Round 2 NEO Playoff Preview: Most Intriguing Games to Watch
As the high school football playoffs advance to round two, these are some matchups that have me intrigued. Here's the lowdown on the games that will have Northeast Ohio buzzing this weekend.
D1 Region 1: McKinley vs St. Ignatius - A Numbers Game
McKinley, with an 8-3 record, is coming off a strong 37-13 win, tying their second-highest scoring game this season. Averaging 24.5 points per game (PPG) including playoffs, their offense can be explosive, but in their three losses, they've been held to 7 or fewer points, highlighting a potential vulnerability.
St. Ignatius, despite a deceiving 3-8 record, has faced the toughest schedule in the state. Their defense recently held a Mentor team, averaging 34 PPG, to just seven points. With two wins in their last three games, they're showing signs of peaking at the right time.
D2 Region 5: Riverside vs Twinsburg - The Seeds of Upset
Riverside, the #4 seed, has shown some inconsistency with a 2-2 run after a 7-0 start, but they bounced back with a 36-14 win in the first playoff round. Despite big early wins, they haven't beaten a team with a winning record since early in the season.
Twinsburg, the #12 seed, is the underdog with a story. After a 3-7 finish last year, they've turned it around to 7-4, including a current five-game win streak. Their defense has been particularly stingy, giving up just 20 points across the last three games, including a shutout.
D2 Region 5: Walsh Jesuit vs Fitch - Offense Meets Grit
Walsh Jesuit is a scoring powerhouse, averaging over 44 points in their last four games and showing no signs of slowing down. Their undefeated home record speaks volumes, and their 37-14 first-round playoff win only solidifies their offensive dominance. Fitch, with a flawless 5-0 record on the road, brings a defense that has posted two shutouts in their last three games. While Walsh Jesuit is favored with a 6.8% chance to win the region according to fantastic50.net, Fitch's 2% chance shows they're the underdogs with a defensive bite that could upset the odds.
D3, Region 9: Aurora vs Gilmour Academy - Winning Ways
Aurora's impressive nine-game win streak includes two shutouts and five games where they've allowed 7 points or less. Their first-round 41-7 victory over Alliance shows they're not slowing down.
Gilmour Academy, at 9-2, is riding a five-game win streak. Their offense, with Jake Kavcic who has amassed over 2,000 yards of total offense and 35 touchdowns despite missing two games, is a force to be reckoned with.
D3, Region 9: Ursuline vs Canfield - A Clash of Momentum
Undefeated Ursuline boasts an offense that's nearly unmatched, averaging just under 40 points per game. With over 400 yards of offense per game and standout players like Christian Lynch and DC Ferrell, they're a threat from anywhere on the field. Canfield, the #9 seed and defending state champions, have a 7-3 record but are on a six-game winning streak, with a defense that's only allowed 7 points in each of their last three games. This matchup will test whether Canfield's defense can disrupt Ursuline's rhythm and perhaps write a new chapter in their storied rivalry.
D4, Region 13: Poland vs Struthers - The Overtime Saga Continues
Poland, at 10-1, narrowly defeated Struthers 28-27 in overtime in their last encounter. They've had the upper hand in recent years, except for last year's 35-7 loss to Struthers. With both teams coming off strong first-round wins, this rematch is set to be another classic.