D6 23: 5. Waterford (9-2) @ 4. Fort Frye (8-3)

[EasternDspy]

Waterford can get the ultimate get back. This game has the weird feeling of Browns @ Steelers in the playoffs. Holding a playoff win over Fort could make 17 straight losses go away.

[beg003]

Hard to beat the same team twice in the same season, let alone your biggest rival. Could see this being very close given Waterford is peaking at the right time and Fort Frye will be at home. No surprises in this game for either team. I think the key will be whether Waterford can get over the mental hump of beating FF.

[EasternDspy]

It will be way closer than week 4. Waterford didn’t even have a first down until late In 4th. Fort had 14 penalties in the first half. Cadets Srs last game on that field is a playoff game vs Waterford that’s just crazy.

[Kittyhunter27]

This is gonna be a game. 1 Mile separation between the two schools. This has got to be a first.
Not sure Waterford can get over that mental hump of beating FF at FF. Not to mention Waterford hasn’t beat FF since McCutcheon has taken over at the helm. Coach Eric Huck has out coached Wford every year.
But Waterford played lights out against Fairbanks. They are playing their best football at the right time.


I’m not making a prediction just yet. But I think the game will be decided by a TD.

[EasternDspy]

4 players in this game have went over 1000

[EasternDspy]

Fort Frye

Fort Frye Playoff History

2000- L Johnstown Northridge (20-6)

2012 - L @Kirtland (49-7)

2013- L @ Lucasville Valley (52-14)

2015- L Fredricktown ( 13-0)

2016- W -Centerburg (44-6)
W - Barnesville (40-19) ( At Marietta College )
L - Newark Catholic (41-7)( At Zanesville )

2017- W Northmor (6-0)
L - Nelsonville-York (26-20) OT( New Lexington )

2018 W- Fairbanks (34-14)
W - Northmor (41-23) ( Pataskala )
W - Shadyside (18-6)( Meadowbrook)
L - Kirtland (35-18)( Massillon Perry)

2019 - W Dalton (48-39)
L - Mogadore (21-14)( At Meadowbrook)

2020 - W - Belpre (54-0)
W- Africentric (51-12)
W - Barnesville (34-0)
W - Fairland ( 47-7)
L - Springfield (13-16) ( At Zanesville)

2021 - W- Johnstown Northridge (54-6)
W- Nelsonville York (36-6)
W - Barnesville (42-7) - ( At Zanesville)
L - West Jefferson (14-16)- ( At Logan)

2022- W- Marion Elgin (57-6)
W- Shenandoah ( 71-20)
W - Coal Grove (27-14)( At Lancaster )
W- Bellaire (35-28) (At Zanesville)
L- Kirtland (41-6) ( At Canfield )

2023- W- Tusky Valley (35-21)
W - Newcomerstown (50-13)
L- West Jefferson (49-30)@Lancaster

2024 - W- Buckeye Trail (30-22)
Waterford

Cadets all time Record (21-12)

[EasternDspy]

Battle for the River

08- FORT FRYE 14 Waterford 0
09- FORT FRYE 35 Waterford 6
10- FORT FRYE 27 Waterford 0
11- FORT FRYE 34 Waterford 0
12- FORT FRYE 63 Waterford 13
13- FORT FRYE 47 Waterford 0
14- FORT FRYE 36 Waterford 6
15- FORT FRYE 27 Waterford 0
16- FORT FRYE 35 Waterford 14
17- FORT FRYE 23 Waterford 19
18- FORT FRYE 22 Waterford 20
19- FORT FRYE 49 Waterford 0
20- FORT FRYE 22 Waterford 6
21- FORT FRYE 39 Waterford 14
22- FORT FRYE 49 Waterford 19
23- FORT FRYE 16 Waterford 0
24- FORT FRYE 35 Waterford 7

Fort Frye 17-0

Points Scored 573 33.7
Points allowed 124 7.2


Playoff win trumps all this.

[efarns]

I know it's all different players, but Fort Frye beat Fairbanks in 2018. I like the idea of them driving home tonight going "They have some good football teams in that town"

[EasternDspy]

Community will be buzzing.

[raindelay]

Always hard to beat a team twice in one season. Last year when Caldwell played them twice it went from a 27 pt game to a 7 pt game. Waterford seems to be playing good ball at the right time. Thinking the Cats may take this one. Should be a great game.

[OhioSportsGuyMike]

Fort Frye and Waterford both seem to be peaking at the same time. This may be the playoff game of a lifetime for this community.

[VetteMan]

The Wildcats and the Cadets is going to be a good ole good one.

[efarns]

Waterford has already confounded the "expert" analysis this season. It it probably safe to say they have closed the gap considerably since week 4. Would this be the biggest win in Wildcat history?

[EasternDspy]

First matchup Cadets had 14 penalties for 120 yards in first half.

Cadets had 431 yards and 306 on the ground. Lead 35-0

[EasternDspy]

Waterford since has had some huge wins including Eastern , Fairbanks and Nelsonville - York.

[EasternDspy]

Drew has Fort a 2 point favorite.

[EasternDspy]

Was talking to Clayton Miller today he said he hasn’t lost to Waterford in football since 5th grade.

[OhioSportsGuyMike]

Is it Friday night yet? Having dinner last night with a few buddies and the talk was both teams know exactly what both teams are going to bring. So what’s the game plan as coaches going into this? What does FF need to do? What does Waterford need to do? I haven’t decided my pick just yet but boy oh boy am I excited to watch this game.

[EasternDspy]

Hayden Jones ran for 274 on Friday vs Fairbanks that’s a pretty crazy night.

[Chaw]

I've watched these two groups of young men play each other since the third grade...The athletes on both sides are elite...both coaches know each other well...I can think of a few times Waterford has been out coached.. and I can think of far more times when a blown call or a td called back for something completely stupid from referees or a two pt. conversion clearly made was called no good. The narritive that FF is superior to Waterford is only pushed by the fort fans...which is completely understandable. To the victor goes the spoils ...However my take on this game:

Fort has some good athletes, Waterford has more
The best athlete on the field will be sophomore Hayden Jones (if you need a reason to come watch,' this guy would be the reason) Miller is
good..Jones is better.
Fort has two RB that break big plays up the field almost every game.
Waterford has the same with the Jones brothers
Waterford can and will pass if they want to
Fort hasnt passed enough to determine that... When they do it, is so unexpected that teams cant adjust quick enough
First meeting, Waterford had 5 turnovers, several missed opportunities, and a team in chaos from the week before
The Fort is playing the same football, same playbook, They are the same team from week 4 ( Please tell me they are not, I dare you)
Thus the keys to this game:
Both teams have to key on the playmakers
Both teams have outrageous playmakers
Both teams are very good
Turnovers wil be the game
I know this is a vanilla and boring prediction, no winner projection, but sometimes the simpilist things make all the difference