BUCYRUS — There is a new leader in the Friday Night Fanatics standings, and multiple area teams have similar hopes of taking over the top spot in the conference standings as the Week 8 schedule has some marquee matchups with huge championship implications.
News director James Massara took over lone control of the top spot in the Fanatics standings and multiple teams in are conferences are set to battle for the top spots as well.
Two of the three teams tied atop the Northern 10 Athletic Conference will face off Friday night to try to push their way to sole possession first place.
Both Carey and Wynford are coming off notable wins as Wynford had a convincing 65-14 win against Upper Sandusky and Carey is coming off an overtime win handing Seneca East the Tigers’ first loss. Massara is, however, is the only Fanatic thinking the Blue Devils will continue its streak of cutting down the perennial N10 juggernauts, while the other Fanatics and the fans think the Royals will continue their quest for an N10 title.
The other leader in the N10 standings, Seneca East, will look to bounce back from that overtime loss to Carey in a bout with another Wyandot County foe. The Tigers were the unanimous pick to ruin Upper Sandusky’s homecoming festivities as the Rams try to end its losing streak at two.
One of Crawford County’s premiere rivalries also takes center stage in North Robinson. While Colonel Crawford is coming off a comfortable Week 7 win against Buckeye Central, Bucyrus is looking to rebound from a last-minute loss to Mohawk in Week 7. Both teams are sitting at 2-2 in the N10 standings causing the Fanatics to be fairly split in their selections. Sports director Dan Messerschmidt made his weekly pick in favor of the Redmen and was joined by Country Legends 1540/107.5 WBCO play-by-play analyst Jared Moore and Iconic Rock Q92.7 WQEL Josh Stallings. The rest of the field decided to fly with the Eagles.
The fans’ pick was instrumental in breaking three ties among the Fanatics. The fans gave the nod to Crestline as the Bulldogs travel to former North Central Conference foe Riverdale. The tiebreaker vote also was given to Clear Fork who sits in fourth place in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference just above Pleasant. The Spartans will try to jump Clear Fork in the standings in their matchup Friday evening. The fans also picked River Valley to remain in the hunt for the MOAC title with a win against Marion Harding who is looking to go .500 on the season.
One loner pick was made in Week 8. Coaches Corner East host Mike Sparks picked Ontario to gets the Warriors’ first MOAC win of 2019 against Galion, who currently is tied for first in the conference.
Three other picks were unanimous among the Fanatics and the fans were picks for Mohawk to claim victory against Buckeye Central, Northmor to notch a Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference win against Danville and Plymouth was picked to keep Monroeville winless in the Firelands Conference.
In the standings, Friday Night Phoneboard host Davey Jones posted the best record in Week 7, going 8-2, moving Jones from a tie for fourth into a tie for second with Tim Birie who dropped from a first-place tie with Massara. Multiple Fanatics posted 6-4 record in Week 7, including Sparks who dropped from third place into a tie for fourth with Stallings. WQEL morning host Will Beard pushed himself out of a tie for last place and alone into seventh, while Messerschmidt and Moore remain deadlocked at the bottom of the standings. The fans remain in the middle of the pack in sixth place.
STANDINGS (Week 7 record):
James Massara – 54-16 (7-3)
Tim Birie – 53-17 (6-4)
Davey Jones – 53-17 (8-2)
Mike Sparks – 52-18 (6-4)
Josh Stallings – 52-18 (7-3)
Fans Pick – 48-22 (6-4)
Will Beard – 47-23 (7-3)
Jared Moore – 46-24 (6-4)
Dan Messerschmidt – 46-24 (6-4)
The fan pick is made by the results of the majority of the voting.
FAN PICKS (percentage of fan votes):
Colonel Crawford – 70%
Mohawk – 91%
Crestline – 62%
Galion – 100%
Seneca East – 95%
Wynford – 64%
Northmor – 100%
Plymouth – 100%
Clear Fork – 76%
River Valley – 77%