MVP Fab 5 Rankings: Week 8
For some reason, ESPN feels the need to “name” every Saturday of college football. “Showdown,” ‘Shakedown,” ‘Separation,” etc. You get the picture.
As corny as it is, this weekend’s slate of Miami Valley high school football games deserves some recognition and maybe it’s own name. Let’s just call it the “Best” as in the best slate we’ve seen in the 2010 season.
Here’s who is hooking up in big-time games:
D-I No. 5 Wayne (4-3) at D-I No. 2 Centerville (6-1)
This game between Dayton’s biggest big school rivals was moved to Thursday so a national TV audience on ESPNU could watch it. Ohio State recruits Braxton Miller (Wayne QB) and Michael Bennett (Centerville DL/OL) hook up one last time before becoming teammates. The loser of this game will also be out of the running for a GWOC Central title – you’d think.
D-IV No. 1 Alter (6-1) vs D-IV No. 3 Fenwick (7-0)
The big question about this game at Franklin H.S. will be can Fenwick’s No. 1 ranked GCL rush offense (367 yards per game, 176 points in four GCL games) score enough on the Knights No. 1 GCL rush defense (allowing 132 yards, 49 points in four GCL games). The winner will have the inside track in the Region 16 playoffs and GCL North race. Oh yeah, Alter is ranked No. 1 in the state in D-IV and Fenwick is No. 6.
D-II No. 3 Tecumseh (6-1) at D-III No. 3 Springfield Shawnee (6-1)
Both these teams lost their openers and have since won six straight games. Someone’s streak will end. The winner also has the inside track for the CBC Kenton Division title and gets a boatload of computer points.
D-II No. 2 Trotwood (5-2) at D-I No. 3 Troy (6-1)
This game basically boils down to the GWOC North championship game. The winner will have the lead in the conference standings by themselves. The question here: Can Trotwood score enough to stay with Troy?
D-VI No. 4 Covington (7-0) at D-VI No. 5 Ansonia (7-0)
Is there an echo in here? This game boils down to the Cross County Conference Championship game. Last year the teams met twice with Ansonia winning the regular season meeting and Covington winning in the first round of playoffs. This could be the first of two meetings this year as well.
D-IV No. 5 Valley View (5-2) at D-IV No. 4 Carlisle (7-0)
This SWBL crossover game pits Valley View’s Jay Niswonger, who just won his 250th game against Bellbrook two weeks ago, against one of his former players in Billy Jewell. Funny but this game pits a couple teams with some standout transfers too. VV RB Jake Jarbo is a transfer from Preble Shawnee. A couple of Carlisle’s best players are former Valley View Spartans. Need more intrigue? Jewell transferred from Carlisle himself in HS to play for Niswonger at VV.
D-VI No. 2 Marion Local (7-0) at D-V No. 3 Coldwater (4-3)
Coldwater hopes Marion Local is looking ahead to its match-up against fellow unbeaten Delphos St. John’s next week. Doubtful. The Flyers are a disciplined and good team and this will be another great meeting between these two programs.
D-II No. 4 Carroll (5-2) at CJ (2-5)
CJ might be best 2-5 team in state. Carroll just took some lumps against Alter last week. This one is a toss-up.
Here are the Week 8 Rankings:
Division I
1. Springfield (6-1): The Wildcats inherit the top spot after Northmont’s win over Centerville. Since an opening loss to Hamilton Springfield has run off six straight wins and proven itself to be a legitimate playoff contender. Defense has been the Wildcats calling card. Springfield is allowing just 174 yards and 10 points per game. This week the Wildcats are at winless Beavercreek. Previous: 2
2. Centerville (6-1): The Elks suffered their first loss of the season with a shocking 24-21 double-OT loss at home to Northmont. What? Exactly. No one outside of Clayton or Englewood saw that one coming. Offense is suddenly the question mark for the Elks. Their defense is as good as anyone’s. Their offense needs to produce more. By the way it’s Wayne (4-3) week. Previous: 1
3. Troy (6-1): Only Springfield is riding a longer win streak than the Trojans in the GWOC. Troy lost at Middletown in Week 2 and has since allowed 27 points in five games. This week the Trojans face Trotwood-Madison (5-2) in the GWOC North championship game (see above). Previous: 3
4. Northmont (5-2): The T-Bolts might be the hardest team in Dayton to figure out, but one thing they’ve figured out is how to beat Centerville. For the rid time in five years the T-Bolts beat the Elks, this time 24-21 in double-OT. The truth remains that no matter how young or up and down the T-Bolts are, their only losses have come to Moeller and Colerain. Northmont is at Fairmont (2-5) this week. Previous: 5
5. Wayne (4-3): The Warriors tallied their highest point total of the year in a 46-16 win over Beavercreek. Senior QB Braxton Miller accounted for four TDs. This week the big test at archrival Centerville (6-1) looms. Wayne is 4-1 in its last five games. Previous: 4
Division II
1. Wapakoneta (6-1): Two weeks ago the Redskins were fourth in this poll. Now they’re No. 1. Will they stay there? This week for sure (play 1-6 Lima Shawnee). After Week 9? Who knows (play 6-1 Kenton). Previous: 2
2. Trotwood-Madison (5-2): The Rams offense finally came to play last week in a 34-7 win over Xenia. Senior RB Antwan Gilbert carried the ball 22 times of 258 yards and three TDs as Trotwood rolled up 461 yards of offense. That’s the unit we’ve been waiting to see all year. Now what do the Rams do for an encore against Try (6-1). Previous: 3
3. Tecumseh (6-1): The Arrows put 68 points on Stebbins last week in a 68-16 win. Through seven weeks Tecumseh has the Central Buckeye Conference’s top ranked scoring offense (35 points per game) and is No. 2 in total offense (367 yards per game). This week a trip to Springfield Shawnee (6-1) awaits. Previous: 4
4. Carroll (5-2): The Patriots have dropped two of their last three thanks to a 35-14 loss to visiting Alter. Things don’t get any easier either with CJ, McNicholas and Fenwick still to go. Previous: 1
5. Wilmington (5-2): The Hurricane had their five game winning streak snapped but still turned in a very respectable outing in a 27-20 loss to undefeated Turpin. Wilmington trailed 27-0 after three quarters but staged a fourth quarter comeback that fell just short. This week Little Miami (4-3) heads to town. Previous: 5
Division III
1. Eaton (7-0): The Eagles handled Bellbrook 41-7 last week as junior QB Cole French had a big game. French threw four TDs, ran for a TD, kicked five PATs and snagged an interception on defense. He also punted seven times. This week Eaton hosts Franklin (2-5). Did we mention the Eagles are rolling? Previous: 1
2. Dunbar (5-2): The Wolverines have won five straight (beat Ponitz 66-6) and find themselves right in the think of the Region 12 playoff race. Currently seventh in points, Dunbar can help itself immensely with a win this week at Cincinnati Taft (5-2). Previous: 2
3. Springfield Shawnee (6-1): The Braves have rattled off six straight wins and have put together impressive back-to-back victories over Tippecanoe (21-18) and Kenton Ridge (30-19). This week they get another chance to impress against visiting Tecumseh (6-1). Shawnee is first in the CBC in total offense (384 yards per game) and second in scoring offense (34.6 points per game). Previous: 3
4. Tippecanoe (6-1): The Red Devils survived Bellefontaine 21-17 and this week travel to Stebbins (1-6). Against the Chieftains, Tipp rallied from deficits three times. In Week 9 Tecumseh awaits. Previous: 5
5. Ben Logan (5-2): The Raiders make their Power Poll debut a week after rushing for 494 yards in a 38-28 win over Graham. Landon McKirihan rushed for 203 yards and four TDs, while Jonathan Mobley ran for 222 yards and a TD. Wow is right. This week the CBC Mad River Division leaders are at Greenon (2-5). Previous: NR
Division IV
1. Alter (6-1): The Knights beat Dayton Carroll for the fifth straight time and ran the ball on 59 of 61 plays in their 35-14 win. Senior RB Justin Winters was the workhorse, rushing for 85 yards and three TDs on 15 carries. In all 10 players logged a carry. This week the Knights face a stiff challenge from fellow GCL unbeaten Fenwick. Previous: 1
2. Clinton-Massie (7-0): The Falcons won their 29th straight regular season game with a 63-7 rout of Greenfield McClain. Senior RB Scott Wilkie scored four TDs, while classmate Jordie Scanlon added three. This week the Falcons host Washington Court House (6-1). Previous: 2
3. Fenwick (7-0): The Falcons won their second overtime game in four weeks with a 30-27 victory over Chaminade Julienne. Senior RB Joey Robertson ran 20 yards for the winning TD. Robertson, Zach Kurtz and Austin Gearing all ran for over 80 yards against the Eagles and combined for 277 yards and four TDs. This week Fenwick’s biggest test to date looms with a game against No. 1 Alter (6-1) at Franklin H.S. Previous: 3
4. Carlisle (7-0): The Indians allowed their first points in three weeks but still beat Middletown Madison 28-7. Now the attention towards visiting Valley View (5-2). Previous: 4
5. Valley View (5-2): The Spartans won their third straight with a 28-10 decision over Franklin. Next up is a much anticipated meeting with host Carlisle (7-0). Previous: 5
Division V
1. Lima Central Catholic (6-1): Since an opening loss to Delphos St. John’s the T-Birds have dominated and outscored their opposition 284-26. In their latest win, an impressive 41-7 throttling of host Columbus Ready, LCC head coach Jerry Cooper won his 200th game. Remarkably, the T-Birds are still getting no love from the AP voters. Wow. This week LCC hosts Bluffton (4-3). Previous: 1
2. Anna (5-2): The Rockets won their second straight in convincing fashion with a 61-3 victory over Fort Recovery. Anna tallied 510 yards of offense and put 34 points on the board in the second quarter alone. Defensively, the Rockets held Fort Recovery to 111 yards. This week Anna travels to St. Henry (2-5). Previous: 2
3. Coldwater (4-3): The Cavaliers played Delphos St. John’s closer than anyone has this year but still fell 14-0. That’s a good loss if there ever was such a thing. This week the Cavaliers get the MAC’s other standout D-VI school in Marion Local. Previous: 3
4. Versailles (5-2): The Tigers rebounded from their own loss to Delphos St. John’s to beat New Bremen 43-19. This week a tough test in visiting Minster (3-4) awaits. Previous: 4
5. East Clinton (6-1): The Astros make their Fab 5 debut after winning their sixth straight game – a 34-0 shutout of Goshen. Since allowing 31 points in a 31-16 Week 1 loss to Waynesville, EC hasn’t allowed more than 14 in a game. This week a trip to Blanchester (2-5) awaits. Previous: NR
Division VI
1. Delphos St. John’s (7-0): The Blue Jays have beaten Anna, St. Henry, Versailles and Coldwater in succession by the combined score of 124-26. Only Anna has reached double-digits. How many other teams in D-VI could do that? Maybe one – Marion Local. The Blue Jays and Flyers hook up next week in a colossal small school meeting. This week DSJ is at Fort Recovery (2-5). Previous: 1
2. Marion Local (7-0): The Flyers face Delphos St. John’s next week in what will be a Midwest Athletic Conference championship game. This week though Marion Local has to get past host Coldwater (4-3). The Flyers are coming off a 55-0 win over Parkway. Previous: 2
3. Lehman Catholic (6-1): The Cavaliers won their sixth straight with a 48-12 decision over Dayton Jefferson. Senior RB Kaleb Goins ran for 142 yards and two TDs on 13 carries and is now just 307 yards shy of setting a new career rushing mark at Lehman. This week the Cavs travel to Delphos Jefferson (4-3). Previous: 4
4. Covington (7-0): The Buccs rolled to a 54-21 win over National Trail as QB Isaiah Winston accounted for five first half TDs (ran for three, threw for two). This week Covington faces its toughest test to date with a road game at fellow unbeaten Ansonia. This game is for the Cross County Conference title. Previous: 3
5. Ansonia (7-0): The Tigers are coming off their closest game to date – a 27-21 win over Bethel in OT. That wake up call came at the perfect time with the annual clash for the CCC title with Covington (7-0) arriving this week. Previous: 5
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