Central Ohio Friday Night Football 2010- Week 1

Welcome to DJBC's Sports Corner...

In Central Ohio, high school football is full of traditions....

Tonight is the beginning of the 2010 football season in Central Ohio as scores of high school football stadiums across the city, across the state, and across the country will be filled with cheering fans rooting for their favorite team.


WEEK 1 TOP BILLING:
Hilliard Davidson Wildcats @ Grove City Greyhounds

This game will be an emotional game for both teams. Davidson, the defending Division I State Champions, is still mourning the loss of star back Rico Butler, who drowned in May. This is Grove City's first game in two years, after having their entire season cancelled last year, due to a failed levy in the Southwestern City School District that made headlines all over. Grove City is one of four schools in the district that had their season scrapped, but Grove City has one of the biggest traditions in Central Ohio football, lasting over 80 years.

OTHER MARQUEE GAMES:
Amanda Clearcreek Aces @ Bishop Hartley Hawks

This will be the first game in three decades for the Aces without Coach Ron Hinton (who left for Chillicothe) on the sidelines. The Aces travel to the east side to play a hungry Hartley team that is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.

Marion-Franklin Red Devils @ Brookhaven Bearcats

These two City League teams split meetings last year, with the Bearcats winning a rain delayed season opener, before the Red Devils avenged that loss on their way to the Final Four (eventually losing to eventual Division II state champions Winton Woods).

Dublin Coffman Shamrocks @ Olentangy Liberty Patriots

The last time these two teams met, the Shamrocks embarrassed the Patriots on national television (broadcast on ESPN as part of the Kirk Herbstreit Classic) 52-0. The Patriots have been in the playoffs every year since their second year of school history, and are looking to make it 7 in a row, while Coffman is an early season favorite to compete for the Division I state title.

Columbus West Cowboys @ Columbus East Tigers

The real battle of Broad Street will take place at Chic Harley Field on the near east side as the Cowboys (whose marching band was on CD101's Morning Show this morning) travel up Broad Street to play the Tigers. Both teams are looking to go up in City League Divisions where they have to look up to serious contenders (West--> Eastmoor Academy, Marion-Franklin, Walnut Ridge and East--> Brookhaven & Beechcroft)

Canal Winchester Indians @ St. Charles Cardinals

Both teams are in the 7th Region of Division II, which last year was a heavily crowded field with so many teams that missed out on the playoffs (New Albany, Beechcroft, New Philadelphia, Zanesville, and St. Charles). The Indians travel up to Bexley to play the Cardinals, who are in the shadow of Central Catholic League rivals DeSales and Watterson, having not beaten the former team in 34 years.

St. Francis DeSales Stallions @ Gahanna Lincoln Lions

The Stallions take their show on the road to the Herb Capital of Ohio to play the Gahanna Lions. The Stallions are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and are Division III runners-up. The Lions are looking to rebuild in a very competitive Division I region (3) and conference (Ohio Capital Conference).

Westerville Central Warhawks @ Big Walnut Golden Eagles

The quest for the WarEagle trophy is on in Sunbury tonight as these two rivals have a lot to play for. A surging Central team is looking for their first ever playoff appearance, while Big Walnut is three years removed from winning the Division III state title.

Delaware Hayes Pacers @ Buckeye Valley Barons

These Delaware County rivals meet again, and Hayes is looking to go back to the Division I playoffs, where they competed two years ago. The Barons, despite four straight winning seasons, have never been there. Could a win over the Pacers put the Barons on the winning edge?

Olentangy Braves @ Olentangy Orange Pioneers

The Pioneers, fresh off their first playoff appearance in their short history, host the elder Olentangy school in the season opener. The Braves are looking to rebound from a dismal 3-7 season last year.

Eastmoor Academy Warriors @ Northland Vikings

The Warriors, looking to win it all in Division III travel up north to play a school, who has made national headlines for its basketball team and now OSU freshman Jared Sullinger. Back to football, the Vikings are looking to emerge from the shadow of Brookhaven and Beechcroft, and make the playoffs. That won't be easy for the Vikes, who are in a Division I region full of Ohio Capital Conference contenders.



SATURDAY:
Westerville South Wildcats @ Groveport Madison Cruisers- The Wildcats travel to Groveport to play the Cruisers on Saturday night.

Pickerington Central Tigers vs. Plainfield (Indiana) Quakers at Indianapolis Warren Central H.S.- The Tigers take their quests for a Division I title to the Hoosier state to play Plainfield.

TEAMS TO LOOK OUT FOR in 2010:
(City League North) Mifflin, Northland
(City League South) Walnut Ridge
(Central Catholic League) Bishop Hartley
(Ohio Capital Conference- Capital) Olentangy Orange, Big Walnut
(Ohio Capital Conference- Cardinal) Westerville Central
(Ohio Capital Conference- Central) Upper Arlington, Hilliard Davidson, Worthington Kilbourne
(Ohio Capital Conference- Ohio) Pickerington North, Groveport Madison, Lancaster, Grove City
(Mid State League- Buckeye)
(Mid State League- Cardinal) Liberty Union
(Mid State League- Ohio) Newark Catholic, Bexley, Columbus Academy

TITLE CONTENDERS in 2010:
(City League North) Brookhaven, Beechcroft
(City League South) Marion-Franklin, Eastmoor Academy, Walnut Ridge
(Central Catholic League) Bishop Hartley, Bishop Ready, Bishop Watterson, St. Francis DeSales
(OCC Capital) New Albany, Olentangy Orange
(OCC Cardinal) Olentangy Liberty, Westerville South
(OCC Central) Dublin Coffman, Hilliard Davidson
(OCC Ohio) Pickerington Central
(Mid State League Buckeye) Canal Winchester
(Mid State League Cardinal) Licking Heights, West Jefferson
(Mid State League Ohio) Granville, Heath

SLEEPER of 2010:
(City League) Mifflin- with new coach Gregg Miller, don't be surprised if Mifflin wins games
(OCC Capital) Big Walnut
(OCC Cardinal) Westerville Central
(OCC Central) last year, it was Thomas Worthington....it probably might be again, but I'm going with the other Worthington school, Kilbourne
(OCC Ohio) Groveport Madison or Grove City
(Mid State League Ohio) Bexley or Columbus Academy


Games on the Docket for Week 2:
The Herbstreit Classic (Sunday: Dublin Coffman vs. Westerville South, Monday: Pickerington Central vs. Oscar Smith [Virginia]) @ Ohio Stadium
and these...
Westerville Central @ New Albany
Delaware Hayes @ Olentangy
Olentangy Orange @ Olentangy Liberty
Whetstone @ Thomas Worthington
Bishop Watterson @ Beechcroft
Grove City @ Canal Winchester
Bishop Hartley @ Columbus Academy
Walnut Ridge @ Columbus East
The Battle of Broad Street/Pataskala: Watkins Memorial @ Licking Heights
Dublin Scioto @ Marion-Franklin
Brookhaven @ Hilliard Davidson
St. Charles @ Eastmoor Academy
Linden McKinley @ Westland