See who the media and math think wins Ohio high school state football championships inside the Shoe
Video: Coldwater Highlights
Watch the Cavaliers, who are trying to win a record fifth straight state title, take down Coshocton in the D-V state semifinals.
Man versus machine continues. For the past six years I've picked Ohio high school postseason games against Drew Pasteur's Fantastic 50 formula. This season we added Need Freeman's CalPreps picks into the fold. This week we're adding three more experts to the mix: ScoutingOhio's Mark Porter, Bucknuts' Gary Housteau and 247Sports' Steve Helwagen. In Week 14, I conquered the computers again. I went 11-3, while CalPreps went 10-4. DP went 9-5.
On to Week 15, which features a few new faces.
Below is a comprehensive look at who thinks who wins this week's state finals...
Division II
Perry (Massillon) (12-2/NR MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 10 AP) vs. La Salle (Cincinnati) (12-2/No. 3 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 5 AP)
Thurs., Dec. 1, 7:30 PM
Eric Frantz (MaxPreps): LaSalle
A rematch of last year’s state final that LaSalle won convincingly 42-0. I don’t expect a repeat of that score, but I do expect the Lancers to win their third straight state title. Too much experience. Too much talent.
Steve Helwagen (247Sports): LaSalle
Cincinnati LaSalle 30, Massillon Perry 17 – LaSalle defeated Perry 42-0 last year, so the Lancers should have a psychological edge. But Perry will also be more determined.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts): LaSalle
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio): LaSalle
La Salle would be my pick. They are deep at every position and have great offensive line play and great athletes. Perry will keep it close with its offense grinding out first downs.
Drew Pasteur: LaSalle
(3) #5 Cincinnati La Salle (12-2, D2 R8) by 13 (79%) vs (1) #25 Massillon Perry (12-2, D2 R7)
CalPreps/Ned Freeman: LaSalle
La Salle 28-10.
Led by GCL South player of the year Christian Turner, LaSalle is our panel's favorite to win a third straight D-II title.
Photo by Nick Falzerano
Division VI
Cuyahoga Heights (Cleveland) (14-0/No. 3 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 2 AP) vs. Marion Local (Maria Stein) (13-1/No. 1 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 1 AP)
Fri., Dec. 2, 10:00 AM
Eric Frantz (MaxPreps): Marion Local
Marion Local could be going for a sixth straight state title. But a costly turnover in the second half and the inability to answer Kirtland’s comeback cost them in last year’s final. Focus should be high. Expect the Flyers to finish this season with their fifth title in six years, despite the fact
Brett Lowther and Cuyahoga Heights will be more than game in the program’s first state final.
Steve Helwagen (247Sports): Marion Local
Maria Stein Marion Local 24, Cuyahoga Heights 17 – Will be the ninth state title for Marion Local, which lost to Kirtland in finals last year.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts): Cuyahoga Heights
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio): Cuyahoga Heights
Cuyahoga Heights is much better than last year and quarterback play is great. I wonder if missing offensive lineman
John Dirksen will be a factor for Marion Local, which is just a strong overall team.
Drew Pasteur: Marion Local
(1) #19 Maria Stein Marion Local (13-1, D6 R24) by 8 (69%) vs (1) Cuyahoga Heights (14-0, D6 R21)
CalPreps/Ned Freeman: Marion Local
Marion Local 31-7.
Division IV
Bishop Hartley (Columbus) (11-2/No. 3 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 8 AP) vs. Steubenville (13-1/No. 4 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 5 AP)
Fri., Dec. 2, 3:00 PM
Eric Frantz (MaxPreps): Hartley
Tough one to predict – again. Rematch from last year of a game that was 31-28 and wasn’t decided until 44 seconds remained in the game. Should be another classic. Picking Hartley in another nail biter. Steubenville has plenty of playmakers.
Steve Hewagen (247Sports): Hartley
Columbus Hartley 26, Steubenville 24 – Hartley nipped Steubenville 31-28 for the title last year. Should be another great game and Hartley gets it done again.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts): Steubenville
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio): Steubenville
Always overly impressed with the coaching at Hartley. Didn't expect them to beat Steubenville last year. This year might be even harder.
Drew Pasteur: Hartley
(5) #16 Columbus Hartley (12-2, D4 R14) by 1 (52%) vs (2) #23 Steubenville (13-1, D4 R15)
CalPreps/Ned Freeman: Hartley
Hartley 35-27.
Division I
St. Xavier (Cincinnati) (9-5/No. 10 MaxPreps JJHuddle/NR AP) vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland) (13-1/No. 5 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 5 AP)
Fri., Dec. 2, 8:00 PM
Eric Frantz (MaxPreps): St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius has been flying under the radar all year – is that possible? St. Xavier has played a brutal schedule. This is Round 3 between these heavyweights in the state finals and this one – like the last two – will go the Wildcats' way. Ignatius wins title No. 12.
Steve Helwagen (247Sports): St. Ignatius
Cleveland St. Ignatius 27, Cincinnati St. Xavier 20 – It’s midnight for St. X, which got into the playoffs after a 5-5 regular season. Title No. 12 for St. Ignatius.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts): St. Ignatius
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio): St. Ignatius
St. Xavier quarterback
Sean Clifford is playing at a very high level. Ignatius will give the Bombers all they can handle. Should be a great game.
Drew Pasteur: St. Ignatius
(4) #1 Cleveland St Ignatius (13-1, D1 R1) by 9 (71%) vs (5) #4 Cincinnati St Xavier (9-5, D1 R4)
CalPreps/Ned Freeman: St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius 24-17
St. Xavier and St. Ignatius meet for the third time in a state final and for the second time this year.
Photo by Michael Noyes
Division VII
Minster (10-4/No. 5 MaxPreps JJHuddle/NR AP) vs. John F. Kennedy Catholic (Warren) (13-1/No. 4 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 4 AP)
Sat., Dec. 3, 10:00 AM
Eric Frantz (MaxPreps): Minster
Minster won at this level two years ago and will again. Junior quarterback
Jared Huelsman has been a workhorse for the Wildcats who are riding an eight-game win streak. Make it nine. Last time JFK got to this level it fell to MAC member St. Henry.
Steve Helwagen (247Sports): Warren JFK
Warren JFK 32, Minster 24 – Some might say this is an upset with JFK over a battle-tested Minster team from the mighty MAC.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts): Warren JFK
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio): Warren JFK
Minster is on a great run right now, but JFK might have the speed and defense to end the Wildcats' win streak.
Drew Pasteur: Warren JFK
(3) Warren JFK (13-1, D7 R25) by 1 (51%) vs (3) Minster (10-4, D7 R28)
CalPreps/Ned Freeman: Minster
Minster 22-21.
Division III
Trotwood-Madison (12-2/No. 4 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 7 AP) vs. Archbishop Hoban (Akron) (13-1/No 1 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 3 AP)
Sat., Dec. 3, 3:00 PM
Eric Frantz (MaxPreps): Trotwood
Trotwood shocked me with its ability to shutdown Toledo Central Catholic. Hoban offers offensive challenges of its own, but I think the Rams are up to the test. Trotwood running back
Raveion Hargrove is ready for the big stage. Trotwood wins its first state title.
Steve Helwagen (247Sports): Hoban
Akron Hoban 33, Trotwood-Madison 21 – Hoban defends its state championship behind the hard running of Pitt-bound running back Todd Sibley.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts): Hoban
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio): Hoban
Hargrove behind a fullback is a scary thought, but Trotwood will need a lead to keep its running game going. Hoban may have too much depth and experience across the board.
Drew Pasteur: Hoban
(2) #7 Akron Hoban (13-1, D3 R9) by 5 (63%) vs (7) #12 Trotwood-Madison (12-2, D3 R12)
CalPreps/Ned Freeman: Hoban
Hoban 22-21.
Division V
Canton Central Catholic (10-3/No. 6 MaxPreps JJHuddle/NR AP) vs. Coldwater (13-1/No 3 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 2 AP)
Sat., Dec. 3, 8:00 PM
Eric Frantz (MaxPreps): Coldwater
Coldwater makes it three in a row over Canton Central Catholic. Expect a closer outcome than the previous two games, but not a different winner. The Cavaliers become the first program in state history to win five straight titles and set the record for consecutive playoff wins with their 25th.
Steve Helwagen (247Sports): Coldwater
Coldwater 38, Canton Central Catholic 26 – Coldwater going for its fifth straight title (seventh overall) and 25th straight playoff win. Another title game rematch (Coldwater won 35-18 last year.)
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts): Coldwater
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio): Coldwater
I would expect Coldwater and CCC to be a dog fight.
Drew Pasteur: Coldwater
(2) Coldwater (13-1, D5 R20) by 4 (59%) vs (3) Canton CC (10-3, D5 R17)
CalPreps/Ned Freeman: Coldwater
Coldwater 28-17.
Canton Central Catholic faces Coldwater for the the third straight season in the D-V state final.
Photo by Jeff Harwell
The Past...Eric Frantz vs Drew Pasteur vs CalPreps Playoff Picking History
State FinalsEF 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: 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
State Semifinal HistoryEF 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 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: 10-4 (71%)
Regional Final HistoryEF 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 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 2016: 19-9 (68%)
Regional Semifinal History
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 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 2016: 43-13 (77%)
Regional Quarterfinal HistoryEF 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 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 2016: 94-18 (84%)
