The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Who’s who in 2018 playoff regions
Teams are listed in alphabetical order by group; area teams are in bold; 2017 won-lost records are in parentheses
DIVISION I, REGION 1
Favorites: Canton McKinley (8-3), Mentor (13-2), St. Edward (10-2), St. Ignatius (11-2) Contenders: Berea-Midpark (4-6), Euclid (9-3), Massillon Jackson (8-3), Solon (5-5), Stow-Munroe Falls (9-2), Strongsville (6-4)
What to look for: Coming off a Division I state final berth, with an arsenal of D-I college recruits, returning starters and underclassmen promise, there isn’t much to dislike at Mentor. As is typically the case for the Cardinals, in order to solidify a charge toward home field in Region 1, a 2-1 start at minimum into Greater Cleveland Conference play would be ideal. And obviously, a Holy War sweep would go a long way later if it’s attained. ... Euclid always seems to reload nicely under Coach Jeff Rotsky. Starters turnover isn’t as prevalent as it was last fall, but that’s really the only hesitancy with not rating the Panthers a little higher here. How will new personnel adjust? Michigan State recruit Brandon Wright could be in for a monster senior year at RB. ... Outside the area ranks, it’s difficult to envision St. Edward and St. Ignatius not displaying their perennial horsepower . ... Canton McKinley has the skill back to be dynamic offensively and will be hungry to atone for a first-round exit in 2017. ... Berea-Midpark could be a sleeper for the Week 11 hunt with QB Trevor Bycznski, a capable skill position corps and four of their top five tacklers back . ... Former West Geauga coach Lou Cirino had a young nucleus at Strongsville last year — can the Mustangs take a next step in the GCC standings?
DIVISION II, REGION 5
Favorites: Akron Hoban (14-1), Bedford (10-2), Brush (9-3), Warren Harding (2-7)
Contenders: Benedictine (65), Boardman (6-5), Brecksville-Broadview Heights (4-6), Hudson (7-4), Mayfield (6-5), Nordonia (2-8), Riverside (37), Twinsburg (4-6)
What to look for: Brush graduated a strong senior class led by QB Godwin Joe, but there seems to be enough back to vie for the top two in the Western Reserve Conference. Should the bottom half of the WRC be a little better this fall, that should mean enough of a points bump for new coach Eddie Hall and the Arcs to contend for home field . ... Benedictine is another area squad that graduated a ton. The Bengals will build a new-look group around QB Nick Demchuk and try to do enough to challenge for a top-three spot in the NCL Blue. ... Mayfield doesn’t have a lot of returning starters vs. this time a year ago, but has enough pieces back that it could surprise . ... Riverside was so juniorheavy last fall that an improvement in fortune seems doable. ... Elsewhere, Akron Hoban will drop the hammer until proven otherwise . ... Warren Harding may seem like a huge stretch to project going from 2-7 to home field. But the Raiders had four one-possession losses in 2017 and return D-I recruit Kay’Ron Adams at tailback. So it could be a resurgent fall in Warren.
DIVISION III, REGION 9
Favorites: Akron SVSM (104), Kenston (8-2), Medina Buckeye (10-1), New Philadelphia (9-2)
Contenders: Aurora (6-5), Canfield (12-1), Chardon (6-4), Geneva (2-8), Lake
Catholic (5-5), Marlington (7-5), NDCL (9-3), West Holmes (3-7)
What to look for: Harsh probably doesn’t begin to describe the fate Kenston met in 2017. Going 8-2 in a good conference and still missing out on Week 11 by three-tenths of a point is cruel. But if all indications are correct, the Bombers won’t have that issue this fall — Western Reserve Conference favorite and home field doesn’t seem like too much to ask. With a dynamic offense and a group that was generally young a year ago, this could be a special campaign . ... Coming back from Division II, Lake Catholic was two one-possession losses from a likely berth in Region 5 last season. Can the Cougars get a little more from their nonconference slate to get over the hump this time? ... NDCL, with its recent quality, should not be counted out for a reloading campaign under Coach Andrew Mooney. Granted, the Lions graduated some key performers, especially on defense. But the personnel back will be eager to keep the good times going . ... With its schedule, Akron SVSM may have the same perch it did last fall — top four in talent, but maybe not top four for home field . ... If you want a deep sleeper, prolific QB Bridger Cline and West Holmes could fit the bill. The Knights need to learn to win close games, but could be in line for a breakthrough.
DIVISION III, REGION 10
Favorites: Glenville (7-4), Mansfield (8-3), Rocky River (7-3), Sandusky (10-1)
Contenders: Bay (12-1), Clyde (9-3), Holy Name (5-5), John Hay (5-5), Norwalk (3-7), Padua (9-3), Sandusky Perkins (2-8), University (7-4)
What to look for: Generally speaking, because of the caliber of players who graduated from this conglomeration and with no Toledo Central Catholic, this might be a dart-throwing type of year in this region to figure out what will transpire . ... Area-wise, there will be pundits who will dismiss University because QB Jayden Cunningham, RB Joe Kadlic and a decorated senior class departed Hunting Valley. But the Preppers have some solid performers back, are never lacking in ability to put points on the board and Coach Ben Malbasa does a nice job at his alma mater. The new personnel will need time — and a transitioning defensive unit needs to step up. But US could be on the prowl for Week 11 once more . ... For home field, it’s a crapshoot. Mansfield and Sandusky seem like solid choices after playoff charges in 2017. Glenville running roughshod over the Senate League — albeit with not much return beyond first-level points — should still pay off in Division III if it can get something out a daunting nonconference schedule . ... Given how driven Padua was by seniors last year — and in the brutal NCL Blue — a wait-and-see approach with the Bruins doesn’t seem out of line even after a nine-win year.
DIVISION IV, REGION 13
Favorites: Cardinal Mooney (7-5), Girard (10-2), Perry (12-1), Steubenville (15-0)
Contenders: Akron Buchtel (7-3), Cortland Lakeview (9-2), CVCA (7-3), Hubbard (5-5), Indian Creek (6-4), Salem (7-4), Struthers (7-4), Ursuline (2-8)
What to look for: This might have been the easiest region among those featuring area teams to project on paper who will be favored for home field. It will be a chore to get out of this region, but it will be fun to watch the process . ... Perry, with RB Jaylen Anderson, WR Jacob Allen and a talented defense, will be loaded. Anything short of prohibitive CVC Chagrin favorite and a run deep into November will not sit well in eastern Lake County. ... Steubenville is Steubenville — and coming off a 15-0 state title campaign, never is that more true . ... The home faithful have every right to be bullish in Girard. The Indians return one of the best quarterbacks in Ohio in Mark Waid, who amassed 4,635 yards of total offense and 56 touchdowns last year. The defense, with top tacklers Jamil Bannister, Jack Delgarbino and Aidan Warga back, is pretty good, too . ... Cardinal Mooney has a unique schedule this year, with six straight home games and four road games to close. The points are there for the Cardinals to turn signature wins into a playoff berth even if they hover around .500 again. ... Hubbard and Ursuline being where they were in 2017 seems uncharacteristic. An uptick could be in the cards for both longtime powers.
DIVISION IV, REGION 14
Favorites: Clear Fork (11-1), Edison (8-3), Kenton (5-5), Marengo Highland (8-3) Contenders: Bellevue (9-4), Chagrin Falls (5-5), Clearview (9-2), Firelands (8-2), Shelby (13-1), St. Marys Memorial (10-2), Van Wert (5-5), Vermilion (5-5)
What to look for: The geography in this region is almost hard to believe. When it is possible for an area squad in Chagrin Falls to have to play Van Wert, which is 202 miles away, that seems like a situation that needs to be remedied somehow . ... Aforementioned Chagrin is the lone area team in Region 14. The Tigers are going to have a brand-new look after a class that was the spine of the team from a numbers and experience standpoint graduated. Because of Chagrin’s pedigree and perennial ability to be a tough CVC Chagrin squad, Coach Mark Iammarino and company deserve the benefit of the doubt for contention. But it will be a process . ... It appears to be wide-open with home field and no clear-cut favorite . ... Kenton returns dual-threat QB Jaron Sharp, who accounted for 3,434 yards passing, 1,189 yards rushing and 46 total TDs last year, along with some potential on defense. On paper, it seems like the Wildcats can return to their old ways and make a rapid ascent from 5-5.
DIVISION V, REGION 17
Favorites: Black River (11-2), East Palestine (8-3), Akron Manchester (9-3), South Range (13-1) Contenders: Canton Central Catholic (3-6), Columbiana Crestview (6-5), Doylestown Chippewa (4-6), Gilmour (6-5), Grand Valley (10-1), LaBrae (5-5), Orrville (4-6),
Wickliffe (8-4)
What to look for: The good news for Gilmour is its schedule stability will be locked in moving forward as a North Coast League member. The drawback is the Lancers’ slate takes on more of a Division VI and VII feel, which may not be helpful late when every point counts. Gilmour should be a handful again this year with C.J. Charleston and Jack Kosar leading the charge, but the margin for error as far as Week 11 may be a little less than it has been . ... Wickliffe moves to the CVC Valley, and it’s probably fair to say the Blue Devils will go as far as dynamic RB Isaac Pettway takes them — especially after the toll graduation took. Nonconference play will be crucial for Wickliffe because of the higher-division points available — but the route is there . ... East Palestine may have the best offense — and team — in Region 17, led by QB Parker Steele-Sherry (3,614 total yards, 41 TDs in 2017) and RB Dominic Posey (1,091 rushing yards, 16 TDs in 2017).
DIVISION VI, REGION 21
Favorites: Kirtland (14-1), Mogadore (9-2), New Middletown Springfield (7-3), Steubenville Catholic Central (7-4)
Contenders: Berlin Center Western Reserve (8-3), Columbia (5-5), Columbiana (7-4), Hanoverton United (64), McDonald (8-2), Mineral Ridge (6-4), Smithville (6-4), Sugarcreek Garaway (5-5)
What to look for: To Kirtland’s credit, it’s difficult to find different superlatives year in and year out in this space to describe the Hornets’ caliber. We’ll just keep it simple this time around: Kirtland, with RBs Joey Torok and Jake Neibecker, a massive offensive line and an impressive defense, will be really good in 2018. It’s not a stretch to suggest anything short of another state final appearance with the talent in place would be disappointing. ... New Middletown Springfield, with LB Zack Stouffer (95 tackles in 2017) leading the defense and QB Brannon Brungard (1,194 yards passing, 16 TDs in 2017) and RB Luke Snyder (1,091 rushing yards, 18 TDs) on offense, could enjoy an improvement in fortune . ... Mogadore always seems to be in that “death, taxes and ...” category regardless of personnel. Why stop believing that now? ... Steubenville Catholic Central moves over from Region 23 and could be a sleeper for the top four here. The Crusaders’ offense averaged 450 yards a game a year ago led by QB Justin Hartzell . ... If you want a deeper sleeper than that, it might be Columbia, with RB Brandon Coleman healthy again.
DIVISION VII, REGION 25
Favorites: Cuyahoga Heights (12-2), David Anderson (6-5), East Canton (9-3), Windham (9-3) Contenders: Lowellville (4-6), Plymouth (4-6), Southington (2-8), St. John (2-7), Strasburg-Franklin (4-6), Toronto (4-6), Valley Christian (5-6), Vienna Mathews (6-5), Warren JFK (4-7)
What to look for: With all due respect to Region 25, as a whole it showed a year ago there’s more margin for error than maybe any of the other Northeast regions in higher divisions. When three-win teams are still in contention for the playoffs in Week 10, that’s just the way it is . ... With that in mind, it’s why Cuyahoga Heights, for example, can be forgiven for such heavy turnover off a state final four appearance. Granted, Lucas D’Orazio and Dylan Drummond aren’t walking through that proverbial door, but the Redskins should be fine as long as new personnel can come in and perform. At least 7-3 doesn’t seem unrealistic . ... Windham may be able to ride the formula Grand Valley took to home field out of the Northeastern Athletic Conference a year ago — maximize nonconference play and run the table in the NAC . ... The area contingent in Region 25 is Fairport, Newbury and Richmond Heights. There doesn’t seem to be an avenue to get into contention — especially for the Skippers and Spartans in the CVC Valley.