oldsmithie;1752375 wrote:Wow El Choppo, you sure are stuck on that Akron North game! that was 3 weeks ago! Smithville was very well prepared for the Hillsdale game! It could have gone either way. The league games are going to be tight this year and I think no one escapes without a loss in league play. There are some great games again this week! Norwayne vs Chippewa and Hillsdale vs Waynedale. I also think ther Smithville vs Northwestwrn game will be close! Dalton and Rittman will also slug it out!

Just can't figure out why WCAL teams waste their time playing a garbage non league schedule. Time to man up and start playing schools similar.. At least norwayne and waynedale played some quality non-leagues.

Total non-league record of the WCAL is 40-56...

el choppo;1752381 wrote:Just can't figure out why WCAL teams waste their time playing a garbage non league schedule. Time to man up and start playing schools similar.. At least norwayne and waynedale played some quality non-leagues.

Total non-league record of the WCAL is 40-56...

Scheduling tough teams isn't really helpful when you don't win. Keeps points out of the league. Doesn't help anyone.

And as I've said TWICE now, a bad D2 school is, more often than not, not as bad as a bad D5-7 team. The talent pool is deeper in larger schools, so while a team might do poorly against other schools with a similar-sized talent pool, they're usually still better than a small school ranking similarly in their division. As someone who knows one of the North coaches, and who knows a couple of the players, I didn't see that game being as lopsided as it was. I was guessing Smithville would win, but only by about 2-4 TDs. Assuming a wider margin against a school four divisions larger seems foolish.

By looking, it appears that Waynedale, Northwestern, and Hillsdale are the only ones who beat quality small-school opponents in non-league play. Several others beat teams who are 2-1 excluding the game against the respective WCAL team. Actually, most everyone.

The league appears to be up this year, which should be exciting come weeks 8-10, as we start watching the Harbin points.

O-Trap;1752409 wrote:Scheduling tough teams isn't really helpful when you don't win. Keeps points out of the league. Doesn't help anyone.

And as I've said TWICE now, a bad D2 school is, more often than not, not as bad as a bad D5-7 team. The talent pool is deeper in larger schools, so while a team might do poorly against other schools with a similar-sized talent pool, they're usually still better than a small school ranking similarly in their division. As someone who knows one of the North coaches, and who knows a couple of the players, I didn't see that game being as lopsided as it was. I was guessing Smithville would win, but only by about 2-4 TDs. Assuming a wider margin against a school four divisions larger seems foolish.

By looking, it appears that Waynedale, Northwestern, and Hillsdale are the only ones who beat quality small-school opponents in non-league play. Several others beat teams who are 2-1 excluding the game against the respective WCAL team. Actually, most everyone.

The league appears to be up this year, which should be exciting come weeks 8-10, as we start watching the Harbin points.

Makes no sense if you want to challenge your teams during the season..

el choppo;1752456 wrote:Makes no sense if you want to challenge your teams during the season..

What makes no sense? Scheduling a D2 team as a D6 team?

O-Trap;1752468 wrote:What makes no sense? Scheduling a D2 team as a D6 team?

glenville and Walsh are both d2 and having down years, schedule them. My point is they picked north cause they are awful and won't win a game all year. They are better off scheduling a team that either might win a game or at least make them better. So your logic of scheduling down d2 teams makes no sense.

el choppo;1752476 wrote:glenville and Walsh are both d2 and having down years, schedule them. My point is they picked north cause they are awful and won't win a game all year. They are better off scheduling a team that either might win a game or at least make them better. So your logic of scheduling down d2 teams makes no sense.

Why won't they win a game? They won a couple last year against a couple higher-division teams. What's more, some of scheduling is trying to find people with the same open week in the area, which further complicates things.

I will say it yet again: As someone close to the North program, I would not have predicted that lopsided a blowout. I still see them winning a game or two this year. If not, then beating them does little for Smithville. Nevermind preparation. They won't do much for Smithville's Harbin points if they don't win any games. Obviously, the powers that be at Smithville ultimately want to make the playoffs, so why would they schedule a team that they didn't think would get them any second-level points?

As for the level of competition, I already explained that in reference to talent pools. Teams with larger talent pools might do poorly against other schools with similarly-sized talent pools. That doesn't automatically preclude them from being able to compete with schools who have smaller talent pools, even if those schools compete more competently against schools their own size. This is, after all, WHY we divide up schools into divisions using size. Does THAT make sense to you?

el choppo;1752381 wrote:Just can't figure out why WCAL teams waste their time playing a garbage non league schedule. Time to man up and start playing schools similar.. At least norwayne and waynedale played some quality non-leagues.

Total non-league record of the WCAL is 40-56...

Joe Eitel has 7 WCAL teams in the playoffs if they start tomorrow! SEVEN!!! Must not be too shabby. Thats pretty impressive! Rittman is even top 8!

el choppo;1752381 wrote:Just can't figure out why WCAL teams waste their time playing a garbage non league schedule. Time to man up and start playing schools similar.. At least norwayne and waynedale played some quality non-leagues.

Total non-league record of the WCAL is 40-56...

Manchester and Loudonville aren't perennially quality opponents for hillsdale? I know Hillsdale's schedule changes next year. Scheduling is tough, none of the teams you mentioned would blink at a WCAL school. Hillsdale was happy to schedule Delphos Stain Johns a minute ago, look how that turned out(albiet a great experience for the kids, and a decent game....kinda)
I am stoked for a tough rest of the season! Very tight race this year.
Lastly I had a great angle on the wolf boy's catch against smithville, thought he had it, broke the plain, very close bang bang play, if I could see the replay or the film I may say different. Tough play for the smithies. Fun game to watch.

was_that_it;1752524 wrote:Lastly I had a great angle on the wolf boy's catch against smithville, thought he had it, broke the plain, very close bang bang play, if I could see the replay or the film I may say different. Tough play for the smithies. Fun game to watch.

Ultimately, it shouldn't matter. No one play in a game should be said to determine the outcome. Had Smithville executed enough elsewhere during the game, that play wouldn't have mattered. Sure, it sucks when a play like that swings things, but football is just as much a game of inches as anything, which means the inches they cost themselves prior to that and after that meant more to the game than that one play.

I trust Coach Besancon to use this past week as motivation for this next six.

NW & Smithville should be ashamed of scheduling Akron North. The Akron City teams are just awful with the exception of Buchtel and Ellet some years. Every freshman team in the WCAL would beat Akron North. With that said, Smithville will be one of the 4 WCAL teams fighting for the league title. Two weeks in, here is my opinion. Not that it means anything.
1a. Norwayne - when you have a huge back and a good line, you will be hard to handle
1b. Chippewa - Best QB in league. 3 easy non-conf games so we just wont know until league play
1c. Waynedale - After Tusky Valley wins big last night, Bears rough up Ridgewood and then week 3 against Triway, Waynedale hasby far the toughest pre-league schedule. If they go 3-0, watch out.
1d. Smithville - a joke for the first three games. I still think they contend due to a great running game.
2. Hillsdale - will go 1-3 against the top four league teams
3. NW - They are just better than those below them
4. Rittman - gets one league win against Dalton
5. Dalton - rough year for the Bulldogs
I don't see anyone going 10-0

Havin Fun;1748818 wrote:NW & Smithville should be ashamed of scheduling Akron North. The Akron City teams are just awful with the exception of Buchtel and Ellet some years. Every freshman team in the WCAL would beat Akron North. With that said, Smithville will be one of the 4 WCAL teams fighting for the league title. Two weeks in, here is my opinion. Not that it means anything.
1a. Norwayne - when you have a huge back and a good line, you will be hard to handle
1b. Chippewa - Best QB in league. 3 easy non-conf games so we just wont know until league play
1c. Waynedale - After Tusky Valley wins big last night, Bears rough up Ridgewood and then week 3 against Triway, Waynedale hasby far the toughest pre-league schedule. If they go 3-0, watch out.
1d. Smithville - a joke for the first three games. I still think they contend due to a great running game.
2. Hillsdale - will go 1-3 against the top four league teams
3. NW - They are just better than those below them
4. Rittman - gets one league win against Dalton
5. Dalton - rough year for the Bulldogs
I don't see anyone going 10-0

I am sticking with this early September prediction with the exception of moving Hillsdale from 2 to 1e. I still think Norwayne and Chippewa battle for the top spot although Smithville, Waynedale and Hillsdale all get wins against each other.

1_beast;1752496 wrote:Joe Eitel has 7 WCAL teams in the playoffs if they start tomorrow! SEVEN!!! Must not be too shabby. Thats pretty impressive! Rittman is even top 8!

That's great, its week 4.. let see how many are left after week 10. im guessing 3

el choppo;1752576 wrote:That's great, its week 4.. let see how many are left after week 10. im guessing 3

I'd probably guess four, but three isn't unrealistic. However, those who are eliminated will be by league teams. It appears that, after week four, there is enough quality in everyone's schedule to get several of them in the top eight in their region, some even with a loss. That doesn't sound like an absence of quality opponents.

See I recently graduated from Smithville just 2 years ago and from going to the games a lot last year and being to a game all 4 weeks thus far this season (Waynedale week 1 and Smithville weeks 2-4) I have seen and heard quite a lot and even with me graduating from Smithville I tend to be as unbiased as I possibly can to provide the best arguments when it comes to my opinions on who will place where in county and make a playoff push or run. In my opinion from the first 4 weeks I believe that 4 teams can for sure make playoffs with a potential 5th team getting in by the skin of their teeth with a big win last week. Those teams in order of how easy they get in are; Chippewa, Waynedale, Smithville, Hillsdale, and Norwayne (only if they get another top tier win against one of the for mentioned teams). I do believe that some of those teams could make it in with 2 losses do to the regions being lesser and having some help from nonconference teams winning the bulk of their schedules but Smithville takes a hit with the scheduling of Akron North which is about as worthless for points as playing your own freshman or 8th grade team. It will be interesting to see how this Friday night goes with Smithville (trying to bounce back from a poorly officiated game but also poorly played and coached as the game as players and coaches can't be allowed to come down to the officiating to decide the win or loss) hosting Northwestern (who is trying to play spoiler all year for the top teams), Chippewa at Norwayne (who just made a should have been Waynedale win into a great come from behind Norwayne victory), and Hillsdale (who in my opinion shouldn't have won last week hosting Smithville) at Waynedale (who gave one away to the Bobcats late last week) this week could yet again be a shake up in the county play. Should be a fun week to hear how it all plays out not only for league standings and title hopes but in the long run towards a playoff birth and possibly another playoff run for some teams.

Excellent summary burger. I would not be surprised if the league winner had two losses and split the title 2 or 3 ways. The top 5 teams can all beat each other any given night. NW may be good enough to knock off one of the top 5. Waynedale has the toughest first 6 weeks of anyone with the first three in the league absolute killers in Norwayne, Hillsdale then Chippewa. Not having Reid Stanley at 100% could break the Bears. He did not see much action in the second half last week after running all over the Bobcats in the first half. Unless his ankle heals up quickly, they will struggle to find ways to move the ball while teams double up on Strasbaugh.
Chippewa Norwayne will be a super game this week along with Waynedale Hillsdale. If Chippewa is healthy and can run the ball, I think they will score with ease as the Bobcat secondary is a weak link.

oldsmithie;1752375 wrote:Wow El Choppo, you sure are stuck on that Akron North game! that was 3 weeks ago! Smithville was very well prepared for the Hillsdale game! It could have gone either way. The league games are going to be tight this year and I think no one escapes without a loss in league play. There are some great games again this week! Norwayne vs Chippewa and Hillsdale vs Waynedale. I also think ther Smithville vs Northwestwrn game will be close! Dalton and Rittman will also slug it out!

I agree with O-trap. Loudonville and Manchester are both quality schools. Ironically, we (Hillsdale) dropped Lucas a few years back because they weren't giving us any Harbin points. We could have used them this year on our schedule.

Hogger53;1752977 wrote:I agree with O-trap. Loudonville and Manchester are both quality schools. Ironically, we (Hillsdale) dropped Lucas a few years back because they weren't giving us any Harbin points. We could have used them this year on our schedule.

Loudonville and Manchester are consistently VERY quality opponents. It's good to have them on your schedule.

Frankly, I think most of the conference's non-league schedules were fine. I really don't see why anyone would be upset with any of them. The Akron North thing has been covered. It's a D6 team scheduling a D2 team that went 2-8 last year and beat a D2 and a D3 team, respectively. As far as second-level Harbin points are concerned, that's like beating a 4-win team that has beaten all D6 and D7 schools, and nobody would have complained if anyone had scheduled a 4-6 team in D6.

I genuinely think the league is up this year. Most of the teams are playing at a high level. My concern is that five teams playing at this level might mean that none of them are deep-playoff caliber. If so, many might make it into the playoffs, but by Week 12, we're down to maybe 1 team still playing. I hope that isn't the case, of course, but it's happened before.

Looking forward to tomorrow night's games.

Expecting a hard overhand right to the jaw tonight(not a punch to the balls as beast would say), but the legs don't buckle..........Chipps 42-21!

Alum01;1749926 wrote:Agree, NEXT!

1_beast;1750089 wrote:LOL I remember Norwayne acting like you when they won the STATE TITLE and they got punched in the balls in week 10! Be careful grasshopper!

NEXT!

Smithville - 21
Northwestern - 14

Smithies win one shorthanded

Bears 41-20

Norwayne 37-21

Norwayne/ Miller HAMMERED Chippewa. I bet the Bobcats had at least 12 penalties or this game would have gotten out of hand. I am guessing this was the Bobcats last real test. I sure missed the call on Chippewa being able to play with this team.
The Falcons were pretenders and the Bears missed their chance last week. If Miller stays healthy, no way Smithville or Hillsdale stays within 20 points.
I heard the Bears dominated Hillsdale even with some turnovers in the red zone? Any updates on that game other than the bears won 41-20.

Bears could of scored 50+ if not for red zone turnovers. Hillsdale was in slow motion compared to Bears.

I really expected Hillsdale to have more...Norwayne will roll them like Waynedale did. Barring injurys...Norwayne will be your league champ, winner of next weeks Bears - Chipps matchup will be second.

1_beast;1753117 wrote:Bears 41-20

Norwayne 37-21

Thanks for the update Cowboy! Lost my radio with WQKT on it!