The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Playoff region projections
• Note: Despite this being the third year of expanded playoffs to 16 per region, for consistency with years past and to not make projections a “by default” exercise, the Region 1 projection total will remain at 10.
• (in alphabetical order, with 2022 regular-season record; News-Herald coverage area teams are in CAPS)
DIVISION I, REGION 1
Contenders: Berea Midpark (5-5), Canton GlenOak (46), Canton McKinley (5-5), Cleveland Heights (9-1), Massillon Jackson (5-5), Medina (9-1), MENTOR (6-3), St. Edward (9-1), St. Ignatius (6-3), Wadsworth (6-4)
What to look for:
We’ll begin as usual in the Region 1 with one half of The News-Herald coverage area representation here in Mentor. The offense should be pretty good with All-Ohio quarterback Scotty Fox back in the fold, although the defense did take a hit with standout starters graduated year over year. It will be interesting to see what trading Canton McKinley for Massillon Jackson as a Week 1 foe will do one way or another from a computer-points perspective. Also, treading as lightly as possible, second-level points might work against the Cardinals in the second half of their schedule, with three teams which were
3-7 and one that was 1-9 a year ago. The hope would be most if not all of those teams would be improved, but how much will have an effect. With that in mind, it feels like that Week 4 home game against Medina is a must-have to stay deep in the home-game playoff hunt. That’s especially true coming off the emotion of a neighborhood clash with Riverside the week prior. … The other News-Herald coverage area squad in this region is Euclid. Not to
sound like a broken record in this space, but after one win in the last two seasons combined, there is nowhere to go but up for the proud Panthers. Accumulating a few wins and seeing some sparkles of the old glory on East 222nd would be great to see. … Until proven otherwise, the trust for class of this region remains at St. Edward. It’s hard to argue with that All-Ohio quality returning on the offensive line for the reigning D-I state champion
with Devontae and Deonte Armstrong and Ben Roebuck. College teams would be pleased to have that kind of size and skill in the trenches. … Speaking of the aforementioned Bees, they will be a load again to contain with first-team All-Ohio QB Danny Stoddard (5,035 yards, 58 TDs) at the controls.
DIVISION II, REGION 5
Contenders: Akron Hoban (9-1), Akron SVSM (6-3), Austintown-Fitch (9-1), Garfield Heights (7-3),
Hudson (10-0), John Hay (7-3), Maple Heights (6-4), MAYFIELD (6-4), Nordonia (8-2), RIVERSIDE (9-1), Shaker Heights (3-7), Solon (6-4), Walsh Jesuit (8-2) What to look for: Given how historic 2022was in so many facets for the program, it will be difficult for Riverside to replicate the caliber of last fall. The Beavers will nonetheless take their best shot at doing so, led by 2022 Tony Fisher award winner Mikey Maloney at quarterback. With Maloney, RB Jason Mackey, WR Brady McKnight and much more, Riverside will undoubtedly light up Friday nights in the weeks ahead. As far as the Beavers’ schedule, every local observer will circle Week 3 against Mentor in an all-Lake County encounter of powerhouses, as well they should. But that Week 2 home clash with Aurora, given the perennial clout of the Greenmen under longtime coach and North graduate Bob Mihalik, could prove important to have in the bank down the stretch as well. Riverside will need as much momentum as it can build for that treacherous Western Reserve Conference stretch to close the regular season: at Kenston, hosting Mayfield and at Chardon. … As far as the Wildcats, they did graduate a bunch offensively. But a returning strength for Mayfield will be a predominantly young defense from a year ago, paced by All-Ohio linebacker Joe Barch. Heading into WRC play, figuring out a way to get out of Solon in Week 5with a victory would be a statement of intent. … Elsewhere in the region, anyone with an inkling of Ohio high school football knowledge is aware Akron Hoban will be a load — and there’s not much more that needs to be said about the mighty Knights. … Austintown-Fitch has high hopes as it brings back a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Jamell Jones and D.J. Williams. … Hudson has a prolific workhorse in the backfield in his own right in RB Ian Ludewig (2,193 yards, 26 TDs).
DIVISION III, REGION 9
Contenders: Alliance (8-2), Aurora (7-3), Canfield (8-1), Chaney (9-1), CHARDON (8-1), Dover (5-5; Region 7), GENEVA (7-3), GILMOUR (8-1), KENSTON (7-3), UNIVERSITY (8-1), Ursuline (8-2), VASJ (8-2)
What to look for: With 14 teams that won seven games or more in the regular season a year ago, then adding another top-10 team from Region 7 in Dover, this might wind up being the toughest region to project of the seven Northeast Ohio regions across the divisions. There were some tough 11th-hour cuts here as far as top-12 projections. … Granted, Chardon graduated four first-team All-Ohioans on defense and talented skill players on offense.