Week 1 Picks: Bulletin board material returns for high school football teams

MANSFIELD — The bulletin board material has returned.

The annual Mansfield News Journal picks returns for another season as I sit down each week, give a quick breakdown of each game involving Richland County football teams and make my picks. This in no way shape or form means I am rooting for any one team over the other. In fact, I hope it does two things: gives the teams I pick to win a boost of confidence going into their matchups and gives the teams I pick against something to fire them up heading into Friday night.

If I can do that, I consider this a success. It does not mean I have any personal feelings toward one team or the other. It is just a simple way to have fun with high school football.

Now that all of the public address announcements are over, let's get to picking.

Lucas at Clear Fork

This is going to be one heck of a slugfest for Week 1. Clear Fork has to replace quite a bit including a quarterback who should have earned All-Ohio honors. The Cubs have to replace an All-Ohio QB themselves. I think this game will be won in the trenches and right now, I have to give that edge to Lucas. The Cubs bring back their entire offensive line and those boys looked like they camped out in the weight room all summer long. Clear Fork's linebackers and secondary players make this a very tough pick to make and their ability to run the ball could make this one very, very close like it was last year. It is a coin flip, but I have to go with Lucas in this one.

Pick: Lucas

Crestview at Seneca East

The Cougars are carrying a 21-game regular-season winning streak into Attica against a team that had a nice 7-3 regular season last year. Crestview has a ton of talent to replace and will break in a new quarterback, but I think the X-factor in this one will be the return of Wade Bolin, who I believe would have been an All-Ohio fullback last season. He looks like he lived in the weight room every day since his injury and that is no exaggeration. I think he has a monster game on both sides of the ball and leads the Cougars to a Week 1 win.

Pick: Crestview

Ontario at Lexington

Talk about one of the toughest games to pick in Week 1, this one is going to be a good one for both teams. I like Lexington's skill position players and their young talent, but I like Ontario's offensive and defensive lines. Bodgen Miller's first game as a junior will be a huge quarterback storyline as he now has all of the tools to lead the Warriors to a playoff-caliber season. Joe Caudill comes in at QB for Lex and the sophomore can really sling it. I expect this to be a one-score game so it can literally go to anyone, but I have to side with Ontario for the second straight year.

Pick: Ontario

Shelby at Madison

I think Shelby will have the two best players on the field in every game they play this season in Brayden DeVito and Issaiah Ramsey. Throw in the other skill guys and the Whippets will outmatch a lot of opponents this year. Madison is bringing in another new head coach and looking to build something sustainable for the future. I have to give the edge to Shelby in this one, but I think the Rams can do some things that will give them confidence moving forward.

Pick: Shelby

Mansfield Senior at St. Vincent-St. Mary

The Tygers went out and put together one of the toughest schedules in Ohio and Week 1, it starts to get real. SVSM has a powerhouse tradition, but the Tygers are right there in that conversation of top programs in the state. It is on the road, but I think this will be much like the Hoover game a couple of years ago where the Tygers go on the road with everyone counting them out and pull out an inspiring victory that ignites something for the rest of the season. Offensively, the Tygers can score on just about anyone so expect this one to light up the scoreboard.

Pick: Mansfield Senior

Plymouth at Oberlin

The Big Red is battling low numbers in the program and will not have a junior varsity team in 2023 so it could be a rebuild year in Plymouth. Oberlin didn't win a game last year and is 2-18 in the last two seasons so I think Plymouth can pick up a Week 1 victory to set the tone for the rest of the season. Layne Bushey will be the difference-maker and if he has a big game, expect a Big Red win.

Pick: Plymouth

jfurr@gannett.com

740-244-9934

Twitter: @JakeFurr11

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Week 1 Picks: Jake Furr picks his winners in Richland County high school football