BUCYRUS — After the best collective week of the 2019 season for the Friday Night Fanatics, many will make one final push in Week 10 to climb the standings and look for a title.

The same applies for many of our local teams in Week 10, too.

The Battle for the Copper Kettle is set to be the most competitive it has been in recent memory, as Wynford currently is on a 21-game win streak against Bucyrus. However, both teams still have a lot to play for, as Wynford clinches at least a share of the Northern 10 Athletic Conference title and Bucyrus, though a long shot, still has a chance at making the playoffs.

Despite the importance of the rivalry game, just sports director Dan Messerschmidt thinks this is the year the Redmen end Wynford’s streak and ruins the Royals’ championship hopes.

Five of the seven teams in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference are separated by just one game in the conference standings, including Galion and Pleasant who square off in Week 10. With a win, Galion can guarantee at least a share of the MOAC title, but a Spartans win would shake up the entire MOAC landscape. Iconic Rock Q92.7 morning host Will Beard and Country Legends 1540/107.5 WBCO color commentator Tim Birie both picked Pleasant to make things interesting in Week 10.

The other MOAC heavyweight bout involves Shelby, who currently is tied with Galion, and Clear Fork, who currently is tied with Pleasant. The majority of the votes by the Fanatics went in favor of Clear Fork, while Beard, news director James Massara and The Fans picked the Whippets to claim a share of the MOAC title.

Two teams in the Firelands Conference will face off, both with hopes of clinching a playoff spot. The Fans joined Beard, Friday Night Phoneboard host Davey Jones and Country Legends 1540/107.5 play-by-play analyst Jared Moore with a pick for the Big Red to continue its quest for the postseason, while the rest of the field picked Crestview to do the same.

One other game featured a loner pick as Coaches Corner East host Mike Sparks picked West Muskingum to double its win total on the year and the rest of the field picked Ridgedale to move to .500 on the year in OHSAA-sanctioned games.

There were multiple unanimous picks across the board for the Fanatics in Week 10.

Seneca East was picked to keep Buckeye Central searching for its first win in 31 games and Carey was picked to beat Colonel Crawford as both teams strive to reach .500 for the year.

In its final game of its experiment in the Blanchard Valley Conference, Crestline was picked to finish the season with a win against Vanlue, and Mohawk was picked to win the Wyandot County battle against Upper Sandusky. Northmor, who has clinched home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs was picked to defeat Highland.

In the standings, Birie moved into first by himself after Bucyrus beat Upper Sandusky in Week 9, moving Massara down into second place. Jones and Sparks stayed tied as they moved into third place after a 6-4 week moved Iconic Rock Q92.7 WQEL play-by-play analyst Josh Stallings into fifth. Messerschmidt used a perfect record to stay in sixth place as Beard, Moore and The Fans remained tied and dropped into seventh place.

STANDINGS (Week 9 record):

1. Tim Birie – 71-19 (10-0)
2. James Massara – 70-20 (9-1)
T-3. Mike Sparks – 69-21 (10-0)
T-3. Davey Jones – 69-21 (10-0)
5. Josh Stallings – 66-24 (6-4)
6. Dan Messerschmidt – 65-25 (10-0)
T-7. Jared Moore – 64-26 (9-1)
T-7. Will Beard – 64-26 (9-1)
T-7. Fans Pick – 64-26 (9-1)

The fan pick is made by the results of the majority of the voting.

FAN PICKS (percentage of fan votes):

Wynford – 59%
Seneca East  – 94%
Carey – 51%
Galion – 68%
Crestline – 84%
Mohawk – 82%
Ridgedale – 97%
Northmor – 94%
Plymouth – 64%
Shelby – 65%