see it.

I respectfully disagree with you...

Because that is funny, that can be said of Vinton County then. Last season, Vinton County went 4-6 with losses to Gallia Academy, Jackson, Waverly, Minford, Nelsonville-York and Belpre. And they return seven starters, eleven letter winners and three of the area bests, (all juniors) in QB Andy Grillo, TE/DE Brandon Grigsby and LT Dylan Guthrie. The schedule has been loosen, with Unioto, Bloom Carroll, Jackson, Waverly and now new league opponent Athens. However, I am not willing to say that they are top ten material, yet. Not with perennial powerhouses of; Amanda Clearcreek, Bellaire, Ironton, Lancaster, Logan, New Lexington, Sheridan, Waverly, Westfall, and Wheelersburg.

Those ten teams makes noise every year in their conference and in the playoffs and more importantly they ARE established programs. And in my opinion Chillicothe and Vinton County are not, yet.

[loganlocos]

I respectfully disagree with you...

Because that is funny, that can be said of Vinton County then. Last season, Vinton County went 4-6 with losses to Gallia Academy, Jackson, Waverly, Minford, Nelsonville-York and Belpre. And they return seven starters, eleven letter winners and three of the area bests, (all juniors) in QB Andy Grillo, TE/DE Brandon Grigsby and LT Dylan Guthrie. The schedule has been loosen, with Unioto, Bloom Carroll, Jackson, Waverly and now new league opponent Athens. However, I am not willing to say that they are top ten material, yet. Not with perennial powerhouses of; Amanda Clearcreek, Bellaire, Ironton, Lancaster, Logan, New Lexington, Sheridan, Waverly, Westfall, and Wheelersburg.

Those ten teams makes noise every year in their conference and in the playoffs and more importantly they ARE established programs. And in my opinion Chillicothe and Vinton County are not, yet.

hawkeye -

You make some good points. However, I see a big difference between returning 7 starters (VC) and 15 or more (Chilli). And while VC played an over ambitious schedule (much like Chilli) in 2007, outside of Waverly, Jackson, and Minford, the rest of the teams that defeated Vinton County weren't great football teams last fall. The TVC-Ohio had a surprisingly down year last fall (Belpre lost to Warren while Nelsonville-York gave Crooksville their only win), and Gallipolis (due to injuries), was never that competitive in the SEOAL.

I did not include Amana-Clearcreek, Lancaster, or Bellaire for consideration in my top 10, the criteria for which I listed. While Amanda and Lancaster would certainly have been considered, Bellaire is coming off of an 0-10 season and was recently pushed around by Marietta in a scrimmage, leading me to believe they aren't going to be much better this fall.

Chillicothe has the talent to play with anyone in the top 10. The question for them will be leadership, of which they had none last year. If they can find some leaders, I think they will go into a week 10 game with Logan with a chance to win the league title. However, if they struggle to find leaders, they will end up like last season.

Time will tell.

[hawkeyepierce]

Excuse me, I was unaware that Bellaire was 0-10 last season, wow.

And yes the TVC-Ohio has been down and I like to think that had more to do with (Jay Edwards, Bear Lewis and) Nelsonville dominance over the past few years. My thinking is that one team was so much better than everyone else, but in reality would have struggled to compete in, let's say, the SOCII. I will look to see much more parody in the TVC-Ohio than last season.

You are definitely right about one thing..."time will tell."

[loganlocos]

Excuse me, I was unaware that Bellaire was 0-10 last season, wow.

And yes the TVC-Ohio has been down and I like to think that had more to do with (Jay Edwards, Bear Lewis and) Nelsonville dominance over the past few years. My thinking is that one team was so much better than everyone else, but in reality would have struggled to compete in, let's say, the SOCII. I will look to see much more parody in the TVC-Ohio than last season.

You are definitely right about one thing..."time will tell."

I agree with you about the TVC-Ohio. I think the league will be more balanced this season. Nelsonville-York, Belpre, and Vinton County should all be stronger teams and I think that Meigs, Wellston, and even Athens have potential to be competitive week in and week out. I don't know what Alex has at all.

Good luck to the Vikings.

[91Buckeye]

Loganlocos, Hawkeyepierce

I would have said last week that this was a three horse race in the Ohio as well. I wouldn't count the Marauders out. After watching Meigs play in a scrimmage, I have to say that this league is far stronger and more balanced than it has been in some time. Should make for a very exciting year.