BUCYRUS — The regular season is over, which means league champions were crowned and playoff spots were clinched. The Fanatics crowned its victor as well.

Country Legends 1540/107.5 WBCO color commentator Tim Birie edged out news director James Massara by one game to claim the 2019 Friday Night Fanatics title. The 2018 Fanatics winner, Coaches Corner East host Mike Sparks, came in third place, just two games behind Birie.

FINAL STANDINGS (Week 10 Record):

1. Tim Birie – 79-21 (8-2)
2. James Massara – 78-22 (8-2)
3. Mike Sparks – 77-23 (8-2)
4. Davey Jones – 75-25 (6-4)
5. Josh Stallings – 73-27 (7-3)
6. Will Beard – 72-28 (8-2)
T-7. Fans Pick – 71-29 (7-3)
T-7. Dan Messerschmidt – 71-29 (6-4)
9. Jared Moore – 70-30 (6-4)

But, now with the playoffs getting underway, its time to see what local teams can make runs deep into November.

Seven of the eight Fanatics think Seneca East will make the right first step in trying to repeat the Tigers’ state final four appearance in 2018. Sports director Dan Messerschmidt, however, thinks the perennial Wayne County Athletic League contender, Norwayne, will be too much for the Northern 10 Athletic Conference co-champions.

Ottawa-Glandorf knocked Galion out of the volleyball playoffs in a regional semifinals showdown, and the majority of the Fanatics think the Tigers will get their revenge on the gridiron. Sparks, Massara and Messerschmidt think Ottawa-Glandorf, who finished tied for third place in the Western Buckeye Conference, will spoil Galion’s home playoff opener.

Despite a 6-4 record, Mohawk was once again able to slip into the playoffs, but the Fanatics are all in agreement that the buck will probably end for the Warriors at Leipsic. The Vikings finished second in the Blanchard Valley Conference with their lone loss being to conference champion Liberty-Benton, who they lost to by three points. Meanwhile, Leipsic’s average win was by a 33-15 margin.

The majority of the Fanatics picked Northmor to continue its successful season, where the Golden Knights finished second in the Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference with its lone loss to undefeated East Knox, in its battle with Hillsdale. Once again, Messerschmidt thinks the power of the WCAL will be too much for the local team as he and Iconic Rock Q92.7 WQEL play-by-play analyst Josh Stallings picked the Falcons.

In a matchup of Ohio Capital Conference contenders in 8-2 Groveport Madison and 7-3 Hilliard Davidson. Beard and Birie picked Davidson to defeat the Cruisers in a cross-divisional game as Groveport Madison finished third in the OCC Capital Division and Davidson finished second in the OCC Central Division. The rest of the Fanatics joined Massara in selecting Groveport Madison as the winner which probably was in Massara’s best interest as his father is a graduate of the school, though it’s probably better known for a more-recent graduate, NFL running back Le’Veon Bell.

In a pairing of 7-3 teams, Country Legends 1540/107.5 WBCO play-by-play analyst Jared Moore was the only Fanatic to pick Edison to end Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference champion Shelby’s season. Stallings also had a lone-wolf pick with McDonald, who finished third in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference, as the rest of the field took Lucas. Q92.7 WQEL morning host Will Beard also went alone on a pick, selecting Indian Hill to have a happy trip back to Cincinnati as the other Fanatics picked Kenton to find its usual success in the playoffs.

Two other games became unanimous selections for the Fanatics, as Western Reserve was picked to defeat Carey after the Blue Devils overcame an 0-3 start to the season to make the playoffs with a 5-5 record, and Mansfield Senior was picked to get the win against Great Lakes Conference power Bay.