High School Football Picks- Week 11, Part 2 (Divisions II, IV, & VI)

On Friday, playoff action will take place in Ohio for Divisions II, IV, and VI. There will be 48 contests in twelve Computer Regions.

GAME/UPSET PICK OF THE NIGHT: Region 6- # 5 Maple Heights Mustangs (10-0, regular season) at # 4 Toledo Central Catholic Fighting Irish (8-2, regular season)
Just because you are 10-0, it doesn't guarantee you a # 1 or # 2 seed, let alone a home game. Last year's runner-up in D-II, Maple Heights travels to Toledo to play the Irish of Central Catholic. The Mustangs could drive up and down the field all night, just like they did in last year's deep playoff run.
Pick: Maple Heights

COLUMBUS GAME OF THE NIGHT: Region 15- # 6 Amanda-Clearcreek Aces (7-3, regular season) at # 3 Columbus Bishop Hartley Hawks (8-2, regular season)
The last time that these two teams met was the season opener, which was also at Jack Ryan Field, where the Hawks embarrassed the Aces in Head Coach Dale Olney's debut, 48-10, which was not the only problem for the Aces at the time. Running back Chet Saum is expected to miss the rematch. Olney insists that the Aces are a better team, so their past playoff experience under former Coach Ron Hinton could come into play for the Aces. This could be a big upset if the Aces win.
Pick: Hartley...again

OTHER GAMES on FRIDAY:
Region 7- # 8 Zanesville Blue Devils (9-1, regular season) at # 1 Columbus Marion-Franklin Red Devils (10-0, regular season)- "Devil-Devil Bowl"
Before I go on, there is a 100 percent chance that the Devils will move on to the second round. Last year, the Red Devils sneaked in with the eighth and final seed in this region at 8-2 and went to business right away by knocking off the # 1 team in the state in Division II, the Louisville Leopards (who missed the playoffs this year, finishing in 9th place). The Red Devils, then went on to knock off second-year Olentangy Orange, and City League foe Brookhaven, before falling to eventual State Champion Winton Woods in a 69-35 shootout in the State Semifinals. Last year, the Blue Devils were 9-1, only losing to St. Charles, and that wasn't even good enough to get the Blue Devils in the playoffs, as they finished ninth. This year, they grabbed the eighth and final spot over quality programs such as Louisville (# 1 in the state last year in the regular season) and a resurgent Hamilton Township (who was 0-10 last year). All fingers are pointing to a Zanesville upset, as the Devils have been nearly perfect this year. But, so have the Red Devils, with a big defense that has only had two close games (Region 5 contender Ashland and Division III playoff contender Eastmoor Academy) this season. Something has got to give on the south side of Columbus.
Pick: Marion-Franklin

Region 23- # 6 Fairfield Christian Academy Knights (9-0, regular season) at # 3 Newark Catholic Green Wave (7-3, regular season)- at Newark White Field
All good things must come to an end. For the Knights, who were winless against OHSAA schools last year, and made a complete 360 with a perfect regular season this year, their season will come to an end on Friday against the most experience playoff school in the 39-year history of the OHSAA playoff system. With 31 appearances and 62 playoff wins, the Green Wave lead all Ohio schools in both categories, and for the Knights, they have the misfortune of having their first playoff game against the cream of the crop when it comes to small Ohio schools.
Pick: Newark Catholic

Region 7- # 7 Dresden Tri-Valley Scotties (8-2, regular season) at # 2 New Albany Eagles (10-0, regular season
Pick: New Albany

Region 7- # 6 Columbus St. Charles Cardinals (5-4, regular season) at # 3 Uniontown Lake Blue Streaks (7-3, regular season)
How is a 5-4 team like St. Charles in the playoffs over teams like Louisville, Hamilton Township, Beechcroft, and Walnut Ridge- teams with 7-3 or 8-2 records in Region 7, that missed the playoffs? Three words: Strength Of Schedule. St. Charles' opponents had a 61-27 record, and that is what the computer rankings look for. However, after a 5-0 start, St. Charles will end the season on a five-game losing streak as they travel up to the Canton area to play the Blue Streaks of Uniontown Lake, whom like St. Charles, is coming off a loss to Bishop Watterson.
Pick: Uniontown Lake

Region 15- # 8 Coshocton Redskins (8-2, regular season) at # 1 Ironton Tigers (8-2, regular season)
Pick: Ironton

Region 5- # 5 Aurora Greenmen (8-2, regular season) at # 4 Ashland Arrows (8-2, regular season)
Pick: Ashland

Region 8- # 8 Dayton Carroll Patriots (7-3, regular season) at # 1 Cincinnati Winton Woods Warriors (9-1, regular season)
Pick: Winton Woods

Region 13- # 8 Perry Pirates (6-4, regular season) at # 1 Akron Manchester Panthers (10-0)
Pick: Manchester

Region 14- # 6 Wooster-Triway Titans (8-2, regular season) at # 3 Orrville Red Riders (7-3, regular season)
Pick: Orrville

Region 14- # 7 Huron Tigers (7-3, regular season) at # 2 Elyria Catholic Panthers (9-1, regular season)
Pick: Elyria Catholic

Region 15- # 7 Albany Alexander Spartans (8-2, regular season) at # 2 Heath Bulldogs (9-1, regular season)
Pick: Heath

Region 16- # 7 Waynesville Spartans (8-2, regular season) at # 2 Plain City Jonathan Alder Pioneers (9-1, regular season)
Pick: Jonathan Alder

Region 16- # 8 Cincinnati Taft Senators (7-3, regular season) at # 1 Clarksville Clinton-Massie Falcons (10-0, regular season)
Pick: Clinton-Massie

Region 15- # 5 West Portsmouth West Senators (8-2, regular season) at # 4 Sparta Highland Fighting Scots (8-2, regular season)
Pick: West Portsmouth West