MIKE & MARC: The boys talking Week 9 football on FB Live
Springfield (6-2) gets that ultimate test tonight by hosting Wayne (7-0-1) in the Wildcats’ most meaningful game under Douglass’ three-year direction. Both teams have separated from the rest of the Greater Western Ohio Conference D-I teams and are in position to secure a D-I, Region 3 playoff berth with a win.
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Wayne, the two-time D-I state runner-up, is on a spectacular four-year, regular-season run of 35-2-1. The Warriors’ only blemish this season was an abbreviated 21-all tie in the opener against Archbishop Wood (Pa.) that was called at halftime because of lightning.
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Loaded with a solid lineup at the skill positions and experienced and big offensive and defensive lines, Wayne hasn’t had a close game since, outscoring opponents a combined 349-98. Sophomore quarterback Rashad McKee is second in the GWOC in passing, having completed an astonishing 92 of 127 passes (72.4 percent) for 1,516 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Wayne receivers L’Christian “Blue” Smith (468 yards) and Matt Wilcox (305) each have 24 catches.
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Springfield counters with running backs Danny Davis (1,066 yards) and Shane Ramey (736). The Wildcats are on a three-game win streak and have lost only at Princeton (28-21) and to Lebanon (28-27). Junior quarterback Leonard Taylor, 6-feet-7, is in his third position as a starter after playing tight end as a freshman and defensive end last season.
Springfield has secured its first winning season since Trey DePriest led the Wildcats to 9-3 and the playoffs in 2010. The Wildcats won nine games total from 2011-15.
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“We’ve already done good things throughout the season, now we need to do great, phenomenal things,” Douglass said. “I remind (the Wildcats) every day, be phenomenal or be forgotten.”
Favored Wayne likely will vault past leader Pickerington Central and No. 2 Hilliard Bradley in the Region 3 rankings with a win. Springfield will play Fairmont (1-8) in Week 10 while Wayne faces another high-profile team in Trotwood-Madison (8-1). Depending on their seeding, Wayne and Springfield could meet again in the playoffs, including a first-round game in two weeks.
“If things work out one way or the other, we probably will see each other soon again,” said Douglass.
• The Marion Local defense could be renamed the Steel Curtain. The Flyers have allowed 241 yards rushing through eight games, an average of 30.1. Just as imposing, Marion Local also hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown.
And the Flyers have done that without massive two-way lineman John Dirksen, who suffered a season-ending leg injury in 17-14 Week 3 loss to visiting Coldwater.
Marion Local (7-1) hosts rejuvenated St. Henry (6-2) today and is at Parkway in Week 10.
Marion Local (7-1), St. Henry (6-2) and Coldwater (7-1) are 5-1 with two games remaining in the Midwest Athletic Conference. St. Henry hosts Fort Recovery (5-3) in Week 10. Coldwater is at Anna (5-3) today and hosts Delphos St. John’s (4-4) in Week 10.
• Clinton-Massie (D-IV), Coldwater (D-V), Marion Local (D-VI) and Covington (D-VII) all have clinched playoff berths in their respective regions.
Other area teams that likely can secure postseason spots with Week 9 wins are Wayne and Lebanon (D-I), Troy (D-II), Franklin and St. Marys Memorial (D-III), Alter, Valley View, Dunbar and Indian Lake (D-IV), Carlisle and Brookville (D-V), Mechanicsburg and St. Henry (D-VI) and Troy Christian, Fort Recovery and Minster (D-VII).
The top eight in each region qualify for the playoffs and the top four host first-round games. Games shift to neutral sites in the second round (regional semifinals).
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