D5-Region 17 Final: #1 Bishop Hartley vs #3 Wheelersburg

[seasick80]

partly cloudy and 22 saturday night! Great night for Burg football!

[Burg_Grad_77]

Weather is not looking to be good calling for cold rain if I heard correct.
How will that affect either team?

According to this there is only a 20% chance of rain Saturday night.

http://www.weather.com/weather/weekend/ ... H0789:1:US

[seasick80]

GO BURG!!!

[cleatus]

Burg is good enough to win if Hartley has multiple to's just like massie was just good enough to win last yr after 5 Hartley to's

[JasonClaytor]

Weather is looking fine, just cold. Ohio playoff football weather!

[Railroadn]

Burg is good enough to win if Hartley has multiple to's just like massie was just good enough to win last yr after 5 Hartley to's

I went to the Massie/Hartley game last year. Massie won because they were much stronger and more physical on the line. Once again I believe that's what it will take to beat Hartley again this year.

[JasonClaytor]

Burg is good enough to win if Hartley has multiple to's just like massie was just good enough to win last yr after 5 Hartley to's

I went to the Massie/Hartley game last year. Massie won because they were much stronger and more physical on the line. Once again I believe that's what it will take to beat Hartley again this year.

You didn't think Hartley hurt themselves with turnovers? Because 3 or 4 of them were unforced. Two were kickoffs that were muffed and recovered by Massie.

Any time you give up possessions like that, especially inside your own 40 yard line it's going to be tough to recover from that. Either way it doesn't matter because that was last season with a completely different type of team.

Hartley has lost a total of five games dating back to the 2010 season. All of those losses except for the Kenton game Hartley had 4+ turnovers. Again turnovers will be important in this game Saturday. If Hartley limits those turnovers they will most likely win.

I like the fact that Wheelersburg throws the ball around because Hartley has some good defensive backs that can come up with a pick on any given pass play down field.

[Railroadn]

Yea run n shoot I think your right about the turnovers. This will be a fun game to watch. One things for sure......I'll be at Nelsonville to see it! I think Pirates will be forced to run more than their used to because of the talented defensive backs of Hartley but that might not be a bad strategy. It will all come down to how well burgs offensive line matches up with Hartleys defensive line. If burgs O line can move some defensive bodies around then they might just have a chance.

[lrn4lf]

Should be a great game! Not from the burg but rooting for them. Burg fans don't bring up the "private schools can recruit excuse"! Burg has several "recruits" on their team this year and every year. No excuses play the game! Eddie Miller unstoppable in this game! As long as that shoulder holds up--- keep throwing!!!

[Endzone_Warrior]

Considering that almost all games are Lost, rather than Won...any team that has more than 4 turnovers in a game deserves to lose IMO, with that being said the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.

[local superstar]

Game time is getting closer. Good luck Burg, just think Hartley is going to be alot to handle.

[4thgoal]

Eddie Miller unstoppable in this game! As long as that shoulder holds up--- keep throwing!!!

That is 2-3 times you have said something about his shoulder. His shoulder has been fine the past 8 weeks and he has even been lowering his shoulder providing hits TO defenders lately. Why do you continue to bring that up?

[Endzone_Warrior]

What does the injury report look like for Hartley? Someone stated earlier that their has been some key injuries throughout the season..anyone care to shed some light on this matter??

[4thgoal]

I like the fact that Wheelersburg throws the ball around because Hartley has some good defensive backs that can come up with a pick on any given pass play down field.

Burg throws very few balls down the field. Most passes are screens, quick outs, and other timing routes. Occasionally, there will be a pass over the top if the defenders press up tight on the receivers, but not often.

Weather forecast is looking better (still cold). Temps around 30° and 0% chance of precipitation.

GO PIRATES!!

[JasonClaytor]

I like the fact that Wheelersburg throws the ball around because Hartley has some good defensive backs that can come up with a pick on any given pass play down field.

Burg throws very few balls down the field. Most passes are screens, quick outs, and other timing routes. Occasionally, there will be a pass over the top if the defenders press up tight on the receivers, but not often.

Weather forecast is looking better (still cold). Temps around 30° and 0% chance of precipitation.

GO PIRATES!!

Wheelersburg throws the ball down field more than most teams Hartley has played.

[ridgerunner]

The Miller boy is a fabulous athlete. He runs very well and throws a nice ball, I think has improved vastly from the previous season, but he does still have a tendency to throw off of his back foot when under pressured. If he does this against the defensive backfield for Hartley I think that will be costly. I haven't seen Hartley play, but have heard plenty about them from people who have. I think the key to Wheelersburg winning the game is having others in the offense step up big and fill the playmaker role of Miller, as you can expect the Hawks will try to shut him down and make the others be who beats them. Anyone who looks at this team can tell where their bread is buttered and that is #12 and I wouldn't be surprised to see him on defense to help with his speed . I know the Pirates have a great staff and will have them prepared the best they possibly can.


I hope that this is a great game as it is for a regional championship from one of the weaker regions in the division, wouldn't it be something to have a state champion come out of what some say is the weakest region.
Stay injury free Burg and good luck!

[4thgoal]

I hope that this is a great game as it is for a regional championship from one of the weaker regions in the division, wouldn't it be something to have a state champion come out of what some say is the weakest region.

Interesting that some say this is the weakest region in DV. There were 4 of the AP Top 10 teams in region 17.
According to http://www.fantastic50.net/Ohio_State_Odds.php, this region was most likely to provide the DV state champion (mostly because of Bishop Hartley).
Division V
Region 15 - 11%
Region 16 - 24%
Region 17 - 59%
Region 18 - 6%

[nutronron2012]

If the Pirates O-line can give EM3 time to throw, Burg wins. If BH's D-Line gets a good rush and chases Miller all night then it could be bad for the Burg.
As far as the State Title. I think it is Coldwaters to lose. They will be a tough out. Would love to see The Burg bring a Title back to Southern Ohio.
Good Luck Burg.

[ridgerunner]

I hope that this is a great game as it is for a regional championship from one of the weaker regions in the division, wouldn't it be something to have a state champion come out of what some say is the weakest region.

Interesting that some say this is the weakest region in DV. There were 4 of the AP Top 10 teams in region 17.
According to http://www.fantastic50.net/Ohio_State_Odds.php, this region was most likely to provide the DV state champion (mostly because of Bishop Hartley).
Division V
Region 15 - 11%
Region 16 - 24%
Region 17 - 59%
Region 18 - 6%

This is correct. I guess they were labled weak because of the records? Traditionally I would think that this would be the best region in the Division.

[chiefs]

Zane Trace and Westfall were very weak #7 and #8 cards. Fairland wasn't a very good #6 card, either (not taking away from Wheelersburg). Martins Ferry wasn't a very strong #2 card. The other four teams in the region (Hartley, Wheelersburg, LU, and St. Clairsville) would've had very viable shots to win region 15 and region 18, and if neither of those four would've beaten Coldwater, could've lined up 2, 3, 4, and 5 in region 16.