BUCYRUS — It’s the final week of non-conference play for many area teams and many games include some marquee match-ups.
Many games may be considered rivalries, whether due to location or long-standing history, but some of the Fanatics’ picks show that not all rivalries are seen as competitive.
Other games, meanwhile, are young in their history and should provide an entertaining change to the local football landscape.
One of the most dividing games in Week 3 kicks off Crestline’s two-year football experiment in the Blanchard Valley Conference. Crestline looks to get its first conference win in the BVC against Arcadia who has won four games in three years, including an 0-10 campaign in 2016. Sports director Dan Messerschmidt, news director James Massara, WQEL play-by-play announcer Josh Stallings and the fans think the Bulldogs will get the job done while the rest think the Redskins will get their first win of the season.
There was a clear majority with the remaining games selected. In one instance, the fans sided with the majority and in the other they did not.
The fans, and the majority of the Fanatics, picked Mohawk to win the battle of the unbeatens as Coaches Corner East host Mike Sparks, Messerschmidt and Massara all think the Golden Bears will move to 3-0 before a Week 4 clash with conference foe Tiffin Calvert.
The fans, however, sided with the minority by picking Lucas to to move to 3-0 with a win against Northmor in another battle of undefeated teams, this time siding with the WBCO broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Jared Moore and color commentator Tim Birie.
After a defensive battle with Tiffin Calvert in Week 2, Massara and Birie think Allen East’s 32 points-per-game average will be too much for the Royals to overcome. However, the majority of the Fanatics think Wynford will come home with a winning record.
Just two Fanatics think Ridgedale will defeat Waynesfield-Goshen for the first time since the teams began playing in 2017. Friday Night Phoneboard host Davey Jones and WQEL morning host Will Beard think the Rockets will bounce back after a tough loss to Vanlue.
Messerschmidt is the lone pick in favor of Bucyrus as the Redmen travel to Grandview Heights for the first meeting with the Bobcats. Grandview Heights has a dangerous weapon in 6-foot-7 tight end Luke Lachey, who has verbally committed to Iowa. It would be huge win for the Redmen.
Four games were unanimous picks for the Fanatics and the fans.
Plymouth was picked to win its backyard battle with Buckeye Central, Galion was picked to win the former Northern Ohio League battle between longtime foe Upper Sandusky, Colonel Crawford was selected to defeat winless Cardington-Lincoln and Seneca East was picked to remain undefeated against winless Willard.
The Upper Sandusky at Galion game may be heard on Iconic Rock Q92.7 WQEL and WQEL.com and the Waynesfield-Goshen at Ridgedale game may be heard on Country Legends 107.5/1540 WBCO.
Not much has changed in the standings as most Fanatics had fared well in Week 2.
STANDINGS (Week 2 record):
Tim Birie – 17-3 (8-2)
Davey Jones – 17-3 (9-1)
Will Beard – 17-3 (9-1)
Mike Sparks – 17-3 (9-1)
James Massara – 16-4 (8-2)
The Fans – 15-5 (7-3)
Jared Moore – 15-5 (8-2)
Josh Stallings – 14-6 (7-3)
Dan Messerschmidt – 14-6 (8-2)
The fan pick is made by the results of the majority of the voting.
FAN PICKS:
Grandview Heights – 85%
Plymouth – 88%
Galion – 96%
Colonel Crawford – 92%
Wynford – 63%
Crestline – 80%
Mohawk – 55%
Waynesfield-Goshen – 95%
Seneca East – 100%
Lucas – 58%