WK 11: Gallia Academy (9-1) @ Waverly (8-2)

[porkyfan]

Waverly is not going to win by 3+ scores. You guys are all doubting the blue devils after getting killed by ironton. Ironton is a great team and they will make a deep playoff run. Ironton would beat any team in south east Ohio. Blue devils have armstrong back and I think Are gonna win this one. It will be a good game with the blue devils coming out on top 28-21. Its gonna be a cold one.

[toast]

Game time temp looks to be 39 degrees. That's cold. Wondering if the QBs are doing everything special to get acclimated to throw in such cold?

Gallia fans will be pleased with the parking situation. Waverly has over 500 lined, paved parking spots all within a one minute walk to the front gate. Food is top notch also. First rate facility and friendly people.

Go Tigers!!

[smurray]

Kicking game seems to be pretty even. Having a weapon like that in HS is an X factor.

If Armstrong is healthy, I could see a GA win on the road, especially if the field isn't fit for throwing. May have been mistaken, but I believe I saw snow in the forecast.

If so, it could be lower scoring than we expect.

28-24 GA

I'll also pick a stunner and take Bloom-Carroll to beat Indian Valley.

Friday is the cold day. I’m showing a high of 46 Saturday and no precipitation.

[Rvfan]

Good luck Waverly!

You really should make a trip to the game since the Raiders aren’t playing

No, thanks, I'll pass. Who wants to go watch kids not my own play in the cold, not me, I'll stay home and be warm.

[Rvfan]

Good luck Waverly!

Lol. Wouldn't expect anything less from Rvfan!

I was talking to a fella wearing a old North Gallia shirt along the fence on the Ironton side down at Memorial a couple weeks ago and he was enjoying how that game was going. I could have been in the presence of Rvfan and not have known it ?

no, wasn't me.

[91blue14]

I recommend the fish sandwich and take one to go as well top notch

[smurray]

I recommend the fish sandwich and take one to go as well top notch

The brats are awesome as well.

[BigBlueNation]

I recommend the fish sandwich and take one to go as well top notch

The brats are awesome as well.

Do they still have the philly cheese steaks on the visitor side. They was always really good.

[FANOSPORTS]

Lol. Wouldn't expect anything less from Rvfan!

I was talking to a fella wearing a old North Gallia shirt along the fence on the Ironton side down at Memorial a couple weeks ago and he was enjoying how that game was going. I could have been in the presence of Rvfan and not have known it ?

no, wasn't me.

Alright then, just checking .

[smurray]

Just a reminder to everyone, especially those coming from Gallipolis: $2.00 to park in the parking lot.
There is some street parking (2nd Street, Morningside, 3rd Street) and the Government Center lot across Rt. 335, a short walk.
Get there early to avoid traffic jam coming in. If traffic is backed up on 23 (Emmitt Ave.) N.B. (Actually E.B.) trying to turn right onto Clough to the 2nd Street entrance, you may be able to proceed straight through the traffic light and turn right onto Morningside Drive at Bob Evans. That will take you to Rt 335 where you can turn right and then immediately left into the other parking lot entrance.

[portsmouth_98]

What's the best grub up there? Roosters?

[smurray]

What's the best grub up there? Roosters?

Besides Roosters you could check out these:
Beast and Bottle is open 11:00a.m. - 8:00pm on Saturday.
Fred’s Pizza
Lloyd’s
Cardos
El Charo

[GalliaGrad78]

What's the best grub up there? Roosters?

Roosters? YUK! Like BW's overpriced bar food.

[greygoose]

What's the best grub up there? Roosters?

Boys need to stop in at Beast and Bottle, it's a small venue and probably end up packed but really good food.

[greygoose]

What's the best grub up there? Roosters?

Roosters? YUK! Like BW's overpriced bar food.

Beast and Bottle, yeah I'm not a roosters fan either

[porkyfan]

im taking the blue devils in this one. Noah vanco will have a great game if they finally allow him to throw the ball and the receivers actually catch. Armstrong is gonna have a good game whether we run or pass the ball he is a beast.

[TigerMania]

Good luck to the Blue Devils from Tiger Nation!

[porkyfan]

Good luck to the Blue Devils from Tiger Nation!

thank you! ironton is really good and will have a deep playoff run if they continue playing how they have been. completely killed us. Best overall team around the area.

[mattash]

Blue Devils, Tigers meet in Region 15 quarters

By Paul Boggs

WAVERLY – It's a matchup of conference runner-ups, but it's also a playoff affair of two of Southeastern Ohio's consistently top programs.

That's because the 9-1 Gallia Academy Blue Devils travel to face the 8-2 Waverly Tigers, as both squads are in need of a playoff pick-me-up – after a few years of not having much serious success to speak of.

Kickoff for the Division IV Region 15 quarterfinal is set for Saturday night at 7 p.m., inside Waverly's nicely-renovated Raidiger Field.

Gallia Academy is making its 12th all-time Ohio High School Athletic Association state playoff appearance, while Waverly is making its eighth.

Both clubs qualified last year as the Tigers are actually competing in their school-record fourth consecutive postseason, but first for Region 15 after three straight seasons of one-and-out in the Cincinnati-centric Region 16.

For the eight-man Waverly senior class, and even its underclassmen, it's time to take the next step as a program – and win a playoff game.

The third-seeded Tigers are 3-7 all-time in the playoffs – but haven't won since back-to-back regional quarterfinal victories in 2006 and 2007, when Trevor Walls was the talented and highly-touted Waverly quarterback.

“These guys (seniors) have been to one every year, which is cool, but we haven't tasted that victory yet,” said Waverly coach Chris Crabtree. “Going three times now four times in a row (to the playoffs) is the first time that's been done here, so we have another opportunity to win one. We're definitely in a better region (Region 15) for us, given our school-size perspective and our makeup, it just fits us a little bit better. In 2016, we had a home playoff game and it was super exciting with a great atmosphere, and it should be that way again on Saturday night. We just have to get over the hump, and this would be a great time to do that.”

The Blue Devils' playoff mark is 6-11, but last season was the first since 2012 that Gallia Academy was even in the postseason – after a few years of falling on uncharacteristic hard times.

Gallia Academy is coming off a second straight 9-1 campaign under third-year head coach Alex Penrod – losing only against Ohio Valley Conference champion Ironton.

“It is a great feeling for our seniors, our team, our program and our community. To know where this program and these seniors were just a short time ago, but through their determination to want to be successful, they have bought into what the coaches lay out to them daily, week in and week out, and in the offseason,” said Penrod. “It is great for them to reap the benefits of hard work and commitment.”

Gallia Academy was in the running for a Region 15 home tilt, but the blowout loss against Ironton dropped the sixth-seeded Blue Devils out of the top four for good.

Penrod said the past two weeks have been about recovering physically, but more importantly emotionally.

“It was one of those 'shell-shock' moments. Our team truly believed they were going to beat Ironton. Unfortunately, things that could go wrong did go wrong, and we were not able to overcome the mental aspect of the adversity of situations,” said the coach. “But through every defeat, you can find strength if you are willing to believe positive thoughts and willing to get back to work. We have had a few minor bumps and bruises the last couple of weeks, but we hope to be back at full strength as we enter the playoffs.”

If Gallia Academy is at full strength for Saturday night, then that will include junior James Armstrong returning to the lineup after missing most of the seventh game of the season – and all three of the Blue's final regular-season bouts, including Ironton.

The six-foot, 190-pound Armstrong had rushed for 1,034 yards on 134 carries prior to his injury, and is the most significant piece of the Blue Devils' offensive attack.

It was believed by multiple sources that he would miss those last three regular-season games, but Crabtree is approaching as if Armstrong will return this week.
“Looking at them is almost like looking in the mirror in how we run our offense. They have similar formation sets, they are very athletic, they are very big up front. I know he has missed the last three games, but I am going to assume that the Armstrong kid is going to play on Saturday. But (running back Michael) Beasy has carried the load and has done a good job of running the football for them,” said Crabtree. “They are definitely well-coached, they want to run the football, they can throw the football when they need to, and their formations make it difficult for you to adjust to.”

With Armstrong's, Beasy's and Donevyn Woodson's speed, Crabtree said a key is “being able to get off blocks and being able to tackle”.

“We're going to have to stop the run. We want to make them throw the ball to beat us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Waverly has its own injury concerns – with junior quarterback Haydn' Shanks continually competing on a torn ACL he suffered in the preseason.

Shanks still has thrown for 1,652 yards and 16 touchdowns on 115-of-185 passing, with Will Futhey leading the Tigers' receiving corps – with 43 receptions for 872 yards and 11 TD.

But the Waverly offense, of course, centers around the senior standout running back Payton Shoemaker – who went over the 2,000-yard single-season rushing mark in the Tigers' 27-14 triumph at Oak Hill.

The fast-paced Tigers try – and often succeed – at operating a hurry-it-up no-huddle offense, in which Shoemaker is the primary focus.

Shoemaker has 258 of the Tigers' 328 carries this season, going off for an amazing average of 204 yards per game and eight yards per each individual carry.

He has amassed 28 touchdowns and 2,039 yards.

“We definitely have some athletes and we can stretch the field vertically or horizontally,” said Crabtree. “We can take the top off of it down deep, and obviously with Payton (Shoemaker), if you give him a little bit of crease, he can make things happen.”

Penrod explained that the Tigers' tempo actually allows the Blue Devil defense to adjust easier.

“For a lot of teams, the up-tempo can give you fits because it is not something you see every game. For us, it gives us more of an advantage because our offense wants to play fast and up-tempo, so we are more geared to adjusting to their style of play,” he said. “We are not as fast as they are, and that is still hard to simulate. With the amount of weapons they have inside the box, they have the same ability outside of the box to beat you too. It all comes down to individually doing 'your job'. For Waverly, the less time they have the football, that is what usually favors them. They are more worried about the number of snaps they can get more than time of possession. We know they want to push the tempo, and we have to be ready to adjust to the speed of the game and the formations they are going to give us.”

Hence, this could quickly turn into an offensive shootout, which will definitely keep the fans interested – on an expected cold night in Waverly.

Given Gallipolis is an estimated hour travel distance to Waverly along U.S. Route 35 to State Route 32, the Blue Devils do bring a following – and an even overflow crowd is likely on Saturday night.

It is the only Region 15 bout featuring a pair of Southeast District squads, and should attract all of Pike and Gallia counties.

“We have both been in big games with large crowds. Our Ironton game had a lot of buildup, but I think playing on a Saturday is more of a sticking point because of the 'longer' week, but also getting you out of the routine of the normal week during the year of playing on Fridays. It will be a great environment for both teams and schools, but also for Southeast Ohio,” said Penrod. “We hope both areas can pack the stadium, and give what both of our teams deserve, which is a positive support system from all involved.”

Of course, a playoff pick-me-up and advancement to the regional semifinals is the ultimate goal.

“With two teams being close enough for familiarity, it should be a packed house and great atmosphere,” said Crabtree. “We are excited for our kids, our community and our school system, and we hopefully we can get this one.”

[mattash]

https://seohiopreps.com/football/blue-d ... -quarters/