D3 Region 9 2025

Jaws31

Jaws31

"He'll never play there"
Since the regions are now finalized I figured it would be a good time to start a region 9 thread.

Ursuline should be the favorite as we are still loaded.

Benedictine is new to the region and should be a contender.

Im sure Aurora, CVCA, VASJ and Chardon will all be in the mix as well. Kenston too.

Should be a great year!
 
 
Schools in R9:

Alliance (Alliance)
Aurora (Aurora)
Bedford (Bedford)
Benedictine High School (Cleveland)
Brush (Lyndhurst)
Canfield (Canfield)
Chaney (Youngstown)
Chardon (Chardon)
Collinwood (Cleveland)
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (Cuyahoga Falls)
East (Youngstown)
East Community Learning Center (Akron)
Ellet Community Learning Center (Akron)
Geneva (Geneva)
Gilmour Academy (Gates Mills)
Harvey (Painesville)
Hawken (Gates Mills)
Howland (Warren)
Kenston (Chagrin Falls)
Lakeside (Ashtabula)
Lutheran East (Cleveland Hts)
Madison (Madison)
Maple Heights (Maple Heights)
Tallmadge (Tallmadge)
Theodore Roosevelt (Kent)
Ursuline (Youngstown)
Villa Angela-St Joseph (Cleveland)
 
Added for 2025:
Benedictine High School (Cleveland) (10-3)
Lutheran East (Cleveland Hts) (9-2)

Lost from 2024:
Marlington (Alliance) (2-8)
University School (Hunting Valley) (4-5)
 
Jaws31 said:
Since the regions are now finalized I figured it would be a good time to start a region 9 thread.

Ursuline should be the favorite as we are still loaded.

Benedictine is new to the region and should be a contender.

Im sure Aurora, CVCA, VASJ and Chardon will all be in the mix as well. Kenston too.

Should be a great year!
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Here is my take- will rank in order and by tiers:

Tier One- (will contend and has a legit chance at R9 title
1. Ursuline
2. CVCA
3. VASJ
4. Maple Hts.
5. Benedictine
6. Aurora
7. Kenston
8. Chardon

Tier Two- (will make playoffs 100%)
9. Gilmour
10. Hawken
11. Madison
12. Canfield
13. Tallmadge
14. Akron East
15. Geneva

Tier three (has an outside shot)
16. Bedford
17. Alliance
18. Chaney
19. Y. East
20. Luth. East

Tier 4 (no shot)
21. Harvey
22. Ellet
23. Lakeside
24. Howland
25. Brush
26. Kent Roosevelt
27. Collinwood
 
CVCGURU said:
Here is my take- will rank in order and by tiers:

Tier One- (will contend and has a legit chance at R9 title
1. Ursuline
2. CVCA
3. VASJ
4. Maple Hts.
5. Benedictine
6. Aurora
7. Kenston
8. Chardon

Tier Two- (will make playoffs 100%)
9. Gilmour
10. Hawken
11. Madison
12. Canfield
13. Tallmadge
14. Akron East
15. Geneva

Tier three (has an outside shot)
16. Bedford
17. Alliance
18. Chaney
19. Y. East
20. Luth. East

Tier 4 (no shot)
21. Harvey
22. Ellet
23. Lakeside
24. Howland
25. Brush
26. Kent Roosevelt
27. Collinwood
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Great list. My tier one would be a little different.

1. Ursuline
2. Aurora
3. CVCA
4. VASJ
5. Benedictine
6. Maple Hts
7. Kenston
8. Chardon

Aurora is physical and well coached, they gave us the toughest test in the region by far.

CVCA has some nice players but losing to Gilmour is concerning.

VASJ has some dudes too and I'm sure they hit the portal hard.......but Rotsky.

Bene could be the wild card here. Not sure what they have returning. They could move up this list once the season gets going.

Maple Hts isn't very good on tape and they got crushed by Gilmour.

Kenston and Chardon are always in contention but I think they have a ways to go to beat the top 2 or 3 teams in the region.
 
I’ll give a TL;DR on Bene for 2025

Very experienced line play. 7 players back who had significant snaps last year

3 year starting qb coming back

Lost nearly every offensive skill position to graduation, but a couple of difference makers should be ready to step in.

Plays Gilmour first game of the season which could give a preview of how they’ll fit into the region.
 
Obviously I’m a Chardon homer, but to see everyone’s Tier 1 with Chardon ranked so low feels like a slap in the face. Obviously everyone’s entitled to their opinion and this why we have forums, but geez.

2020 - State Champs
2021 - State Champs
2022 - Regional Final (close loss to eventual State Champ Canfield)
2023 - Final 4 (pretty easily defeating a 13-0 Ursuline team everyone had picked in Region 9)
2024 - 2nd Round

Just my opinion, but having Aurora, Kenston, Benedictine, VASJ, ect. ranked higher makes no sense to me.

Thank goodness we actually play the games.
 
topperbounce said:
Obviously I’m a Chardon homer, but to see everyone’s Tier 1 with Chardon ranked so low feels like a slap in the face. Obviously everyone’s entitled to their opinion and this why we have forums, but geez.

2020 - State Champs
2021 - State Champs
2022 - Regional Final (close loss to eventual State Champ Canfield)
2023 - Final 4 (pretty easily defeating a 13-0 Ursuline team everyone had picked in Region 9)
2024 - 2nd Round

Just my opinion, but having Aurora, Kenston, Benedictine, VASJ, ect. ranked higher makes no sense to me.

Thank goodness we actually play the games.
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The only thing we have to go on is last season when it comes to the preseason. The kids that played in 2020 and 2021 aren't going to be on the field. Chardon is a good program that knows how to win but they lost to CVCA who lost to Gilmour who got beat in the Regional championship game 54-0. I know that playing the who beat who game isn't rock solid but when it's that obvious....

How many starters return from last year on either side of the ball? Losing the head coach has to mean something. Hiring within probably helps.
 
topperbounce said:
2020 - State Champs
2021 - State Champs
2022 - Regional Final (close loss to eventual State Champ Canfield)
2023 - Final 4 (pretty easily defeating a 13-0 Ursuline team everyone had picked in Region 9)
2024 - 2nd Round
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In 2020 Chardon was the top team in D-III without a shadow of a doubt, no one had much of a chance they were exceptional and dominated.
In 2021 Canfield simply did not execute and it cost them and have to give credit to Chardon for an excellent game plan and executing at a high level, I think the teams very evenly matched really.
In 2022 I think Chardon was the 3rd best team in the state for D-III FWIW. Bloom-Carroll the Runner-Up was not even close to the level of Chardon and Ursuline in 2022.
1. Canfield
2. Ursuline
3. Chardon
In 2023 TCC was far and away the #1 team in D-III, but I think Ursuline was actually a little better than Chardon, I think if they played 10 times Ursuline wins 6 out of 10. But I have to give Chardon credit for knocking them off, as they say they play the games for a reason.

Even so Chardon has consistently been one of the top teams in the state and is usually a threat to contend for the state championship.
Canfield will be terrible again unfortunately, if they do anything in the playoffs I will be shocked, they will be lucky to make the playoffs if region 9 is as competitive as usual.
 
Jaws31 said:
The only thing we have to go on is last season when it comes to the preseason. The kids that played in 2020 and 2021 aren't going to be on the field. Chardon is a good program that knows how to win but they lost to CVCA who lost to Gilmour who got beat in the Regional championship game 54-0. I know that playing the who beat who game isn't rock solid but when it's that obvious....

How many starters return from last year on either side of the ball? Losing the head coach has to mean something. Hiring within probably helps.
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Chardon is a blue blood program, not a “good” program, just like Ursuline.

We have enough coming back, and talented new comers, to compete with anyone in DIII, with the exception of Watterson and TCC.

3 Division 1 lineman will be able to open holes against most (1 is a senior and has DI offers, and the other 2 is a Junior and Sophomore who are both getting looks).
 
topperbounce said:
Chardon is a blue blood program, not a “good” program, just like Ursuline.

We have enough coming back, and talented new comers, to compete with anyone in DIII, with the exception of Watterson and TCC.

3 Division 1 lineman will be able to open holes against most (1 is a senior and has DI offers, and the other 2 is a Junior and Sophomore who are both getting looks).
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Confidence is key. Kinda curious though as to why you guys told us no thank you for a week 4 matchup. Dont get me wrong, Perry is a good pickup but it would if been fun to see us play in the regular season.
 
I think Ursuline is a tier of its own in region 9 this upcoming season. Wouldn't be surprised if they broke up the Watty-TCC trilogy
 
Jaws31 said:
Confidence is key. Kinda curious though as to why you guys told us no thank you for a week 4 matchup. Dont get me wrong, Perry is a good pickup but it would if been fun to see us play in the regular season.
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You’ve already asked that in another thread and I answered it. I can’t figure out your motive for asking again, other than to point out our “no thank you” response and that narrative. I will answer AGAIN to provide context to the “no thank you.”

We have rarely scheduled potential Region 9 playoff opponents in our OOC schedule. Makes sense to me say “no thank you” for that reason, rather than Ursuline is so good we’re scared.
 
topperbounce said:
You’ve already asked that in another thread and I answered it. I can’t figure out your motive for asking again, other than to point out our “no thank you” response and that narrative. I will answer AGAIN to provide context to the “no thank you.”

We have rarely scheduled potential Region 9 playoff opponents in our OOC schedule. Makes sense to me say “no thank you” for that reason, rather than Ursuline is so good we’re scared.
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Make sense to me. Conference opponents in the same region are one thing but I wouldn't play non conference inter-region games either with the top competition
 
Also as much as I would love to get on the Maple train as an neo inner ring guy we will have to see the trenches first. They will be electric at the skill position and Qb but will they be able to protect the QB/stop the run??
 
topperbounce said:
You’ve already asked that in another thread and I answered it. I can’t figure out your motive for asking again, other than to point out our “no thank you” response and that narrative. I will answer AGAIN to provide context to the “no thank you.”

We have rarely scheduled potential Region 9 playoff opponents in our OOC schedule. Makes sense to me say “no thank you” for that reason, rather than Ursuline is so good we’re scared.
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No motive, just forgot that I asked. You really dig that lockerroom material type stuff. "Motives" and calling a team good instead of a blue blood and all that. Pretty touchy for someone with so much confidence.
 
NEOfan said:
I think Ursuline is a tier of its own in region 9 this upcoming season. Wouldn't be surprised if they broke up the Watty-TCC trilogy
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As much as I'd love to see that happen just not sure Watty can be defeated...they just have so much coming back. I can see getting there, but many things would need to fall into place.
On a side note I'm really enjoying this Jaws vs. topper banter...very entertaining:) I do agree though...topper you seem very touchy:) Just chill buddy!
 
cinco said:
As much as I'd love to see that happen just not sure Watty can be defeated...they just have so much coming back. I can see getting there, but many things would need to fall into place.
On a side note I'm really enjoying this Jaws vs. topper banter...very entertaining:) I do agree though...topper you seem very touchy:) Just chill buddy!
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Watty is very, very good. Id love to se us match up. Like you said though, a lot of things have to line up.

This time of year banter is what makes Yappi go round and round.😀
 
cinco said:
As much as I'd love to see that happen just not sure Watty can be defeated...they just have so much coming back. I can see getting there, but many things would need to fall into place.
On a side note I'm really enjoying this Jaws vs. topper banter...very entertaining:) I do agree though...topper you seem very touchy:) Just chill buddy!
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As a Watty fan, I’m thankful we usually get paired with R12. I think Ursuline is right there with Watterson & TCC. It’s advantageous to have Ursuline & TCC beat up on each other in the semis. Looking for ward to the regular season matchup in ‘26.
 
cinco said:
As much as I'd love to see that happen just not sure Watty can be defeated...they just have so much coming back. I can see getting there, but many things would need to fall into place.
On a side note I'm really enjoying this Jaws vs. topper banter...very entertaining:) I do agree though...topper you seem very touchy:) Just chill buddy!
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Would definitely be a tall task but I do think yall will be elite as well. And I love the banter as well lol.
 
NEOfan said:
Would definitely be a tall task but I do think yall will be elite as well. And I love the banter as well lol.
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To beat watty, you have to shut down spread passing, inside run game AND WHEN REQUIRED LIKE CHAMPIOSNHIP GAME QB option. A few teams took away 1, TCC took away 2 first half but all three is difficult as they flip back and forth between them.
 
My 2 cents on Chardon is from an outsider perspective is it makes sense to predict a drop off but if you know anything about the true makeup/culture of that program you just can't count them out especially if they are working with 3 D1 OL. Even with Hewitt gone that is one of the last communities where parents turn their kids over to the coaches and let the coaches coach Chardon/Heights week 2 will tell me a lot. Heights cupboard is not bare whatsoer even though Stephens is gone. I might have to go to that one.
 
topperbounce said:
Obviously I’m a Chardon homer, but to see everyone’s Tier 1 with Chardon ranked so low feels like a slap in the face. Obviously everyone’s entitled to their opinion and this why we have forums, but geez.

2020 - State Champs
2021 - State Champs
2022 - Regional Final (close loss to eventual State Champ Canfield)
2023 - Final 4 (pretty easily defeating a 13-0 Ursuline team everyone had picked in Region 9)
2024 - 2nd Round

Just my opinion, but having Aurora, Kenston, Benedictine, VASJ, ect. ranked higher makes no sense to me.

Thank goodness we actually play the games.
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Greta program for sure, but based on last years playoff performance, not in top 5 for 2025, until they prove it?
 
I believe Aurora has lost quite a bit from last year's team that led Ursuline 10-9 heading into the 4th quarter.
So it remains to be seen, if they can make a run this year, just like Chardon is a question mark as well with a new coach. Both will still be good, just not great in my opinion. Kenston may be rebuilding as well. CVCA returns a boatload of talent. Ursuline will be stacked as usual as will VASJ. Just a little bit of reasoning for my above ranking.
 
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