High School Football- Week 9 (part 1)- Picks

There is only one more week left after this weekend, and the boiling point is near for all of those league titles and playoff berths. Out of over 730 football programs, only 192 will be lucky to make it past next weekend, and only six will be State Champions.

Week 9 Picks:
GAME OF THE WEEK: Hilliard Davidson Wildcats (8-0, 5-0) at Upper Arlington Golden Bears (6-2, 4-1)
Pick: Hilliard Davidson

OTHER BIG GAMES THIS WEEK:
Groveport Madison Cruisers (6-2, 3-2) at Lancaster Golden Gales (5-3)
Pick: Groveport

Westerville South Wildcats (7-1, 5-0) at Olentangy Braves (5-3)
Pick: Westerville South

Briggs Bruins (5-3, 2-3) at Marion-Franklin Red Devils (8-0, 5-0)
Pick: Marion-Franklin

Beechcroft Cougars (6-2, 5-0) at Centennial Stars (4-4, 3-2)
The last time the Cougars were on Bethel Road, they almost laid a hundred points on the Stars (but took kneel downs instead of running up the clock some more) in a 96-0 bloodbath over Centennial. Centennial is not the same team that dropped 34 games in a row, as evident with their 27-8 win over East last week, in which the Stars defense forced six turnovers, including five interceptions. But, Beechcroft had a milestone win last week, as they beat Brookhaven last week, and could more than likely face Northland to win the City League North outright. Oh, Beechcroft will win, but not by 96 points this time.
Pick: Beechcroft

West Jefferson Roughriders (8-0, 5-0) at Licking Heights Hornets (6-2, 4-1)
Pick: West Jeff

Bishop Watterson Golden Eagles (6-1, 1-0) at St. Charles Cardinals (5-2, 0-1)
St. Charles is on another downward slump to end the season. After a 5-0 start, the Cards suffered back-to-back losses to DeSales and two-time defending D-5 State Champs Youngstown Ursuline, and then a bye week last week. St. Charles has always ended up looking up to the Eagles, who have won nine in a row against St. Charles, and will make it ten, as only Pickerington Central has allowed fewer points among area schools than Watterson.
Pick: Watterson

Greenfield McClain Tigers (5-3) at Jonathan Alder Pioneers (7-1)
Pick: Jonathan Alder

Big Walnut Golden Eagles (7-1, 4-1) at Mount Vernon Rams (5-3, 3-2)

UPSET PICKS THIS WEEK:
Washington Court House Blue Lions (6-2) at London Red Raiders (4-4)
Pick: London

RIVALRY PICKS THIS WEEK:
Eastmoor Academy Warriors (4-3, 4-1) at Independence 76ers (3-5, 3-2)
Pick: Eastmoor

Reynoldsburg Raiders (3-5, 2-3) at Gahanna Lincoln Lions (3-5, 2-3)
Pick: Gahanna

Dublin Scioto Irish (5-3) at Dublin Jerome Celtics (4-4)
Pick: Dublin Scioto

Columbus West Cowboys (3-5, 1-4) at Columbus South Bulldogs (1-7, 0-5)
The only reason why South is not 0-8 is Oberlin High School, who is also 0-8, because the Bulldogs defeated them in Week 1. Look for West's offense to giddy-up to the end zone multiple times in Ganther's Place on Friday night.
Pick: West

BLOWOUT PICKS THIS WEEK:
Linden McKinley Panthers (1-7, 0-5) at Northland Vikings (6-2, 4-1)
Linden is a comeback win (over 1-7 Westland) away from a potential winless showdown against East next week. Northland is in 11th place in Region 3, and this won't get them higher in the rankings, but every little win helps.
Pick: Northland

Westland Cougars (1-7, 0-5) at Hilliard Darby Panthers (7-1, 4-1)
Pick: Hilliard Darby

Grove City Greyhounds (3-5, 3-2) at Pickerington Central Tigers (7-0, 5-0)
Pick Central is good...really good. After seven games, the Tigers have only allowed four points a game (29 points), and have four shutouts. Grove City, in a rebound year, has not lived up to the promise that was brought by all of the buzz surrounding the Greyhounds' return to the field, and the Hounds will be buried by the most perfect team in Central Ohio.
Pick: Pickerington Central

Madison Plains Golden Eagles (1-7, 0-4) at Clarksville Clinton-Massie Falcons (8-0, 5-0)
Madison Plains escaped a trip to Dayton for their first win of the year- a 20-18 squeaker over Dayton Meadowdale. Now, they have to play Clinton-Massie? Forget about making it two in a row.
Pick: Clinton-Massie

CELLAR DWELLER GAME THIS WEEK:
Thomas Worthington Cardinals (2-6, 1-4) at Central Crossing Comets (1-7, 0-5)
Someone has to win this game. Thomas, with only two winning seasons in the last 21 years travels down the outerbelt to play Central Crossing, a school that has not won more than two games a year. The Cards have the edge, because of the experience based off of last year's surprising 5-5 turnaround.
Pick: Thomas Worthington

OTHER GAMES OF NOTE THIS WEEK:
Dublin Coffman Shamrocks (6-2, 4-1) at Worthington Kilbourne Wolves (3-5, 2-3)
It's do or die time for Coffman, because the Rocks play UA next week, and Cole Stoudt and Company could take advantage of a Kilbourne team that became a walking M*A*S*H unit this season.
Pick: Dublin Coffman

Columbus Academy Vikings (4-4) at Licking Valley Panthers (6-2, 5-0)
Licking Valley won it's sixth straight game last Saturday by romping Newark Catholic. They'll make it seven by shipwrecking the Columbus Academy Viking ship in little Hanover.
Pick: Licking Valley

Watkins Memorial Warriors (4-4, 1-4) at Franklin Heights Golden Falcons (0-8, 0-5)
Pick: Watkins Memorial

Cincinnati LaSalle Explorers at St. Francis DeSales Stallions (4-4)
It's do-or-die time for DeSales, who needs wins on Friday and next week to keep their playoff streak alive.
Pick: LaSalle

Buckeye Valley Barons (4-4) at North Union Wildcats (8-0, 7-0)
Pick: North Union

Heath Bulldogs (7-1, 4-1) at Bexley Lions (3-5, 1-4)
Pick: Heath

Brookhaven Bearcats (4-4, 4-1) at Columbus East Tigers (0-8, 0-5)
Thomas Woodruff is not having a good year as the quarterback for the East Tigers. After Woodruff sat out last year, the Tigers have failed to win a game, and have turned the ball over more times in games than they have scored touchdowns in games. Last week, Woodruff was picked off five times by Centennial in a 27-8 loss. On the other side of the ball, the Bearcats dropped their fourth game against a team with a winning record, as they lost to their rivals Beechcroft. Look for Brookhaven's Donovan Lipsey (and Brookhaven's secondary) to have a big night at Harley Field against East.
Pick: Brookhaven

Logan Elm Braves (2-6, 1-4) at Canal Winchester Indians (7-1, 5-0)
Last week, Canal all but wrapped up the Mid State League Buckeye Division title with a 17-14 win over Hamilton Township.
Pick: Canal Winchester

Bishop Hartley Hawks (6-2) at Spencerville Bearcats (0-8)
Hartley, going into a showdown with Ready next week, won't move up in the world, as they play winless Spencerville, but they won't have a problem to pounce these Cats.
Pick: Hartley

Columbus Crusaders (7-1) vs. Bishop Ready Silver Knights (4-4)- at TBA
Pick: Columbus Crusaders

Mifflin Punchers (4-4, 2-3) at Whetstone Braves (2-6, 2-3)
Pick: Mifflin

Westerville Central Warhawks (2-6, 2-3) at Olentangy Liberty Patriots (4-4, 2-3)
Pick: Westerville Central

New Albany Eagles (8-0, 5-0) at Delaware Hayes Pacers (2-6, 1-4)
Pick: New Albany

Cardington-Lincoln Pirates (4-4, 3-4) at Galion Northmor Golden Knights (1-7, 0-7)
The Knights of Northmor are anything but golden as they will be shipwrecked by Cardington.
Pick: Cardington

Centerburg Trojans at Fredericktown Freddies (8-0, 5-0)
Pick: Fredericktown

Olentangy Orange Pioneers (4-4, 3-2) at Hilliard Bradley Jaguars (3-5, 1-4)
Pick: Olentangy Orange

Mount Gilead Indians (3-5, 3-4) at Sparta Highland Scots (6-2, 6-1)
Pick: Highland

Newark Catholic Green Wave (6-2, 3-2) at Whitehall-Yearling Rams (3-5, 2-3)
Pick: Newark Catholic

SATURDAY NIGHT GAME:
Grandview Heights Bobcats (5-3, 3-2) at Fisher Catholic Irish (0-8, 0-5)
Last Monday, Fisher Catholic pinkslipped Head Coach Mike Hensley after an 0-7 start, and on Saturday night, they ushered in Interim Head Coach with a 50-0 loss to Liberty Union. The good news for Fisher is, is that they will get to play Millersport in an 0-9 showdown next week.
Pick: Grandview Heights


SPORTS CORNER TOP 25 (Regardless of Division/Region) going into Week 9:
1) Pickerington Central (7-0)
2) Hilliard Davidson (8-0)
T-3) Marion-Franklin (8-0)
T-3) New Albany (8-0)
5) West Jefferson (8-0)
6) Fredericktown (8-0)
T-7) Bishop Watterson (6-1)
T-7) Westerville South (7-1)
9) Jonathan Alder (7-1)
10) Licking Valley (6-2)
(JUST OUT OF THE TOP 10)
11) Upper Arlington (6-2)
12) Canal Winchester (7-1)
13) Big Walnut (7-1)
14) North Union (8-0)
15) Bishop Hartley (6-2)
16) Groveport Madison (6-2)
17) St. Charles (5-2)
18) Hilliard Darby (7-1)
19) Clinton-Massie (7-0)
20) Dublin Coffman (6-2)
21) Newark Catholic (6-2)
22) Beechcroft (6-2)
23) Northland (6-2)
24) Licking Heights (6-2)
T-25) Fairfield Christian (7-0)
T-25) Hamilton Township (6-2)

DROPPED OUT FROM WEEK 8's Poll: Eastmoor Academy, Lancaster