MaxPreps Ohio-Minute
60 seconds of high school sports highlights from around the Buckeye State.Div. 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
KEYS/NOTESWarren JFK* Only lost two offensive starters from last year’s team that fell in regional final and finished 11-2.
* Lost to Cleveland VASJ in Week 9 with under a minute to go.
* First Trumball County school to make state final since they made it in 2006 and trying to become first county team to win a title since they won in 1991.
* Allowing just 5.75 points per game in playoffs.
* Held nation’s leading rusher
Daniel Bangura (Harvest Prep) to 76 yards in last week’s state semifinal win.
Minster* Wildcats lost 19 seniors from last year’s team. Brought back eight seniors, including one returning starter on defense and two on offense.
* Opened the season 2-4 before a 33-18 win over Coldwater in Week 7. Finished the season on four-game win streak and earned home playoff game.
* Avenged a regular season loss to defending D-VII state champion Fort Recovery with a 35-33 win over the Indians in the Region 28 final.
Ohio High School Football Playoff Brackets: Printable One-PageTOP PLAYERS* Jared Huelsman, Minster, jr., QBFirst player in program history to rush and throw for over 1,000 yards in the same season is the MAC offensive player of the year.
* Bryce Schmiesing, Minster, sr., RB/LBAfter back-to-back seasons as a 1,000-yard receiver, moved to running back where he has over a 1,000 yards rushing this year. First team All-MAC.
* Evan Boyd, Warren JFK, sr., RBAP All-Northeast Inland offensive player of the year. Has scored defensive touchdowns the last two weeks.
* Warren JFK DefenseHas allowed only 14-plus points in one game this season and has six shutouts. In the last two games the Eagles defense has scored four touchdowns.
LIVE Division VII State Championship Game Scoreboard & AlertsTOP QUOTESMinster Head Coach Geron Stokes“We haven’t played great football, but we scrap.”
On Huelsman becoming quarterback this season: “I said Jared ‘no-way’ you throw like a bum. But, he’s as tough as they come and when you challenge tough guys they figure out a way to get things done. He’s a warrior and our team reflects his attitude. Probably the best decision we made all year (to move him to QB).”
On Schmiesing: “He was a diva. He never played defense, because we didn’t trust him. We told him at some point you have to be a tough guy. Man, has he done that.”
Turning point? At halftime of St. Henry game: “We hit rock bottom and decided this wasn’t the way it was going to be.”
“This is a unique place where (the kids) really don’t get rattled. They have a resiliency about them that is really unique.”
On playing in the MAC: “We have to have an edge and that’s ours. The way we work and study.”
Warren JFK Head Coach Jeff BayukOn facing Minster: “I don’t know that we have a distinct advantage on either side of the ball. They are the best team we will have seen all year.”
Any team you’ve played like Minster? “We haven’t seen anyone that plays the game they do fundamentally. Mogadore might be the closest team we have played. (Minster) resembles them in several ways, but in so many ways is better.”
“Their conference (the MAC) prepares them for the playoffs and ours certainly does as well.”
On stopping Bangura: “We tried to smother him on the line of scrimmage.”
Minster is trying to win its second state title in three year.
Photo By David Pence
Sat., Dec. 3, 3:00 PM
KEYS/NOTESTrotwood-Madison* Averaging a state-best 39.5 points per game among all state finalists.
* Head coach Jeff Graham played collegiality at Ohio State (before an NFL career with the Steelers, Bears, Jets, Eagles and Chargers).
* Attempting to become the third seventh seed to win a state title and first since fellow GWOC team Piqua did it in 2006.
* Rams have won seven straight regional titles.
Akron Hoban* Looking to win second straight state title.
* Looking to finish 14-1 for second straight season.
Ohio High School Football Playoff Brackets: Printable One-PageTOP PLAYERSDanny Clark, Hoban, sr., QBCaptain and Kentucky commit was first team All-Northeast Inland district. Formerly committed to Ohio State. Started high school career at Massillon Washington.
Todd Sibley jr., Hoban, sr., RBPitt recruit was the AP All-Northeast Inland district offensive player of the year. Formerly committed to Ohio State.
Raveion Hargrove, Trotwood-Madison, jr., RBAfter rushing for 3,000-plus yards and 39 touchdowns last year, has 1,562 yards and 21 touchdowns this season.
Kobe Vinegar, Trotwood-Madison, sr., LBThe AP Southwest district defensive player of the year has 139 tackles, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 3.5 sacks.
LIVE Division III State Championship Game Scoreboard & AlertsTOP QUOTESTrotwood-Madison head coach Jeff Graham“The defense is our backbone. We expect them to lead us.”
On keys to winning and facing Sibley, Clark and the Hoban offense: “There you go. We have to be able to be in our gaps. We have to get (Sibley) on the ground. We have to force him to bounce it. It’s kind of like a mirror of Trotwood. But the focal point of (Hoban) is the quarterback. We have to contain him. If we can keep their offense on the sideline, that will help. They can score with Todd running and Danny throwing.”
“We have to play Ram Nation football.”
Hoban head coach Tim Tyrrell “We played the toughest schedule possible. Did that on purpose. Wanted teams to push us mentally early on. Our kids did a good job of being ready every week.”
On Trotwood offense: “Their offense is very, very athletic. They have some big boys up there.”
On Hargrove: “It seems like every run is a highlight film.”
On Trotwood defense: "They fly around and they run. They are coming from every direction. When you have four guys that can cover four receivers that allows you to put a lot of guys in the box. They come after you. Will be an interesting match up.”
On Sibley: “You have to be able to run the football to win games. We ask a lot of him.”
On former Ohio State commits Sibley and Clark playing in Ohio Stadium: “With recruiting nowadays so much happens within weeks and especially over a year. I don’t think it really affects either one of them. I think they are just two focused kids who want the best for their team.”
Akron Hoban and quarterback Danny Clark (Kentucky commit) are looking for back-to-back D-III titles.
Photo by Jeff Harwell
Sat., Dec. 3, 8:00 PM
KEYS/NOTESColdwater* Cavs tied a state record last week with their 24th straight postseason win. Looking to win a record fifth straight state title and seventh overall.
* Playing in eighth straight state final despite losing 19 starters and 22 seniors off last year’s team.
* Have made the playoffs 20 straight seasons.
Canton Central Catholic* Beat D-II state finalist Massillon Perry in Week 2.
* Three losses by a combined 11 points.
* Seven starters back on defense.
* First Stark County team to make three straight state finals.
Ohio High School Football Playoff Brackets: Printable One-PageTOP PLAYERSDan Mills, Canton Central Catholic, sr., KOne of Ohio’s best kickers. Has range from 58-yards in. First team All-Northeast Inland district.
Jack Murphy, Canton Central Catholic, sr., QBCaptain. First team All-Northeast Inland district.
Griffin Baumoel, Canton Central Catholic, sr., LBCaptain and Navy commit was AP All-Northeast Inland district defensive player of the year. Changed number to 40 this season to honor fallen player from neighboring North Canton Hoover.
Neal Muhlenkamp, Coldwater, WR/DBCalled the overall best player on the team by head coach Chip Otten. Leading receiver was first team All-MAC at three positions (receiver, defensive back and kicker).
Dylan Thobe, Coldwater, sr., QB/DBTeam’s leading rusher was All-MAC at both quarterback and defensive back.
LIVE Division V State Championship Game Scoreboard & AlertsTOP QUOTESColdwater head coach Chip OttenOn returning just a couple starters: “We didn’t really know what we were getting into this year. This senior group has done a great job of waiting their time.”
On losing to D-VII state finalist Minster: “They got us.”
“We’re to a point now where we are playing at a really high level. We were really inexperienced – not young – but inexperienced.”
Playing in the MAC: “It certainly makes it fun. When you’re part of the culture you don’t think of it any differently. High school sports is huge. There aren’t a lot of distractions.”
On MAC schools being compared to GCL schools: “These kids never change schools. You get the guys you get and that’s who you play with.”
“Every guy on our defense can run. We have one defensive tackle that is 210, but other than that everyone is under 200 pounds. I would say our speed is the thing that helps us the most at our level.”
Canton Central Catholic head coach Jefff LinesmithAfter losing at NDCL: “I think that might have been the turning point of our season. We’ve been on a roll ever since.”
What impresses him about Coldwater: “Their effort and execution. They don’t beat themselves and they play with great effort. They don’t give up big plays. Offensively they are always so sound. Their kids expect to play well, which is a big factor.”
On Murphy: “He was always in the mold to be our next quarterback. He’s not just playing quarterback, I always tell him he’s ‘our’ quarterback. That makes a difference.”
“Our schedule presents such a challenge for us through the year. If we can get in (the playoffs), we think we are pretty prepared to play.”
