Eric Frantz, Drew Pasteur, Ned Freeman and others go head-to-head...who we think wins in Week 15.
Cornell Beachem highlights Winton Woods High SchoolWatch the senior receiver and AOW Nominee in action against Massillon Washington. Beachem accounted for three touchdowns in the state semifinal win over the Tigers. Who wins in Week 15? This is it. For the past seven years I've picked Ohio high school postseason games against Drew Pasteur's Fantastic 50 formula. This season we again added Need Freeman's CalPreps picks into the fold. This week we're adding even more! We extended an invite to several Ohio prep experts and solicited their picks for the state finals. Glad they obliged.
As for last last week...it was again close. Of the 14 state semifinal games, I predicted 13 of 14 correctly. So did the Fantastic 50. This is the second straight week have tied. CalPreps was behind with 11 correct outcomes.
Overall, I maintain a two-game lead on the Fantastic 50 and open a four-game lead on CalPreps with one week left.
Below is a comprehensive look at who each of us - and the guest pickers - thinks wins this year's Division II state final...
Division II State Final
Saturday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m.
STATEWIDE BRACKETS
OHIO STATEWIDE STAT LEADERSLIVE SCORES, RESULTS & SCHEDULESEric Frantz (MaxPreps.com/JJHuddle.com): Intriguing meeting between a newbie (Tri-Valley) and a team playing in its sixth state final in eight years. Trotwood-Madison is arguably the best team in the state regardless of division (owns a Week 3 win over D-I finalist Pickerington Central). Trotwood has scored 692 points this season and has a chance to end as one of the Top 10 single-season scoring offenses in state history. Senior running back Ra’Veion Hargrove was runner-up for Mr. Football. Tri-Valley trailed 12-7 at halftime in the first round of the postseason and hasn’t flinched since. The Scotties beat Bellefontaine in OT in Round 2 and then ousted two-time defending D-IV state champion Hartley 13-9 in the regional finals. Last week Tri-Valley avenged it’s only loss this season (in Week 1) with a victory over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. As much as I respect Tri-Valley’s run, Trotwood is due…
Trotwood-Madison 35, Tri-Valley 21
Drew Pasteur (Fantastic50.net): Trotwood-Madison (14-0 D3 R12) by 12 (77%) Dresden Tri-Valley (13-1 D3 R11)
CalPreps (Calpreps.net): Trotwood-Madison 35-19.
Steve Helwagen (247sports.com): Trotwood is in state final four for the eighth straight year while Tri-Valley is there for first time ever...
Trotwood-Madison 33, Dresden Tri-Valley 17.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts.com): Trotwood-Madison over Tri-Valley. Reputation win.
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio.com): Trotwood-MadisonTim Rogers (OPSWA HOF): On paper, unranked Tri-Valley might struggle against the top-ranked team in the state. Tri-Valley is everything that T-M isn’t. Does not possess a lot of speed. Not overly big. Has never played for a state title. But, what the Scotties have going for them is discipline, determination and efficiency, especially the first two traits. Consider that in the four state title games that it has lost since 2010, Trotwood-Madison has committed 29 penalties for 230 yards to 18 for 150 by its opponents. Tri-Valley does not shoot itself in the foot. On paper, T-M should roll. Don’t be surprised if the game is closer than most think. Every tournament needs an upset and this could be that game. Pick:
Trotwood-Madison 28, Tri-Valley 20
Kurt Stubbs (@ohiohshoops): What a great run for Tri-Valley and Coach Buttermore, but I think the Scotties run ends with the Silver. T-V is embarking on uncharted waters, while Trotwood-Madision is entering its sixth state championship game since 2010. The Rams were upended by Hoban in last year’s state championship, but T-M has been nearly flawless in 2017. The improvement of quarterback Markell Stephens-Peppers has made the Rams nearly unstoppable pairing with all-everything running Raveion Hargrove. Trotwood beat Pickerington Central on the Tigers home field, and that’s enough for me to know the Rams are bringing home the title. I’ll go with
Trotwood-Madison 42-14.
Steve Blackledge (Columbus Dispatch/OPSWA HOF): Cinderella story Tri-Valley slayed a pair of giants in Hartley and Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary on the way to its first state title game, but Trotwood-Madison -- which averages 49.5 points per game -- simply has too many athletes for the Scotties to account for…
Trotwood-Madison 24, Dresden Tri-Valley 13.
Trotwood-Madison senior running back finished runner-up in Ohio's Mr. Football voting.
Photo by Michael Noyes
EF Picks 2016: 3-4 (43%)
EF Picks 2015: 3-4 (43%)
EF Picks 2014: 3-4 (43%)
EF Picks 2013: 4-3 (57%)
EF Picks 2012: 5-1 (83%)
EF Picks 2011: 3-3 (50%)
EF Picks 2010: 4-2 (67%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 5-2 (71%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 4-3 (57%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 4-3 (57%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 3-4 (43%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 5-1 (83%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 5-1 (83%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: N/A
CalPreps Picks 2016: 4-3 (57%)
State Semifinal HistoryEF Picks 2017: 13-1 (93%)
EF Picks 2016: 11-3 (79%)
EF Picks 2015: 11-3 (79%)
EF Picks 2014: 13-1 (93%)
EF Picks 2013: 11-3 (79%)
EF Picks 2012: 7-5 (58%)
EF Picks 2011: 9-3 (75%)
EF Picks 2010: 8-4 (67%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2017: 13-1 (93%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2016: 9-5 (64%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 9-5 (64%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 10-4 (71%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 9-5 (64%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 6-6 (50%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 6-6 (50%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: 7-5 (58%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 11-3 (79%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 10-4 (71%)
Regional Final History
EF Picks 2017: 21-7 (75%)
EF Picks 2016: 23-5 (82%)
EF Picks 2015: 24-4 (86%)
EF Picks 2014: 24-4 (86%)
EF Picks 2013: 24-4 (86%)
EF Picks 2012: 16-8 (67%)
EF Picks 2011: 20-4 (83%)
EF Picks 2010: 17-7 (71%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2017: 21-7 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2016: 21-7 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 23-5 (82%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 22-6 (79%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 25-3 (89%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 19-5 (79%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 18-6 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: 16-8 (67%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 20-8 (71%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 19-9 (68%)
Regional Semifinal HistoryEF Picks 2017: 46-10 (82%)
EF Picks 2016: 43-13 (77%)
EF Picks 2015: 43-13 (77%)
EF Picks 2014: 44-12 (79%)
EF Picks 2013: 40-16 (71%)
EF Picks 2012: 39-9 (81%)
EF Picks 2011: 31-17 (65%)
EF Picks 2010: 35-13 (73%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2017: 45-11 (80%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2016: 42-14 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 45-11 (80%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 42-14 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 41-15 (73%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 39-9 (81%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 35-13 (73%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: 37-11 (77%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 45-11 (80%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 43-13 (77%)
Regional Quarterfinal HistoryEF Picks 2017: 92-20 (82%)
EF Picks 2016: 87-25 (78%)
EF Picks 2015: 94-18 (84%)
EF Picks 2014: 94-18 (84%)
EF Picks 2013: 93-19 (83%)
EF Picks 2012: 72-24 (75%)
EF Picks 2011: 76-20 (79%)
EF Picks 2010: 72-24 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2017: 91-21 (81%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2016: 91-21 (81%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 89-23 (79%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 94-18 (84%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 89-23 (79%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 72-24 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 82-14 (85%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: 77-19 (80%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 92-20 (82%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 94-18 (84%)
