Ohio High School Football Division V State Final Preview: Who Wins?

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-V state title. I've also listed names expected to affect the outcome.

Best of luck to all involved. The State Finals have arrived.

Division V State Championship Preview

Orrville (12-2/No. 5 MaxPreps/No. 11 AP) vs Johnstown-Monroe (13-1/No. 2 MaxPreps/No. 4 AP)

When: Saturday at 3 p.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton)

Players to Watch:

* Marquael Parks, Orrville, so., RB: First team All-Ohio back appears to be a generational player. Has rushed for 2,601 yards on 213 carries and holds offers from Cincinnati and Toledo. He’s scored 41 touchdowns on the ground and has added 12 more via receiving and return (kick, punt, interception and fumble). “I’ve been doing this for 33 years and maintained that Mark Griggs (1978 Orrville graduate) was the best high school running back I’d seen and Marqauel does things Griggs didn’t do,” Orrville head coach Doug Davault said. “His elusiveness sets him part. Don’t know that I’ve seen a guy in the open field like him. He just makes you miss.” Said Johnstown-Monroe head coach Mike Carter: “He is one of a kind. He’s a very special young man who is unique and has exceptional abilities. This will be a new test for our defense.”

* Jason Suppan, Orrville, sr. DB/WR: First team All-Ohio on defense (team-high five interceptions). Is also team’s leading receiver with 31 catches for 574 yards and six touchdowns.

* Ben Summers, Orrville, sr., LB: Second team All-Ohio selection has 135 tackles, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

* Donoven Hall, Orrville, sr., HB: Dual threat player has carried the ball 74 times for 541 yards and eight touchdowns and is tied for the team-lead with 31 receptions (for 476 yards and four touchdowns).

* Logan Domer, Orrville, sr., QB: Has thrown for 1,909 yards and 19 touchdowns.

* Bryce Barasch, Johnstown-Monroe, sr. RB: First team All-Ohio running back is the main weapon in the Johnnies dominant ground game. “He’s a power back,” Carter said. “He gives it all he’s got on every play. Incredible mentality.” Barasch has rushed for 2,179 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. Said Carter: “He does good job of trusting his lineman and putting himself in position to make great cuts to get upfield.”

* Kaden Davis, Johnstown-Monroe, sr. LB: First team All-Ohio selection has a team-high 130 tackles, 20 tackles-for-loss and three interceptions. “(He’s the) heart and soul (of the defense),” Carter said. “His character traits and leadership abilities are superb.”

* Caden Calhoun, Johnstown-Monroe, sr. QB: Second team All-Ohio selection has rushed for 1,496 yards and 14 touchdowns. “He’s a student of the game and an inspirational motivator,” Carter said. “He does fantastic job of making sure everyone stays on same page.”

* William Lewis, Johnstown-Monroe, sr. OL: Second team All-Ohio.

* Luke Myers, Johnstown-Monroe, sr., RB: Has rushed for 903 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Predictions:

Eric Frantz (MaxPreps, @EFrantzMP)
This game features two teams with 2,000-yard backs. “(Johnstown’s) run for over 4,000 yards so that’s what they want to do,” Devault said. “The question is – can you stop them? We’ve got to be disciplined and hold our own at the line of scrimmage.” Just 4-6 last season, Orrville points to a Week 8 loss to Manchester as the turning point. Since then the Red Riders have been running roughshod as well. Parks is one of the state’s most dynamic players. Options have aided in Orrville’s resurgence. “We’re hard to defend – not just because of Marquael, but because of the other weapons we have,” Davault said. “We knew our athleticism was going to be at a pretty high-level.” Johnstown is workmanlike. The Johnnies overpower people with a multitude of options and the offensive line is the team’s rallying point. “It’s incredible to watch the way those young men have led the team – not just in football,” Carter said. “It’s a special group.” Orrville wins a classic 35-33.

Fantastic 50.com
Johnstown-Monroe (13-1 D5 R19) by 7 (67%) neu Orrville (12-2 D5 R17)

CalPreps.com
Johnstown-Monroe 31-28.

Lee Cochran (Managing Editor, This Week Community News, @TWLeeCochran)
Johnstown-Monroe has made it a tradition to lose to the eventual state champion – four times against Steubenville and last year to Wheelersburg. It’s time that the Johnnies start a new tradition by winning a state title.

Steve Blackledge (Prep Writer, Columbus Dispatch, OPSWA HOF, @BlackiePreps)
The best way to shut down, or at least contain, an explosive offense is with a ball-control offense. Johnstown runs the football as well as any team in the state. regardless of division, and also has an aggressive, disruptive, big-play  defense that should keep Orrville on its heels. Johnstown-Monroe 30, Orrville 17.

Steve Helwagen (Writer, 247sports.com, @SteveHelwagen)
Johnstown’s triple-option running game will be too much. The Johnnies bring home their first state championship. Johnstown-Monroe 27, Orrville 20.

Tim Rogers (Freelance Writer, GateHouse Media, OPSWA HOF, @TimRogersCLE):
Orrville’s two losses were to playoff teams and the Red Riders beat a very good team in Gilmour (11-1) 50-43 in three overtimes in an earlier playoff game. But any team that can score 32 points against a playoff-tested program like Wheelersburg – which had held 12 of 14 teams to 16 points or fewer – gets my vote. The Johnnies won’t come lately. They’ll be there from the get-go. Johnstown-Monroe wins 34-28.

Seth Staskey (Sports Editor, The Times Leader, @TLSportsSeth)
Johnstown-Monroe dropped down a division this season and has made the move pay dividends in rolling through Region 19 and then dispatched defending state champion Wheelersburg. Orrville's path hasn't been as easy since the Red Riders had to win a triple overtime game in the regional semifinal against Gilmour Academy. Both teams love to do work on the ground. Johnstown-Monroe took down Bellaire in the second round and didn't throw a pass the entire game. Orrville throws it a bit more, but it relies heavily on sophomore Marquael Parks, who has rushed 212 times 2,590 yards and scored 53 touchdowns. Johnstown-Monroe's defense has been up to the task all season and its ability to shorten games will certainly prove to be beneficial, too. Johnstown-Monroe wins 28-20.

Mark Porter (Owner, ScoutingOhio.com, @Mark__Porter)
Orrville.

Thomas Wilson (Sports Writer, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, @twil2323)
This might be the most interesting game of them all. Johnstown has been knocking at the door of reaching a state final but always came up short, but this season, the Johnnies have put it all together. Can they do it one more time? No one has stopped their running game all season and I don’t expect the Red Riders to, either. I like the Johnstown-Monroe to bring home its first state title, 34-28.

Gary Housteau (Photographer, Bucknuts.com, @garyhouse2)
I have to go with the school that gave us Bobby Knight and the town that is known for Smucker’s Jelly. Orrville wins.

Kurt Stubbbs (Contributor, MaxPreps, @ohiohshoops)
This game will feature stingy defense versus explosive offense. The Johnnies love to run the football and play great defense. Coach Mike Carter’s team put the clamps on two talented offenses in the past two weeks by holding Meadowbrook and Wheelersburg to just 14 points apiece. The task may be even greater this week in sophomore Marquael Parks of Orrville. Parks can score in a variety of ways with his 53 touchdowns, which includes 41 on the ground (2,601 rushing). The Orrville offense has been humming all season, but the defense has given up more than 30 points on four different occasions and a total of 110 points in its two setbacks. In early December, championship games favor the team that plays good defense and controls the clock. I look for Johnstown-Monroe to hoist its first state championship trophy, 21-14.

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 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 2016: 4-3 (57%)

State Semifinal History

EF 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%)