2024 Division VI Poll Voting Discussion (Week 3)

 
Kirtland stays #1. As expected, the offensive line is pretty strong and punishing this year. Coldwater has wins over a couple traditionally tough D4 teams. Those two teams are both 1-2 now, so perhaps they are a little down at this point in the year. The Cavs are strong but I'd confidently pick Kirtland over them for now. As a Marion Local fan I really wish there could have been the opportunity for a potential final with Kirtland. This doesn't appear to be the most physical ML defense ever, so I could see the Kirtland ground game getting the better of them. But with Marion's quick strike ability, when they get into a groove, they are tough to slow down for anyone at the small school level. Probably gonna be a Kirtland vs Coldwater rubber match. They are 1-1 in the series. Hard to believe it's been 12 years since they played each other.
 
After seeing Kirtland vs Perry I think it's going to be really tough for anybody at the D6 level beating the Hornets. If healthy I think Kirtland rolls over everyone this season. The secondary will continue to get better and the defensive line and linebackers are playing really good. That was a good Perry team that they beat. The offense is typical Kirtland. Nobody has the defensive talent to slow that running game down for 4 quarters. Against a solid Pirate team the Hornets held the ball almost the entire 4th quarter. When that running game gets going the opponents offense just gets to watch as the chains keep moving. If Kirtland is this good early in the season - just wait until they have 7 more weeks to fine tune themselves.
 
1 Kirtland - Kirtland (Kirtland) 22 at Perry (Perry) 21 OT3
2 Coldwater - Coldwater (Coldwater) 55 at Fort Recovery (Fort Recovery) 8
3 Anna - Minster (Minster) 41 at Anna (Anna) 14
4 Bluffton - Ayersville (Defiance) 7 at Bluffton (Bluffton) 63
5 Hopewell-Loudon - Danville (Danville) 8 at Hopewell-Loudon (Bascom) 12
6 Patrick Henry - Patrick Henry (Hamler) 13 at Columbus Grove (Columbus Grove) 27
7 Colonel Crawford - Colonel Crawford (North Robinson) 33 at East Knox (Howard) 0
8 Huron - Huron (Huron) 7 at Genoa Area (Genoa) 17
9 Dalton - Dalton (Dalton) 34 at Mogadore (Mogadore) 0
10 Ridgewood - Ridgewood (West Lafayette) 31 at Carrollton (Carrollton) 0

Toronto - Toronto (Toronto) 50 at Weir (Weirton) [WV] 0
Cincinnati Country Day - Game Delayed
Allen East - Indian Lake (Lewistown) 28 at Allen East (Harrod) 21
Northmor - Mapleton (Ashland) 7 at Northmor (Galion) 47
Covington - Fort Loramie (Fort Loramie) 35 at Covington (Covington) 15
 
1. Kirtland - In midseason form already

2. Coldwater - Hopefully Anna tests us better than last week

3. Bluffton - Should roll Jefferson. I'm worried their lax non conference schedule will come back to bite them later in the season.

4. Hopewell-Loudon - Hopewells schedule is actually kinda decent. Good win on friday.

5. Toronto - Play 3-0 Newcomerstown whose 3-0 record is very deceiving

6. Paint Valley - Beat a bad McClain team. Can't put them higher until that hazing case is dealt with better.

7. Anna- Was surprised they got beat by Minster as bad as they did

8. West Lafayette Ridgewood - 3-0 but schedule is suspect. Indian Valley in week 8 and Garaway in week 10 are much better measuring sticks.

9. Patrick Henry - Have a few more weeks to coast before playing Liberty Center

10. Dalton- 3-0 Smithville this week.

HM:
Sherwood Fairview - Might be good but the teams they've played are winless and they play another winless team.

Leavittsburg LaBrae - Another team from eastern Ohio that pops in and out of my rankings

Columbia - Nothing really pops out on their schedule as a great test

Smithville - Have a chance to show me something this week
 
1. Kirtland (Kirtland) (3-0)
2. Coldwater (Coldwater) (3-0)
3. Hopewell-Loudon (Bascom) (3-0)
4. Bluffton (Bluffton) (3-0)
5. Dalton (Dalton) (2-1)
6. Colonel Crawford (North Robinson) (3-0)
7. Ridgewood (West Lafayette) (3-0)
8. Anna (Anna) (2-1)
9. Huron (Huron) (2-1)
10. Patrick Henry (Hamler) (2-1)
 
Surprised you have my Paint Valley team as high as 6, they do play a weak schedule compared to most of the teams on this list and probably won't be tested until week 9 at Unioto.
 
1. Coldwater
- I view a combined 54-point margin of victory over Clinton-Massie/Valley View as better on the résumé than a combined 22-point margin of victory over Perry/Dalton.
2. Kirtland
- It took three overtimes & a dive for the pylon to beat the reigning D5 state champs, but the Hornets found a way. Now the hope is that everyone can stay healthy.
3. Bluffton
- Not to underestimate their opponents, but I believe it could be possible for Bluffton to win by running clock in each of the first nine weeks, even with teams like Lima CC, Loramie, Allen East, Convoy Crestview & others left on their slate. They’re that good in my opinion.
4. Anna
- I was shocked to see the Rockets lose by 27 at home to Minster, but it goes to show how deeply talented the MAC is (no surprise there ;)). I think this week vs. Coldwater is a preview of the de facto Region 24 title game.
5. Dalton
- The Bulldogs beat Mogadore, 34-0; giving them a running clock win over the Wildcats for the second straight year. When was the last time Moggy was shutout twice in a row? Hope the Cats can turn things around these next seven games.
6. Hopewell-Loudon
- It sounds like the Chieftains’ 12-8 win over Danville should have been by more. Some turnovers on downs & INTs likely halted what would have been at least a couple more scoring drives.
7. Ridgewood
- Through three weeks, Ridgewood’s defense has not allowed a single point, outscoring opponents 129-2. They fell victim to a safety in week 1. They will be a tough out in Region 23.
8. Patrick Henry
- I’m impressed that the Patriots ended up losing by just 14 to Columbus Grove despite committing 4 or 5 costly turnovers. They have some easy tune-ups ahead before a showdown with Liberty Center.
9. Colonel Crawford
- The Eagles are handling their business with back to back shutouts. That game vs. Carey down the line looms large if the Blue Devils can pick up some steam with a few wins.
10. Huron
- It seems like the Tigers got hit with the run-run-run playbook by Genoa, who ended up playing “Keep Away”. Still looking forward to seeing how they fare vs. Columbian two weeks from now.
 
Kirtland4580 - I know your being polite - but comon. There is no wins by a D6 team as impressive as the win over Perry. Do you honestly see a D6 team stopping the Kirtland running attack ? The Hornets lost 4 fumbles and still beat the Pirates. One fumble gave Perry 6 and one was inside the 5 with under 2mins to go. Hornets are getting better by the week. Kirtland deserves to be 1 until someone beats them.
 
Bball216 said:
Kirtland4580 - I know your being polite - but comon. There is no wins by a D6 team as impressive as the win over Perry. Do you honestly see a D6 team stopping the Kirtland running attack ? The Hornets lost 4 fumbles and still beat the Pirates. One fumble gave Perry 6 and one was inside the 5 with under 2mins to go. Hornets are getting better by the week. Kirtland deserves to be 1 until someone beats them.
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I agree with pretty much everything you said, @Bball216; I just have a ton of respect for the MAC’s annual pedigree! I’ve heard that Coldwater returns a lot from last year & they are also rolling on all cylinders like the Hornets.
I do agree that Kirtland’s win over Perry is the most impressive by a D6 team, given it was against a 2023 state champion that graduated 6 or 7 seniors if I recall correctly. Had the Hornets won by a little more, I might have had them at #1. Nevertheless, I’m still incredibly proud of their resilience to fight through three OTs & win through actual blood, sweat & tears.
 
Kirtland4580 said:
I agree with pretty much everything you said, @Bball216; I just have a ton of respect for the MAC’s annual pedigree! I’ve heard that Coldwater returns a lot from last year & they are also rolling on all cylinders like the Hornets.
I do agree that Kirtland’s win over Perry is the most impressive by a D6 team, given it was against a 2023 state champion that graduated 6 or 7 seniors if I recall correctly. Had the Hornets won by a little more, I might have had them at #1. Nevertheless, I’m still incredibly proud of their resilience to fight through three OTs & win through actual blood, sweat & tears.
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The respect is mutual. I think Thavoice once stated Kirtland is the most MAC-like non-MAC team he's ever seen, and it's hard to disagree with that. Check this stat out. Through nine meetings between MAC teams vs Kirtland, the average score is 20-19. When playing a MAC team more than once, Kirtland is winning exactly 50% of those games against that particular team. Only team Kirtland has a losing record against is Minster, whom they only played once. I'm sure from a competitive standpoint, Kirtland would like a chance to end Marion's winning streak just as much as ML would like to have a chance to break this 2-2 series tie with them. I knew Coldwater was getting their mojo back last year. In the MSML game, the Cavs were not manhandled. It was mainly big plays and quick strikes by ML that was the difference. Coldwater is very good this year, but will they be up to the challenge of that Hornets ground game? Maybe not, but we will likely see those two meet in the finals.
 
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There is ridiculous respect between the Kirtland program and fans and the MAC schools. It's small school football at its finest. I expect Kirtland and Coldwater to fight it out in Canton. No disrespect at all towards Coldwater. IMO especially after beating Perry the Hornets deserve to be #1. Until someone takes the crown Kirtland is the king of D6 currently.
 
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