2024 WBL talk

[State2013-1]

Here's my two cents on the Wapak-Marion Local series ending:

Marion Local folks need to move on. It was already a 3-game series. The first two games were clear cut Marion Local wins, even though the 2022 edition was the Flyers' toughest game in their entire season until the Flyers met Kirtland in the title game. Last year's game was obviously an instant classic. It showed Wapak more than had the horses to beat Marion Local, but what it showed even more was how severely out-coached Wapak was in the fourth quarter. Don't get me wrong, Moyer is a good coach, but Goodwin is a living legend. If it were as easy as any school "just try to learn to play like ML" then ML wouldn't be anything special. Same with Kirtland in Northeast Ohio. The difference is that it's easier said than done. Goodwin and LaVerde have the dynasties they do for a reason. At the end of the day, Wapak gave Marion Local their best shot and, despite them being highly attended and somewhat competitive games, they came up short. There's no shame in that, but it's also fair for Wapak to want to move on to something different. Wapak's 0-3 in the series and can easily find other competitive, intriguing match-ups. It's unfortunate that's not as much the case for Marion Local in terms of schools not wanting to schedule them, but that's not Wapak's problem. As Stirred said above, it's not the WBL's priority to alleviate the MAC's scheduling problems. However, it is great that St Marys scheduled the Flyers. Those should, similarly, be well attended local games for the fanbases, but I'd expect the Flyers to cruise and the Roughriders to not extend the series long-term. St Marys did, inexplicably, get shut out by St Henry to start last season after all.

Toledo St. John's Jesuit will be a quality game for Wapak. The away stands won't be packed in the same way, but the attendance will be fine considering it's a Wapak home game and it's the first game of the season. Their fans show out for football, especially the season debut. Another benefit to Wapak scheduling SJJ is that it's a more winnable game, which also means they will have a better shot at a top 4 seed and hosting the first two weeks of the playoffs. Now I'm sure this isn't the reason Wapak moved on from the Marion Local series, but it is an added benefit. They have a great facility, they might as well use it. Having a higher playoff seed might also be beneficial since the Wapak football program postseason expectations have never been higher. If Wapak does finally break through and win a regional title, then TCC is likely in the wings waiting, so a game against SJJ will be a relevant measuring stick. The Wapak-Marion Local series was a good one, but Marion Local needed Wapak more than Wapak needed Marion Local, as evidence by the three game series with two games being in Wapak. Wapak is moving on to something different and Marion Local will, as usual, be just fine.

I don't think any Marion fan is complaining per se that the series ended so I don't think your statement of them needing to move on is relevant. However, I think there was definitely a desire on ML's and the fans part (including myself) to continue the series. I don't blame Wapak one bit for moving on. You're right ML needed Wapak more than vice versa. However, you have to kind of see the average ML persons viewpoint for being disappointed that the series was not continued. It's not because of the difficulty finding a week one replacement but because the series was FUN. Fun for the players, fun for the fans, fun for the coaches.

Winning is fun, but it's also more fun when you win against an opponent that gives you a good game. ML has had maybe 6 good games in the last 4 years out of 62 games and Wapak was 2 of them. Personally it's not too much to want to desire a formidable opponent, so I hope you see it as more of a compliment to Wapak over a complaint. Wapak made week 1 fun again for ML people. And personally I think Wapak people had fun too besides that first year.

 

[tucson]

I don't think any Marion fan is complaining per se that the series ended so I don't think your statement of them needing to move on is relevant. However, I think there was definitely a desire on ML's and the fans part (including myself) to continue the series. I don't blame Wapak one bit for moving on. You're right ML needed Wapak more than vice versa. However, you have to kind of see the average ML persons viewpoint for being disappointed that the series was not continued. It's not because of the difficulty finding a week one replacement but because the series was FUN. Fun for the players, fun for the fans, fun for the coaches.

Winning is fun, but it's also more fun when you win against an opponent that gives you a good game. ML has had maybe 6 good games in the last 4 years out of 62 games and Wapak was 2 of them. Personally it's not too much to want to desire a formidable opponent, so I hope you see it as more of a compliment to Wapak over a complaint. Wapak made week 1 fun again for ML people. And personally I think Wapak people had fun too besides that first year.

I don't view it as complaints, just that MAC/Marion Local folks seem to be the only ones really still talking about the series ending. I see your point though. I don't doubt that it was fun for Marion Local. I'm not sure it was as fun for Wapak. The games being tough, hard fought battles is great and all (for the teams and fans), but being 0-3 in the series is also disappointing. Winning helps make it more fun. The Flyers beating an area D3 school, especially in thrilling comeback fashion last year, is inherently going to be fun for them. Especially since ML was in unfamiliar territory of being down two scores late in the game and still pulling out the W. It was remarkable and that is worth celebrating. Wapak came out really flat in their week two game both in 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, Marion Local was beating McComb 42-0 and Franklin 63-7 in their week two games. Marion Local having very few competitive games is their own unique problem. Wapak does not have that same problem.

 

[BirdDog10]

It's not because of the difficulty finding a week one replacement but because the series was FUN. Fun for the players, fun for the fans, fun for the coaches.

Agreed as an outsider to both schools - because grove's week 1 game has been moved to thursday nights I got to watch the '22 and '23 Wapak/ML games, and both were incredible atmospheres

 

[Stirred not Shaken]

I don't think any Marion fan is complaining per se that the series ended so I don't think your statement of them needing to move on is relevant. However, I think there was definitely a desire on ML's and the fans part (including myself) to continue the series. I don't blame Wapak one bit for moving on. You're right ML needed Wapak more than vice versa. However, you have to kind of see the average ML persons viewpoint for being disappointed that the series was not continued. It's not because of the difficulty finding a week one replacement but because the series was FUN. Fun for the players, fun for the fans, fun for the coaches.

Winning is fun, but it's also more fun when you win against an opponent that gives you a good game. ML has had maybe 6 good games in the last 4 years out of 62 games and Wapak was 2 of them. Personally it's not too much to want to desire a formidable opponent, so I hope you see it as more of a compliment to Wapak over a complaint. Wapak made week 1 fun again for ML people. And personally I think Wapak people had fun too besides that first year.

Wapak has plenty of close games, last season Wapak lost to Defiance, Redskins even though I think they will win might have a close game with TSJ. Lot of teams don't want to start out 0-1 hence the Flyers problem of finding non-league games remember Beallsville, this year playing some team in SW Indiana near the Illinois border. What is good for ML is not necessarily good for Wapak or any other school.

Edit: How many MAC schools do you think would play Marion Local if they were not in the MAC, maybe Coldwater and Versailles that would be it.

 

[State2013-1]

Wapak has plenty of close games, last season Wapak lost to Defiance, Redskins even though I think they will win might have a close game with TSJ. Lot of teams don't want to start out 0-1 hence the Flyers problem of finding non-league games remember Beallsville, this year playing some team in SW Indiana near the Illinois border. What is good for ML is not necessarily good for Wapak or any other school.

Edit: How many MAC schools do you think would play Marion Local if they were not in the MAC, maybe Coldwater and Versailles that would be it.

Yes I said above that I don't blame wapak for letting the series lapse without renewing and agreed with him that ML needed Wapak more than Wapak needed ML. I'm just pointing out why ML fans might be disappointed it wasn't renewed.

 

[ex_dc_atc]

Wapak has plenty of close games, last season Wapak lost to Defiance, Redskins even though I think they will win might have a close game with TSJ. Lot of teams don't want to start out 0-1 hence the Flyers problem of finding non-league games remember Beallsville, this year playing some team in SW Indiana near the Illinois border. What is good for ML is not necessarily good for Wapak or any other school.

Edit: How many MAC schools do you think would play Marion Local if they were not in the MAC, maybe Coldwater and Versailles that would be it.

Agreed.

 

[ctown14]

Let’s get some talk going. The season will soon be here and I believe this will be another incredibly strong year in the league with 5 different teams looking to make noise. Non-conference week brings a few new opponents for the league, games are as follows - * denotes new matchup.

St Henry at St Marys
Columbus South at Celina*
Toledo St John’s at Wapak*
Defiance at Napoleon
Bryan at Van Wert
Liberty-Benton at OG*
Shawnee at LCC
Eastwood at Kenton*
Elida at Toledo Rogers
Bath at New Bremen

Wapak is the team to beat IMO, with Celina, St Marys, Defiance, and Van Wert all capable of being #2 or even forcing another tie for first. Elida and Bath showed last year they cannot be overlooked. Will St Marys have another slow start and strong finish? Will Defiance have another strong start and slow finish? Can Celina replace big playmaker Braylon Gabes? Will Elida start 5-0? The league has a meat grinder of a schedule with some schools fairing better than others on the scheduling side, 2025 will bring a change up of league games. Celina plays St Marys and VW in weeks 2 & 3 and Defiance and Wapak in 9 & 10. VW gets Celina, St Marys, Defiance, and Wapak 3-6, Defiance gets Wapak, St Marys, and VW weeks 2-4. Wapak gets Defiance, St Marys, and VW in weeks 2, 4, & 5. Elida fairs the worst of all with Celina, Defiance, Wapak, St Marys, and VW weeks 6-10. Bath gets Celina, Defiance, Wapak, and St Marys weeks 7-10, which is also a tough draw.

 

[serpico]

The Wapak-Marion Local series was a good one, but Marion Local needed Wapak more than Wapak needed Marion Local, as evidence by the three game series with two games being in Wapak.

I would agree that ML needed Wapak more than the other way around, as evidenced by ML having more trouble getting games, but the two games in Wapak aren’t proof of that. Wapak allowed ML to keep its entire presale in 2023, which was hefty. They did so with the idea that ML would reciprocate if they played in Maria Stein in 2024.

 

[tucson]

I would agree that ML needed Wapak more than the other way around, as evidenced by ML having more trouble getting games, but the two games in Wapak aren’t proof of that. Wapak allowed ML to keep its entire presale in 2023, which was hefty. They did so with the idea that ML would reciprocate if they played in Maria Stein in 2024.

I think Marion Local agreeing to a third game, at Wapak, without a guarantee for a return trip to Maria Stein, illustrates my point perfectly.

 

[PreacherZay]

Let’s get some talk going. The season will soon be here and I believe this will be another incredibly strong year in the league with 5 different teams looking to make noise. Non-conference week brings a few new opponents for the league, games are as follows - * denotes new matchup.

St Henry at St Marys
Columbus South at Celina*
Toledo St John’s at Wapak*
Defiance at Napoleon
Bryan at Van Wert
Liberty-Benton at OG*
Shawnee at LCC
Eastwood at Kenton*
Elida at Toledo Rogers
Bath at New Bremen

Wapak is the team to beat IMO, with Celina, St Marys, Defiance, and Van Wert all capable of being #2 or even forcing another tie for first. Elida and Bath showed last year they cannot be overlooked. Will St Marys have another slow start and strong finish? Will Defiance have another strong start and slow finish? Can Celina replace big playmaker Braylon Gabes? Will Elida start 5-0? The league has a meat grinder of a schedule with some schools fairing better than others on the scheduling side, 2025 will bring a change up of league games. Celina plays St Marys and VW in weeks 2 & 3 and Defiance and Wapak in 9 & 10. VW gets Celina, St Marys, Defiance, and Wapak 3-6, Defiance gets Wapak, St Marys, and VW weeks 2-4. Wapak gets Defiance, St Marys, and VW in weeks 2, 4, & 5. Elida fairs the worst of all with Celina, Defiance, Wapak, St Marys, and VW weeks 6-10. Bath gets Celina, Defiance, Wapak, and St Marys weeks 7-10, which is also a tough draw.

I know this is definitely a super unpopular opinion, but I think Bath is going to surprise some people this year. I don’t know if they’ll be in the top 3 discussion, but I could see them being 4th or 5th if they can figure out their defense. They have a lot of solid upperclassmen this year and with a younger team, seemed to be able to play with almost anyone last year until the end of the year when they started playing great teams.

 

[BirdDog10]

I know this is definitely a super unpopular opinion, but I think Bath is going to surprise some people this year. I don’t know if they’ll be in the top 3 discussion, but I could see them being 4th or 5th if they can figure out their defense. They have a lot of solid upperclassmen this year and with a younger team, seemed to be able to play with almost anyone last year until the end of the year when they started playing great teams.

Having the easier part of their schedule in the first half could be a huge help or a hindrance. A young, improving team gains some confidence by winning 4-5 games early and they can be dangerous

 

[PreacherZay]

Let’s get some talk going. The season will soon be here and I believe this will be another incredibly strong year in the league with 5 different teams looking to make noise. Non-conference week brings a few new opponents for the league, games are as follows - * denotes new matchup.

St Henry at St Marys
Columbus South at Celina*
Toledo St John’s at Wapak*
Defiance at Napoleon
Bryan at Van Wert
Liberty-Benton at OG*
Shawnee at LCC
Eastwood at Kenton*
Elida at Toledo Rogers
Bath at New Bremen

Wapak is the team to beat IMO, with Celina, St Marys, Defiance, and Van Wert all capable of being #2 or even forcing another tie for first. Elida and Bath showed last year they cannot be overlooked. Will St Marys have another slow start and strong finish? Will Defiance have another strong start and slow finish? Can Celina replace big playmaker Braylon Gabes? Will Elida start 5-0? The league has a meat grinder of a schedule with some schools fairing better than others on the scheduling side, 2025 will bring a change up of league games. Celina plays St Marys and VW in weeks 2 & 3 and Defiance and Wapak in 9 & 10. VW gets Celina, St Marys, Defiance, and Wapak 3-6, Defiance gets Wapak, St Marys, and VW weeks 2-4. Wapak gets Defiance, St Marys, and VW in weeks 2, 4, & 5. Elida fairs the worst of all with Celina, Defiance, Wapak, St Marys, and VW weeks 6-10. Bath gets Celina, Defiance, Wapak, and St Marys weeks 7-10, which is also a tough draw.

Also, I don’t think Celina can replace someone like Braylon. He was one of the best players I’ve ever seen on Celina so far in my lifetime. He reminded me of Jabrill peppers during his Michigan years. He was everywhere from defense, to quarterback, to running back, to wide receiver, to kick returner, and he excelled at every one of those positions.
I think Celina still has a lot of talent, but It’ll be interesting to see what we can do without him. If you look at the games where Gabes was absent, it played a huge role in our success. The first game vs Versailles, the coaches hadn’t figured out that putting Braylon in the wildcat was a cheat code yet and our offense did nothing. Then against st Mary’s they figured it out and everything changed. Against Wapak, granted we did have a lot of injured players, but outside of that, all they had to do was find a way to shut down Braylon and we looked like Celina of old. Flash forward to the state semis, Braylon gets injured mid game and everything shifted.
He was a game changer and that’s the scary thing about basing your offense off of one player. What do you do without him?
I think we’ll be okay and figure it out, but if we want to be great like we were last year, i know it’s contradictory to what I just said lol, but I think our best bet is to keep doing what works kinda like Van wert has done for a few years. Find your best athlete and build around him. Again, that doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a shot.
No matter what, I think we’ll be solid for a decent time because we have great coaches now that know what they’re doing and know how to win and that’s not something we’ve had in previous years.

 

[ctown14]

Having the easier part of their schedule in the first half could be a huge help or a hindrance. A young, improving team gains some confidence by winning 4-5 games early and they can be dangerous

It has been a hindrance for Elida the last 2 years. Started 4-0 in 2022 and finished 4-6. Faired slightly better in 2023, started 4-0 and finished 5-6 with beating Defiance later in the year.

 

[tucson]

I think the injury to Elida's QB McGue in the first half of the game against Bath was a pretty big blow to their season. Their schedule too, but that injury limited their offense quite a bit from being balanced to being a little more run heavy. Elida has a stout defense, but their offense has lagged behind it, partially because of injuries like their QB last season. Elida doesn't usually have as much depth as the top of the WBL, but if they stay healthy I think they can be .500 or better.

 

[dhsdog06]

I know this is definitely a super unpopular opinion, but I think Bath is going to surprise some people this year. I don’t know if they’ll be in the top 3 discussion, but I could see them being 4th or 5th if they can figure out their defense. They have a lot of solid upperclassmen this year and with a younger team, seemed to be able to play with almost anyone last year until the end of the year when they started playing great teams.

Not crazy at all, they just kept getting better last year and we're playing their best end of the year. I see a clear cut top 4 this year with VW in 5th and Elida in 6th being the first question marks....it's not crazy at all that Bath gets into the 5th place discussion and maybe even catches a top 4 team sleeping.

 

[dhsdog06]

Let’s get some talk going. The season will soon be here and I believe this will be another incredibly strong year in the league with 5 different teams looking to make noise. Non-conference week brings a few new opponents for the league, games are as follows - * denotes new matchup.

St Henry at St Marys
Columbus South at Celina*
Toledo St John’s at Wapak*
Defiance at Napoleon
Bryan at Van Wert
Liberty-Benton at OG*
Shawnee at LCC
Eastwood at Kenton*
Elida at Toledo Rogers
Bath at New Bremen

Wapak is the team to beat IMO, with Celina, St Marys, Defiance, and Van Wert all capable of being #2 or even forcing another tie for first. Elida and Bath showed last year they cannot be overlooked. Will St Marys have another slow start and strong finish? Will Defiance have another strong start and slow finish? Can Celina replace big playmaker Braylon Gabes? Will Elida start 5-0? The league has a meat grinder of a schedule with some schools fairing better than others on the scheduling side, 2025 will bring a change up of league games. Celina plays St Marys and VW in weeks 2 & 3 and Defiance and Wapak in 9 & 10. VW gets Celina, St Marys, Defiance, and Wapak 3-6, Defiance gets Wapak, St Marys, and VW weeks 2-4. Wapak gets Defiance, St Marys, and VW in weeks 2, 4, & 5. Elida fairs the worst of all with Celina, Defiance, Wapak, St Marys, and VW weeks 6-10. Bath gets Celina, Defiance, Wapak, and St Marys weeks 7-10, which is also a tough draw.

Looks like we may finally have better than a 5-5 type week 1. There are 3 games that are easy wins, 2 more I'd be surprised if the WBL team DIDN'T win, and only 2 I'd give them absolutely no shot in. That means 5-5 floor, 8-2 ceiling with 6-4 or 7-3 likely.

 

[ctown14]

Not crazy at all, they just kept getting better last year and we're playing their best end of the year. I see a clear cut top 4 this year with VW in 5th and Elida in 6th being the first question marks....it's not crazy at all that Bath gets into the 5th place discussion and maybe even catches a top 4 team sleeping.

Bath lost to Kenton by 4, lost to Defiance by 1, so there is 2 more wins if a play or two went their way. Bath also played Celina tight for 2.5 quarters.

 

[ctown14]

Looks like we may finally have better than a 5-5 type week 1. There are 3 games that are easy wins, 2 more I'd be surprised if the WBL team DIDN'T win, and only 2 I'd give them absolutely no shot in. That means 5-5 floor, 8-2 ceiling with 6-4 or 7-3 likely.

I would agree with those projections, would love to see 8-2.

 

[PreacherZay]

Anyone know what wbl scrimmage schedules are looking like?

I know Celina scrimmages Bellefontaine next week and then their coldwater scrimmage is the following week. Haven’t seen anyone else’s

 

[tucson]

Anyone know what wbl scrimmage schedules are looking like?

I know Celina scrimmages Bellefontaine next week and then their coldwater scrimmage is the following week. Haven’t seen anyone else’s

This is what I found online:

Bath
8/10 vs Columbus Grove/Delphos St. John's
8/15 @ Lima Central Catholic

Defiance
8/10 @ Liberty Center
8/15 vs Otsego

Elida
8/10 @ St. Henry
8/16 vs Carey

Kenton
8/10 @ Fort Loramie
8/16 vs. Clyde

Ottawa-Glandorf
8/10 @ Perrysburg
8/16 vs St. Henry

Shawnee
8/9 vs Spencerville
8/14 vs Delphos St John's

St Marys
8/9 @ Piqua
8/16 @ Marion Local

Van Wert
8/16 vs Crestview

Wapak
8/10 @ Coldwater
8/16 vs Minster

 

[Upside]

Word I'm hearing is that Bath will be very good up front on both sides of the ball and if they can get things going in the defensive secondary they could have a solid season.

As far as Wapak and ML I could see why Flyer fans aren't too shot in the butt with a 3 hour 40 minute drive.

 

[dhsdog06]

Word I'm hearing is that Bath will be very good up front on both sides of the ball and if they can get things going in the defensive secondary they could have a solid season.

As far as Wapak and ML I could see why Flyer fans aren't too shot in the butt with a 3 hour 40 minute drive.

That's one year and then they play St. Marys. They'll be fine.

 

[ctown14]

That's one year and then they play St. Marys. They'll be fine.

I just hope the whole season is not dominated by Wapak not playing Marion.

 

[Thavoice]

Word I'm hearing is that Bath will be very good up front on both sides of the ball and if they can get things going in the defensive secondary they could have a solid season.

As far as Wapak and ML I could see why Flyer fans aren't too shot in the butt with a 3 hour 40 minute drive.

MSML, and the MAC, is supposed to be way, way downt his year so that long trip for them and a probable win is better than a loss against wapak

 

[State2013-1]

I just hope the whole season is not dominated by Wapak not playing Marion.

Just cuz you said it I'll make sure to pop in here after every Wapak win and say they could have played ML

 

[BirdDog10]

https://www.hometownstations.com/sports/2024-countdown-to-kickoff-ottawa-glandorf-st-marys/video_123fdff5-a098-5e8a-ac08-ea7450269fbf.html

 

[scbuckeye99]

Bath lost to Kenton by 4, lost to Defiance by 1, so there is 2 more wins if a play or two went their way. Bath also played Celina tight for 2.5 quarters.

To play devil's advocate here for a moment. All 4 of Bath's wins in 2023 were by a TD or less. So while Bath could've should've would've beaten Defiance and Kenton they could just have easily lost to Shawnee (beat a team that finished 0-10 by 1 point in OT)), New Bremen (won by 7), Elida (won by 4), OG (won by 7). So while Bath could've gone maybe 6-5, if some things don't go their way they could've gone 0-10 again.

 

[the_beezer]

It's over ML won all 3 time to move on We had our chance and as the games went on they got better and closer but ML was always the best coached. Wapak needs to worry about Defense this year because the St. Marys running game looks like on paper as almost unstoppable and if they can have any sort of decent QB play they could have a better offense than Wapak. Wapak is the opposite a very strong passing game with a running game that has no real starter after losing a stud running back in Knous. The defense will need Houser to play defense something Im told he doesnt want to do just play TE.

 

[PreacherZay]

It's over ML won all 3 time to move on We had our chance and as the games went on they got better and closer but ML was always the best coached. Wapak needs to worry about Defense this year because the St. Marys running game looks like on paper as almost unstoppable and if they can have any sort of decent QB play they could have a better offense than Wapak. Wapak is the opposite a very strong passing game with a running game that has no real starter after losing a stud running back in Knous. The defense will need Houser to play defense something Im told he doesnt want to do just play TE.

St Marys is probably gonna have a really good defense this year too

 

[TiGgEr3]

Didn't realize that St. Henry goes from a 2-year deal playing St. Marys this and last year to a deal with Celina starting next year until Coach Bader remarked about it and the South game this year being a 1 and done fill in deal.