2024 WBL talk

Stirred not Shaken said:
WBL is a definition of parity with maybe the exception of Wapak though SM may beat Wapak next week. The MAC and NWC are very top heavy with the same teams usually ruling the top 2 - 3 spots every year. With the WBL you have bigger schools and each school for the most part has athletes and it's hard to play at your best each week, so upsets happen.
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It's almost like it's possible for WBL programs that are in the basement one season to rise up the ranks the next season, despite still playing a full 9-game league schedule. Imagine that. :)
 
WBLGuy said:
You sound silly making a sweeping statement that the WBL is weak 3 games in.

Wapakoneta will win plenty of games and will make a run in a weakened region 12.

St. Marys will unfortunately win some playoff games.

Bath will win some playoff games.

Celina will win at least one playoff game.

Defiance will absolutely win 1-2 playoff games.

Shawnee will give some poor higher ranked team all they can handle.

If Ottawa manages to make it in, they will give a D5 team plenty of fits simply because they are an athletic big football team that runs the ball well and has great playaction.

A sweeping statement of the league being weak is a silly statement, and i urge you to know ball just a little bit better.
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I urge you to take a reading comprehension course; what I said is this is the weakest the WBL has been in several years. I stand by that. They will have a bunch of teams make the playoffs, but in the watered down 16 team format they sound have 6-8 teams every year! I hope I’m wrong, I’m always rooting for the league but I also know what my eyes tell me.
 
Stirred not Shaken said:
I have had my doubts about the WBL in the past but this year I watched St. Marys rush for 400 yds. on what I think is a decent St. Henry team. So, I question that statement or opinion.
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You are comparing a D3 to a small D7(that will probably finish.500) I guess we’ll see how it plays out?
 
PantherSkin said:
I urge you to take a reading comprehension course; what I said is this is the weakest the WBL has been in several years. I stand by that. They will have a bunch of teams make the playoffs, but in the watered down 16 team format they sound have 6-8 teams every year! I hope I’m wrong, I’m always rooting for the league but I also know what my eyes tell me.
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I guess I challenge your opinion with the same one about the MAC this year. Marion is far and away the best team, then Coldwater and maybe Minster, and then Versailles and possibly Anna and then everyone else. Parkway made the watered down playoffs at 2-8 last year!!
 
PantherSkin said:
I urge you to take a reading comprehension course; what I said is this is the weakest the WBL has been in several years. I stand by that. They will have a bunch of teams make the playoffs, but in the watered down 16 team format they sound have 6-8 teams every year! I hope I’m wrong, I’m always rooting for the league but I also know what my eyes tell me.
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Good thing you hope you’re wrong because you are lol
 
I think this season is a bit too young to draw any significant conclusions about the league's overall strength. However, just for comparisons sake, we can easily compare the WBL in 2023 through the first three weeks to where the WBL is currently this season.

Non league play (week one)
2023: WBL went 4-6
2024: WBL went 6-4

Through the first three weeks, both last year and this year have five teams that are 2-1 or better. 2023 had two teams undefeated through three weeks (Elida and Defiance were both 3-0); this year only Wapak made it to 3-0. In 2023, there were three WBL teams that were winless (O-G, Shawnee, and St Marys were all 0-3). This year through three weeks, every WBL team has at least one win.

I don't really feel like diving too deep into stats, because I don't think it's a worthwhile endeavor. However, I think an argument could be made that the WBL is looking every bit as quality this season.
 
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tucson said:
I think this season is a bit too young to draw any significant conclusions about the league's overall strength. However, just for comparisons sake, we can easily compare the WBL in 2023 through the first three weeks to where the WBL is currently this season.

Non league play (week one)
2023: WBL went 4-6
2024: WBL went 6-4

Through the first three weeks, both last year and this year have five teams that are 2-1 or better. 2023 had two teams undefeated through three weeks (Celina and Defiance were both 3-0); this year only Wapak made it to 3-0. In 2023, there were three WBL teams that were winless (O-G, Shawnee, and St Marys were all 0-3). This year through three weeks, every WBL team has at least one win.

I don't really feel like diving too deep into stats, because I don't think it's a worthwhile endeavor. However, I think an argument could be made that the WBL is looking every bit as quality this season.
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Celina was 2-1 last year through 3 weeks.
 
ctown14 said:
I guess I challenge your opinion with the same one about the MAC this year. Marion is far and away the best team, then Coldwater and maybe Minster, and then Versailles and possibly Anna and then everyone else. Parkway made the watered down playoffs at 2-8 last year!!
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Absolutely, this playoff system rewards mediocrity, MAC included. I do find it interesting that you didn’t include New Bremen in your list of MAC schools? They did beat Bath, who is 2-0 in the WBL and has put up over 40 in both those wins, but was only able to score 14 against a very average Cardinal team. I think that helps make my point.
 
PantherSkin said:
Absolutely, this playoff system rewards mediocrity, MAC included. I do find it interesting that you didn’t include New Bremen in your list of MAC schools? They did beat Bath, who is 2-0 in the WBL and has put up over 40 in both those wins, but was only able to score 14 against a very average Cardinal team. I think that helps make my point.
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Bath beat New Bremen last year and this years score was a 3 pt game.
 
Irregardless the fact of the matter remains that you can’t logically come to the conclusion that the league is at its weakest in noted WBL supporter and parkway native PantherSkin’s opinion.

Complaining about the 16 team playoff system is a fruitless endeavor because no matter how much you whine and complain the OHSAA still loves money more than it cares about your opinions. It doesn’t matter whether 6 WBL teams make it, or 3 WBL teams make it, at least half will win one game, the top two will win at least two.
 
WBL Week 4 Games
Wapakoneta (3-0) @ St Marys (2-1)
Shawnee (2-1) @ Celina (2-1)
Kenton (1-2) @ Bath (2-1)
Defiance (1-2) @ Van Wert (1-2)
Elida (1-2) @ Ottawa-Glandorf (1-2)
 
tucson said:
I think I missed something. When did this injury happen? Hopefully it's short term for the Riders.
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Middle of the game. Was told he's fine but the refs kept him from re-entering as a precaution. Took a pretty nasty hit on one of his carries.
 
WBLGuy said:
Irregardless the fact of the matter remains that you can’t logically come to the conclusion that the league is at its weakest in noted WBL supporter and parkway native PantherSkin’s opinion.

Complaining about the 16 team playoff system is a fruitless endeavor because no matter how much you whine and complain the OHSAA still loves money more than it cares about your opinions. It doesn’t matter whether 6 WBL teams make it, or 3 WBL teams make it, at least half will win one game, the top two will win at least two.
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This is my last post on this subject, let’s just see how it plays out. I never once complained about the expanded playoffs, I merely said it waters them down. If you look through some of my past post I have said let everyone in, who doesn’t like more football? I’m just saying you can’t compare have 4 teams in your league make it in an 8 region format to having 4 teams make it in a 16 team format, that’s what watered down means.
 
tucson said:
WBL Week 4 Games
Wapakoneta (3-0) @ St Marys (2-1)
Shawnee (2-1) @ Celina (2-1)
Kenton (1-2) @ Bath (2-1)
Defiance (1-2) @ Van Wert (1-2)
Elida (1-2) @ Ottawa-Glandorf (1-2)
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Wapak - this is going to be a slug fest. Last year Wapak won 14-0. In 2022 Wapak won in OT and in 2021 Wapak won 10-7. Throw out records or preconceived notions. I believe Wapak will grind out a win, but a small part believes St Marys will win.
Celina - Bulldogs found rhythm against Van Wert. Shawnee is much improved over 2023, but Bulldogs will pull away in the 2nd half.
Kenton - this will be a high scoring affair with Kenton pulling this one out late.
Defiance - will the Bulldogs have a let down or will they start a nice roll? Van Wert can move the ball on offense, but struggles greatly with turnovers. I am picking Defiance because this is one of the weaker Van Wert teams in several years.
OG - Toss up going to the Titans. Elida definitely down compared to the last few years.
 
Wapakoneta 28 StMarys 10
Celina 45 Shawnee 14
Bath 35 Kenton 28
Defiance 34 Van wert 14
OG 28 Elida 21
 
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yappi.com

2024 Limaland Pick 'Ems Week 4

Sorry for the delay this week, weekend got away from me and then been a busy week at work! WEEK 3 RESULTS 4-way tie for first place in Week 3 between @Insane92 @PreacherZay @Old_School and @PantherSkin at 20-4 this week. The "Wild Western Buckeye League" tripped up everyone, as no one went 5/5...
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SM vs Wapak will come down to "4th and less than 3, how much do you want it" downs. If SM converts those they win. If Wapak shuts them down they win.
 
tucson said:
I wonder how good the league leading Kenton defense actually is versus being inflated from who they've played. They'll certainly be tested against a capable Bath offense tonight.
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Also a crazy stat.

I wonder if their opponents have capitalized on either special teams scores or turnovers and short field positions.
 
Celina 9 Shawnee 3. Shawnee had two 4th down conversions and a long 40 yard pass before being stopped on 4 downs and settling with a field goal. 3:11 left in 1st
 
Shawnee with a fake punt and the receiver was wide open and completely missed. Celina ball on Shawnee 40.
 
Shawnee punt with 3:06 left in half. Drive for Shawnee almost resulted in 3 turnovers. Ball popped out and recovered by Shawnee, bad snap recovered, and a pass was dropped by a Celina defender.
 
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