State Semi Finals: Wheelersburg 15 Middletown Madison 10

[14U]

I can't see any team beating Burg. State Championship for them is my prediction

I called early in season that the only games they would have any trouble or game is final four, now it looks like the championship

[The Nature Boy]

I applaud the Chillicothe Cavaliers for building such a nice facility for the Burg to play their playoff games at. No disrespect meant to the fine folks at Chillicothe. 3 weeks in a row. We might have to rename the field the Pirate Ed Miller Stadium North.

[The Nature Boy]

Just temporarily.

[BurgGrad6]

I’d like to go through and thank the people of Chillicothe individually. However, I’ll just do a general thank you on here. The facility and hospitality is second to none! Thank you all for everything!

[CavalierAlum05]

Thanks guys! Glad you enjoy the facility. Really really really thankful to host a state semi final. That’s very very cool. Once everything is completed Chilli really will be the best site for playoff games (minus Jackson’s NAIA stadium lol)
Our announcer is a diehard with a speech problem so if you think he’s bad just remember he’s a good guy lol.

[Jolly P(irate)]

I applaud the Chillicothe Cavaliers for building such a nice facility for the Burg to play their playoff games at. No disrespect meant to the fine folks at Chillicothe. 3 weeks in a row. We might have to rename the field the Pirate Ed Miller Stadium North.

I’d settle for Miller Herrnstein Field. Lmao.

[BurgGrad6]

Ok... I too just watched the highlights of Madison WJ game... hmmm, no disrespect meant to either team here. I thought WJ looked aweful.. they basically didn’t even play defense... and Madison looked slow and kind of weak.. maybe it was just the plays that they showed or something... I just don’t see this game being very close. I don’t think any team will beat burg by running the football.... we will see though..

[LucasDavenport]

Very excited to see this game back at Chillicothe

The people of Chillicothe are truly as good as any in Southern Ohio. My son has lived and worked in Chillicothe for the last 3 years and it's been amazing to see how several have helped in his growth process and genuinely care for him.

Middletown Madison Senior is a true Cinderella Story--- and seem a little fated. Hopefully they are happy to be here and are a little overwhelmed by the trip and circumstances--- but I'm not betting on it.

Good luck to the Burg. Very good to see Wheelersburg come through Region 19 and I believe they did it in the toughest way or by having the toughest route. 3 Central District tradition laced football teams have been eaten up by this Wheelersburg team and Coaching Staff.

[Jolly P(irate)]

Ok... I too just watched the highlights of Madison WJ game... hmmm, no disrespect meant to either team here. I thought WJ looked aweful.. they basically didn’t even play defense... and Madison looked slow and kind of weak.. maybe it was just the plays that they showed or something... I just don’t see this game being very close. I don’t think any team will beat burg by running the football.... we will see though..

Yea. I thought that as well. Wasn’t really going to bring it up but since you guys already did. The only bright spot I saw was Madison’s DLine. They got up field and put pressure on WJ qb all night. I think that forced the mistakes. The Madison RB’s aren’t very fast. OL is fairly undersized but kind of quick.

[Mad-Dogg]

I agree 100%. Hernstein field is 2nd to none one of the best facilities I've watched a burg playoff game at. The stadium is absolutely beautiful. The parking is awesome and we have been treated amazing the past two wks. I look for nothin but the same this fri. Couldn't ask for a nicer stadium to hold a state semi final game. I just hope for a good clean injury free game that way whoever wins is 100% for the state finals

[Neutron Man]

Looking at Madison's schedule, its VERY BAD! They beat some Big names in the playoffs, but they are teams that in the past have been very good! This season they are not the Powerhouse they were before. So, im not impressed with their wins.

Burg's schedule was supposed to be tougher but teams in the regular season didnt show up and we were not truly tested till the playoffs.

Burgs tested and just plain NASTY on Defense.
There are so many weapons on Offense, that a Defense has such are hard time shutting all of then down. Wont say it cant happen, just saying Good Luck Trying!

Wheelersburg 35
Madison 7

[greygoose]

Game is at Chillicothe again!!

That's pretty impressive to be this deep into the state playoffs and being able to play at Chillicothe. Offensively with Madison being a run heavy team will play into the matchup strength of Burg. Defensively though have to be VERY impressed with what Madison done against West Jefferson, they beat down West Jeff 42-7 and from what I was reading West Jeff came into the game with over 2,600 passing and 2,300 rushing yards on the season, so to shut that down they must be playing some really good ball at the right time. Congrats to Burg on advancing to this point and good luck represent SEO well.

Did you look at West Jeffersons schedule? They went 9-0 and yet finished 5th in the region. They played two teams with winning records all season. They played ONE Division 5 school all season and the rest were DVI or DVII. Doesn't surprise me at all that they had stats like that for the regular season and that they got blew out last night.

Yeah I seen that but the 2 they played they blew out, Bethel Tate was undefeated and they blew them out. Madison is in the same boat really beat a 1-9 division II team, LOST to a 1-9 DIII. Played a couple other DIV schools but Madison has been DIV previous 2 years so size wise they're playing who they should be. Regardless to put those stats up is pretty good, wouldn't take Madison lightly not at this point.

[vladimir]

^ Exactly. The MM team are Region 20 champs for a reason. They beat a MAC school (Anna) and CCHA.

[Neutron Man]

^ Exactly. The MM team are Region 20 champs for a reason. They beat a MAC school (Anna) and CCHA.

Anna is not the same since their QB got injured. CHCA is not the same as last year. Yes they got here by beating some good teams, Not GREAT teams

Burg will dominate this game.
Will look a lot like Yesterday!

[bleed_blue]

^ Exactly. The MM team are Region 20 champs for a reason. They beat a MAC school (Anna) and CCHA.

I don’t expect Wheelersburg to take them lightly but region 20 isn’t near what it has been the last few years (losing coldwater doesn’t help their cause). CCHA beat one playoff team in the regular season and Anna done the same. This might be one of the few years in which region 19 was the better region.

[Burg Bias]

The game plan against Middletown looks to be the same as Johnstown. Stop the run. Offensively take what they give you. Middletown's defense looks to be sturdier than the Johnnies so this might be a lower scoring game. Burg's receivers could be the difference.
Go Pirates.

[dragonalum]

Good luck, Pirates! Rooting for you guys!

[14U]

^ Exactly. The MM team are Region 20 champs for a reason. They beat a MAC school (Anna) and CCHA.

I don’t expect Wheelersburg to take them lightly but region 20 isn’t near what it has been the last few years (losing coldwater doesn’t help their cause). CCHA beat one playoff team in the regular season and Anna done the same. This might be one of the few years in which region 19 was the better region.

The MAC in past years having three divisions in their league in the past they always had a team in each division making it to the final four. Marion stein blew coldwater out last night. This is the year for Region 19

[14U]

I applaud the Chillicothe Cavaliers for building such a nice facility for the Burg to play their playoff games at. No disrespect meant to the fine folks at Chillicothe. 3 weeks in a row. We might have to rename the field the Pirate Ed Miller Stadium North.

Yes they have a nice facility with great people working for them. It’s going to be great when it’s all done, south end zone and visitors side outside stadium. It’s a great place being DII stadium and can hold all southern Ohio playoff games easy. If I was them I would build sits for bands in both end zones. Only thing I don’t like is the track there but hey if that’s all I can over look that, lol.

[14U]

Every team Burg has faced has not played against a run defense like Burgs. I don't see this game being any different. JM learned last night how great that defense is.

Burg's offense is just a different animal. It was funny to watch JM's secondary when Holden would line up on one side by himself there would be three guys leaning his way and of course that left someone open and Burg exposed that. The short swing passes are just as good as a run if you can get 6-9 yards out of them on any down.

I will be shocked and applaud any team that is run heavy and they can beat this Pirate team.


DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The only team I have witness that is run heavy and has won it all is Clinton Massie. U know it and teams can’t stop it, thank God they are in different division. I respect CM for being so tough playing anybody during regular season, they play up! This team we are playing isn’t CM. I see Madison working on passing this week after scouting last night. You just need some kind of passing or ur done with 10 in box.