Tipps Liam Poronsky leads the Red Devils in quest of a third straight win over Troyin the other other Miami County rivalry game. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Week 7 of the high school football schedule features some games the people have waited to see really want to see and will say something about whos a serious threat in the post-season.
An encouraging week last weekas we hit on ten of ten and prepare now for some games over the next four weeks that, short and sweet, 1) people have waited to see, and 2) really want to see. Some of traditional league rivalries in the MAC and MVL begin to take shape, and of course, well be there to see em.
None better in the MVL this week than Troy and Tipp, where Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher has coached both schools, and Troy is rebounding after a flummoxed start to be 4-2. Tipp is 5-1.
In the MAC, surging Minster is suddenly 4-2 and the talk of those whove taken time to remember that a year ago Seth Whitings young Wildcats were more like Wildkittens, finishing with a 1-9 record and a lengthy injury list.
But also in the MAC this week defending champion Versailles has suddenly lost two of three and has to travel to Anna to face the pesky Rockets, a team thats 2-4, but capable of springing the surprise on unsuspecting opponents. Dont expect Versailles to be one of them.
For added flavor, cast your eyes west to the WOAC this Friday for the game between 5-1 Ansonia and 5-1 National Trail, a game between teams with surprising wins that may have something to say about their their respective regions in the post-season.
The areas quietest Div. VII team, New Bremen, is also 5-1 and tunes up for next weeks date with Coldwater by playing St. Henry, whos on the flip side of 5-1 (1-5). New Bremen will be a, or the, post-season favorite in Region 28.
This is just part of this weeks lineup on the Friday night Picks, sponsored, as always, by the Nidec/Minster Corporation, in Minster, proudly support all things good, and good for, the community of Auglaize County and the people who live there.
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Without further ado, heres who we like in Week 7 in a game near you:
St. Henry @ New Bremen...We mentioned a quiet 5-1 when we spoke earlier of New Bremen, and thats because the Cardinals, while impressive, havent had that kind of knockout win over a traditional MAC opponents that gets peoples attention. Quarterback David Homan is that good, running back Hunter Schaefer is that steady, and the rest of the roster is improving around them to make Bremen capable against just about anyone they play. On a regular year this would be one of those games. But nothing has been regular in St. Henry this fall, the Redskins being 1-5, and the prospects for turning it around will be tough against the likes of Bremen, and then Versailles and Marion, following. Short and sweet, New Bremen is too quick, and has a lot of momentum building towards that knockout game that comes next week when they travel to play #1-ranked Coldwater (Div. VI, Region 18). This is the head of the homestretch, and the Cardinals move to 6-1 Friday, by two scores over St. Henry.
Versailles and quarterback Connor Stonebraker seeks to rebound in a road test with Anna.
Anna @ VersaillesLets get right to this one, an important game, actually for both teams, depending on your perspective. Versailles is coming off a disappointing loss to Marion last week, a game which was probably closer than the score indicated (27-7), but a game that also gave Versailles some opportunity that they squandered. Anna is young, needs a qualifying win to help build for the future, and that opportunity is here and now, with Versailles this week and Marion Local next week. Versailles is clearly the better, and more experienced team in this game, but Anna will competeand showed against St. Henry that they can be really tough if they get an early lead. I dont expect that, though. Versailles will bounce back, and win by two scores!
Fort Recovery @ Marion LocalNot a lot of drama here, but for out-of-the-area readers from northwest and northeast Ohio theres plenty of interest in the Flyers. Last week, fully one half of our readership for the Marion-Versailles game came from outside the area. This is 6-0 vs. 2-4, and way too much Marion for Fort Recovery to beat. Flyers go to 7-0 with little trouble.
Ansonia @ National TrailA matchup between 5-1s looking for that defining win that speaks volumes over just beating the teams you should beat. Ansonias lone loss came against Tri-Village (5-1), and Trails loss came against Milton Union (6-0). We dont see these teams that much, but when you look at stats it says a lot about the way they play. They run it. And when you play at home I think it portends an advantage. Its great for a pair of teams from the old CCC daysto have this much to play for at this stage of the season. I havent said it for a long time, but I think..Trail!
Piqua back Sam Schmiesing and the Indians will tune up for next weeks Tipp game against Greenville.
Greenville @ PiquaComing off a 63-0 whipping of Fairborn, Piqua comes home to tune up for Tipp next week against Greenville, a team thats 1-5 and who lost to Fairborn two weeks ago, 36-35. The Indians have a healthier Brady Ouhl back at quarterback, and just way too much firepower. Short and sweetrunning clock after the bands play, and a convincing Piqua win.
Columbus Academy @ Fort LoramieShort and sweet again, Loramie moves to 5-2 with this game, but this about the Redskins. In region 28 there are three very interesting post-season schools thatll have a chance to decide the regional champion, and theyre all within ten miles of each other Minster, Fort Loramie, and New Bremen. If you think Im vaping, check their comparative strength of schedules and get back to me. Yes, there are some other good teams, but not with the kind of previous testing that those three can boast. Loramie wins easily over Columbus Academy (1-5).
Minster @ Parkway...The Minster Wildcats are probably the areas best turn-around story in 2022, having won just one game in 2021, and got beaten up doing it. Injuries were a big issue, but what doesnt kill ya makes you better, apparently. After losing to Fort Loramie the Wildcats have won four of five, and sophomore quarterback Brogan Stephey is leading the MAC in passing with 1,261 yards. Teammate James Niemeyer is leading the league in receiving with 34 catches for 422 yards. In Seth Whitings second year hes made believers out of a group of young players who seem to compete better with each passing week. Parkway has shown its ability to throw it, too, but ranks, overall, ninth in total offenseand seventh in team defense. Minsters two losses have come to Loramie and Marion. Go with the flow? I like surging Minster to win their fourth straight game, by a pair of scores.
Northridge @ BethelSo,whats happened to the Northridge Polar Bears? Well, they got cancelled last week when Covington didnt have enough players to play. And prior to that they lost, curiously, to Riverside, in a game where they simply got outplayed. But still, I think the TRC comes down to Ridge, Milton, and Riverside, as all three still have dates with each other. Shouldnt be a problem herePolar Bears moved to 5-1 with a solid win over the Bees.
Just for kicks: Tipps Jackson Kleather booted a 46-yard field goal against Xeniaand is a perfect 24-for-24 on extra points.
Coldwater @ St. JohnSt. John has always been a trap game for visiting teams, but not this time, not this year, and not against a team with the statistical firepower of Marcel Blasingame at quarterback. The Coldwater senior has the Cavs leading the conference with 2,334 yards of total offense, 818 of that his own rushing stats. Blasingame has been what every good Coldwater team usually has, but whats gone unnoticed is their defensive stats. The Cavs are only eight yards behind Marion Local in total yards allowed per game, 179. St. Johns is 2-4, and those wins came against Anna and Jefferson (Delphos Jefferson). No match for ColdwaterCavs win by four scores.
Tipp @ TroyThis sets up as the most intriguing game on Friday night for a couple of reasons. Tipp and Troy are actually closer together distance-wise than Piqua and Troy. Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher coached at Troy for four seasons before leaving Troy to go back to Tipp City, where he previously coached as an assistant to his father, Charlie. In the last three meetings Burgbacher has bested Troy, including last year, 31-16. And after a pair of horrendous losses early to Xenia and Piqua Troy coach Troy Everhart has the Trojans turned around and on a three-game win streak. So, everyone the respective partisans are going to be feeling pretty good about themselves. Tipp (5-1) suffered its only loss last week, to Xenia, and has played as consistently as anyone outside of Xenia and Piqua in the MVL this year. Both teams favor running the football, but Tipps Liam Poronsky also ranks fifth in league passing. Troys Jahari Ward and Nick Kawecki are both on track for thousand-yard rushing years. But this game will be determined by defense, where Tipp ranks third in the conference, giving up about 200 yards a game. Troy ranks fifth, surrendering almost 275. Very emotional game, given the proximity of the schools and the recent events of the past, so this will be close. Ill take their consistency, the value of a senior leader at quarterback, and for the fact that Tipp has a Division I kicker (Jackson Kleather) going to Bowling Green next fall. I think Tipp wins thisby a score or less, even, and maybe a kick!
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Week 7: Short And Sweet, Heading For The 'Stretch' - Press Pros Magazine