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 I state final...
Division I State FinalPickerington Central (13-1) vs. Mentor (13-1)Friday, Dec. 1, 8 p.m.
STATEWIDE BRACKETS
OHIO STATEWIDE STAT LEADERSLIVE SCORES, RESULTS & SCHEDULESEric Frantz (MaxPreps.com/JJHuddle.com): Fantastic big school final between two great programs. Mentor has been one of the biggest surprises this postseason with its monumental back-to-back wins over St. Edward and St. Ignatius. The Cardinals, riding a 12-game win streak, own their latest standout in a long lineage of quarterbacks. Senior signal caller Tadas Tatarunas trails only current Chicago Bears quarterback and former Mr. Football winner Mitch Trubisky in career yards and touchdowns. Pickerington Central was my preseason No. 1 big school team back in August. The Tigers stubbed their toe against D-III finalist Trotwood-Madison in Week 3, but haven’t lost since. This is Pick Central’s third time in the state final and it will result in their first title. Keep an eye on Tigers senior defensive back Xavier Henderson (Michigan State recruit). He could be the difference…
Pickerington Central 36, Mentor 35.
Drew Pasteur (Fantastic50.net): Pickerington Central (13-1 D1 R3) by 6 (64%) Mentor (13-1 D1 R1)
CalPreps (Calpreps.net): Pickerington Central 34-28
Steve Helwagen (247sports.com): Should be a great game, Pick Central breaks through for first state title…
Pickerington Central 30, Mentor 24.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts.com): Mentor over Pickerington. Mentor beat some good teams.
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio.com): Pickerington CentralTim Rogers (OPSWA HOF): One of these schools is going to win the first state title in school history and both have terrific resumes. Mentor opened the playoffs with a solid win over a good Stow team and followed with wins over third-ranked Lakewood St. Edward, top-ranked Cleveland St. Ignatius and Olentangy Liberty, which had eliminated second-ranked Toledo Whitmer. Pick Central ousted Colerain by 13 points last week after Colerain had knocked off fourth-ranked Xavier. It also eliminated fifth-ranked Hilliard-Bradley. Look for Mentor’s Eli McDougal to return from the ankle injury he sustained vs. St. Ignatius. Pick:
Mentor 30, Pickerington Central 20
Kurt Stubbs (@ohiohshoops): In most years, a team that beat Lakewood St. Edward and Cleveland St. Ignatius in consecutive weeks would be heavily favored in the state championship, but Pickerington Central is a different kind of beast. Mentor and Pickerington are two of the best public school football programs in the state with only one thing missing from their trophy case…a state championship. Both teams are playing at a high level, but PC has too much and will get after Mentor’s stellar quarterback making for a long night. The Tigers have forced 15 turnovers in four playoff games. I like
Pickerington Central 35-21 to give Jay Sharrett his first state title.
Steve Blackledge (Columbus Dispatch/OPSWA HOF): The Tigers have enough big plays in them, on offense and defense, to win the program's first state title after three runner-up finishes. Central just has the feel of a champion…
Pickerington Central 27, Mentor 24.
Pickerington Central and tight end Trenton Gillison (Michigan State) are looking for their first state title in the program's third final.
Photo by Mark Porter/ScoutingOhio.com
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%)
