Friday Night Picks: High school playoff drama lacking in the Marion area in Week 10
Unlike the days of yore when heading into the final week of the regular season was filled with mystery and intrigue, this year's Week 10 for the area's high school football scene lacks much of the suspense.
River Valley, Pleasant, Elgin, Highland and Northmor are in the playoffs, according to JoeEitel.com, the state's leading high school playoff authority. For them, Friday night is about improving their seeding and possibly earning a home game in Week 11, or in the case of Northmor, earning a home spot for Week 12, too, if it gets there.
Ridgedale, Mount Gilead and Cardington are out.
That leaves only Marion Harding and North Union on the bubble.
Check out the Spartans: Winning football returns to Pleasant as Spartans post six wins heading into Week 10
Closer look at regular season finales: Week 10 Football Capsules: Elgin facing Hardin Northern on rare Thursday night encounter
For the Presidents, they MUST beat 6-3 Galion on Friday. If not, turn in the equipment because the season is over.
Even with a win, it's no guarantee as they sit 18th in Division II's Region 17 with a 3-6 record. They have a 16 percent chance of making the playoffs as a 14 to 16 seed in the 16-team playoff region, according to Drew Pasteur's Fantastic 50 website.
So besides a win over Galion, the Prexies will be rooting for Fairfield Union to beat Teays Valley, Canal Winchester to beat Big Walnut, Massillon Jackson to beat North Canton Hoover, Groveport Madison to beat Central Crossing and GlenOak to beat Massillon Perry. On the plus side, all those scenarios favor Harding's desire.
As for North Union, the Wildcats have a bit more wiggle room, currently sitting 16th in Division V's Region 18 at 4-5. Pasteur has posted that North Union has a 75 percent chance at playing next week as anything from a 13 to 16 seed. Even with a loss to 6-win Indian Lake on Friday, there is a chance the Wildcats will advance.
North Union needs Maumee to beat Otsego, Evergreen to beat Delta, Fostoria to beat Rossford, Orrville to beat Triway and Genoa Area to beat Eastwood, and all of those outcomes favor NU's position.
Here are Rob McCurdy's picks for Week 10 football games around the area:
● Galion at Marion Harding: If Harding's effort and results against River Valley earlier this season were a 10 out of 10, last week at Pleasant was a zero. With how much was at stake regarding the postseason and the fact it was a rivalry game, the Presidents' listlessness was surprising. They were shut out, held to two first downs, limited to less than 50 yards of offense and finished with negative rushing yards, plus defensively they allowed Pleasant to control the game from beginning to 0:00. Needless to say, I didn't see that one coming. Pick: Galion.
● Clear Fork at River Valley: The Vikings should reach .500 and keep the Colts winless in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference as they get ready for Week 11. Pick: River Valley.
● Pleasant at Shelby: It appears the River Valley game was just one of those aberrations when Pleasant gave up 50 points in the first half and 64 in the loss to its rival. Over the last two weeks, Pleasant's D has been locked in. But as good as RV's offense has been for much of the season, it's not of the caliber of Shelby, which is the top offense in the MOAC. After the Whippets upset Ontario last week, will there be a hangover in Week 10 or will they complete the task and win the league title? The Pleasant team I saw against Highland and Harding will make them earn it for sure. Pick: Shelby.
● Ontario at Highland: It's hard to imagine the Warriors losing two straight after starting 8-0. Ontario might have a bit too much for the Scots on both sides of the ball. Pick: Ontario.
● Ridgedale at Perry: The Rockets can finish with their first winning season in 20 years with a victory. That's not a playoff berth, but it's something to strive for in Week 10. Plus, when comparing outcomes with like opponents, the Rockets simply have been better than Perry. Pick: Ridgedale.
● Mount Gilead at Cardington: As rivalry games go, this has been as even as it gets with the Indians holding a 26-25 edge over Cardington since the playoffs started in 1972, according to the Ohio High School Football Database website. Instead of fighting for a Knox Morrow Athletic Conference championship, the two will play for the chance to avoid the league basement in 2023. That's not nothin' when it comes to bragging rights in Morrow County. Pick: Mount Gilead.
● Loudonville at Northmor: The Golden Knights should handle their business and get ready to host a playoff game next week with this tune-up. Meanwhile, they will root for East Knox to pull off the upset of the night and knock out unbeaten Danville so they can all share in the KMAC championship.
● Elgin at Hardin Northern: This game was moved to Thursday night due to the state's referee shortage.
● Last week: 8-1. Season: 56-22.
Rob McCurdy is the sports writer at the Marion Star and can be reached at rmccurdy@gannett.com, 419-610-0998, Twitter @McMotorsport and Instagram @rob_mccurdy_star.
Marion Star Football Player of Week 8 Poll winner
North Union's Nolan Draper, who scored a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in a win over Graham, earned 730 of 1,921 votes (38 percent) to win the Marion Star Football Player of Week 8 Poll. Other nominees were Jacob England of Pleasant, A.J. Bower of Northmor, Kaiden Luikart of Elgin and Keyan Shidone of River Valley.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Friday Night Picks: Five in, three out and two on bubble for playoffs
