High School Football- Week 7 (Part 2)- Let's Pick 'Em

...and now, the Games...

GAMES OF THE WEEK:
Groveport Madison Cruisers (5-1) at Pickerington Central Tigers (5-0)- This game was a (Groveport surrendering a 22-point lead to Grove City) loss away from being a battle of the unbeatens, similar to...
Dublin Coffman Shamrocks (5-1) at Hilliard Darby Panthers (6-0)- Coffman is a loss at the Herbstreit Classic away from being 6-0 and playing Darby in this matchup.
All four of these teams are in the top eight of Region 3, one of the most competitive regions in the State (Pick Central- # 1, Darby- # 3, Groveport- # 5, and Coffman- # 8).
Darby is the most surprising of the teams, because nobody predicted that they would still be undefeated going into the seventh week, but they still are. Nobody thought that Groveport was serious about making a mark in Division I, but the Cruisers are. Everybody picked Coffman as a serious contender for the State Playoffs. If the Rocks win out, they still can be. With their first two games against out-of-state opponents, and then a bye week before heading into OCC Ohio play, nobody knew what to make of Pickerington Central. In the last three weeks, the Tigers have mauled and clawed through their last three opponents- rivals Lancaster, Pickerington North, and Gahanna Lincoln, winning by a combined score of 113-2. Yup, 113-2.
Darby, had a fairly easy stretch, playing only one team currently with a winning record (Upper Arlington), and another with a .500 record currently (Dublin Jerome).
Coffman, they've stacked perennial playoff contenders (Olentangy Liberty, Brookhaven, Westerville South) with lightweights (Westland, Thomas Worthington, Central Crossing), and next week, they play their neighbors to the south, Hilliard Davidson next week. This is Coffman's first big test since the Herbstreit Classic (Brookhaven was 0-2 and already out in Week 3).
Groveport, if they hadn't blown a big lead in Grove City, would still be unbeaten, but that still won't change things in Picktown.
Picks: Dublin Coffman and Pickerington Central

UNDERDOG GAMES OF THE WEEK:
Linden McKinley Panthers (1-5, 0-3) at Whetstone Braves (1-5, 1-2)- Last week, Whetstone finally got in the "W" column, by pillaging a really declining East team. This will be another easy one for the Braves.
Pick: Whetstone

Thomas Worthington Cardinals (1-5, 0-3) at Westland Cougars (1-5, 0-3)- There isn't much good news about the game, considering the limited success of these two football programs in recent years (TW- 19th non-winning season in the last 21, 11th non-winning season in a row; WL- made the playoffs four years ago, back to the basement ever since).
Pick: Westland

UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK:
Westerville North Warriors (0-6, 0-3) at Olentangy Liberty Patriots (3-3, 1-2)- It appears that Liberty's six-year playoff streak is on thin ice right now, as the Pats host Westerville North, losers of 21 straight. The Warriors will finally get back into the win column, and they might on Friday night in Powell.
Pick: Westerville North

OTHER BIG GAMES THIS WEEK:
Eastmoor Academy Warriors (3-2, 3-0) at Walnut Ridge Scots (5-1, 2-1)- If Walnut Ridge had a tougher schedule (East, Linden, and South are a combined 2-16), they'd be in the top eight in their computer region, same for Eastmoor, who mauled Columbus South 82-3 last Friday night. Eastmoor is hungry for a win, and hungry to return to the playoffs, even though they might not, after an 0-2 start.
Pick: Eastmoor Academy

Amanda-Clearcreek Aces (5-1, 3-0) at Hamilton Township Rangers (5-1, 3-0)- This is a big game for both schools, as a Hamilton win will guarantee a winning mark, whilst an Amanda win will prove that there is life after Ron Hinton for the Aces.
Pick: Amanda-Clearcreek

Marysville Monarchs (3-3, 2-1) at Westerville South Wildcats (5-1, 3-0)- Two weeks ago, Marysville used its royal powers to upset Olentangy. This week, the Monarchs march their royal kingdom to Westerville South, where a King and Queen of their own will be crowned (it's Westerville South's Homecoming Game). However, South's running game will not be denied, and neither will South's Alumni, Homecoming King and Homecoming Queen.
Pick: Westerville South

Lancaster Golden Gales (4-2, 2-1) at Reynoldsburg Raiders (3-3, 1-2)- The force of the Gales is slowly coming back. Last week's win over Grove City was living proof of that.
Pick: Lancaster

Grandview Heights Bobcats (4-2, 2-1) at Licking Heights Hornets (4-2, 2-1)- Grandview has won four of their last five, while Licking Heights got stung by Liberty Union last week. The winner of this game will get a boost, in terms of computer points, because both teams are on the out, looking in, in their respective computer regions.
Pick: Licking Heights

Heath Bulldogs (5-1, 3-0) at Columbus Academy Vikings (3-3, 1-2)- Will the Academy running game be able to stop Heath? Um...no.
Pick: Heath

Utica Redskins (3-3, 1-2) at Johnstown Johnnies (4-2, 2-1)
Pick: Johnstown

Lakewood St. Edward Eagles (6-0) at St. Francis DeSales Stallions (4-2)
After their 34th consecutive win over St. Charles, DeSales has the treat of hosting one of the most prestigious powerhouses in Cuyahoga County, that being the Eagles of St. Ed, a member of Cleveland's all-male Catholic School Powerhouse Factory. To quote former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, "Let the Eagle Soar..."
Pick: St. Ed

Mifflin Punchers (3-3, 1-2) at Northland Vikings (4-2, 2-1)
After a 2-0 start, Mifflin is starting to drown, losing three (Watkins Memorial, Centennial, Beechcroft) of its last four (it's only win in the last four weeks was against winless East), while Northland is bouncing back from a two-game slide after its 2-0 start, by topping Whetstone and Centennial. Northland needs a prayer, if it wants to make the top eight in its already-crowded Region 3 (the Vikes are 11th, between Lancaster and a team that they lost to in Week 3- Pickerington North).
Pick: Northland

St. Charles Cardinals (5-1) at Youngstown Ursuline Fighting Irish (6-0)
After its 34th straight loss to DeSales, St. Charles takes their show and playoff hopes on the road to the Mahoning Valley to play unbeaten small Division V powerhouse, Youngstown Ursuline. A Cardinal win, with only two games left against two serious perennial playoff contenders (Bishop Watterson and Jonathan Alder) would give them some points, but not as much points as a Fighting Irish win over the Cards (Ursuline- Div. V and St. Charles- Div. II). EDITOR'S NOTE: St. Charles has a bye week next week, after the cancellation of their game against Hamilton (Ontario) National Arts College, because National Arts College did not field a team (source: This Week Bexley; Oct. 7, 2010).
Pick: Youngstown Ursuline

Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds (5-1) at Bishop Ready Silver Knights (3-3)- @ Hilliard Bradley H.S.
The Silver Knights have played a tough schedule against mostly really great teams, and the T-Birds of Lima Central Catholic are no exception. This is a must-win for the Knights, in order to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, because a loss will have their playoff hopes riding off in the T-Bird that Lima Central Catholic rode on to get to the west side of Columbus (or in this case, Hilliard Bradley).
Pick: Lima Central Catholic

Jonathan Alder Pioneers (5-1) at Washington Court House Blue Lions (6-0)
This is a blocked point-after try away from being a "war of the unbeatens". Jonathan Alder travels down to Fayette County to play unbeaten Washington Court House.
Pick: Jonathan Alder

Columbus West Cowboys (3-3, 1-2) at Marion-Franklin Red Devils (6-0, 3-0)- The Cowboys take their fast-flying offense to the south side of Columbus to play unbeaten, and unstoppable Marion-Franklin. But not even that will be enough to pull off an upset.
Pick: Marion-Franklin

OTHER GAMES OF INTEREST THROUGHOUT CENTRAL OHIO:
Newark Catholic Green Wave (5-1, 2-1) at Bexley Lions (3-3, 1-2)
Last week, Bexley snapped a three-game slide, with the help of their running game, as receiver, turned running back Elijah Scott ran for a record 381 yards, and scored six TD's against Hebron Lakewood last week. The Lions could get swept away at their homecoming by the Wave, Green Wave, that is.
Pick: Newark Catholic

Pickerington North Panthers (4-2, 2-1) at Gahanna Lincoln Lions (2-4, 1-2)- In this battle of the cats, it looks like the Lions will get overpowered in their kingdom, as they will fall short to a Pickerington team for the second-straight week.
Pick: Pickerington North

Delaware Hayes Pacers (2-4, 1-2) at Big Walnut Golden Eagles (6-0, 3-0)- Delaware Hayes loves playing their fellow Delaware County schools. The Pacers will play for pride as they go down Routes 36 & 37 to Sunbury and play unbeaten Big Walnut.
Pick: Big Walnut

New Albany Eagles (6-0, 3-0) at Franklin Heights Golden Falcons (0-6, 0-3)- Things aren't golden for Franklin Heights, but things will be golden for New Albany, as they look to stay perfect with a big showdown with Big Walnut looming near.
Pick: New Albany

Olentangy Orange Pioneers (2-4, 1-2) at Watkins Memorial Warriors (4-2, 1-2)- The Warriors and their black and gold-winged helmets host the Pioneers of Olentangy Orange, which could be a good game, given that Orange almost upset New Albany last week.
Pick: Olentangy Orange

BLOWOUT PICK OF THE WEEK: Beechcroft Cougars (4-2, 3-0) pouncing Columbus East (0-6, 0-3)- with the East High Tigers being outscored 46-12 on average, Sheldon Akin of Beechcroft will have no problem putting up big numbers against this weakening East team.


SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS:
Bishop Hartley Hawks (5-1) at Dayton Thurgood Marshall Cougars (5-1)- These two Division IV schools are a combined 10-2, but their computer rankings are two different stories, because if the playoffs began today, the Hawks would be in (3rd in Region 15), and the Cougars would not (11th in Region 16).
Pick: Thurgood Marshall

Complete Slate of Games in the Columbus Area

Next Week- RIVALRY WEEK
12 Area Rivalries will be chosen as the SportsCorner Games of the Week
What Makes a Rivalry a Rivalry?
What are the Greatest Rivalries in Sports?
These questions will be answered as part of Rivalry Week on DJBC Sports Corner.