2024 Eastern Buckeye Conference

Minerva (1-4) at West Branch (5-0) / Drew Pasteur says WB by 49
Alliance (1-4) at Salem (1-4) / Salem by 8
Carrollton (3-2) at Marlington (1-4) / Carrollton by 8
 
The Aviators have 5 seniors on this year's Squad ....this seniors class kids decided not to play when Whiting was here.....2 kids left after their soph year 2 were Canton kids and 1 kid lived in Marlington district....the other kid went Massillon came back to Alliance this year played 1 game then decided he didnt want to play anymore...it's tough to play with only 5 seniors ...and the last time I watched only 2 plays a 2 way lineman and 2 way WR/ Db
 
Here's an impressive individual stat at the midway point of the season: West Branch junior quarterback Jeremiah Thomas has accounted for 20 touchdowns (14 passing and six running) through five games. The long line of great West Branch quarterbacks continues.
 
Maybe its just me and I am being to critical of WB but I don't think they have even come close to our potential yet... Offensive line still had room for improvement. As good of stats as Jeremiah is putting up under center I still think he could see the field better and throw better balls. He seems to get panicked just a little to quickly and just turn the play into a free for all. Which at times he makes it work and looks like superman... other times it brings up our biggest problem.... penalties! I understand it is extremely hard to block for a QB on a passing play when you have no clue where he is going or what he is doing behind you. I also think they have under utilized Mullinix he is a straight forward down hill runner who can give you 4-5 yards a carry and pop one at any second. Save JT from taking some of those hits when unnecessary so he is healthier down the stretch... Again this is all nit picking a 5-0 team....
 
goshengophers said:
Minerva (1-4) at West Branch (5-0) / Drew Pasteur says WB by 49
Alliance (1-4) at Salem (1-4) / Salem by 8
Carrollton (3-2) at Marlington (1-4) / Carrollton by 8
Click to expand...
The Games out side of Beloit this week will go along way in determining how the conference is gonna shake out. Right now going off non conference play this is how I see them...

WB
Carrollton
Marlington/Salem/Alliance-- These game will be very interesting to see which ones come out on top.
Minerva
 
atownflyer said:
How many winnable games are left on our schedule? Right now I think Minerva and Marlington but if we have any injuries I’m not sure those are guaranteed wins. Seems just like a few years ago that the the old atown back yard brawl was the da facdo EBC championship game. What’s going on in Atown that neither team is any good anymore?
Click to expand...
Probably just Minerva. I think marlington is better than the aviators this year. I’m not sure if it’s lack of talent and/or coaching. I don’t even know what’s the next talented class coming up. They may be a few years out from
Being at the top of the ebc again.
 
Looking at the five-game stats and projecting out for 10 contests, WB QB Jeremiah Thomas is on pace for a 2,000-plus yard passing and 1,100-yard rushing season with 40 touchdowns, and Boston Mulinix is on pace for a third-straight 1,000-plus yard rushing season. And remember, I think those projections will go higher, because in my opinion, the second half of the season will provide greater opportunities. Here's another incredible stat: West Branch is out-gaining its opponents in total offense by not a 2-1 margin, but by over a 3-1 margin (roughly 400 yards per game to 125). That's hard to do. A lot of that has to do with a highly-improved defense holding opponents down, but the offense is certainly doing its job.
 
Last edited:
Here's something else to consider: The quarterback rating for Jeremiah Thomas is in the rarefied air category. He has thrown 14 touchdown passes to, I believe, just one interception (that occurring in Week 1 vs. Canfield).
 
1_wbwarriors said:
Maybe its just me and I am being to critical of WB but I don't think they have even come close to our potential yet... Offensive line still had room for improvement. As good of stats as Jeremiah is putting up under center I still think he could see the field better and throw better balls. He seems to get panicked just a little to quickly and just turn the play into a free for all. Which at times he makes it work and looks like superman... other times it brings up our biggest problem.... penalties! I understand it is extremely hard to block for a QB on a passing play when you have no clue where he is going or what he is doing behind you. I also think they have under utilized Mullinix he is a straight forward down hill runner who can give you 4-5 yards a carry and pop one at any second. Save JT from taking some of those hits when unnecessary so he is healthier down the stretch... Again this is all nit picking a 5-0 team....
Click to expand...
This issue is they might have more competition in practice than they do for the rest of the season.
 
Spread All Day said:
This issue is they might have more competition in practice than they do for the rest of the season.
Click to expand...
Not really an issue, they should be healthy and rested going into the playoffs and the 2's and 3's should have more Friday night experience than just about any other team in their region. These kids have been around and played in deep playoff runs before, they know what the post season is like and they've proven they can win
 
CoachJames said:
@ShootNation How do you think Carrollton finishes this year? 7-3 seems most likely to me.
Click to expand...
Man I don't know, we really have not looked good in a game this year yet. I think they probably have the edge on Minerva and Marlington but Salem and Alliance are complete toss ups to me. Obviously 7-3 is the ceiling but I wouldn't be shocked with a 5-5 finish either. One of the hardest to predict seasons in recent Warriors history I think
 
chocolatecity said:
The Aviators have 5 seniors on this year's Squad ....this seniors class kids decided not to play when Whiting was here.....2 kids left after their soph year 2 were Canton kids and 1 kid lived in Marlington district....the other kid went Massillon came back to Alliance this year played 1 game then decided he didnt want to play anymore...it's tough to play with only 5 seniors ...and the last time I watched only 2 plays a 2 way lineman and 2 way WR/ Db
Click to expand...
it’s his forth season , not sure why you bringing up the old coach . He didn’t never coach a single one of these kids
 
One thing that does concern me is this: West Branch is likely looking at several running clock games over the second half of the regular season. That is great for building much-needed depth and developing future starters, but when this year's starters are only playing 2-1/2-to-three quarters in a running clock situation and then suddenly have to play four quarters in playoff games, that can be a concern. I guess that's a nice problem to have. The good thing about that is this: Because of the large numbers (61 varsity players sophomore-through senior classes) and extreme experience on this year's team, fewer guys are playing both ways. That has definitely helped on defense.
 
Last edited:
A better day for all said:
One thing that does concern me is this: West Branch is likely looking at several running clock games over the second half of the regular season. That is great for building much-needed depth and developing future starters, but when this year's starters are only playing 2-1/2-to-three quarters in a running clock situation and then suddenly have to play four quarters in playoff games, that can be a concern. I guess that's a nice problem to have. The good thing about that is this: Because of the large numbers (61 varsity players sophomore-through senior classes) and extreme experience on this year's team, fewer guys are playing both ways. That has definitely helped on defense.
Click to expand...
The Depth on this team and not having to play a lot of kids both ways is the number one reason our D is as good as it has been in my opinion... Some of our Best Athletes are not even seeing the field consistently on defense if at all... definetly a advantage later in the season. I do also worry about only playing for half or so in some of our remaining games.
 
Here's what should actually concern West Branch, where they are seeded in R13.
Perry will win out
Lake Catholic will win out
Streetsboro will win out
Struthers will win out

That puts West Branch in the 5/6 seed and that means they will have to beat some combination of Glenville, Lake Catholic, Streetsboro, and Perry. That's a brutal path
 
Last edited:
ShootNation said:
Here's what should actually concern West Branch, where they are seeded in R13.
Perry will win out
Lake Catholic will win out
Streetsboro will win out
Struthers will win out

That puts West Branch in the 5/6 seed and that means they will have to beat some combination of Glenville, Lake Catholic, Streetsboro, and Perry. That's a brutal path
Click to expand...
They can worry about those concerns in week 11 or 12..

Right now they need to stay healthy and fine tune the small hiccups they are still having.. mainly offensive line play.. and penalties.
 
ShootNation said:
Here's what should actually concern West Branch, where they are seeded in R13.
Perry will win out
Lake Catholic will win out
Streetsboro will win out
Struthers will win out

That puts West Branch in the 5/6 seed and that means they will have to beat some combination of Glenville, Lake Catholic, Streetsboro, and Perry. That's a brutal path
Click to expand...
I'd be surprised if Struthers won out, I could see Poland, Lakeview or East taking one from them.
 
ShootNation said:
Here's what should actually concern West Branch, where they are seeded in R13.
Perry will win out
Lake Catholic will win out
Streetsboro will win out
Struthers will win out

That puts West Branch in the 5/6 seed and that means they will have to beat some combination of Glenville, Lake Catholic, Streetsboro, and Perry. That's a brutal path
Click to expand...
Struthers and WB seem to be 4-5 as long as everyone wins how they’re supposed to, but 1 or 2 games go the other way and WB can end up in the 4
 
CoachJames said:
I'd be surprised if Struthers won out, I could see Poland, Lakeview or East taking one from them.
Click to expand...
Based on what lmao Struthers should win all of those games by multiple scores. Poland losing to a very bad Canfield teams says it all about them. Product of playing nobody in the non conference. And saying Youngstown East is just ridiculous
 
West Branch hit the lottery when it hired Tim Cooper, first as the team's offensive coordinator, and later, as head football coach. Cooper is an offensive genius who loves to throw the football, and his version of the Air Raid offense is a perfect fit at West Branch, both from a passing and running (spread teams out and let JT take off) standpoint. West Branch has produced a ton of All-Ohio quarterbacks in its history under such coaches as Dick Hartzell, Jim Laut, Steve Saulnier, Bob Altenhof, Ken Harris and now Cooper. I think it's like 20 (including the multiple-year All-Ohioans) in the school's 64-year history. Since taking over as offensive coordinator (in 2000) and later head coach (2022), West Branch's record with Cooper calling the plays is 49-8 (overall) and 9-4 (in playoff games). He sports a perfect 21-0 record in Eastern Buckeye Conference contests. Now, before someone says Cooper is going for his 50th head coaching win Friday against Minerva, he is not. The 49 wins is as the Warriors' play caller. His record as head coach is 28-4 (including playoff games). And before someone calls me out, there's no doubt the Warriors are also going through a great run of talent (ex: state title with some of these same athletes in baseball).
 
A better day for all said:
West Branch hit the lottery when it hired Tim Cooper, first as the team's offensive coordinator, and later, as head football coach. Cooper is an offensive genius who loves to throw the football, and his version of the Air Raid offense is a perfect fit at West Branch, both from a passing and running (spread teams out and let JT take off) standpoint. West Branch has produced a ton of All-Ohio quarterbacks in its history under such coaches as Dick Hartzell, Jim Laut, Steve Saulnier, Bob Altenhof, Ken Harris and now Cooper. I think it's like 20 (including the multiple-year All-Ohioans) in the school's 64-year history. Since taking over as offensive coordinator (in 2000) and later head coach (2022), West Branch's record with Cooper calling the plays is 49-8 (overall) and 9-4 (in playoff games). He sports a perfect 21-0 record in Eastern Buckeye Conference contests. Now, before someone says Cooper is going for his 50th head coaching win Friday against Minerva, he is not. The 49 wins is as the Warriors' play caller. His record as head coach is 28-4 (including playoff games). And before someone calls me out, there's no doubt the Warriors are also going through a great run of talent (ex: state title with some of these same athletes in baseball).
Click to expand...
Just off the top of my head. Rohaley , Common, Woolf , Edie , Morris , The other Morris , Rycraft, McNeely, Hillyer , Deshields , Thomas . I’m sure I’m missing some but a ridiculous list of WB qb talent for one little rural school . As for Cooper , he brings that style some of us were longing for . Granted , risk taking is easier when you have the talent and that he’s had.
 
Add to the list: Both Swallows were All-Ohio multiple times and Bill Lohnes was an All-Ohioan. Some of the guys you mentioned were multiple All-Ohioans as well.
 
West Branch's junior varsity is 5-0, including a win over Canfield. In its past four games, the Warriors have outscored Woodridge, Canton Central Catholic, Youngstown Chaney and Howland, 144-6. Now, normally a JV result translating to varsity wouldn't mean much, but because this year's varsity returned 20 starters, these are JV kids that in normal years would be starting varsity now. Plug these kids in with what should be a returning All-Ohio QB in Thomas and a 6-7 Division I tight end in Gregory next season, and things continue to look promising. I am pretty sure West Branch hasn't lost a JV game to an Eastern Buckeye Conference opponent in like four or five years. It's similar to the varsity's current EBC winning streak.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top