OHSAA first-round playoff predictions for central Ohio high school football
The playoffs have arrived for high school football teams and the Predictions Panel. As teams battle for championships in divisions I-VII, we'll also let the playoffs determine our winner.
However, it might not be easy to make up ground this week, because seven of our 15 first-round games feature unanimous picks.
We also have four Lone Wolf picks, in which one staffer goes against the rest of the panel. In those picks, Steve Blackledge is going with Kettering Fairmont over Dublin Coffman and Jonathan Alder over Ready, Eric Frantz has picked Independence over Watkins Memorial and Andy Resnik has taken Northland over Big Walnut.
The panel went 0-2 on Lone Wolf picks last week, bringing its season record to 7-29. Frank DiRenna missed on Hilliard Davidson (Upper Arlington won 10-0) and Kurt Snyder missed on Watkins Memorial (Granville won 31-6).
Frantz, the defending champion, and Snyder both went 11-4 in Week 10 and remain tied for first at 113-49 overall. They have a three-game lead over Resnik and Dave Weidig, and a four-game lead over Lee Cochran and DiRenna.
Tom Wilson had last week's top performance at 14-1, missing on Logan Elm's 28-0 win over Hamilton Township. He wasn't alone in that pick — every member of the panel picked Hamilton Township.
Wilson's big week enabled him to catch Dave Purpura at 104-58. Ryan Baker and Cochran tied for the second-best performance at 13-2.
Enjoy the first round of the playoffs!
Division I, Region 2
11 Kettering Fairmont (5-5) at 6 Dublin Coffman (7-3)
Fairmont Firebirds: Blackledge
Coffman Shamrocks: Baker, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
9 Miamisburg (7-3) at 8 Delaware Hayes (8-2)
Miamisburg Vikings: Baker, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
Delaware Pacers: Cochran, DiRenna, Blackledge, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik
Division I, Region 3
12 New Albany (4-6) at 5 Pickerington Central (7-3)
New Albany Eagles:
Central Tigers: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
11 Groveport (6-4) at 6 Hilliard Darby (5-5)
Groveport Cruisers: Cochran, Snyder
Darby Panthers: Baker, Blackledge, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Weidig, Wilson
10 Lancaster (5-5) at 7 Westerville North (8-2)
Lancaster Golden Gales: Baker, Snyder, Wilson
North Warriors: Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Weidig
9 Grove City (5-5) at 8 Hilliard Davidson (5-5)
Grove City Dawgs: Purpura, Wilson
Davidson Wildcats: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig
Division II, Region 7
12 Big Walnut (5-5) at 5 Northland (9-1)
Big Walnut Golden Eagles: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
Northland Vikings: Resnik
10 Watkins Memorial (7-3) vs. 7 Independence (5-5) at Africentric
Watkins Memorial Warriors: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
Independence 76ers: Frantz
9 Westerville South (6-4) at 8 Briggs (7-3)
South Wildcats: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
Briggs Bruins:
Division III, Region 11
9 Washington Court House Miami Trace (6-4) at 8 Hamilton Township (9-1)
Miami Trace Panthers:
Hamilton Township Rangers: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
Division IV, Region 15
12 Jonathan Alder (7-3) vs. 5 Ready (9-1) at Central Crossing
Jonathan Alder Pioneers: Blackledge
Ready Silver Knights: Baker, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
9 Licking Valley (7-3) at 8 East (8-2)
Licking Valley Panthers: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
East Tigers:
Division V, Region 19
11 Utica (7-3) at 6 Columbus Academy (9-1)
Utica Redskins:
Academy Vikings: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
10 Africentric (7-3) at 7 Wheelersburg (6-3)
Africentric Nubians:
Wheelersburg Pirates: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
9 Heath (8-2) at 8 Portsmouth West (8-2)
Heath Bulldogs: Baker, Blackledge, Cochran, DiRenna, Frantz, Purpura, Resnik, Snyder, Weidig, Wilson
West Senators:
Standings after Week 10
Eric Frantz 11-4 last week; 113-49 overall
Kurt Snyder 11-4; 113-49
Andy Resnik 12-3; 110-52
Dave Weidig 10-5; 110-52
Lee Cochran 13-2; 109-53
Frank DiRenna 10-5; 109-53
Steve Blackledge 12-3; 108-54
Ryan Baker 13-2; 105-57
Dave Purpura: 10-5; 104-58
Tom Wilson 14-1; 104-58
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: First-round playoff picks for Columbus-area high school football
