Preview: Division I state football playoffs

Zac Jackson, OhioHSsports.com, October 30, 2008 9:20 a.m.

Can Ted Ginn Sr. and the Glenville Tarblooders avoid another postseason letdown and land their first-ever state title? - (File photo)

THE RACE IS ON

St. Ignatius, Elder and Colerain entering the postseason among the favorites to win it all is certainly nothing new. But in what shapes up as a wide-open, unpredictable run towards Fawcett Stadium, those three are far from the only legit contenders. A young Colerain team enters as the top team in a Region 4 race as wide-open as it’s been, while Ignatius faces two tough rematches if it hopes to extend its stay. Hilliard Davidson could certainly take a shot at winning its second crown in three years, and as many as six teams have a legit chance to come out Region 2. The safe choice is a Cleveland-Cincinnati final (Elder or Colerain against Ignatius or Glenville) but something about this season screams that the safe pick isn’t going to be the right pick.

THREE FAVORITES

Cleveland St. Ignatius

Senior leadership. Studs on defense. Chuck Kyle roaming the sidelines. Yes, these Wildcats are the real thing. They can throw, they can force turnovers and they won’t beat themselves, but they may need good weather and a more consistent running game. Plus, they’ve been owned by Glenville lately. But this team will bring a smart, veteran approach to every challenge and has enough talent to navigate its way through.

Cincinnati Elder

The Greater Catholic League champions handled things like a potential state champion would in a 9-1 regular season, losing only to Florida power St. Thomas Aquinas. Maybe there weren’t a ton of quality wins, but there were enough impressive wins and there’s enough talent on the roster to think the Purple People will be tailgating in Canton on Thanksgiving Weekend. The lines are solid; the defense may be the only question.

Cleveland Glenville

Speed. Game-changing speed. Tournament-changing speed. The Tarblooders bring a nasty defense and big-play potential into the postseason, not to mention the confidence they gained way back in Week One by beating Ignatius. This team doesn’t have the big names of past Glenville teams, and that might not be a bad thing if the Tarblooders can maintain a nothing to lose attitude. But they’ll need to protect the ball and be solid on special teams if they want to make their first state final.

THE DARKHORSE

Pickerington Central

Just two years ago, the Tigers lost the Div. II title game. They’re in the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years overall, and they have three big-time players leading the way in Jamie Wood, Zach Boren and Patrick White. Wood does a little of everything as the quarterback, and this team won’t back down from any opponent. The talent is there to survive Region 3, and from there anything can happen.

THREE KEY FIRST-ROUND GAMES

Cincinnati Moeller at Cincinnati Colerain

The young Cardinals are capable of putting together a run at another state title, and in typical Colerain fashion they’ll try to do it by running the ball. But Moeller will not only be waiting on the run but thinking it can win the game. There’s no question Moeller played a tougher overall schedule, but the Cards have a speed advantage and will be tough to top at home.

Massillon at North Canton Hoover

Here come the Tigers. Left for dead after midseason losses to Youngstown Ursuline and Ignatius, the Tigers rallied and shut out rival McKinley last week, 17-0, to push themselves into the final Region 2 playoff spot. With Erick Howard leading the way, Hoover has been steadily rolling since a Week Two loss to Louisville and has its sights set on a deep November run, but it certainly drew a dangerous animal in J.T. Turner and the Tigers. The winner here will be a big favorite in Round Two and loom as a large obstacle for Glenoak, McKiney or Brunswick in the regional final.

Worthington Kilbourne at Columbus Brookhaven

Kilbourne lost only to Davidson and Upper Arlington, both of whom are 9-1 and trying to play deep into the month. Brookhaven lost only to Davidson and would love another shot in Round Two of the postseason, but after cruising through their Columbus City League schedule they’ll need to ramp things up and play solid defense against a Wolves team that averaged five touchdowns a game in its victories.

GAME CHANGERS

Mark Miller, Elder

The junior quarterback has run the Panther offense with poise and efficiency. He has top playmakers in Josh Jones and Adam Brown and a pretty good line keeping him clean, too. If the weather stays clean he figures to have plenty of chances to build on the nearly 2,000 passing yards he accounted for in the regular season.

Scott McVey and Dan Fox, St. Ignatius

The anchors of the Wildcat linebacking corps form as tough a duo as you’ll see anywhere. Fox is headed to Notre Dame next fall, and 15 months from now McVey is headed just about anywhere he wants to go. But their top priority is returning the state title to trophy to Cleveland, and they’ll need to be on top of their games with the kind of challenges that await.

Jake Trubiano, Hilliard Davidson

He doesn’t throw much for the run-first Wildcats, but he’s a threat to go the distance if he gets the edge and also a playmaker in the secondary. Now that November is here, Trubiano will look to keep his team rolling as he did for most of the season.

TOUGHEST REGION

Not surprisingly, folks in Cincinnati will say Region 4 is the best. But the pick from here goes to Region 1, as St. Ignatius faces a difficult rematch with St. Edward with the winner taking on Glenville. Mentor doesn’t have the star power of the last two seasons but has players who learned key lessons from playing in two straight state title games, and in Kellen Pagel, Strongsville has a quarterback capable of keeping them in any game.