2011 Central Ohio H.S. Football: Week 12

The second week of the Ohio High School Playoffs take place tonight and tomorrow night, as the 96 surviving playoff teams square off in 48 exciting matchups played at neutral sites all across the Buckeye State.

Here are the 10 games against area teams this weekend.
DIVISION I (Saturday @ 7PM)
(Region 3)- both rematches of OCC division games
# 4 Upper Arlington Golden Bears (9-2) vs. # 1 Hilliard Davidson Wildcats (10-0)- at St. Francis DeSales H.S.
# 6 Gahanna Lincoln Golden Lions (9-2) vs. # 2 Pickerington Central Tigers [8-2)- at Ohio Wesleyan University's Selby Field

The # 1 and # 2 teams won the regular season matchups against their Saturday opponents pretty handily, and are expected to do so again.

Picks: Hilliard Davidson and Pick Central, to set up that exciting rematch next Saturday

DIVISION II (Friday @ 7:30PM)
(Region 7)
# 4 Big Walnut Golden Eagles (9-2) vs. # 1 Marion-Franklin Red Devils (11-0)- at Ohio Wesleyan University's Selby Field
# 3 Dresden Tri-Valley Scotties vs. # 2 New Albany Eagles (both 9-2)- at Gahanna Lincoln H.S.

Marion-Franklin is at a disadvantage against Big Walnut, having learned that first-hand last year in this round. Marion-Franklin barely beat Brookhaven (twice), Canal Winchester, and Dublin Scioto; while Big Walnut played Olentangy Orange, New Albany, Westerville Central, and Hilliard Bradley- all good quality teams in 2011.
Picks: Big Walnut and Tri-Valley

DIVISION III (Friday @ 7:30PM)
(Region 10)
Elida Bulldogs (8-3) vs. # 1 St. Francis DeSales Stallions (7-3)- at Clayton Northmont H.S.
# 3 Eastmoor Academy Warriors vs. # 2 Clyde Fliers (both 9-2)- at Mansfield Senior H.S.

Picks: DeSales and Clyde

(Region 12)
# 7 Jackson Ironmen vs. # 3 Jonathan Alder Pioneers (both 11-0)- at Logan H.S.
This will be as good as it gets, and probably Alder's toughest test (in a year where they beat Clinton-Massie and Watterson, you can only get tougher, right?) this year in an unbeaten Jackson team that will never give up.

Pick: Jonathan Alder

DIVISION IV (Saturday at 7PM)
(Region 14)
# 3 Bishop Hartley Hawks (10-0) vs. # 2 Pemberville Eastwood Eagles (11-0)- at Ashland H.S.
The defending D-IV State Champs Hawks take their offensive and defensive attack on the road to Ashland to play against unbeaten Eastwood, from the Toledo area, in what could be the Hawks' toughest test since Kettering Alter in the D-IV State Semifinals last year. The winner of this game may face off against the explosive offensive attack of Kenton.
Pick: Eastwood

(Region 15)
# 6 Ironton Tigers (7-4) vs. # 2 Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies (11-0)- at Hamilton Township H.S.
This could have upset pick all over it, as the Tigers could claw their way to the Regional Finals.
Pick: Ironton

DIVISION V (Friday @ 7:30PM)
(Region 20)
# 6 West Jefferson Roughriders (9-2) vs. # 2 Marion Pleasant Trojans (11-0)- at Hilliard Bradley H.S.
The Trojans hung almost 80 on Cincinnati Summit Country Day last week, things will get tough for them in what is practically a home game for West Jeff, which is only minutes away from where the game will be played.
Pick: West Jefferson

For a complete listing of matchups and for results from last week, go to http://www.ohsaa.org.