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 VII state final...
Division VII State FinalCuyahoga Heights (Cleveland) (12-1) vs. Minster (10-4)Friday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m.
STATEWIDE BRACKETS
OHIO STATEWIDE STAT LEADERSLIVE SCORES, RESULTS & SCHEDULESEric Frantz (MaxPreps.com/JJHuddle.com): Went against my own good judgment last week and picked against a MAC team in the playoffs. Not again. Minster burnt me and Norwalk St. Paul (40-7) in the state semis. No one saw that coming. Cuyahoga Heights got a taste of the MAC last year against Marion Local in the D-VI state final. Minster is not Marion Local, but the Wildcats are still really good. Keep an eye on Cuyahoga Heights’ Dylan Drummond. You can bet Minster will be. Minster quarterback Jared Heulsman accounted for six touchdowns in the state semis. Wow is right…
Minster 35, Cuyahoga Heights 21.
Drew Pasteur (Fantastic50.net): Minster (10-4 D7 R28) by 1 (52%) Cuyahoga Heights (12-1 D7 R25)
CalPreps (Calpreps.net): Minster 31-21
Steve Helwagen (247sports.com): Heights beat the defending champs Warren JFK in the first round and looks like the team to beat…
Cuyahoga Heights 26, Minster 17.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts.com): Cuyahoga Heights over Minster. More familiar with Heights and their competition so I'll go with them.
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio.com): Cuyahoga HeightsTim Rogers (OPSWA HOF): Two offenses that certainly are capable of wiping away the cobwebsf rom any fans arriving at Tom Benson HOF Stadium for the 10 a.m. start. Cuyahoga Heights has been scoring points at a frantic pace since the playoffs started, averaging more than 40 per game. Minster, from the playoff omnipresent Midwest Athletic Conference, has been almost as prolific. Cuyahoga Heights has done everything except win a state title over the last eight years under head coach Al Martin. This could be the year. Pick:
Cuyahoga Heights 28, Minster 24.
Kurt Stubbs (@ohiohshoops): Minster was 3-4 following a one-point loss to Coldwater in Week 7, but the Wildcats haven’t lost since. Minster won the title back in 2014 and finished runner-up a season ago to Warren JFK, so the experience is there. Cuyahoga Heights dropped down a division after losing to Marion Local in last season’s D-VI title game. Cuyahoga Heights’ only loss this year came to D-VI finalist Kirtland in Week 9.
Minster is red hot, and I look for it to continue its seven-game winning streak and win the school’s third state championship on the gridiron.
Steve Blackledge (Columbus Dispatch/OPSWA HOF): It's hard to envision any Midwest Athletic Conference team being an underdog, but four-loss Minster inherits that role. Cuyahoga Heights has a bang-up defense that will provide the difference…
Cuyahoga Heights 26, Minster 13.
Cuyahoga Heights senior Dylan Drummond and the Redskins are making a second straight state final appearance.
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 HistoryEF 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%)
