Central Ohio High School Football: Week 3

High School Football: Week 3

This is the third week of the 2010 Ohio High School Football season, and the final week of non-league play for most of the teams, as conference play is just around the corner.

"The Battle of Hard Road"- Worthington Kilbourne Wolves (1-1) at Dublin Scioto Irish (1-1)
The 16th Battle of Hard Road takes place as rivals Worthington Kilbourne and Dublin Scioto square off. The winner of this game, will get...you guessed it, a piece of Hard Road.
Pick: Worthington Kilbourne


Licking Valley Panthers (0-2) at Bishop Ready Silver Knights (2-0)
The Panthers after losses to New Albany and Zanesville are a surprising 0-2, and that is probably a bad idea to go to a very tough Ready team, fresh off a road win in Pennsylvania. Look for the Silver Knights to dominate this game on both sides of the ball.
Pick: Ready


Bexley Lions (2-0) at Bishop Hartley Hawks (2-0)- SPORTS CORNER GAME OF THE WEEK
These neighborhood rivals square off again in what will be an exciting match-up between 2-0 teams, considering the Lions upset the Hawks a couple years back. However, for Bexley to win, they have to be able to contain Hartley's explosive running back, Noah Key.
Pick: Hartley


Marion-Franklin Red Devils (2-0) at Ashland Arrows (2-0)
The Red Hot Marion-Franklin Red Devils travel up I-71 to Ashland, in a war of the undefeated against the Arrows of Ashland, which could prove to be a real big test for Marion-Franklin's defense, which shut down Brookhaven and Dublin Scioto in the first two weeks of the young season. The Arrows shot down Willard and Dover in their first two games, and would love to shoot the Red Devils down.
Pick: Ashland


Cleveland St. Ignatius Wildcats (1-1) at Lancaster Golden Gales (2-0)
The Golden Gales picked a tough load in perennial D-1, Region 1 Catholic school powerhouse St. Ignatius, which should be the storm before the calm of OCC Ohio play for these Gales.
Pick: St. Ignatius


Reynoldsburg Raiders (1-1) at Logan Chieftains (0-2)
Logan is still looking for its first win after losses to rival Lancaster, and to Pickerington North. Reynoldsburg is on a roll after spanking Toledo Scott last week, and would like to continue that roll as Grove City is next on the docket for the Raiders.
Pick: Reynoldsburg


Columbus Academy Vikings (1-1) at Centerburg Trojans (1-1)
The Academy Vikings go to visit Centerburg, and a Trojan team looking to go up. Academy's running game may be too much for these Trojans.
Pick: Columbus Academy


Grandview Heights Bobcats (1-1) at Whitehall Yearling Rams (1-1)
About a few years back, both teams made playoff runs of their own, but in the past few years, both of these small suburban teams have been struggling to just win.
Pick: a close one, but in a squeaker, Whitehall

Groveport Madison Cruisers (2-0) at Dublin Jerome Celtics (1-1)
The unbeaten Cruisers cruise up to Union County to play Dublin Jerome, in what should be an interesting game on Friday night.
Pick: Groveport


Beechcroft Cougars (1-1) at St. Charles Cardinals (2-0)
Last week, Beechcroft's spread offense was decimated as Bishop Watterson came up with four interceptions. The Cougars stay in the Central Catholic League, with a trip to Bexley to play St. Charles, who knocked off Eastmoor and Canal Winchester, and is on a roll so far this year.
Pick: St. Charles


Mifflin Punchers (2-0) at Watkins Memorial Warriors (2-0)
Both teams are a surprising 2-0. Watkins, with quarterback Devonte Marable is trying to make some noise on the field before heading into a competitive battle in the OCC Capital (with Big Walnut, Delaware Hayes, and New Albany leading that way). Mifflin is 2-0 under new head coach Gregg Miller, want to finish non-league play undefeated before opening up City League play against East next week. This is a surprising battle of the undefeateds this week, indeed.
Pick: a close choice, but Watkins Memorial


Pickerington North Panthers (1-1) at Northland Vikings (2-0)
Northland, who is undefeated after an upset win over Eastmoor and a blowout at Central Crossing, has another big test in Pickerington North, fresh off their first playoff appearance last year. Northland's defensive line will have their work cut out for them, trying to contain that big offensive line of Pickerington North.
Pick: Pickerington North


New Albany Eagles (2-0) at St. Francis DeSales Stallions (2-0)- SPORTS CORNER GAME OF THE WEEK
Another battle of the unbeatens will occur this Friday as unbeaten New Albany visits unbeaten DeSales in this newfound rivalry. These Eagles are trying to soar over the Stallions, but these Stallions, steep in tradition will try to stampede to the goal line of victory first.

Pick: DeSales


Big Walnut Golden Eagles (2-0) at Olentangy Braves (2-0)
Big Walnut squares off against Olentangy in this Delaware County rivalry. The Braves, fresh off their first losing season in almost two decades, are on a roll and a win over the rival Golden Eagles will solidify that after wins over Olentangy Orange and Delaware Hayes.
Pick: Olentangy


Columbus West Cowboys (2-0) at Hamilton Township Rangers (1-1)
Cowboys and Rangers, the battle that Westerns are made of. However, that will be a battle on the far South side of Columbus, as unbeated West travels to play Hamilton Township, who is looking to remain perfect at home.
Pick: Hamilton Township


Brookhaven Bearcats (0-2) at Dublin Coffman Shamrocks (1-1)
The Shamrocks were outplayed by Westerville South's running game at the Herbstreit classic on Sunday, and were unable to stop Jayshan Jackson. They'll have no problem stopping Brookhaven, who has only scored five points through two games.
Pick: Dublin Coffman


Columbus South Bulldogs (1-1) at Centennial Stars (0-2)- SPORTS CORNER UNDERDOG GAME OF THE WEEK
I don't remember the last time Centennial won a football game. It was during the Bush administration, however (George W.). In over 30 years of school history, the Stars have only had two winning seasons, one of the most inept football programs in Central Ohio, while South hasn't had a winning season in 16 years. Something has gotta give up on Bethel Road on Friday night, and the hungry Stars are trying to shoot up to the sky for a "W".
Pick: Centennial


Canal Winchester Indians (1-1) at Westerville Central Warhawks (0-2)- SPORTS CORNER UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK
Westerville Central isn't the only surprising 0-2 team in Central Ohio (just ask Brookhaven, Grove City, Licking Valley, and idle Eastmoor Academy). The Warhawks host a team that they beat last year in Canal Winchester, fresh off a win last week against Grove City.
Pick: Westerville Central


Grove City Greyhounds (0-2) at Westerville South Wildcats (1-1)
Grove City is still looking for their first win since their triumphant return to the field. Westerville South is fresh off the high from their win over Dublin Coffman in the Horseshoe at the Herbstreit Classic. Can the Wildcats keep their running game going after a short week of practice? I think that South will have just enough muster to keep the Greyhounds at bay.
Pick: Westerville South


Olentangy Liberty Patriots (1-1) at Delaware Hayes Pacers (1-1)
The Patriots and Pacers square off in one of many Delaware County rivalries, as the Patriots are fresh off a convincing win over Olentangy Orange, and Hayes off a blowout loss to the Olentangy Braves.
Pick: Olentangy Liberty


London Red Raiders (1-1) at West Jefferson Roughriders (2-0)
London, fresh off a comeback win over Hamilton Township, looks to win their second straight, as they travel down Route 40 to play the red hot Roughriders in this Madison County rivalry.
Pick: West Jefferson


Toledo St. Francis DeSales Knights (1-1) at Hilliard Davidson Wildcats (2-0)
The Knights play the red hot Wildcats, who are on fire offensively, with wins over Grove City and Brookhaven.
Pick: Hilliard Davidson


Briggs Bruins (2-0) at Columbus East Tigers (0-2)
Briggs could be one of the most deceiving 3-0 teams in Central Ohio, already with wins over Whetstone and Franklin Heights, as they travel to Harley Field to play an East team that surrendered eight turnovers to Walnut Ridge last Friday in a 51-0 blowout. Briggs is looking to beat the Tigers in this City League rivalry, as East has won the last couple of meetings between the two, and the Tigers would like to pull off an upset, as their next two games are against unbeatens Mifflin and Northland.
Pick: Briggs


and
Saturday- "The Green Bowl"
Newark Catholic Green Wave (2-0) at Fisher Catholic Irish (0-2) at Lancaster H.S. Fulton Field
These two Division VI Catholic powers meet on Saturday night down in Fulton Field in Lancaster as Newark Catholic looks to beat their rivals, Fisher Catholic once again.
Pick: Newark Catholic


and
Pickerington Central (2-0) and Eastmoor Academy (0-2) have byes this week; Central on their own choosing (after wins against two out-of-state schools); Eastmoor was originally slated to play Toledo Libbey on Friday, but a failed levy in May forced the Toledo City School district to close Libbey at the end of last school year.

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SPORTS CORNER TOP 10 (Week 3):
In our first top 10, these are whom DJBC Sports Corner picks as the ten best football teams in the area going into the third week.

1) Hilliard Davidson Wildcats (2-0)- Ohio Capital Conference Central; Division I, Region 3
2) Pickerington Central Tigers (2-0)- Ohio Capital Conference Ohio; Division I, Region 3
3) St. Francis DeSales Stallions (2-0)- Central Catholic League Silver; Division III, Region 10
4) Bishop Hartley Hawks (2-0)- Central Catholic League Gold; Division IV, Region 15
5) Bishop Watterson Eagles (2-0)- Central Catholic League Silver; Division III, Region 10
6) Marion-Franklin Red Devils (2-0)- City League South; Division II, Region 7
7) Groveport-Madison Cruisers (2-0)- Ohio Capital Conference Ohio; Division I, Region 3
8) Olentangy Braves (2-0)- Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal; Division II, Region 7
9) Watkins Memorial Warriors (2-0)- Ohio Capital Conference Capital; Division II, Region 7
T-10) West Jefferson Roughriders (2-0)- Mid State League Cardinal; Division V, Region 20
T-10) Walnut Ridge Scots (2-0)- City League South; Division II, Region 7
T-10) Big Walnut Golden Eagles (2-0)- Ohio Capital Conference Capital; Division II, Region 7

HONORABLE MENTION:
Mifflin Punchers (2-0)- City League North; Division II, Region 7
Bexley Lions (2-0)- Mid State League Ohio; Division III, Region 10
St. Charles Cardinals (2-0)- Central Catholic League Silver; Division II, Region 7
Dublin Coffman Shamrocks (1-1)- Ohio Capital Conference Central; Division I, Region 3
Westerville South Wildcats (1-1)- Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal; Division I, Region 3
Briggs Bruins (2-0)- City League South; Division II, Region 7
New Albany Eagles (2-0)- Ohio Capital Conference Capital; Division II, Region 7
Upper Arlington Golden Bears (1-1)- Ohio Capital Conference Central; Division I, Region 3


BEST TEAM THAT IS/TEAM THAT I'M SURPRISED TO SEE (0-2):
1) Eastmoor Academy Warriors (0-2)- idle; next game is vs. West on Sept. 17; lost in Overtime to Northland 25-19 in Week 1, lost to St. Charles 20-6 in Week 2
2) Brookhaven Bearcats (0-2)- at Dublin Coffman; lost to Marion-Franklin 27-2 in Week 1, lost to Hilliard Davidson 37-3 in Week 2
3) Westerville Central Warhawks (0-2)- vs. Canal Winchester; lost to Big Walnut 28-26 in Week 1, lost to New Albany 33-6 in Week 2
4) Grove City Greyhounds (0-2)- at Westerville South; lost to Hilliard Davidson 28-21 in Week 1, lost to Canal Winchester 38-14 in Week 2
5) Whetstone Braves (0-2)- at Dayton Dunbar on Saturday- lost in Overtime to Briggs 27-21 in Week 1, lost to Thomas Worthington 28-6 in Week 2

MOST DECEIVING (2-0) TEAM:
1) Briggs Bruins (2-0)- easy game against East this week, then plays another easy game against Africentric, but closes out the season with Marion-Franklin, Walnut Ridge, and West.
2) St. Charles Cardinals (2-0)- tough second-half of their nine-game schedule, which closes with DeSales, Zanesville, Watterson, and Jonathan Alder; still in the shadow of DeSales and Watterson in the Central Catholic League Silver
3) Watkins Memorial Warriors (2-0)- Has New Albany, Big Walnut, and Delaware Hayes on their OCC Capital schedule, plus Olentangy Orange and Franklin Heights
4) Hilliard Darby Panthers (2-0)- Has the misfortune of playing Hilliard Davidson, Upper Arlington, Dublin Coffman, Worthington Kilbourne, and a potentially dangerous Thomas Worthington team in the OCC Central
5) Mifflin Punchers (2-0)- goes to Pataskala to play Watkins Memorial this week; can they beat Northland, Brookhaven, and/or Beechcroft?