Wynford is media N10 gridiron favorite again

BELLEVUE — Northern Ohio sports media members gathered Wednesday night to vote on three high school league football races. There were few surprises. In the Northern 10 Conference, Wynford was again tabbed as the favorite.

The Royals received all 14 first-place votes in tallying 112 overall points. Seneca East and Carey tied for second with 81 points each. Colonel Crawford finished fourth with 78 points and Mohawk took the fifth spot, garnering 63 points. Upper Sandusky landed the sixth position with 39 points, Bucyrus was seventh with 32 and Buckeye Central had 18 points.

Another familiar name topped the Firelands Conference picks. Norwalk St. Paul, like Wynford, was the unanimous selection of the scribes and broadcasters. The Flyers also captured all 14 first-place votes and 112 points. Crestview was seen as their closest competition, receiving 92 points. St. Paul’s backyard rival Monroeville was third with 85 points and Mapleton rounded out the top half in fourth with 55.  Western Reserve came in fifth with 52 points, New London was next with 48, South Central received 32 points and Plymouth had 30.

The new-look Sandusky Bay Conference has expanded to three, six-team divisions. Several teams from the now-defunct Northern Ohio League joined the SBC this year.

Shelby is now in the Bay Division and received six of the 14 first-place votes, good for 76 points. The Whippets were edged by Milan Edison, which was awarded the other eight first and finished with 77 points.

Willard takes its place in the River Division and was voted fifth with 33 points. Tiffin Calvert got all 15 first-place nods, totaling 90 points.

Bellevue, Norwalk and Tiffin Columbian are now members of the Lake Division. The Redmen finished third in the voting with 61 points. The Truckers were fifth with 27 points and Columbian had 19. Sandusky landed the top spot with 11 of the 14 first-place votes and 84 points. Clyde got the other three firsts to finish second.

The high school football season kicks off August 25.

(First-place votes in parentheses)

1. Wynford 112 (14)

2t. Seneca East 81

2t. Carey 81

4. Colonel Crawford 78

5. Mohawk 63

6. Upper Sandusky 39

7. Bucyrus 32

8. Buckeye Central 18

1. Norwalk St. Paul 112 (14)

2. Crestview 92

3. Monroeville 85

4. Mapleton 55

5. Western Reserve 52

6. New London 48

7. South Central 32

8. Plymouth 30

1. Milan Edison 77 (8)

2. Shelby 76 (6)

3. Port Clinton 50

4. Huron 39

5. Oak Harbor 33

6. Vermilion 19

1. Tiffin Calvert 90 (15)

2. Margaretta 68

3. Sandusky St. Mary 51

4. Fremont St. Joseph 42

5. Willard 33

6. Lakota 31

1. Sandusky 84 (11)

2. Clyde 67 (3)

3. Bellevue 61

4. Perkins 51

5. Norwalk 27

6. Tiffin Columbian 19