Top 25 high school football rankings A look at this week's Xcellent 25 high school football rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
Who wins in Week 15? Man versus machine wraps this week. For the past eight years I've picked Ohio high school postseason games against
Drew Pasteur's Fantastic 50 formula. And I've done well. This season we again added
Need Freeman's CalPreps picks into the mix. And
this week we're adding even more! We extended an invite to several Ohio prep experts/personalities and solicited their picks for the state finals. Glad they
obliged. This is a new wrinkle we added last season and this year we are pleased to continue. The insight is appreciated.
As for last week? I won with a 12-2 record. Both the Fantastic50 and CalPreps went 11-3. Overall, the Fan50 and CalPreps are tied with 159 total playoff picks right. I'm bringing up the rear at 152.
Below is a comprehensive look at who each of us - and our pool of guest pickers - thinks wins the D-IV state title. I've also listed names expected to affect the outcome.
Best of luck to all involved. The State Finals have arrived.
Division IV State Championship PreviewWyoming (Cincinnati) (14-0/No. 3 MaxPreps/No. 1 AP) vs Girard (13-1/No. 5 MaxPreps/No. 12 AP)When: Saturday at 8 p.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton)
Players to Watch:*
Evan Prater, Wyoming, jr. QB: The recently named D-IV Ohio Offensive player of the Year is a D-I recruit in two sports. Holds football offers from Pitt, Cincinnati, Akron, Toledo, Ohio and Western Michigan and a basketball offer from Wright State. “He’s a tremendous leader and a competitor in every meaning of the word,” Wyoming head coach Aaron Hancock said. “He wants the ball. He wants to be the guy that makes the difference on every snap. He puts us into position to be successful every game.” Praeter has thrown for 2,032 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed for 1,546 yards and 29 touchdowns.
* Joey Edmonds, Wyoming, sr., WR: First team All-Ohio selection is a four-year starter who excels in basketball as well. The reigning Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year in hoops, Edmonds has caught 50 passes for 912 yards and 17 touchdowns.
* Hasan Black, Cincinnati Wyoming, sr. OL/DL: First team All-Ohio defender 109 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
* Pierson Rogers, Wyoming, sr., RB/LB: Special mention All-Ohio. Has rushed for 942 yards and 17 touchdowns. Also has 40 tackles.
* Eli Cupp, Wyoming, sr., OL/DL: Special mention All-Ohio selection has racked up 64 tackles and 10.5 sacks.
* Mark Waid, Girard, sr. QB: The D-IV State Offensive Player of the Year last season, Waid is a two-time first team All-Ohio selection and committed to Fordham. “He’s probably the most unselfish superstar I’ve ever been around,” Girard head coach Pat Pearson said. “Whatever it takes for our program to be successful he is all in. He’s a special kid.” A four-year starter, Waid has thrown for 4,182 yards and 47 touchdowns and rushed for 1,744 yards and 26 touchdowns. Said Hancock: “(Waid) is a phenomenal athlete. He has video game stats.”
* Jack DelGarbino, Girard, sr., LB: First team All-Ohio defender has a team-high 118 tackles.
* Nicholas Malito, Girard, jr. WR: Second team All-Ohio selection has caught 51 passes for 1,214 yards and 14 touchdowns.
* Aidan Warga, Girard, sr, WR: Has caught 66 passes for 955 yards and eight touchdowns.
* Haeden Gump, Girard, jr. OL/DL: Third team All-Ohio on offense also has 50 tackles and 12 TFL.
* Terrance Davis, Girard, sr., WR/DB: Has caught 44 passes for 768 yards and 10 touchdowns. Has also registered 51 tackles and team-high five interceptions.
Predictions:Eric Frantz (MaxPreps, @EFrantzMP)Offensive enthusiasts should love this game which features the last two D-IV Ohio Offensive Players of the Year (Waid in 2017 and Praeter in 2018). Wyoming, in its 100th season of football, is riding a senior class that has won more games in school history and has gone 12-1, 12-1 and 14-0 the last three years. “We have the potential to make a big play at any moment,” Hancock said. “I feel like we can run it and be effective and then when we need to throw it we can be explosive.” Said Pearson: “We’ve played some teams like them, but obviously they’re as good or better than anyone we’ve played yet.” Girard’s offense is explosive is its own right. And the Indians are seasoned too. Girard features 12 four-year letterwinners and eight four-year starters. It also has six three-year letterwinners in its junior class. “It has been unbelievable to watch these kids grow,” Pearson said. “The word ‘family’ is really what we’re all about here.” Girard has scored 659 points. “We’ve had great offense for a long time – we’ve kind of been known for that,” Pearson said. “We knew that to get to this level, though, the defense had to step it up. They’ve done a great job doing that.” Said Hancock: “They’re QB gets everything going for them. They do a really good job of getting the ball to their playmakers in space. When they aren’t open, the QB tucks it and runs. They present a huge challenge for us with their offense.” I picked
Wyoming to win it all in August. Cowboys over the Indians 42-36.
Fantastic 50.comCincinnati
Wyoming (14-0 D4 R16) by 4 (60%) neu Girard (13-1 D4 R13)
CalPreps.comWyoming 35-22.
Lee Cochran (Managing Editor, This Week Community News, @TWLeeCochran)Girard has been one of the surprise teams in the playoffs, but there’s no surprise here.
Wyoming 29-17.
Steve Blackledge (Prep Writer, Columbus Dispatch, OPSWA HOF, @BlackiePreps)I throughly enjoyed watching Girard's magnificent all-purpose quarterback Mark Waid do his thing in a 53-48 state semifinal win over Licking Valley. But the Indians only win shootouts and Wyoming's defense -- which hasn't allowed an opponent over 17 points -- will make enough stops to come out ahead. Cincinnati
Wyoming 28, Girard 23.
Steve Helwagen (Writer, 247sports.com, @SteveHelwagen)Girard’s high scoring Indians will be hard to contain.
Girard 41, Cincinnati Wyoming 33.
Tim Rogers (Freelance Writer, GateHouse Media, OPSWA HOF, @TimRogersCLE):At first I expected top-ranked and undefeated Wyoming to close out the tournament with its 15th victory. Then I remembered unranked Girard scores points faster than a class brown-nose and the deeper the Indians advanced in the playoffs the more points they scored. Alas, all good things come to an end.
Wyoming wins, 36-30.
Seth Staskey (Sports Editor, The Times Leader, @TLSportsSeth)Which quarterback -- Wyoming junior Evan Prater or Girard's Mark Waid -- is going to lead his team to victory? These guys have been unbelievable all season in leading their teams to this point. Prater accounted for 330 yards of offense and five touchdowns, while Waid racked up 585 yards of offense and accounted for seven touchdowns. Though I think points will be scored in bunches, I think Wyoming has the better defense, which should be the difference.
Wyoming wins 42-38.
Mark Porter (Owner, ScoutingOhio.com, @Mark__Porter)Wyoming.
Thomas Wilson (Sports Writer, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, @twil2323)Both teams have outstanding offenses, and in Girard’s case, they have an outstanding quarterback and running back, and in the end, it will be too much for the Cowboys to stop. I like
Girard in a high-scoring affair, 42-35.
Gary Housteau (Photographer, Bucknuts.com, @garyhouse2) Girard is my hometown team and Mark Waid is a terrific signal caller, but unbeaten Wyoming just might have a little too much talent overall.
Wyoming wins.
Kurt Stubbbs (Contributor, MaxPreps, @ohiohshoops)This championship game could steal the show. Cincinnati Wyoming comes into the contest at (14-0), while giving up just 6.4 points per game during the regular season. The Cowboys escaped with a two-point win over Cincinnati Taft in week two, but never had another regular season game closer than 23 points. Wyoming defeated Indian Hill in week 10, (37-7), but two weeks later it was much closer (20-17). Girard erupted in the playoffs with upsets of Perry and Hubbard, a team that handed the Indians their only loss of the season. The Indians average a shade over 46 points a game behind quarterback Mark Waid, who has amassed 4,182 yards passing and 47 touchdowns along with 1,740 yards on the ground with an additional 26 scores. This will no doubt be the best quarterback matchup of the weekend with the aforementioned Waid and Cincinnati Wyoming junior Evan Prater. However, it will be the team that gets a few stops in this one and that will likely be
Wyoming. I like the Cowboys, 35-31.
The Past...
Eric Frantz vs Drew Pasteur vs CalPreps Playoff Picking History
State Finals
EF Picks 2017: 6-1 (86%)
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 2017: 6-1 (86%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2016: 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 2017: 6-1 (86%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 4-3 (57%)
State Semifinal HistoryEF Picks 2018: 12-2 (86%)
EF 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 2018: 11-3 (79%)
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 2018: 11-3 (79%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 11-3 (79%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 10-4 (71%)
Regional Final History
EF Picks 2018: 17-11 (61%)
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 2018: 17-11 (61%)
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 2018: 17-11 (61%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 20-8 (71%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 19-9 (68%)
Regional Semifinal History
EF Picks 2018: 39-17 (70%)
EF 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 2018: 42-14 (75%)
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 2018: 44-12 (79%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 45-11 (80%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 43-13 (77%)
Regional Quarterfinal History
EF Picks 2018: 84-28 (75%)
EF 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 2018: 89-23 (79%)
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 2018: 86-26 (77%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 92-20 (82%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 94-18 (84%)