Ohio State Tournament 2021

[OdbCle]

Might be good to keep a rolling thread to discuss the various playoff games as the tournament progresses. Maxpreps has the brackets up: https://www.maxpreps.com/playoffs/brackets.aspx?gendersport=boys,football&state=oh.  Biggest change is obviously the expansion to 16 teams per region (despite the Coaches Association recommendation for 12), adding an extra round in regional play.  This has had the effect of qualifying nearly every team in D1, where the regions only have about 17-19 teams. Should make for many lop-sided affairs in the opening round. To me, there are really only two games of major interest in D1:

R1: Ignatius (6-4) v. Mentor (5-5) - despite the expanded field, these two familiar foes find themselves meeting in the first round. Both have had underperforming seasons by their standards, but Ignatius has gotten healthy and is playing their best football of the season right now. Mentor looks to have both Snow and Harper back, but this is still probably the worst Mentor team of the last decade (more a testament to their success than a complete indictment on this team).  The Ignatius defense has played well all season, and the offense seems to have found some footing recently with Pfaff back at QB. Those west coast storms are supposed to me making their way east by weeks end, and the current forecast looks cold, wet and windy. Look for Ignatius to hammer Mentor into submission with a steady dose of Lenehan. If Ignatius can avoid the turnover bug in the weather, I like them to prevail. 27-17. 

R4: Elder (5-5) v. Colerain (5-5) - another game involving blue blood programs having rough seasons, but should still be more entertaining than most of the other matchups. This will be the Colerain defense v. the Elder offense. If similar conditions are expected in the southern portion of the state as they are up north, Colerain may be able to use that to their advantage. I'm going to go with the Cardinals in a bit of an upset, 21-20. 

 

 

[Coletrain06]

[hardhit1]

On 10/26/2021 at 11:44 AM, OdbCle said:

Might be good to keep a rolling thread to discuss the various playoff games as the tournament progresses. Maxpreps has the brackets up: https://www.maxpreps.com/playoffs/brackets.aspx?gendersport=boys,football&state=oh.  Biggest change is obviously the expansion to 16 teams per region (despite the Coaches Association recommendation for 12), adding an extra round in regional play.  This has had the effect of qualifying nearly every team in D1, where the regions only have about 17-19 teams. Should make for many lop-sided affairs in the opening round. To me, there are really only two games of major interest in D1:

R1: Ignatius (6-4) v. Mentor (5-5) - despite the expanded field, these two familiar foes find themselves meeting in the first round. Both have had underperforming seasons by their standards, but Ignatius has gotten healthy and is playing their best football of the season right now. Mentor looks to have both Snow and Harper back, but this is still probably the worst Mentor team of the last decade (more a testament to their success than a complete indictment on this team).  The Ignatius defense has played well all season, and the offense seems to have found some footing recently with Pfaff back at QB. Those west coast storms are supposed to me making their way east by weeks end, and the current forecast looks cold, wet and windy. Look for Ignatius to hammer Mentor into submission with a steady dose of Lenehan. If Ignatius can avoid the turnover bug in the weather, I like them to prevail. 27-17. 

R4: Elder (5-5) v. Colerain (5-5) - another game involving blue blood programs having rough seasons, but should still be more entertaining than most of the other matchups. This will be the Colerain defense v. the Elder offense. If similar conditions are expected in the southern portion of the state as they are up north, Colerain may be able to use that to their advantage. I'm going to go with the Cardinals in a bit of an upset, 21-20. 

 

 

Snow still playing injured so Cats should prevail

the weather is going to be god awful with wind & heavy rain

this game on Spectrum along with Colerain game

Colerain needs to win the turnover battle to win IMO 

[Coletrain06]

I haven't been able to catch much of Mentor or Iggy this year, but I've been following their results, and I agree with my northern friends....I think Iggy prevails. 

In the south, Colerain travels to the pit to play Elder. Both teams come in at 5-5. While this is certainly Colerain's worst team since 1999; this too, like Mentor, is a testament to how good The Cards have been over the years, because this team is capable of playing tough and causing major headaches for the better teams in the region. 

Colerain has 3 very close losses, to La Salle, Lakota East, & Princeton. They should have beat both Lakota East and Princeton, but in both games, they had a chip shot FG + XP blocked. Also Colerain was hanging hanging right in there with Lakota West until the 4th when they had another FG blocked, and then had a turnover on a punt attempt that Lakota West recovered in the end zone for a TD. In other words, Colerain's special teams have been atrocious. It sucks too, because their kicker is actually solid, they just can't cover for him or get a good snap/hold. 

The Colerain Defense is what has kept them all of their games sans X, and they have really turned it up the last couple weeks since getting DB Ken Willis back from injury in week 7. Willis didnt play against Princeton last week due to a stupid sequence and ejection from the previous game against Lakota West, but in the last 4 games, the Colerain D held Lakota East to 7, Hamilton to 6, Lakota West to 14, and Princeton to 13. 

The Colerain offense has a been a strange case this year. They have been capable at times, and have been able to pick up yards, but then will have a play blown up or penalties to set them back. With a mostly tiny OLine and not much big play capability, the Offense cant afford to not move forward every play. Soph QB Jennings, and Senior FB Flowers do nearly everything on Offense. 

Elder's defense is always susceptible to speed, but Elder has always played a defense against Colerains option that will give up a handful of yards in order to prevent the big play and force Colerain to drive the length of the field. Elder's made a living over the years forcing bad pitches and collecting fumbles, but also giving up huge runs here and there. Elder's offense, per usual, is very capable. Elder's QB  draws have been the bane of Colerain's Defense.

I'd expect Elder to be favored and win this game because of how ineffective the Colerain offense has been at putting points on the board, but If Colerain plays a near perfect game with no turnovers or special teams mistakes, I could definitely see Colerain winning.  Colerain has also never lost a first round playoff game, so we'll see if they can defy the odds and keep that streak alive. 

[hardhit1]

1 hour ago, Coletrain06 said:

I haven't been able to catch much of Mentor or Iggy this year, but I've been following their results, and I agree with my northern friends....I think Iggy prevails. 

In the south, Colerain travels to the pit to play Elder. Both teams come in at 5-5. While this is certainly Colerain's worst team since 1999; this too, like Mentor, is a testament to how good The Cards have been over the years, because this team is capable of playing tough and causing major headaches for the better teams in the region. 

Colerain has 3 very close losses, to La Salle, Lakota East, & Princeton. They should have beat both Lakota East and Princeton, but in both games, they had a chip shot FG + XP blocked. Also Colerain was hanging hanging right in there with Lakota West until the 4th when they had another FG blocked, and then had a turnover on a punt attempt that Lakota West recovered in the end zone for a TD. In other words, Colerain's special teams have been atrocious. It sucks too, because their kicker is actually solid, they just can't cover for him or get a good snap/hold. 

The Colerain Defense is what has kept them all of their games sans X, and they have really turned it up the last couple weeks since getting DB Ken Willis back from injury in week 7. Willis didnt play against Princeton last week due to a stupid sequence and ejection from the previous game against Lakota West, but in the last 4 games, the Colerain D held Lakota East to 7, Hamilton to 6, Lakota West to 14, and Princeton to 13. 

The Colerain offense has a been a strange case this year. They have been capable at times, and have been able to pick up yards, but then will have a play blown up or penalties to set them back. With a mostly tiny OLine and not much big play capability, the Offense cant afford to not move forward every play. Soph QB Jennings, and Senior FB Flowers do nearly everything on Offense. 

Elder's defense is always susceptible to speed, but Elder has always played a defense against Colerains option that will give up a handful of yards in order to prevent the big play and force Colerain to drive the length of the field. Elder's made a living over the years forcing bad pitches and collecting fumbles, but also giving up huge runs here and there. Elder's offense, per usual, is very capable. Elder's QB  draws have been the bane of Colerain's Defense.

I'd expect Elder to be favored and win this game because of how ineffective the Colerain offense has been at putting points on the board, but If Colerain plays a near perfect game with no turnovers or special teams mistakes, I could definitely see Colerain winning.  Colerain has also never lost a first round playoff game, so we'll see if they can defy the odds and keep that streak alive. 

I just got my insiders report and Mentor is ready to shock Northern Ohio. They are the healthiest since game 2 where they prevailed against Iggy. The 3 Amigos Snow, Harper & Vernon all healthy.

Lots of sloppy weather with rain & wind tonight so look for some turnovers deciding the outcome.

I to think Iggy wins but let’s if the Mentor hype holds up. On Spectrum.

[zulu1128]

Kinda sucks that West and Ecks ended up on the same side of the bracket. 

[Coletrain06]

4 hours ago, zulu1128 said:

Kinda sucks that West and Ecks ended up on the same side of the bracket. 

Agreed. Moe got a very good draw with Fairfield/Mason Princeton and Lakota East.

[hardhit1]

Ed’s opening KO return 96 yards 7-0

[hardhit1]

Ed’s 14-0

Mentor hard time running but no problem passing in red zone

[hardhit1]

Mentor 3-0 

[hardhit1]

Iggy marches down the field and misses a 22 yd FG

3-0 Mentor

Eds 21-0 

[hardhit1]

Ed’s 21-0 first qt with second team in already 

[hardhit1]

Ed’s 28-0 first love Soph QB Bullock

Eds 2nd team D in 

[hardhit1]

Iggy scores last play of first 

7-3 Iggy 

[hardhit1]

Harper on a 3rd 3 looks like he’s stopped but runs 50+ for TD

Mentor 10-7

[hardhit1]

Iggy responds 14-10

Eds TD 35-0 running clock once 3rd begins still mid second 

[hardhit1]

Iggy 14-10 half

Eds 42-0 half 

[hardhit1]

Iggy received 2nd kickoff and scores 

21-10 Iggy

[hardhit1]

Iggy 28-10 

Eds 49-0 

[hardhit1]

Ed’s wins 49-0

Iggy 35-10 end 3

Elyria 22 Cleve hts 14

[hardhit1]

Mentor scores the first 24 seconds in 4th and the lights go out 35-16 waiting for XP attempt 😂

[hardhit1]

3 minutes ago, hardhit1 said:

Mentor scores the first 24 seconds in 4th and the lights go out 35-16 waiting for XP attempt 😂

20-30 minute delay 

time for a beer🍺

[hardhit1]

Mentor with 2 fast scores

Iggy 35-24 7 left 

[Cossacks]

35-24 now

[hardhit1]

Wow crazy game 

Cleve hts down 22-7 against Elyria tied the game with 2 tds then 2 point conversion. Elyria driving fumbles and Hts runs it in with 7 seconds left to win