Although the returns are early and nothing is official until the OHSAA releases the regional parings on Sunday (check here at 2 p.m.), here are some truths we hold to be self-evident following Friday night’s action…
MARION LOCAL UPSETS ANNA; MAC GETS FIVE TEAMS IN THE POSTSEASON
No way a 4-5 Marion Local team beats 8-1 Anna right? Wrong. The Flyers rose to the occasion Friday and defended their home turf with a 28-21 win over the Rockets at Booster Field. The victory also secured ML a playoff berth at 5-5. The Flyers now become a favorite to win Region 24. The MAC also has four other teams in the postseason: Coldwater, Anna and St. Henry in Region 20 and Delphos St. John’s in Region 22. Two more titles this year in D-V and VI? Odds are good.
FORT LORAMIE EARNS ITS FIRST BID; BIG NIGHT FOR THE BURGBACHERS
The Redskins have state titles in boys basketball, baseball and cross country. Now they finally have a shot at one in football. A traditional small school power in all sports, Loramie earned its first Division VI playoff berth Friday despite losing 21-0 to Sidney Lehman. This is Loramie’s fifth year as a varsity football program and Matt Burgbacher’s first year as head coach. Burgbacher’s father – Charlie, the head coach at Tippecanoe – is also headed to the playoffs. The Red Devils are in the D-III, Region 10 playoffs, while Loramie makes its debut in Region 24. The Redskins only other loss was in Week 7 to Jonathan Alder.
GOOD NEWS OUT OF WILMINGTON
The Hurricane might not have beaten Turpin for the Fort Ancient Valley Confernece title, but they did earn the school’s first playoff berth since 2005 and its third overall. This postseason berth is a great rallying point for a community struck hard by the negative effects of the economy and the stinging departure of the town’s largest employer – DHL Shipping. The news even made CBS’ 60 Minutes. Wilmington is led by senior running back Quentin Rollins, a 1,000-yard back and a Miami (Ohio) basketball recruit. He plays point guard. Senior QB Brandon Arehart has thrown for over 1,000 yards as well. If the numbers stay as is, Wilmington and Turpin will meet in Week 11 as well. This time the Spartans will host.
WHO ELSE IS IN:
Division I, Region 3
Springfield
D-I, Region 4;
Wayne
Centerville
D-II, Region 8
Trotwood-Madison
Tecumseh
West Carrollton
Wilmington
D-III, Region 10
Tippecanoe
Bellefontaine
D-III, Region 12
Chaminade Julienne
Monroe
Eaton
Springfield Shanwee
D-IV, Region 14
Ottawa-Glandorf
D-IV, Region 16
Clinton-Massie
Alter
Valley View
Carlisle
Waynesville
D-V, Region 20
Coldwater
West Liberty-Salem
Anna
St. Henry
D-VI, Region 22
Delphos St. John’s
D-VI, Region 24
Ansonia
Waynesfield-Goshen
Lehman Catholic
Marion Local
Southeastern
Fort Loramie
Covington
