Central Ohio High School Football: Week 3 (2011)

The third week of high school football is upon us. Last week, temperatures for games were around 90 degrees (or warmer). This week, they will be in the 60s.





BIGGEST GAME THIS WEEK:
Marion-Franklin Red Devils at Canal Winchester Indians (both 2-0)

Both schools are on the Southeast side of town. Both are 2-0, and both have been Division II playoff staples, and both meet tomorrow night. The winner of this game still has a shot at a 10-0 record, while the loser will have to settle for 9-1 at best, and in their tough computer region, 9-1 might not be good enough for the playoffs.

Pick: Canal Winchester



UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK:
Olentangy Orange Pioneers (1-1) at Westerville North Warriors (0-2)

The Westerville North Warriors of 2011 are a far cry from the Warriors of the 1980s and 1990s. A far cry. A once proud team in Central Ohio has not been to the playoffs in over 10 years, and are riding currently a 27-game losing streak. The North faithful are tired of the losing, and this may be one of their shots to end the losing this year, as they host nearby Olentangy Orange. Why North could lose their 28th game in a row is that Orange went to the Division II playoffs in 2009 and are coached by Brian Cross, who coached at some of the best football programs (Eastmoor, Grove City, and Canton McKinley) in Ohio. I think North might actually show what the North teams of old had and shock everyone.

Pick: Westerville North

St. Francis DeSales Stallions at New Albany Eagles (both 1-1)

Last year, New Albany upset DeSales on a Jimmy Gammill field goal, 13-10. The Stallions are looking to win back-to-back games, while the Eagles, smarting from a loss to Westerville Central last week, want an encore upset of the Stallions.

Pick: New Albany

RIVALRY GAME OF THE WEEK:
The Battle of Hard Road-
Dublin Scioto Irish (0-2) at Worthington Kilbourne Wolves (1-1)
These two schools lie on a road that goes from the Scioto River to the west and to State Route 315 to the east. Some kids live right next to each other. The winner of this game gets a piece of the road their schools lie on as a trophy, probably one of the most coveted trophies of local high school sports. Of course, I'm talking about The 17th Annual Battle of Hard Road, played annually since the opening of Dublin Scioto High School in 1995. Last week, Scioto played Marion-Franklin tough in a loss, while Kilbourne got blown out at home by Solon.
Pick: Dublin Scioto

OTHER BIG GAMES THIS WEEK:
Gahanna Lincoln Golden Lions (2-0) at Upper Arlington Golden Bears (1-1)

This is a big perennial suburban rivalry, as it has been for years. To some UA faithful- Thomas Worthington, Hilliard Davidson, and even Bishop Watterson have been rivals of the Golden Bears. Gahanna is right up with them, as these two football programs have been among the most successful in the last 50 years. The Lions are a surprise 2-0, while the Golden Bears are coming off their first win of the year (34-19 win over Springfield at the Herbstreit Classic). The team with the best skill wins.
Pick: Upper Arlington

Olentangy Braves at Big Walnut Golden Eagles (both 1-1)
These two Delaware County rivals square off in this great rivalry. Next year, Olentangy moves to the OCC Capital, which means that this game could be for a league title then, but until then, bragging rights are on the line in this of many rivalries in Delaware County.
Pick: Big Walnut

Bexley Lions at Hamilton Township Rangers (both 2-0)
Bexley has breezed through its first two opponents- both in Division VI, while Hamilton Township came from behind to beat Chillicothe, and it topped London last week. Bexley's easy start will show down in Obetz.
Pick: Hamilton Township

Walnut Ridge Scots (0-2) at Hilliard Davidson Wildcats (1-0)
Walnut Ridge, after an easy non-league schedule this year, closes out their tougher non-league schedule on the road in Hilliard to play a well-rested Davidson team. This may be over by halftime.
Pick: Hilliard Davidson

Watkins Memorial Warriors at Mifflin Punchers (both 2-0)
Last year, the Warriors exposed the shortcomings of Mifflin, which caused the Punchers to lose five of their last eight games. This year, could be more of the same.
Pick: Watkins Memorial

Dublin Coffman Shamrocks at Massillon Perry Panthers (both 2-0)
This will be a tough test for the Shamrocks as they travel to Stark County to play one of the elite D-I teams in Northeast Ohio.
Pick: Massillon Perry

Northland Vikings (0-2) at Pickerington North Panthers (2-0)
Northland is not the same team that went 8-2 and went to the playoffs last year. Far from it. Pickerington North walloped Watterson at home two weeks ago, and beat Logan last week.
Pick: Pickerington North

Logan Chieftains (0-2) at Reynoldsburg Raiders (1-1)
Reynoldsburg lost a close one up in Findlay last week, and want to turn it back around against Logan this week. They might just do that.
Pick: Reynoldsburg

Delaware Hayes Pacers (1-1) at Olentangy Liberty Patriots (0-2)
The Pacers travel down to Powell to play Olentangy Liberty, who is still looking for their first win of the year.
Pick: Olentangy Liberty

Westerville Central Warhawks (2-0) at Thomas Worthington Cardinals (1-1)
Westerville Central started off the year with back-to-back upset wins. A win in Worthington could send the Hawks to their best start in the school's nine-year history. Thomas blanked their Clintonville neighbors Whetstone last week, and would love to give Central their first loss of the year.
Pick: Westerville Central

Whitehall-Yearling Rams at Grandview Heights Bobcats (both 2-0)
Tomorrow night's a big night in Grandview, as the Bobcats host fellow small Columbus suburb Whitehall in a battle of the unbeatens. The Bobcats would like to celebrate a victory before heading down to the Ox Roast down the street.
Pick: Grandview

Central Crossing Comets at Franklin Heights Golden Falcons (both 0-2)
Central Crossing has never won more than three games in the nine years of their program's history. Franklin Heights has seen better days, but none in recent years. If Westerville North wins tomorrow night, Franklin Heights will have the longest losing streak in Central Ohio.
Pick: Central Crossing


Africentric Early College Nubians (0-2) at Columbus East Tigers (1-1)
East gave Head Coach Lewis Carter his first win in East's home opener as they shut down Columbus South 28-0 (The Bulldogs play Centennial this week. Last year, South snapped Centennial's 34-game losing streak with a 31-7 Stars win). Africentric has been blown out 110-32 in its two losses. East could be 2-1 heading into City League play for the first time since 1999. This is the first meeting between these two schools (East being the oldest school in Columbus), despite the schools being about three miles apart.
Pick: East

Westerville South Wildcats (1-1) at Grove City Greyhounds (0-2)
Pick: Westerville South

Jonathan Alder Pioneers (2-0) at Clarksville Clinton-Massie Falcons (1-1)
Pick: Jonathan Alder

Madison Plains Golden Eagles (1-1) at South Charleston Southeastern Trojans (2-0)
Pick: South Charleston Southeastern


OTHER GAMES HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
Liberty Union Lions (2-0) at Amanda-Clearcreek Aces (1-1)
Fredericktown Freddies (1-1) at Ashland Crestview (2-0)
St. Charles Cardinals (0-2) at Beechcroft Cougars (1-1)
Harvest Prep Warriors (2-0) at Bloom-Carroll Bruins (0-2)
St. Paris Graham Local Falcons (0-2) at Briggs Bruins (1-1)
Fairfield Indians (1-1) at Brookhaven Bearcats (0-2)
River Valley Vikings at Cardington-Lincoln Pirates (both 1-1, 1-0)
Whetstone Braves (0-2) at Columbus Academy Vikings (1-1)
Bishop Hartley Hawks (2-0) at East Knox Bulldogs (0-2)
Triad Cardinals (2-0) at Fairbanks Panthers (0-2)
Granville Blue Aces (1-1) at Fairfield Union Falcons (0-2)
Danville Blue Devils at Grove City Christian Eagles (both 1-1)
Dublin Jerome Celtics (0-2) at Groveport Madison Cruisers (1-1)
Galion Northmor Golden Knights at Sparta Highland Fighting Scots (both 0-2, 0-1)
Loudonville Redbirds (0-2) at Jeromesville Hillsdale Falcons (2-0)
Newark Wildcats (0-2) at Hilliard Darby Panthers (2-0)
Bellville Clear Fork Colts at Columbus Independence 76ers (both 1-1)
Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies at Hebron Lakewood Lances (both 1-1)
Twinsburg Tigers (1-1) at Lancaster Golden Gales (2-0)
Teays Valley Vikings (1-1) at Licking Heights Hornets (0-2)
Bishop Ready Silver Knights (2-0) at Licking Valley Panthers (0-2)
Mansfield Senior at Marion Harding Presidents (0-2)
Bellefontaine Chieftains at Marysville Monarchs (1-1)
Centerburg Trojans (2-0) at Mechanicsburg Indians
Buckeye Valley Barons (1-1, 0-1) at Morral Ridgedale Rockets (0-2, 0-1)
Berne Union Rockets (0-2) at Nelsonville-York Buckeyes (2-0)
Lancaster Fisher Catholic Irish at Newark Catholic Green Wave (0-2)
Millersport Lakers at Northridge Vikings
Marion Pleasant Trojans at Richwood North Union Wildcats (both 2-0, 1-0)
Centennial Stars at Columbus South Bulldogs (both 0-2)
Heath Bulldogs (1-1) at Utica Redskins (0-2)
Bishop Watterson Golden Eagles at Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit Warriors (both 1-1)
Hilliard Bradley Jaguars (2-0) at Westland Cougars (1-1)
Marion Elgin Comets (1-1, 0-1) at Mount Gilead Indians (2-0, 1-0)

Saturday Night Lights:
Eastmoor Academy Warriors at Dayton Thurgood Marshall
Circleville Tigers (1-1) at Westfall Mustangs (1-1)


DJBC Sports Corner Top 10 Poll of 2011:
1) Hilliard Davidson Wildcats (1-0)
2) Bishop Hartley Hawks (2-0)
3) Marion-Franklin Red Devils (2-0)
4) Pickerington North Panthers (2-0)
5) Canal Winchester Indians (2-0)
6) Eastmoor Academy Warriors (2-0)
7) Watkins Memorial Warriors (2-0)
8] Gahanna Lincoln Golden Lions (2-0)
9) Hamilton Township Rangers (2-0)
10) Jonathan Alder Pioneers (2-0)
10) Bexley Lions (2-0)
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12) Grandview Heights Bobcats (2-0)
13) Westerville Central Warhawks (2-0)
14) West Cowboys (2-0)
15) Bishop Ready Silver Knights (2-0)
16) West Jefferson Roughriders (2-0)
17) Dublin Coffman Shamrocks (2-0)
18] Hilliard Darby Panthers (2-0)
19) Whitehall-Yearling Rams (2-0)
20) New Albany Eagles (1-1)
21) Lancaster Golden Gales (2-0)
22) Westerville South Wildcats (1-1)
23) Hilliard Bradley Jaguars (2-0)
24) Fredericktown Freddies (1-1)
25) North Union Wildcats (2-0)

Honorable Mention: Liberty Union Lions (2-0), Upper Arlington Golden Bears (1-1), Bishop Watterson Golden Eagles (1-1), St. Francis DeSales Stallions (1-1), Columbus East Tigers (1-1), Delaware Hayes Pacers (1-1), Olentangy Orange Pioneers (1-1), Olentangy Braves (1-1), Big Walnut Golden Eagles (1-1), Mifflin Punchers
Dropped Out: Pickerington Central, Olentangy