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2023 Division VII, Region 25 football projection

chris lillstrung, the news-herald, willoughby, ohio
·2 min read

Aug. 13—Note: Despite this being the third year of expanded playoffs to 16 per region, for consistency with years past and to not make projections a "by default" exercise, the projection total for each region outside Division I will remain at 12.

DIVISION VII

Region 25

(in alphabetical order, with 2022 regular-season record; News-Herald coverage area teams are in CAPS)

Contenders: Berlin Center Western Reserve (3-7), Dalton (8-2; Region 21), Danville (8-2), Jeromesville Hillsdale (6-4), Lowellville (10-0), Malvern (8-3; Region 23), New Middletown Springfield (6-4), Norwalk St. Paul (7-3), Salineville Southern (9-1), Toronto (7-3), Vienna Mathews (8-2), Warren JFK (8-1)

What to look for: While there isn't a News-Herald coverage area team projected in this space to crack the top 12, it's not to imply there won't be a playoff push possible. ... Fairport eked in a year ago at No. 16 and had a lot of underclassmen who garnered experience. If anything — and this is not meant as a slight toward anyone or anything to be clear — but here's hoping, after the preseason tumult the last three years with a pandemic, multiple coaching changes and roster uncertainty, that things go more smoothly for the Skippers in August this time around. ... Richmond Heights, back in varsity football after a hiatus in that regard, is a real X-factor. The Spartans, following success as a junior-varsity squad as they rebuilt the program, have a shot at being playoff caliber in a Region 25 that tends to leave more room than other regions for it. But with every game on the road, a lot of long drives mixed in there and, again, coming back to varsity football, it's hard to ascertain where this path will lead for Richmond Heights. All the way to Week 11 would be a feel-good story to be sure. ... Beyond our area squads, this region is a handful at the top, especially with a pair of eight-win regular-season teams from 2022 in Dalton and Malvern coming in from other regions this fall. Malvern is worth keeping an eye on, with dual-threat QB Jared Witherow (2,801 total yards, 31 TDs), a wealth of skill-position depth and its top five tacklers all back in the mix.