purple_rein
Member
Nice resume!
Thanks. It was hard to put this one together. I left off 3 state runner-up teams (2001, 2005, 2009) and 2 teams with undefeated regular seasons (1995, 2007).
Nice resume!
That is true they made state by way of forfeit, but colerain was a national powerhouse that year i didnt expect brunswick to win that game. They hung around for a little bit in state with the to be national champions ignatius but they ended up getting beat by 20
2016 or 2017? Maybe 2008/2009?Steubenville Big Red (and these are strictly my own opinions):
1994 This was the best team Big Red ever had but also the unluckiest. During the regular season, we murdered Boardman 37-14 the week after they gave Ignatius their only loss of the season. Iggy ended up state champs in Div I and was ranked 15th in the country in USA Today. Many people thought Big Red had the best team in any division in Ohio that year. We were cruising along until we came to the semifinal game against undefeated West Branch. Early in the second quarter, Big Red was up 21-0 and it seemed like we would win that game and the championship game the following week for sure. To this day I don't know what happened. The wheels came off the wagon. From that point, we could do no right and they could do no wrong. It came down to an onsides kick. West Branch had not even been able to do it in practice. Naturally when they tried it against us, it worked perfectly. They got the ball back late in the game and scored. We got the ball with seconds left and drove for a tying field goal. The ball sailed right over the upright and was called no good. West Branch won 31-28 and won the following week. It was the worst defeat in Big Red's history.
1930 Undefeated, untied, and un-scored-upon. Named state champ.
2005 15-0 and state champ.
2006 15-0 and state champ.
1951 9-1 UPI state champ. Big Red had the three guys who later starred at Iowa, including Calvin Jones, 2-time AA and Outland Trophy winner.
1984 13-0 and state champ.
I'll let someone else fill in the rest.
UpdatingJust going by what I have seen since the mid 90's.
1. 2006- Lost by 1 pt to Hilliard Davidson in 2 OT in the state title game. Only other loss was to St Ignatius. Bart Tanski was a great quarterback
2. 2003-Lost in OT to St Eds in a regional final
3. 2011-Lost to St Ignatius by 6 in a regional final
4. 2007-Lost in the state final to St Xavier in a blowout shutout but at least they got there.
5. 2002-Lost a good game to Warren Harding in a regional final
6. 2012-Got to the final 4 so many will have them higher, but this is the worst Mentor defense I have ever seen. Trubisky and the WR's got hot and were able to be almost perfect to beat Eds/Ignatius back to back in the playoffs. Shame that the D was so bad because even an average D probably wins a state title.
The other 4 (and maybe 1 or 2 other spots) are before I watched them weekly or was even born. 1968 (10-0/beat Massillon 19-0/finished #2 in AP) would be one for sure. 1966 would be another.
I would probably add 1985 state semi final team to this listTroy
1971 10-0 15 D-1 players on this team
1957 9-0
1996 11-1 #1 in final ap poll
1970 10-0
1956 9-0
1997 10-1
1955 9-0
1985 12-1 State semi's
1960 9-1
1946 10-0
Looking at these posts, how good of game would 1971 Warren G. Harding vs. 1971 Troy have been in the era before playoffs? Whew...
If WGH, had Toles, just for the McKinley game, they would have won that, and got into the playoffs. Probably would have won state that yearCan't disagree too much with worm. I still shake my head about the '98 team. Would have loved to see Toles for a full season. Like Scipio, I go back and forth on 71 and 74. While being an old panther, the 72 WWR team was arguably better than all of them, but it does not fit this topic.
I posted this on Facebook a few weeks back & I got a pretty good response from people here in Warren. Of course, a good part of those were from former football players who disagreed with me, but it all made for a great convo. I'm looking forward to hearing from other posters on this topic.
Warren G. Harding
10. 2004 (8-3): Not as loaded as the other teams on this list, but Mario Manningham’s heroics made this a very fun year. Roger Matlock, one of the most underrated quarterbacks in WGH history, threw for 1,370 yards & 14 TDs. There haven’t been many QBs in WGH history with those numbers in a single season. The 30-26 victory over Cleveland Glenville is one of the greatest games that I’ve ever witnessed.
9. 1962 (9-0-1): I have to believe that if it wasn’t for a tie against Mansfield in the season opener, this team would have won WGH’s first ever state title. Massillon owned the poll era (24 AP Poll titles), but the Tigers lost to WGH 20-7. For the season, the Panthers outscored their opponents 382-37. A couple days back, I saw Warren1st speak very highly of this team, so he would have a lot more info on them then I do. I can only go by the scores, and this group was pretty dominant.
8. 2006 (9-4, Region 1 Runner Up): After losing both starting quarterbacks within the first two weeks, this team had every reason to quit on the season. Somebody forgot to tell them that as they won 5 of their last 6 games to make the playoffs. Their victims included two teams that were nationally ranked at the time (Cleveland St. Ignatius & Lakewood St. Edward). If it were not for a loss to a pass happy Mentor squad, the next two weeks could have been pretty interesting.
7. 1998 (8-2): 1998 was the last season in which only 4 teams per region made the playoffs. In week 8, Canton McKinley came back in the 4th quarter to defeat WGH 20-16. WGH finished 5th in the final Region 1 standings. In week 14, Canton McKinley won the Division 1 state championship game by 23 points.
6. 2003 (11-1, Region 1 Quarter-Finalist): This team entered the season ranked as high as #4 in preseason national rankings. For 11 consecutive weeks, they lived up to the hype. They were a heavy favorite to win the Division 1 state title. They were ranked #2 in the country before being upset by Lakewood St. Edward in the second round of the playoffs. In week 15, St. Eds lost to Cincinnati Elder in the Division 1 state championship game.
5. 2001 (11-2, Region 1 Runner Up): Having Maurice Clarett, the 2001 USA Today Offensive Player of the Year & “Mr. Football,” is enough for the hype by itself. One underrated fact about this team is that the defensive starters didn’t get scored on until week 6. In week 2, they gave Cincinnati Moeller their worst loss in school history (55-0). For the season, they scored the most points in WGH history (547) while only giving up 163 points. This season is “the one that got away.”
4. 2002 (14-1, Division 1 State Runner Up): In reality, 2001 was a more dominant team, but 2002 just knew how to win games. Eight of their fifteen games were decided by 7 points or less, but if the clock didn’t read “0:00,” you couldn’t take your foot off the gas on this group of Raiders. Just ask Lakewood St. Edward, who held a 16-15 lead over WGH with 0:19 left. With the St. Eds student section chanting, “OVERATED,” quarterback Mike Kokal threw a 47 yard bomb to then-sophomore Mario Manningham. After a spiked ball, Joe Spain entered the game and kicked a 39 yard field goal to send the Eagles home devastated. Cincinnati Elder’s 21-19 victory over WGH in the state title game still stings, but it didn’t take away from the fact that 2002 was a magical season.
3. 1974 (10-1, Class AAA Champions): They say that football players today are bigger, stronger, and faster than they’ve ever been. While that may be true as a whole, the overall team speed of the 1974 Panthers was something that’s rarely seen at the high school level. Despite the fact that opposing teams knew that WGH was going to run the ball, that didn’t stop them from compiling a school record 3,673 rushing yards in just 12 games. Their 33 point victory over Upper Arlington in week 12 is the 3rd largest blowout in the history of the Class AAA/Division 1 state championship game.
2. 1971 (10-0, Class AAA AP Poll Champs): Many fans say that “AP Poll titles weren’t won on the field,” but I beg to differ. I wasn’t around in 1971, but I know enough about the old days to know that WGH paid heavy dues back then. A football schedule that includes programs the likes of Massillon, Canton McKinley, and Steubenville would be extremely difficult today, but that was even more the case in the 70’s, not to mention that Warren Western Reserve & Niles were both state powerhouses back then as well. In 1971, WGH outscored those five opponents 114-33 and for the season, they outscored all ten of their opponents 322-41. The greatest teams shine in the biggest moments. The ’71 Panthers did just that.
1. 1990 (14-0, Division 1 State Champs): From 1988 to 1995, Cleveland St. Ignatius won 7 state titles. The only one that they didn’t win in that time span was in 1990, which as we know, was won by WGH. Speaking of “Iggy,” it’s highly debatable that if it wasn’t for them, Warren Western Reserve would have closed the book on their proud football history with a state title in 1989. Once the “westsiders” came over to WGH & joined forces with players the likes of Omar Provitt, Chancey Coleman, and Gary Aceto (I had to shout out my boy Aceto, lol), the ingredients for a state takeover were in place. As if it wasn’t enough that the wide receiver trio of “TKO” (short for Thomas Teco Powell, Kendall Richardson, and Omar Provitt) provided many nightmares for opposing defenses, the massive offensive line provided holes that you could drive a truck through. Did I mention that Myron Elzy was a 6’5, 260 pound was the starting fullback? It was all bad for the rest of Ohio in ’90. Long-time fans of Cincinnati Princeton are still having nightmares about Provitt’s performance in the state championship game.
Don’t wait around for FairwoodKing’s response2016 or 2017? Maybe 2008/2009?
Although you can purchase his book, "midgets, monkeys & marionettes" at your local bookstore.Don’t wait around for FairwoodKing’s response
Although you can purchase his book, "midgets, monkeys & marionettes" at your local bookstore.
Only 24 bucks on Amazon for those who are interested.
I didn't realize this is a very old thread until I read your response.Don’t wait around for FairwoodKing’s response
A * to the 68 Team . I kinda know the Defensive Coordinator from that 78 TeamSt. Francis DeSales
10. 1990 - 11-3 State Runner-up, CCL Champs
9. 1996 - 11-3 State Runner-up, CCL Champs, only losses to D1 St. John's and Moeller, and State Championship game
8. 2008 - 13-1, defeated Watterson twice
7. 1994 - 11-1 with one of the most prolific offenses DeSales has ever had, lost a heartbreaker in State Semifinal to one of Steubenville's greatest teams
6. 1964 - 7-0-1, 1st ever CCL Championship team, put DeSales football on the map
5. 1986 - 10-0, outscored opponents 221-56, but missed playoffs as undefeated defending State Champs, this team is the reason that DeSales beefed up its schedule from that point on
4. 1978 - undefeated 10-0 season with only 47 points given up
3. 1998 - State Champions, 13-1, only loss to D1 Westerville South
2. 1997 - State Champions, multiple D1 college players, gave up 6 points per game
1. 1985 - only undefeated State Championship team in our history
Hmm this is fun and a zombie thread.
Anderson Redskins
1. 2007: 13-2 State Champs (may not have been the most talented team but they have the hardware)
2. 2009: 12-1 Regional Finalist (I think they would have won their second d2 title but barely slipped into d1)
3. 2008: 12-3 State Finalist (so close to back to back titles and avenged both regular seasons in the playoffs in regional finals and state semis)
4. 1992: 11-1 Regional Finalist (put Anderson the map. Lost in a tight one on a 4th down to State Runner Up St Xavier)
5. 2003: 9-2 Fought Elder to the death. Damn they were good that year
6. 1996: 9-2 Look another playoff loss to Elder
7. 1994: 9-2 grrr Piqua
8. 1993: 9-1 Missed the playoffs. lost a nail bitter to St Xavier in week 10 (correct me if I am mixing up years in the early 90s and events)
9. 2002: 10-1 Still cant believe we lost to Lebanon in the playoffs
10. 2017: 10-2 Volpenhein was a sight to watch. Tops 2019,2020,2001 and 2000 playoff teams imo.
Nice list here. Personally, I would remove the 2003 team and add the 2000 and 2001 teams. The 2003 senior class (04 graduates) was stellar, but the sophomore and junior classes were not on the same level. 2000 and 2001 had awesome talent, but played ZERO competition during the season. The 2000 team was the first around the area to run the spread, but played nobody until St. X in week 10. I think they were a better team than St. X, but hadn't played anyone up to that point that was a challenge. St. X ended up beating us by 3 at the end due to our own mistakes. Same thing in 2001...went through the season stomping on everyone and played an above average Princeton team first round...they were significantly faster than anything we had seen before...Kind of an embarrassing moment for me personally as Darren Barnett juked me out of my pads twice on the same punt return and left me tackling air. 2002 (my senior year) was VERY disappointing and certainly not how I wanted to end my playing days. I think by that point every team had defended against the spread, and our play calling was very predictable. Again here, I think we were the better team, but Lebanon got the best of us that night and played very good defense.
I also think that if they were on the same field, the 2009 team would take down the 2007 team by 14+ points.
Meant to say 13-10 in #3Canfield
1. 2005 14-1, state runner up. So much talent, lost the state championship 31-29 to Toledo Central Catholic. OSU commit and future NFL wideout Dane Sanzenbacher torched Canfield’s D in the 2nd half.
2. 2020 9-0 (TBD) Regional Finalist (hopefully winner as well as whatever else may follow) Elite defense, beaten arguably 3 of the top 10 teams in D3, 2 out of the top 5. Probably consensus #2 team in all of d3. Beats teams physically into submission.
3. 2017 12-1 Regional Finalist, lost 13-0 to a SVSM team they should have beat. Dynamic rushing offense. Could have maybe made a state championship appearance if the regional final goes a different way.
4. 2018 11-2 Regional Finalist, lost 33-7 (closest game for Kenston in the playoffs) to the eventual D3 champion. Maybe a different year this team takes it home. Needed a better throwing QB, lost an all-ohio receiver against Boardman. Team was dominant up front both sides.
5. 2007 10-2, lost in the 2nd round to Desales. Team lost 2 games to teams with a combined record of 23-3. 2007 is tied with 2020 for the winningest class in school history.
The 1954 team did win it " on the field" as coach Novell sent out requests for anyone to play them. St Mary's ( I believe from either Sandusky or Lorain) took him up on the offer and the WILDCATS won on the field in what became the class B state championship...Ok I’ll try Mogadore...
1. 1996 went 14-0 ended st Henry 35 game win streak 61-58 in 3OTs
2. 1979 went 12-0 won state at rubber bowl over Covington
3. 2002 went 13-1 state champions over Hardin northern
4. 1954 11-0 state champs (poll champ)
5. 1988/1989 back to back state runner ups
6. 2015 13-1 state runner ups
7. 1995/1978 both teams were really good and those years directly led to state championships the next year, they laid the foundation
Im sure I’m missing some..any thoughts moggy posters
The 1954 team did win it " on the field" as coach Novell sent out requests for anyone to play them. St Mary's ( I believe from either Sandusky or Lorain) took him up on the offer and the WILDCATS won on the field in what became the class B state championship...