OHSAA playoffs: New Philly heads to postseason for fifth straight season

The playoff streak continues for the New Philadelphia football team.

The Quakers will make a fifth straight trip to the postseason and 12th in the past 13 years when they travel to Youngstown State’s Stambaugh Stadium Friday night for a Division III playoff game against top-seeded Youngstown Ursuline. Game time is 7 p.m.

“It’s exciting when you get the chance to play in the playoffs, I know they’ve expanded it but not everybody makes it in,” said New Philadelphia head football coach Mike Johnson. “We’ve been fortunate."

Friday’s game marks the first time New Philadelphia and Youngstown Ursuline have ever played in football.

“We get a chance to go to a pretty neat place (Stambaugh Stadium) to play football,” said Johnson. “I’ve never played a football game there, but I’ve watched one on ESPN there, so it’s kind of cool you get to go to a place like that, a college stadium, and give it your best shot.”

The Quakers enter the postseason battle with a 6-4 record and are coming off a tough 20-13 setback to arch-rival Dover last week.

Despite the loss, Johnson said it’s always special as a player and coach to be part of one of Ohio’s richest football rivalries.

“It was a great atmosphere, it was packed,” said Johnson of last week’s game at Crater Stadium. “It’s a special thing for both communities to go out and play and have that kind of fanfare. It makes it fun.”

Turning to Ursuline, which is unbeaten at 10-0 on the season and has dominated most of the opponents on its schedule, Johnson knows the task ahead on Friday night.

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“Stopping Ursuline is a different beast because they are very good and they go pretty darn fast,” said Johnson. “Their defense is excellent, it’s fundamental. They don’t really blitz a lot. It’s kind of neat to go to a different place to play a different team we haven’t played before — It’s playoff football, so anything can happen.”

Ursuline’s closest win this season was by eight points (36-28) in Week 1 against Steubenville Big Red, but New Philadelphia’s defense is one of the best the Irish have gone up against this fall.

The Quakers are only giving up 16 points-per-game on defense, one of the best marks in the area.

“Our kids take great pride in it (playing strong defense),” said Johnson. “I think our coaching staff does a great job of teaching what the other team wants to do, and our kids pay attention and they care and have done a great job of holding explosive offenses to not a whole lot of points. Really, we gave up nine points (to West Holmes) two weeks ago and last week our defense only gave up 14, because there was a special team’s touchdown, so it’s pretty impressive some of the things our kids have been able to do.”

On defense, middle linebacker Zach Rothrock leads the Quakers with 111 tackles and linebacker Jaiden Boltz has 90 tackles.

On offense, Ursuline is led by senior running back Christian Lynch and 6-foot-3 senior quarterback Jack Ericson.

Ursuline features the second-highest scoring offense in Mahoning County at 39.7 points-per-game while its defense is only allowing 13.9 ppg.

“They like to run the ball, but they like to take advantage of matchups in the pass game,” Johnson said. “Their defense is very disciplined, and their offense goes so fast, it puts so much stress on your defense, and that’s a big concern for us in that we have to make sure we get lined up and get ready to go because it’s non-stop.”

Offensively, the Quakers are averaging 21.8 points-per-game. They are led by running back Etnie Richardson (1,100 yards rushing and nine touchdowns), quarterback Keaton Fausel (1,239 yards passing and 737 yards rushing) and receivers Carson Long (31 receptions for 421 yards and four touchdowns) and Pete Didonato (35 receptions for 315 yards and two touchdowns).

Johnson knows his Quakers are ready for playoff football.

“We’re just ready for the second season to get going,” said the New Philadelphia head coach.

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Indian Valley at Logan Elm

Indian Valley, which is the 13th-seeded team in Division IV Region 15, will play at fourth-seeded Logan Elm Friday night at 7 p.m. in playoff action. It’s a battle of two teams both nicknamed the Braves.

Logan Elm is located in Circleville.

The Indian Valley Braves enter the postseason battle with a 7-3 record, while the Logan Elm Braves are 9-1 overall.

Logan Elm’s lone loss this season occurred in a 35-6 setback to Bloom-Carroll, which lost to Canfield in the D3 state championship game last season. Logan Elm finished as league runner-up to Bloom-Carroll in the Mid-State Buckeye Conference this season.

Logan Elm is a team that features a strong aerial attack but also has a 1,000-yard rusher.

Logan Elm quarterback Aaron Walters has thrown for 2,300 yards and 22 touchdowns this season, while senior running back Landon Thompson has rushed for 1,060 yards.

Logan Elm’s wins this season have been against Zane Trace (39-23), Westfall (43-6), Miami Trace (41-20), Circleville (40-19), Fairfield Union (48-21), Liberty Union (35-7), Amanda Clearcreek (35-14), Teays Valley (35-28) and Hamilton Township (35-0) last week.

Logan Elm is averaging 35 points-per-game on offense and giving up 17.3 points-per-outing on defense.

By comparison, Indian Valley is averaging 33.6 points-per-game and giving up 14.7 ppg.

The Braves have been led all season by the talented combination of running backs Grady Kinsey (900 yards rushing) and Kolton Thomas (400 yards rushing and 600 yards receiving) and senior quarterback Sam Carter (1,200 yards passing with 11 touchdowns).

Indian Valley’s three losses this season have occurred against three teams in Dover, St. Clairsville and Garaway which sport a combined record of 24-6.

This is the first meeting between Indian Valley and Logan Elm in football.

Rock Hill at Garaway

Garaway, which has a chance to go deep in the Division VI playoffs, will begin its postseason journey Friday night at 7 p.m. when the Pirates host the Rock Hill Redmen.

Garaway finished the regular season at 10-0 and repeated as Inter Valley Conference South champion. The Pirates are the top-seeded team in the Division VI Region 23. They moved down from Division V to Division VI this season.

Garaway is coming off a 35-17 win over rival Ridgewood last week.

The Pirates are led offensively by junior quarterback Brady Geibel, who is averaging 200 yards per-game through the airways and running back Dillon Soehnlen, who is averaging 101 yards-per-contest on the ground. When Geibel takes to the air, senior receiver Jenson Garber has been the top target.

Rock Hill, from Ironton, finished the regular season with a 4-6 record this fall and earned the 16th and final playoff seed in Region 23.

Garaway, which has been a picture of consistency on both offense and defense this season, enters Friday as a heavy favorite.

Rock Hill’s wins this season have occurred against Symmes Valley (28-0), Oak Hill (47-13), Chesapeake (33-21) and Coal Grove (23-16) last weekend. The Redmen have lost to Minford (17-7), Portsmouth (28-27 in OT), Fairland (40-7), South Point (53-20), Ironton (42-0) and Gallia Academy (44-7).

The Redmen are averaging 19.9 points-per-game on offense and giving up 27.4 ppg.

By comparison, Garaway is averaging 37.5 points per game and has only surrendered 75 points all season or 7.5 points-per-game on defense, including two shutouts.

Tusky Valley at Fort Frye

Tusky Valley, which earned the 14th seed in Division VI Region 23, will be on the road in playoff action Friday night at 7 p.m. when the Trojans play at third-seeded Fort Frye.

Tusky Valley checks into the contest with a 4-6 overall record, while the Fort Frye Cadets are 7-2.

The Trojans are averaging 23.3 points-per-game on offense and yielding 26.8 per-game on defense.

Tusky is led by quarterback Cole Clements, who is averaging 155 yards per game through the air and receiver Virgil Myers.

Fort Frye has defeated Marietta (21-18), Belpre (62-0), Bellaire (22-15), Vincent Warren (16-7), Caldwell (35-6), Logan (26-14) and Waterford (16-0) last Friday. Their two losses occurred to Linsly (41-0) and Point Pleasant (20-13).

The Cadets are averaging 21.1 points-per-game on offense and surrendering 12.1 ppg.

Friday marks the first time Tusky Valley and Fort Frye have ever played in football.

Sandy Valley at Lakeview

Sandy Valley will be on the road Friday night at 7 when the Cardinals trek to Cortland to play the Lakeview Bulldogs in a Division V Region 17 playoff game.

Sandy Valley (6-4) earned the ninth seed in Region 17, while Lakeview is the eighth-seeded team.

Lakeview finished 5-5 in the regular season but is a member of the rugged Youngstown-based Northeast 8 Conference in which six of the seven members qualified for the playoffs, including league champion South Range, which is the defending Division V state champion.

The Bulldogs’ wins this season were recorded against LaBrae (41-14), Jefferson (32-13), Liberty (40-31), Hubbard (28-14) and Beaver Local (20-14) last weekend. The losses have been to South Range (28-21), Niles (31-0), Girard (43-0), Struthers (40-6) and Poland (28-0).

The Bulldogs are averaging 18.8 points-per-game on offense and giving up 25.6 ppg.

By comparison, Sandy Valley is averaging 30.3 points-per-game on offense and giving up 21.1 ppg.

The Cardinals’ offense revolves around talented quarterback Nick Petro who has passed for 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for  910 yards and eight touchdowns. The top receiver is junior Lukas Gilland with 31 receptions for 710 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Newcomerstown at Grandview Heights

Newcomerstown, which is the 12th seed in Division VI Region 23, will travel to Grandview Heights for a playoff game Friday evening at 7 p.m. against the fifth-seeded Bobcats.

The Trojans enter Week 11 with a 6-4 record, while Grandview Heights from Columbus, is 7-3.

Newcomerstown was upended 16-13 by Buckeye Central in its most recent game, while Grandview Heights defeated Columbus Mifflin 24-0 last weekend.

Newcomerstown is averaging 30.6 points-per-game and giving up 17.8 per-outing on defense.

The Bobcats are scoring 26.6 points-per-game offensively and yielding 19.2 ppg.

Grandview Heights’ wins have occurred against Centennial (26-22), Columbus West (34-18), Arcadia (21-6), Columbus Whetstone (41-30), Bishop Rosecrans (42-6), Valley (35-34 in OT) and Columbus Mifflin (24-0). They have won three games in a row. Their three losses came at the hands of Northridge (35-8), Bexley (26-21) and Worthington Christian (21-14).

This is the first meeting between Newcomerstown and Grandview Heights in football.

Edison at Ridgewood

Ridgewood, which earned the seventh seed in Division V Region 17 and a home playoff game, will entertain the Edison Wildcats Friday night at 7 p.m. in postseason action.

The Generals enter Week 11 with a 7-3 record, while Edison, which is the 10th seed in the region, is also 7-3.

The Generals are coming off a 35-17 Inter Valley Conference loss to IVC South champ Garaway last weekend, while Edison posted a 26-6 win over Indian Creek.

Ridgewood is averaging 26.9 points-per-game while allowing 17.2 ppg.

Edison is averaging 28.8 points-per-outing and surrendering just 11.9 ppg.

The Wildcats have defeated Monroe Central (34-14), Independence (35-0), Minerva (40-7), Oak Glen (34-0), Akron North (42-14), Buckeye Local (41-6) and Indian Creek (26-6). The combined record of the teams they’ve beaten is 15-54 and they’ve defeated just one team with a winning record. The teams Edison has lost to are Toronto (28-20), East Liverpool (17-14) and Harrison Central (27-12).

Edison is led by quarterback J.D. Henderson, running back Talon McClurg and receiver Deacon Rawson.

This is the first meeting between Ridgewood and Edison in football.

Southern Local at Malvern

One of the potentially best playoff matchups in Division VII Region 25 will take place Friday night at 7 p.m. when Malvern hosts Southern Local.

Malvern enters the game at 9-1 and is the champion of the Inter Valley Conference North Division after finishing the league season with a perfect 5-0 league ledger.

Southern Local is 8-2 overall and captured the co-championship of the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference this fall with United Local with a 6-1 league mark.

The Hornets are averaging 32 points-per-game while giving up just 10.7 points-per-outing, one of the best marks in the area.

Malvern is led on offense by 6-4 quarterback Jared Witherow who has thrown for over 1,800 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. He has also scored six touchdowns on the ground. The Hornets’ top receivers are senior Dylan Phillips who caught 62 passes with eight touchdowns and junior Rodney Smith with 38 receptions and 11 touchdowns.

Southern Local is scoring 39.6 points-per-game and allowing 17.3 ppg.

The Indians have defeated Crestview (38-6), East Canton (52-22), Wellsville (42-7), East Palestine (42-7), Columbiana (51-21), Valley Christian (46-36), Lisbon (42-14) and Leetonia (47-0). Their two losses have been to McDonald (25-22) in their season opener and to United Local (35-14) in Week 4. They have won five straight games since then.

Carrollton at Steubenville

Carrollton, which earned the 16th and final playoff spot in Division IV Region 15, will play No. 1 seed Steubenville at Harding Stadium Friday night at 7 p.m. in a playoff contest.

It marks the second straight season Steubenville and Carrollton have met in the playoffs. Last season, Big Red defeated the Warriors 33-13 in postseason play.

The Warriors are 6-4 on the season, while Big Red is 9-1, with its lone loss coming in Week 1 to unbeaten Youngstown Ursuline, 36-28.

Carrollton, which is a ground-oriented team, finished second in the Eastern Buckeye Conference this season to league champion West Branch and its four losses have come to teams with a combined record of 31-9.

The Warriors are averaging 24 points-per-game on offense and giving up 24.3 ppg.

They are led by junior quarterback Jared Whitmore who is averaging 150 total yards per game, including 100 through the air and 50 on the ground, as well as senior running back Ryan Kiko who is averaging 74 yards-per-game on the ground.

Steubenville is averaging 32.9 points-per-game and allowing 15.3 ppg.

Conotton Valley at Dalton

Conotton Valley, the 16th seed in Division 7 Region 25, will travel to top-seeded Dalton Friday at 7 for a matchup with the Bulldogs.

The Rockets enter the battle with a 4-6 overall record, while Dalton, a champion of the Wayne County League, sports an 8-1 ledger. The Bulldogs are riding an eight-game winning streak after sustaining their only loss of the season in a 14-7 loss to state power Kirtland in their season opener.

The  Bulldogs are averaging 37.7 points-per-game, while their defense has been air-tight, giving up just 8.4 points-per-contest.

The Rockets are averaging 21.2 points per game while yielding 28.6 ppg.

Conotton is paced by junior quarterback Zach Putnam, who is averaging 154 yards passing per game with 17 touchdowns, while the top receivers have been sophomore Kamden Wright with 53 receptions and seven touchdowns and junior Brooks Bower with 46 receptions and eight touchdowns. The top running back is senior Noah Smith, who is averaging 100 yards per game on the ground.

This is a first meeting between Conotton Valley and Dalton in football.

Bryan at West Holmes

West Holmes, which earned the No. 4 seed in Division IV Region 14, will host the No. 13 seed Bryan Golden Bears Friday night at 7 p.m. in postseason action.

The Knights enter Week 11 with an 8-2 record and haven’t lost a game since Week 3 in a  38-28 loss to Ohio Cardinal Conference champion Mansfield Senior.

The Knights feature a high-scoring offense averaging 39.1 points-per-game, while its defense is allowing 23.3 ppg.

Bryan is 5-5 on the season and is averaging 35.5 points-per-contest but is allowing 34.1 ppg.

West Holmes’ statistical leader on offense is 6-2 junior dual threat quarterback Morgan Smith. His top receiver has been Kyle Maltarich.

Bryan has defeated Maumee (42-35), Fairview (67-46), Delta (49-28), Evergreen (35-7) and Swanton (42-0). The Golden Bears have dropped games to VanWert (47-21), Patrick Henry (46-42), Liberty Center (63-7), Wauseon (27-26) and Archbold (42-21) last week.

This is the first meeting between West Holmes and Bryan in football.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: New Philadelphia heads to postseason for fifth straight season