CHL 2024/2025 preview/season thread

[4GX]

The team that just got beat 35-0 in week 10 right???

How good the MAC is is hard to wrap your brain around. Marion Local beat Coldwater 35-0 to set the new state record for most consecutive wins at 58. Until that game, Coldwater was 9-0 and only played 1 close game which was Minster (only 2 losses are Coldwater and Marion Local). You could pull a bottom-feeder MAC team and they would be a 8-9 win CHL team playing a traditional CHL schedule and I'm pretty sure the usual cream of the crop (Marion Local & Coldwater) would beat majority of the D2 schools in the state, despite being the approximate size of Deer Park and Lockland. I get they don't have soccer and if you're a boy in the fall, it's band, cross country, or football but to have a school that size, with limited numbers to choose from and be that dominant on a yearly basis, it's truly a special area for football.

It's hard to say about the MAC schools' likely results if/when they ever stepped up to play much larger schools-- when they do, it tends to be against really mediocre teams (e.g.- Coldwater beating Oak Hills soundly last year)... I tend to think the best Division 1 and 2 schools would beat Coldwater and ML, if for no other reason than they are (generally) not playing many guys both ways-- whereas ML and Coldwater are playing practically everybody both ways...

 

[robertbob9876]

I have no inside insights, but last year I think the coaches agreed to hold off on announcing who was named all-conference, etc., until after the last team was eliminated from the playoffs. Some teams went ahead and started publicizing earlier, but some waited until the last team (Wyoming) was eliminated, or really close to it, before sharing who was recognized for what. So not sure if they'll publicize awards/recognition right away for football.

WYO coaches will probably find a way to have a Hancock combo of COY/POY. 10-0.

 

[4GX]

WYO coaches will probably find a way to have a Hancock combo of COY/POY. 10-0.

I'll bet on Taylor coach-- and Hancock as player.

 

[bignate]

WYO coaches will probably find a way to have a Hancock combo of COY/POY. 10-0.

Please expand on this brilliant statement.

 

[robertbob9876]

Please expand on this brilliant statement.

WYO was 10-0. It would be unfortunate to not have them represented as either/both COY/POY. To have a COY/POY from teams they beat would be epidemic of the participation trophy world.

 

[4GX]

WYO was 10-0. It would be unfortunate to not have them represented as either/both COY/POY. To have a COY/POY from teams they beat would be epidemic of the participation trophy world.

Disagree-- hardly qualifies as any kind of "epidemic" to split the awards (perhaps you were looking for the word "epitomizing" rather than epidemic--but I think that description would STILL be inapt)...
It's easy to make an argument that the Taylor coach faced a higher degree of difficulty in getting 7-8 wins than the Wyoming coach did in getting 10-- and the other coaches in the league are probably both well aware of that viewpoint-- and inclined to pick somebody else than the Wyoming coach (who is hardly beloved among his CHL brethren)... Hancock the player probably deserves it more than anyone-- and will likely get it (senior, arguably the best player, on undefeated league champion)... the Wyoming player will not get any more chances at this recognition... The Wyoming coach will have many more chances... hence, I predict Taylor coach and Wyoming player.

 

[realityking]

Disagree-- hardly qualifies as any kind of "epidemic" to split the awards (perhaps you were looking for the word "epitomizing" rather than epidemic--but I think that description would STILL be inapt)...
It's easy to make an argument that the Taylor coach faced a higher degree of difficulty in getting 7-8 wins than the Wyoming coach did in getting 10-- and the other coaches in the league are probably both well aware of that viewpoint-- and inclined to pick somebody else than the Wyoming coach (who is hardly beloved among his CHL brethren)... Hancock the player probably deserves it more than anyone-- and will likely get it (senior, arguably the best player, on undefeated league champion)... the Wyoming player will not get any more chances at this recognition... The Wyoming coach will have many more chances... hence, I predict Taylor coach and Wyoming player.

I think J. Hancock absolutely deserves to be 1 of 2 players to receive POY this year. Unfortunately for DD, it seems this award is not for the actual POY but Senior of the Year. Wyoming proved they could win with our without Hancock. I mean it is much tougher without him for sure but Coach Hancock has a machine over there and it's next guy up. Don't get it confused, there is not another Joel Hancock on that roster! The point is, they have a lot of talent. What is IH without DD? Avg. 10 yds. per carry and only one game under 100 yards where Wyoming just owned the line of scrimmage. Taylor who has a really strong Defense gave up 245 to DD. I think these are the front runners but IMO, If DD doesn't get it, it is a rigged system and just needs new names for the awards!
Coach of the year, IMO it's Dransman but I wouldn't lose sleep if he or Hancock got it, he is more than deserving!

 

[4GX]

I think J. Hancock absolutely deserves to be 1 of 2 players to receive POY this year. Unfortunately for DD, it seems this award is not for the actual POY but Senior of the Year. Wyoming proved they could win with our without Hancock. I mean it is much tougher without him for sure but Coach Hancock has a machine over there and it's next guy up. Don't get it confused, there is not another Joel Hancock on that roster! The point is, they have a lot of talent. What is IH without DD? Avg. 10 yds. per carry and only one game under 100 yards where Wyoming just owned the line of scrimmage. Taylor who has a really strong Defense gave up 245 to DD. I think these are the front runners but IMO. If DD doesn't get it, it is a rigged system and just needs new names for the awards!
Coach of the year, IMO it's Dransman but I wouldn't lose sleep if he or Hancock got it, he is more than deserving!

This is true-- Hancock will win it--as the most deserving Senior in the CHL.

 

[93 red ls]

There are LOTS of scenario's that could have unfolded Sun for COY voting.

Dransman went to HS/College w/ 2-3 on staff at Reading I could see Cripe nominating Dransman.
We all know of the stewart/Hancock "bad blood" so I dont see Madeira nominating Hancock.

 

[PE879194]

WYO coaches will probably find a way to have a Hancock combo of COY/POY. 10-0.

I am sure Coach Hancock is far more focused on going 1-0 this week, and for as long as he can make this run last, than he is on any individual recognition for either himself or Joel. Whatever others around the league may think of Coach Hancock, those close to the program know that he's far more about team than any individual accomplishments, especially for himself. And no award is going to ease the sting of losing the opportunity to coach his son even one more game. That was hard. Feel much worse for Joel, a kid who bounced back from a pretty brutal injury in the first game last season only to come back and be really effective down the stretch. To go out that way again and miss that his last opportunity at a deep playoff run with his teammates after working so hard to come back from injury is tough. And while he gets a lot of attention for what he does on the offensive side, he has been a defensive starter and impact player throughout high school, even when he wasn't get a lot of carries in the CJ Hester days.

 

[Fun2Bme]

This is true-- Hancock will win it--as the most deserving Senior in the CHL.

He was also the best player on the best team. Helps a little bit LOL

I think Taylor's coach win COY and I bet it's almost unanimous. I'm not sure you vote for yourself but I bet he gets the other votes. This is Taylor's best team in 10 years and the 2nd time Taylor has won more than 6 games in a season the past 30+ years - I'm sure the Taylor guys will happily tell me the correct answer here. It might only be the 3rd or 4th time Taylor has had a winning season the past 30+ years

 

[93 red ls]

He was also the best player on the best team. Helps a little bit LOL

I think Taylor's coach win COY and I bet it's almost unanimous. I'm not sure you vote for yourself but I bet he gets the other votes. This is Taylor's best team in 10 years and the 2nd time Taylor has won more than 6 games in a season the past 30+ years - I'm sure the Taylor guys will happily tell me the correct answer here.

I'm a Taylor guy and I 10000% un biasedly believe Dransman Deserves it.

team went from 4-6 to 8-2
Beat IH 1st time in 10 years
top 8 team in R16
Avg'd giving up 13 ppg (last year was almost 30!)

 

[robertbob9876]

What we should all do is just make everyone happy:

COY: Hancock / Dransman
POY: Hancock / Daniel

There is your outcome.

 

[seventeenseventysix]

He was also the best player on the best team. Helps a little bit LOL

I think Taylor's coach win COY and I bet it's almost unanimous. I'm not sure you vote for yourself but I bet he gets the other votes. This is Taylor's best team in 10 years and the 2nd time Taylor has won more than 6 games in a season the past 30+ years - I'm sure the Taylor guys will happily tell me the correct answer here. It might only be the 3rd or 4th time Taylor has had a winning season the past 30+ years

This team is better than 2014 team that lost to Wyoming in the playoffs. That team did not have an offensive star like McStarland

 

[yj_runfan]

This team is better than 2014 team that lost to Wyoming in the playoffs. That team did not have an offensive star like McStarland

That fact alone does not make this years team better.

 

[93 red ls]

This team is better than 2014 team that lost to Wyoming in the playoffs. That team did not have an offensive star like McStarland

no but I followed that team just as close as I do the current team. We 100000% lost the regular season game b/c of coaching IMO.

We had a drive inside the 10 w/ less than 2 minutes to go , had a 4th and goal from the 5 we decided to go for it instead of a FG. would have made it 10-9 with very little time left. Mike wood (Taylor kicker that year) was a pretty good kicker , maybe one of the best we have had at Taylor. Shoulda Woulda Coulda.

Koty Kendall was a STUD for taylor from that team 1400+ all purpose yards 18 TD

 

[4GX]

This team is better than 2014 team that lost to Wyoming in the playoffs. That team did not have an offensive star like McStarland

ALWAAAAAYS comes back to that chip off the ol' block, dudn't it, Pops? (Unk, Bro, Cuz, whatever-- this ain't just a passing fancy)...

 

[93 red ls]

taking a look at the Taylor Urbana matchup a little more in depth. Teams seem to match up very well and very similar #'s

........................................................ Taylor .................................. Urbana
record vs teams beat ...................27-53 ....................23-47
Record vs teams lost to ................. 19-1 ..................23-7
Total pts scored .............................. 283 .................. 282
Total pts allowed ............................131 ..................... 191
total passing yds ...........................2117 .......................1763
total rushing yds ............................1505 ........................1459

Urbana QB1 (sophomore) 126-245 2117yds 21 TD 8 INT (also has 426 rushing yds)
Taylor QB1 (sophomore) 120-208 1752yds 21 TD 9 INT

Urbana RB1 (Junior) 481yds on 109 carries 12 TD
Taylor RB1 (Junior) 750yds on 115 carries 10 TD

Urbana WR1 (junior) 836 yds on 53 catches 6 TD
Taylor WR1 (junior) 862 yds on 57 catches 11 TD

CRAZY how similar their #'s are!

 

[Fun2Bme]

What we should all do is just make everyone happy:

COY: Hancock / Dransman
POY: Hancock / Daniel

There is your outcome.

The coaches may elect to just go w/ 2 offensive guys and tag one as a 'defensive" POY. This happened my senior year. Our RB was 2nd in the city in rushing (over 1900yds) and 20+ TD's but Wyoming had PJ Pope and made it to the regional finals. Our guy was defensive POY and PJ was Offensive POY. Our guy was a good defensive player but was a safety and didn't really have the stat card filled out.

 

[Yeoman]

I don't have Wyoming's schedule from that season-- but I'm betting that the MVIL members (in 1962) then included some combination of Reading, Lockland, Greenhills, St. Bernard, Finneytown, North College Hill, and (maybe) Deer Park...

That's just about right. I'm not absolutely certain this is accurate but I think this was the MVIL in 1962:

Deer Park (their last year before joining the EHL I think?)
Greenhills
Lockland
NCH
Reading
St. Bernard
Wyoming

It may be hard to believe now, but Finneytown was too big for these schools. They were in the American division of the HCL until sometime in the early to middle 70s.

 

[4GX]

That's just about right. I'm not absolutely certain this is accurate but I think this was the MVIL in 1962:

Deer Park (their last year before joining the EHL I think?)
Greenhills
Lockland
NCH
Reading
St. Bernard
Wyoming

It may be hard to believe now, but Finneytown was too big for these schools. They were in the American division of the HCL until sometime in the early to middle 70s.

I think the MVIL pre-dated the HC(S)L-- the Hamilton County Suburban League... Most of these schools left the MVIL for the HCSL-- either American (bigger schools) or National (smaller schools) some time in the mid-60's... Deer Park went to the Eastern Hills League, in the mid-60's... then, in ~1985, the HCSL disbanded-- and a number of the smaller schools from the HCSL-N (mostly) formed the CHL-- along with Deer Park, Madeira, Mariemont, and (later?) Taylor... initially, I think it would have included Greenhills, Reading, Wyoming, and Finneytown from the HCSL... in ~1990, Greenhills was consolidated with Forest Park (into Winton Woods)... I'm wondering if the disappearance of Greenhills precipitated the addition of Taylor to the CHL... Taylor has always seemed like the odd duck in the CHL (geographically).

 

[Quaker4]

Greenhills was never part of the CHL. Loveland and CAPE were included in the beginning.

 

[Chop Stix]

On the topic of CHL history, it's crazy to look back 20 years and see how competitive the league was during the 2004 season.

Indian Hill were the league champs at 9-1 and lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs to St. Mary's Memorial who would make it to the D3 State Championship game. They had a couple starters go D1. Their QB Scherpenberg was a junior that season and still remains one of the league's best pure passers of all time to date.

Indian Hill's only regular season loss came at the hands of Finneytown who accomplished what I consider to be the greatest CHL upset of all time. Finneytown would finish 5-5 and squeak into the #8 spot in R16 (for their only playoff appearance in school history) off the strength of the IH win. That FT team deserved their own 30 for 30 documentary. Some incredible stories from that group.

Wyoming finished 7-3 and missed the playoffs as the #10 seed in R12 due to two tough losses to open the season against Mt Healthy and Roger Bacon. They were led by OT Robert Brewster who go on to be a 3rd round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys. They had a mediocre QB situation that year that ultimately limited their ceiling though.

Reading would go 6-4 in the regular season and finish as the #4 seed in R16. They would beat Oakwood in the first round before losing to Jonathan Alder 35-7 in the 2nd round. Finneytown lost to Jonathan Alder 35-21 in the first round but actually came very close to tying the game until a late 4th quarter pick 6 deep in Alder territory sealed their fate.

Mariemont finished 6-4 and just missed the playoffs as the #9 seed in R16. 5 of their 7 CHL games were decided by single-digits. The other two games were multi-TD wins over Madeira and Taylor.

Madeira and Taylor both finished 4-6 but had very competitive teams. Taylor had one of the league's best two-way players in Tomaska (sp?) and played a Division 2 Norwood team that finished the season 9-1 very tight in their first game of the season (Norwood won 10-6). Taylor beat a 6-3 NCH team in their next game before going 2-5 in CHL play. Madeira beat a 6-4 CCD team and a 7-3 CHCA team during their first two games but also went 2-5 in the CHL. Madeira lost their final game of the the season against a 6-4 D2 Aiken team in double OT.

Finally, Deer Park was just starting their mid-2000s program ascent as they beat a 6-4 D3 New Richmond team to start the season and blew out D4 Bethel-Tate 40-6 to start 2-0. They would lose their next 8 games, but played Mariemont tough (18-13) and Norwood as well (27-19) in their final game of the season.

 

[93 red ls]

Madeira and Taylor both finished 4-6 but had very competitive teams. Taylor had one of the league's best two-way players in Tomaska (sp?) and played a Division 2 Norwood team that finished the season 9-1 very tight in their first game of the season (Norwood won 10-6). Taylor beat a 6-3 NCH team in their next game before going 2-5 in CHL play. Madeira beat a 6-4 CCD team and a 7-3 CHCA team during their first two games but also went 2-5 in the CHL. Madeira lost their final game of the the season against a 6-4 D2 Aiken team in double OT.

Tamaska was a stud! I believe he still holds the school career rushing record. He was the 2004 Enquirer D4 POY. He ran for 1400 and 15 TD his senior year. He wrestled too and had close to 100 wins. He actually went to Eastern KY on scholarship! He changed majors i think to criminal justice. Now he is a Ham Co k9 officer!

 

[93 red ls]

Early 2000's Taylor was competitive but we didnt have dogs that Reading/wyoming had (or should i say lockland kids LOL) Pope , Wynn those kids were on another level.

my senior year (04') same story we played Norwood (who was 9-1) tough lost like 10-7 or something close like that. Wyoming we had lost by 2 or 3 TD but it was close in the 1st half. In 04' the only team I can recall that really whooped us was Mariemont I think they put up 40+ on us.

 

[UnTouchableVoL33]

Early 2000's Taylor was competitive but we didnt have dogs that Reading/wyoming had (or should i say lockland kids LOL) Pope , Wynn those kids were on another level.

my senior year (04') same story we played Norwood (who was 9-1) tough lost like 10-7 or something close like that. Wyoming we had lost by 2 or 3 TD but it was close in the 1st half. In 04' the only team I can recall that really whooped us was Mariemont I think they put up 40+ on us.

I graduated 2001 at Reading and Wynn was the only transfer for our final four run in football his junior year our senior class was huge in sports that year. So 1 Lockland kid

 

[Chop Stix]

Early 2000's Taylor was competitive but we didnt have dogs that Reading/wyoming had (or should i say lockland kids LOL) Pope , Wynn those kids were on another level.

my senior year (04') same story we played Norwood (who was 9-1) tough lost like 10-7 or something close like that. Wyoming we had lost by 2 or 3 TD but it was close in the 1st half. In 04' the only team I can recall that really whooped us was Mariemont I think they put up 40+ on us.

Reading had 2 Seniors from Finneytown come over and shack up in an apartment for that 2004 season after they didn't hit it off well with the new FT coach. Neither were anywhere close to Wynn's caliber. One was an all-league RB. The other was a less impactful WR/Safety.

 

[psavitt05]

Indian Hill's only regular season loss came at the hands of Finneytown who accomplished what I consider to be the greatest CHL upset of all time. Finneytown would finish 5-5 and squeak into the #8 spot in R16 (for their only playoff appearance in school history) off the strength of the IH win. That FT team deserved their own 30 for 30 documentary. Some incredible stories from that group.

I went to Finneytown, 04 was my senior year. Didn't play football but went to all the games. 20 years later and still not sure how we won that game. Will always be a great memory from high school

 

[Fun2Bme]

On the topic of CHL history, it's crazy to look back 20 years and see how competitive the league was during the 2004 season.

Indian Hill were the league champs at 9-1 and lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs to St. Mary's Memorial who would make it to the D3 State Championship game. They had a couple starters go D1. Their QB Scherpenberg was a junior that season and still remains one of the league's best pure passers of all time to date.

Indian Hill's only regular season loss came at the hands of Finneytown who accomplished what I consider to be the greatest CHL upset of all time. Finneytown would finish 5-5 and squeak into the #8 spot in R16 (for their only playoff appearance in school history) off the strength of the IH win. That FT team deserved their own 30 for 30 documentary. Some incredible stories from that group.

Wyoming finished 7-3 and missed the playoffs as the #10 seed in R12 due to two tough losses to open the season against Mt Healthy and Roger Bacon. They were led by OT Robert Brewster who go on to be a 3rd round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys. They had a mediocre QB situation that year that ultimately limited their ceiling though.

Reading would go 6-4 in the regular season and finish as the #4 seed in R16. They would beat Oakwood in the first round before losing to Jonathan Alder 35-7 in the 2nd round. Finneytown lost to Jonathan Alder 35-21 in the first round but actually came very close to tying the game until a late 4th quarter pick 6 deep in Alder territory sealed their fate.

Mariemont finished 6-4 and just missed the playoffs as the #9 seed in R16. 5 of their 7 CHL games were decided by single-digits. The other two games were multi-TD wins over Madeira and Taylor.

Madeira and Taylor both finished 4-6 but had very competitive teams. Taylor had one of the league's best two-way players in Tomaska (sp?) and played a Division 2 Norwood team that finished the season 9-1 very tight in their first game of the season (Norwood won 10-6). Taylor beat a 6-3 NCH team in their next game before going 2-5 in CHL play. Madeira beat a 6-4 CCD team and a 7-3 CHCA team during their first two games but also went 2-5 in the CHL. Madeira lost their final game of the the season against a 6-4 D2 Aiken team in double OT.

Finally, Deer Park was just starting their mid-2000s program ascent as they beat a 6-4 D3 New Richmond team to start the season and blew out D4 Bethel-Tate 40-6 to start 2-0. They would lose their next 8 games, but played Mariemont tough (18-13) and Norwood as well (27-19) in their final game of the season.

I think you could pick any given year in the 90's and make an argument as well; especially the early 90's up till 94 or 95 - one of those was CAPE's last season.

 

[Yeoman]

I think the MVIL pre-dated the HC(S)L-- the Hamilton County Suburban League... Most of these schools left the MVIL for the HCSL-- either American (bigger schools) or National (smaller schools) some time in the mid-60's... Deer Park went to the Eastern Hills League, in the mid-60's... then, in ~1985, the HCSL disbanded-- and a number of the smaller schools from the HCSL-N (mostly) formed the CHL-- along with Deer Park, Madeira, Mariemont, and (later?) Taylor... initially, I think it would have included Greenhills, Reading, Wyoming, and Finneytown from the HCSL... in ~1990, Greenhills was consolidated with Forest Park (into Winton Woods)... I'm wondering if the disappearance of Greenhills precipitated the addition of Taylor to the CHL... Taylor has always seemed like the odd duck in the CHL (geographically).

Taylor was the odd duck in the old National Division too, along with Harrison. The other schools in the western half of the county were all big...and even more so now that Harrison has developed.

Found an interesting wiki page on this...

Ohio Southwest Region defunct athletic conferences - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Both leagues were very old: the MVIL back to the mid 30s, the HCL back to 1921 (!) when it apparently included schools like Terrace Park, Glendale and Sharonville.

There are some mistakes on that list though--some schools are listed as charter members that didn't exist back then (though I think they all joined the league immediately when they were created). Finneytown's first year of football must have been 1961 (they might have had a JV team the year before but they didn't have any seniors); I think Forest Park started in 1972.

Finneytown was definitely in the American in 1971-1972--I have vivid memories of the two games with Oak Hills that decided the league basketball title. Then Colerain split into two big schools, Anderson split into two big schools, and Finneytown moved down. I think Greenhills followed the same path, although Forest Park wound up in the American.