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

[Neutron Man]

Not that the Football team gives two you know whats about this, but it'd be nice to win this game and give EVERYONE (except OHBuckeye2) a loss in the Playoff Pick'em Contest - Round 3. Everyone picks CBH! I realize the TALL task! I know Burg is gonna have to be 105% better than CBH!

So I figured we ought to hang around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big ****burger to eat! -Lou Brown

(This is a humorous comment BTW! Not serious! Don't take offense serious people!)

Go Burg!

[then what]

A questions for pirate fans. Will this season be considered a successful season being a regional runner up? My personal opinion is no! With the amount of talent on this team it was expected to get this far. We didn't win the SOC which is goal # 1 so in my opinion a win Sat. night is a must for this team. If the seniors want to leave a legacy and be mentioned with the better teams they have to win the region. Just wondering how this team will be viewed. This game win or lose could shape the legacy of this senior class.......Good luck pirates!

[callie11]

I would rather have a SOC crown and not even make the playoffs at all. A chance of a SOC team winning a state championship in any given year are near zero. I venture a guess we will not see another one. A SOC crown is something you can showcase and reflect on as a great season.

[4thgoal]

Of course this season is a success, no matter the outcome this week. Wheelersburg has only won their region 5 times....ever. To base the memory of a senior class.....in any sport, at any school....on one game is absurd. The coaching staff as well as the players have had a great season and regardless of the outcome, people will remember this team. Personally, I am not counting them out and I think they will move on to state, but if they don't, that doesn't change my opinion of thier success.

Does anyone think the 2007 basketball team was a failure after going to the final 4 in 2006 and then going back to the final 4 in 2007 and not winning it all?
Does anyone think the 2011 baseball team was a failure after going to the final 4 in 2010 and then going back to the final 4 in 2011 and not winning it all?

This is the farthest we have made it in football since the 2004 season and that is a great accomplishment. Yes, the expectations were high before the season for this team, but realistically, there are 108 football teams in D5 and 100 of them would love to have the chance to step onto the field in week 13. These kids have that chance and the community will be there supporting them, not judging their "legacy" as you called it.

[Buckeye-4-Life]

Callie11, If you want respect around the state of Ohio and I would think all coaches want that, making the playoffs and advancing is the best thing you can do. No one cares about who wins league titles when it comes to state dominance or respect for your program. Its all about what you can do if and or when you compete with the big boys around the state! If I was a head coach and had the choice to either win a conference championship or trade that in for a playoff birth and a chance to win a regional or state championship, I would scrap the conference trophy any day!! Remember there are times you can beat weak opponents to win a championship but you never beat weak opponents to advance in the tournament!!

[fbnut]

Short of getting to state title game this team should never be mentioned among the burgs best. You can't graduate having no soc titles, 0-3 vs valley and be mentioned among the best.

[LITTLE TIGER]

GOOD LUCK PIRATES, FROM TIGER TOWN, BRING BACK THE "W", SEVERAL OF US TIGERS WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU AT N.Y

[4thgoal]

Short of getting to state title game this team should never be mentioned among the burgs best. You can't graduate having no soc titles, 0-3 vs valley and be mentioned among the best.

Aside from the personal records, it would be tough to not mention the team with records for most points in season and most yards in a season among the best.

[wobycat]

81% win percentage
Most yards gained in history of burg football
Playing for regional title...

I can see the argument fbnut.

[then what]

What is the criteria to get your team picture hung in the locker room? I'm thinking you have to win the SOC. Go undefeated or a regional championship team. I think thats what it takes to get your team picture in the locker room. I guess thats what is deemed a successful season. Is this correct on the criteria for team picture hung in locker room? There might be something about a 10 win season also I cant remember. That is why I agree with fbnut.........

[vctransplant]

Taking Berg. Gonna shock some people.

[vladimir]

Callie11, If you want respect around the state of Ohio and I would think all coaches want that, making the playoffs and advancing is the best thing you can do. No one cares about who wins league titles when it comes to state dominance or respect for your program. Its all about what you can do if and or when you compete with the big boys around the state! If I was a head coach and had the choice to either win a conference championship or trade that in for a playoff birth and a chance to win a regional or state championship, I would scrap the conference trophy any day!! Remember there are times you can beat weak opponents to win a championship but you never beat weak opponents to advance in the tournament!!

So it's sour grapes, huh?


Well the SOCII is far from weak, so winning the SOCII and being successful in the playoffs kinda go hand and hand. Valley is sitting at home this week, but the past two years they've made it to the regional title game and came up short. The first goal should be to win the league, and that alone will get you into the playoffs. What you do from there is what will make your program recognized, as to other state powerhouses, if you're not playing those other playoff contenders in your non-league schedule. That is exactly why I'm a big advocate of playing playoff caliber programs in your non-league games to not only prepare you for your league but to know where the bar is set once you do get into playing for a regional championship.

[TRENCHFOOT]

GO BIG BURG!!

[Endzone_Warrior]

Taking Berg. Gonna shock some people.

:aaaaa41 :aaaaa41 :aaaaa59 YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!

[Trojan_Pride]

Callie11, If you want respect around the state of Ohio and I would think all coaches want that, making the playoffs and advancing is the best thing you can do. No one cares about who wins league titles when it comes to state dominance or respect for your program. Its all about what you can do if and or when you compete with the big boys around the state! If I was a head coach and had the choice to either win a conference championship or trade that in for a playoff birth and a chance to win a regional or state championship, I would scrap the conference trophy any day!! Remember there are times you can beat weak opponents to win a championship but you never beat weak opponents to advance in the tournament!!

So it's sour grapes, huh?


Well the SOCII is far from weak, so winning the SOCII and being successful in the playoffs kinda go hand and hand. Valley is sitting at home this week, but the past two years they've made it to the regional title game and came up short. The first goal should be to win the league, and that alone will get you into the playoffs. What you do from there is what will make your program recognized, as to other state powerhouses, if you're not playing those other playoff contenders in your non-league schedule. That is exactly why I'm a big advocate of playing playoff caliber programs in your non-league games to not only prepare you for your league but to know where the bar is set once you do get into playing for a regional championship.

people in our area will remember who won a SOCII championship but they will NOT remember who comes in 8th place in a division

GOOD LUCK BURG

[Old Bulldog]

The Pirates definately have to bring a lunch on Saturday. Bishop Hartley is the truth. I've seen the Burg in a few upsets and the prevailing factor in all of them was attitude. A few years ago in a bball game against an undefeated Oak Hill team they got down by 10 points, kept their focus, and won. In the baseball State Semi Finals a couple years back Hamilton Badin had bases loaded, no one out, top of the 12th. None of the Pirates panicked and they won. (No Pirate will EVER hit a bigger HR than that one Butch.) Last year in the Baseball State Championship game Burg was down 4 - 3 in the bottom of the 7th and came back to get the trophy. Heck, there's still a video floating around of Andy Stegman catching a pass in the end zone against Ironton for the win somewhere. BELIEVE. In every upset there's a point somewhere during the game that's a gut check. It starts and ends with BELIEVE. You gotta believe first or there's no chance for an upset.

Go Burg!

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

GO PIRATES

[4thgoal]

Well said OldBulldog. I agree Burg will need to bring a lunch, but it won't be the first time and you pointed out some great examples!

GO PIRATES!!

[4thgoal]

That Pirate attitude you spoke about made me think of something else. That pass to Stegman was thrown after the starting QB Lang went out with a knee injury in the first half and a young soph Schankwiler jumped in and led the comeback. In the 2012 baseball run, starting catcher A.Hall was injured in the regionals and backup catcher D.Miller jumped in behind the plate and helped lead them to 2 state titles.

Point being, the attitude of winning is in all the kids and in adversity, they know how to step in and still win.

[JasonClaytor]

That Pirate attitude you spoke about made me think of something else. That pass to Stegman was thrown after the starting QB Lang went out with a knee injury in the first half and a young soph Schankwiler jumped in and led the comeback. In the 2012 baseball run, starting catcher A.Hall was injured in the regionals and backup catcher D.Miller jumped in behind the plate and helped lead them to 2 state titles.

Point being, the attitude of winning is in all the kids and in adversity, they know how to step in and still win.

I'm glad we aren't playing baseball tomorrow... By the way Bishop Ready destroyed Newark Catholic tonight. NC took Valley apart.

Looks like the CCL will have 2 teams in the final four as long as Hartley plays their game, which I know they will.