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1. Northwood vs Ohio Dominican - Northwood did what great teams do they took care of business and beat up on a lesser opponent 41-7. I do think the Timberwolves need to find a run game to continue this season going into the playoffs. Northwood only gave up 152 yards of total offense to Lake Erie as the defense has been dominating teams all season. The score might not show it but this was not the cleanest of games for Northwood. 4 sacks and 2 interceptions with only 62 rushing yards with a 2.1 yards per carry average is something that is concerning. Is the offensive line becoming a concern at the Wood? This week they have a home game against a team they should beat but will need to clean things up as Ohio Dominican won't make things easy and will be highly motivated to play the #1 team in Region 3. Northwood wins 34-10.
2. Findlay vs Walsh - I actually left my cozy home in Ohio and drove the 2 and a half hours to Hillsdale for this game. It ended up being worth it as it came down to the last 12 seconds as Findlay came back from a game that looked like Hillsdale would win. This game had lead changes and a few things I don't think I have ever seen in a football game. In the game Hillsdale had a kickoff return for a TD and then Findlay had a kickoff return for a TD then right before halftime Hillsdale had a 99 and a half yard drive for a TD and to end the game Findlay had a 99 and a half yard drive to win the game. Crazy thing is Findlay and Hillsdale have 2 of the best defenses in the country and both gave up 99 and a half yard drives. I give a ton of credit to head coach Tyler Johns on the win and the beauty of the last drive to win the game. Until that point the Oilers and the game was controlled by the Hillsdale defense. With only 8 minutes left in the game the Chargers excuted a perfect punt and downed it on the half yard line. I fully expected Hillsdale to bring the house on defense and try to get a safety and end the game but the Chargers seem to get a little cautious and became soft for the first time all game. Coach Johns knew he had enough time to slowly move the ball down the field if Hillsdale was not going to bring up a safety to stop the run. Hillsdale played cover 4 for most of the drive and Findlay was happy to hand the ball off and use the clock. As a fan watching the game the time management by Findlay was stunning, I mean I was in the stands on the edge of my seat thinking they are gonna run out of time only to call the perfect pass play to win it with 12 seconds left. Great game. Findlay will need to continue this momentum going into next week as they host a good Walsh team. I do think this game will be close. Findlay wins 24-17.
3. Hillsdale vs Tiffin - Hillsdale has lost 2 games by a total of 5 points. When I was watching the game the Hillsdale defense seemed to take the game over in the 2nd half and I actually thought the Chargers might pull away in this one but then QB #6 Boyce was injured and the whole game changed. Findlay was having some trouble with Boyce all day and it seemed he would drive Hillsdale down and this would be a 2 score game and for that Chargers defense would of been more than enough to finish it. Instead the backup QB comes in and I think Hillsdale picks up 1 first down the rest of the game. Felt bad for the Hillsdale defense as they played such a good game but that last drive I don't think they got much help from the coaches. Defense played soft and on their heels for the first time all season and the coaches did nothing to help contain the run game as Findlay ran the same gap over and over. Findlay's top WR had 31 yards and their longest passing play of the day was 15 yards and Hillsdale let them run the ball and catch 3 yard pass routes all the way down the field as they drop into coverage. If Hillsdale makes Findlay pass the ball not sure the WRs could of got open down the field against the Chargers. Also Hillsdale had 3 timeouts and their coach didn't call one to regroup or reset the defense. Hillsdale was tired and had multiple players hurt and coming off the field and they looked unorganized at the end and never called a timeout. Coach help the team out and just don't be a spectator. One last thought is how does one of Findlay's best WRs get man to man coverage by a LB on goal line coverage with zero help in the middle. Just a tough loss and some questionable stuff happening on that last drive with players who haven't played all season getting subbed in the game because of players getting tired or hurt and all I could think was coach call a timeout. Now the Chargers have a real problem, what do they do at QB this week with Tiffin coming to town? Not sure I would roll with the backup as that looked terrible. Don't they have a throwing QB at Hillsdale? With all them WRs they don't need a running QB. Can the Hillsdale defense carry the team this week? Hilsdale wins 13-10.
4. Tiffin vs Hillsdale - Tiffin scores 28 points in the 4th quarter to win 31-27. Trailing 17-0 after the 1st quarter, 20-3 entering the 4th quarter, and 27-24 with 1:36 left in the game the Dragons never gave up and pulled out an incredible victory with a TD pass with 7 seconds on the clock! Tiffin got some help in the comeback with the recovery of an onside kickoff and Walsh looked like a completely different defense in the 4th quarter with Tiffin doing anything they wanted after being held to nearly nothing for 3 quarters. Tiffin has developed a 2 prong rushing attack with Blackman and Weems and will need both this week as they travel to Hillsdale. The Dragons, I believe, still control their playoff destiny and if they win out they should be in. I know the D2Football guys love the GLIAC and NSIC but the truth of the matter is a computer sets the final 8 teams that make the playoffs and the numbers could end up favoring the GMAC in the end. Any team that finishes with a 9-2 record will be in the mix for a playoff spot as many of the NSIC teams are going to finish with 3 losses and the GLIAC will beat each other up and we will see how that works out for them. Playoffs start this week for Tiffin and Hillsdale. Hillsdale wins 13-10.
5. Walsh vs Findlay - The Cavaliers looked incredible for 3 quarters. Playing their best ball of the season you thought wow Walsh is making a statement then the old Walsh team showed up. The Walsh defense turned soft and the Cavaliers have to be ready and recover the onside kick. Just a ton of head scratching decisions and play by Walsh in that last quarter. Not sure Tiffin won it as much as Walsh blew it. This will be a season of what could of been for Walsh as they are so close to being a very good team. Now they have to travel to national ranked Findlay. Wlash can win this game and I do think they keep it very close. Findlay wins 24-17.
6. Ashland vs Kentucky Wesleyan - Ashland just manhandled Thomas More winning 48-10 scoring all 48 points in the first 3 quarters. I would not want to play Ashland for the rest of the season as this team is just going to get better and better. The offense had nearly 500 yards and the defense is always going to be outstanding at Ashland. Another game this week to get better and feel good about themselves before Northwood comes into town in a few weeks. The Eagles aren't going to go away into the night quietly. Ashland wins 55-0.
7. Ohio Dominican vs Northwood - The Panthers won 42-7 but it wasn't a feel good win I don't think. Ohio Dominican was only leading this game 15-7 at halftime. Yes they did come out and put the game away in the 3rd quarter but man being 15-7 at halftime is a true downer when I look at this team. They will need to get a ton better and the defense will need to play their best game of the year as they travel to Northwood. The Timberwolves might blow this one open but I think the Panthers can stick around for a while. Northwood wins 34-10.
8. Lake Erie vs Thomas More - Lake Erie did some very good things against Northwood and the final score of 41-7 doesn't do the game justice as the Storm stayed competitive in this game. Lake Erie score in the 3rd quarter cutting the lead to 17-7 and it stayed that score until nearly the start of the 4th quarter and then the Timberwolves stretched out the lead. Lake Erie can get back to .500 on the season with a win this weekend. Lake Erie wins 21-17.
9. Thomas More vs Lake Erie - The Saints got roughed up by Ashland with only 20 yards rushing for the game. That's 20 yards rushing on 26 attempts. Wow. Well the Saints will need to find a run game this week to beat the Storm. Should be a close game. Lake Erie wins 21-17.
10. Kentucky Wesleyan vs Ashland - Kentucky Wesleyan played maybe their best game of the season but still took a big loss. Things won't be better this week as Ashland keeps improving. Ashland wins 55-0.
2. Findlay vs Walsh - I actually left my cozy home in Ohio and drove the 2 and a half hours to Hillsdale for this game. It ended up being worth it as it came down to the last 12 seconds as Findlay came back from a game that looked like Hillsdale would win. This game had lead changes and a few things I don't think I have ever seen in a football game. In the game Hillsdale had a kickoff return for a TD and then Findlay had a kickoff return for a TD then right before halftime Hillsdale had a 99 and a half yard drive for a TD and to end the game Findlay had a 99 and a half yard drive to win the game. Crazy thing is Findlay and Hillsdale have 2 of the best defenses in the country and both gave up 99 and a half yard drives. I give a ton of credit to head coach Tyler Johns on the win and the beauty of the last drive to win the game. Until that point the Oilers and the game was controlled by the Hillsdale defense. With only 8 minutes left in the game the Chargers excuted a perfect punt and downed it on the half yard line. I fully expected Hillsdale to bring the house on defense and try to get a safety and end the game but the Chargers seem to get a little cautious and became soft for the first time all game. Coach Johns knew he had enough time to slowly move the ball down the field if Hillsdale was not going to bring up a safety to stop the run. Hillsdale played cover 4 for most of the drive and Findlay was happy to hand the ball off and use the clock. As a fan watching the game the time management by Findlay was stunning, I mean I was in the stands on the edge of my seat thinking they are gonna run out of time only to call the perfect pass play to win it with 12 seconds left. Great game. Findlay will need to continue this momentum going into next week as they host a good Walsh team. I do think this game will be close. Findlay wins 24-17.
3. Hillsdale vs Tiffin - Hillsdale has lost 2 games by a total of 5 points. When I was watching the game the Hillsdale defense seemed to take the game over in the 2nd half and I actually thought the Chargers might pull away in this one but then QB #6 Boyce was injured and the whole game changed. Findlay was having some trouble with Boyce all day and it seemed he would drive Hillsdale down and this would be a 2 score game and for that Chargers defense would of been more than enough to finish it. Instead the backup QB comes in and I think Hillsdale picks up 1 first down the rest of the game. Felt bad for the Hillsdale defense as they played such a good game but that last drive I don't think they got much help from the coaches. Defense played soft and on their heels for the first time all season and the coaches did nothing to help contain the run game as Findlay ran the same gap over and over. Findlay's top WR had 31 yards and their longest passing play of the day was 15 yards and Hillsdale let them run the ball and catch 3 yard pass routes all the way down the field as they drop into coverage. If Hillsdale makes Findlay pass the ball not sure the WRs could of got open down the field against the Chargers. Also Hillsdale had 3 timeouts and their coach didn't call one to regroup or reset the defense. Hillsdale was tired and had multiple players hurt and coming off the field and they looked unorganized at the end and never called a timeout. Coach help the team out and just don't be a spectator. One last thought is how does one of Findlay's best WRs get man to man coverage by a LB on goal line coverage with zero help in the middle. Just a tough loss and some questionable stuff happening on that last drive with players who haven't played all season getting subbed in the game because of players getting tired or hurt and all I could think was coach call a timeout. Now the Chargers have a real problem, what do they do at QB this week with Tiffin coming to town? Not sure I would roll with the backup as that looked terrible. Don't they have a throwing QB at Hillsdale? With all them WRs they don't need a running QB. Can the Hillsdale defense carry the team this week? Hilsdale wins 13-10.
4. Tiffin vs Hillsdale - Tiffin scores 28 points in the 4th quarter to win 31-27. Trailing 17-0 after the 1st quarter, 20-3 entering the 4th quarter, and 27-24 with 1:36 left in the game the Dragons never gave up and pulled out an incredible victory with a TD pass with 7 seconds on the clock! Tiffin got some help in the comeback with the recovery of an onside kickoff and Walsh looked like a completely different defense in the 4th quarter with Tiffin doing anything they wanted after being held to nearly nothing for 3 quarters. Tiffin has developed a 2 prong rushing attack with Blackman and Weems and will need both this week as they travel to Hillsdale. The Dragons, I believe, still control their playoff destiny and if they win out they should be in. I know the D2Football guys love the GLIAC and NSIC but the truth of the matter is a computer sets the final 8 teams that make the playoffs and the numbers could end up favoring the GMAC in the end. Any team that finishes with a 9-2 record will be in the mix for a playoff spot as many of the NSIC teams are going to finish with 3 losses and the GLIAC will beat each other up and we will see how that works out for them. Playoffs start this week for Tiffin and Hillsdale. Hillsdale wins 13-10.
5. Walsh vs Findlay - The Cavaliers looked incredible for 3 quarters. Playing their best ball of the season you thought wow Walsh is making a statement then the old Walsh team showed up. The Walsh defense turned soft and the Cavaliers have to be ready and recover the onside kick. Just a ton of head scratching decisions and play by Walsh in that last quarter. Not sure Tiffin won it as much as Walsh blew it. This will be a season of what could of been for Walsh as they are so close to being a very good team. Now they have to travel to national ranked Findlay. Wlash can win this game and I do think they keep it very close. Findlay wins 24-17.
6. Ashland vs Kentucky Wesleyan - Ashland just manhandled Thomas More winning 48-10 scoring all 48 points in the first 3 quarters. I would not want to play Ashland for the rest of the season as this team is just going to get better and better. The offense had nearly 500 yards and the defense is always going to be outstanding at Ashland. Another game this week to get better and feel good about themselves before Northwood comes into town in a few weeks. The Eagles aren't going to go away into the night quietly. Ashland wins 55-0.
7. Ohio Dominican vs Northwood - The Panthers won 42-7 but it wasn't a feel good win I don't think. Ohio Dominican was only leading this game 15-7 at halftime. Yes they did come out and put the game away in the 3rd quarter but man being 15-7 at halftime is a true downer when I look at this team. They will need to get a ton better and the defense will need to play their best game of the year as they travel to Northwood. The Timberwolves might blow this one open but I think the Panthers can stick around for a while. Northwood wins 34-10.
8. Lake Erie vs Thomas More - Lake Erie did some very good things against Northwood and the final score of 41-7 doesn't do the game justice as the Storm stayed competitive in this game. Lake Erie score in the 3rd quarter cutting the lead to 17-7 and it stayed that score until nearly the start of the 4th quarter and then the Timberwolves stretched out the lead. Lake Erie can get back to .500 on the season with a win this weekend. Lake Erie wins 21-17.
9. Thomas More vs Lake Erie - The Saints got roughed up by Ashland with only 20 yards rushing for the game. That's 20 yards rushing on 26 attempts. Wow. Well the Saints will need to find a run game this week to beat the Storm. Should be a close game. Lake Erie wins 21-17.
10. Kentucky Wesleyan vs Ashland - Kentucky Wesleyan played maybe their best game of the season but still took a big loss. Things won't be better this week as Ashland keeps improving. Ashland wins 55-0.