2024 Northern Lakes League....both divisions

F

FremontKeith

Well-known member
The second season of the two-tiered Northern Lakes League is coming up this fall. Who are the favorites to win each division?

As a reminder, the divisions look like this....

Buckeye...
Findlay
Toledo Whitmer
Perrysburg
Anthony Wayne
Sylvania Northview
Holland Springfield

Cardinal...
Napoleon
Sylvania Southview
Oregon Clay
Bowling Green
Fremont Ross


Who's up, who's down. Who ya got?
 
 
Buckeye
Whitmer
Findlay
Perrysburg
AW
Springfield
Northview

Logjam atop the first four spots, with all having solid QBs at the helm. Whitmer ecks it out with Morales at RB and Carter Lowe's last year at OL giving them an edge, especially with Gucciardo coming back as OC.

Cardinal
Napoleon
Clay
Ross
Southview
BG

I like Espinoza at QB and Rubenstein has been a dawg for the Wildcats thus far. They made a surprise run at the conference title, falling short to Southview 20-14 last year. With Mayzes the only remnant of that offense at SV and Clay really only having Heintschel at QB in terms of offense, it would only make sense that the Wildcats have a clear path towards the title.
 
FremontKeith said:
The second season of the two-tiered Northern Lakes League is coming up this fall. Who are the favorites to win each division?

As a reminder, the divisions look like this....

Buckeye...
Findlay
Toledo Whitmer
Perrysburg
Anthony Wayne
Sylvania Northview
Holland Springfield

Cardinal...
Napoleon
Sylvania Southview
Oregon Clay
Bowling Green
Fremont Ross


Who's up, who's down. Who ya got?
Click to expand...
Buckeye

Whitmer (4-1)
Findlay (4-1)
AW (3-2)
Perrysburg (3-2)
Northview (1-4)
Springfield (0-5)

Whitmer returns the best lineman and best defensive player in the buckeye conference, and I truly think they are the best team. I think it’ll playout similar to last season, where the top 3 teams beat each other, but I think TJ Takats will be better this year and be able to upset Anthony Wayne. Northview and Springfield aren’t bad teams, but when you play top end teams with 3 college bound QBs and a team with several D1 college football players, it’s hard to get wins.

Cardinal

Napoleon (4-0)
Clay (3-1)
Southview (2-2)
Fremont Ross (1-3)
Bowling Green (0-4)

This division is more of a crapshoot than the Buckeye. Napoleon is a great with solid players returning, including who I believe is the best skill position player in Northwest Ohio, Trey Rubinstein. But even with them being the best Cardinal division team, I still have them going 7-3 with likely 2 blowout losses to LC and AW. Clay has 3 returning skill players that’ll help that offense, but their offensive line just isn’t there yet, and neither is the defense. Southview lost a lot, but even with what they do have returning, I can’t really see them repeating. Fremont Ross is losing JD, and I think will need another year to be really competitive. BG had something good going, but after firing their Head Coach, I think it’ll be a few years before the program gets turned around.
 
shakenbake said:
Northview and Springfield aren’t bad teams, but when you play top end teams with 3 college bound QBs and a team with several D1 college football players, it’s hard to get wins.
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That's the big thing I kinda noticed. Ford (MAC offers), Montgomery (UGA bound), Kinnee (BG and GVSU), and Takats (Interest from D1s + D2s) are all going to be problems for the other defenses in their conference. I'm interested in seeing how that will all go down.
shakenbake said:
Napoleon is a great with solid players returning, including who I believe is the best skill position player in Northwest Ohio, Trey Rubinstein. But even with them being the best Cardinal division team, I still have them going 7-3 with likely 2 blowout losses to LC and AW.
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I think Napoleon is criminally overlooked this year. IIRC, they were neck and neck with AW before the Generals blew it open in the second half. I wouldn't be surprised if the Wildcats pulled it out this year.
 
shakenbake said:
Who has the best odds at a state championship title? Are they even realistic odds?
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None from the Buckeye, IMO. Lowe might be the best lineman in Ohio, but none of the teams have the overall line play to win it all in D2 or D1.
 
cjb5656 said:
None from the Buckeye, IMO. Lowe might be the best lineman in Ohio, but none of the teams have the overall line play to win it all in D2 or D1.
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That’s what I was thinking. Even if Findlay or Whitmer made it to the finals, are they close to beating St. Ed’s? Maybe the Buckeye division can combine its best players to keep Glenville within 30
 
shakenbake said:
That’s what I was thinking. Even if Findlay or Whitmer made it to the finals, are they close to beating St. Ed’s? Maybe the Buckeye division can combine its best players to keep Glenville within 30
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Getting placed in Region 1 was not beneficial to the big NWO schools, IMO.
 
cjb5656 said:
Getting placed in Region 1 was not beneficial to the big NWO schools, IMO.
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What difference does it make? The Columbus schools would beat them also. NLL champ Findlay got beat by a 3-7 Olentangy team last year. Outside of TCC big school football in NWO is not competitive with the rest of the state.
 
shakenbake said:
Who has the best odds at a state championship title? Are they even realistic odds?
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NLL and state title is a hilarious joke by itself.

D1 teams go head to head with St. Ed. Not happening. D2, IF they manage to get by the likes of Avon in the region, have absolutely nothing for Massillon or Hoban. D3 region goes head to head with TCC, and that's assuming any of them are even on a level with Mansfield, Tiffin, Defiance, etc (they aren't). Napoleon in D4 couldn't even hang with the Van Werts and Perkins and has no prayer against Glenville.

If you HAD to give someone the best odds, I guess someone in D2. Those odds are like .000000001%, which is technically higher than 0.
 
Findlay has the best chance because of Montgomery. But do they stand a chance against St. Ignatius and Mentor?? Would they even compete with St. Ed’s? No. It would take a lot of things to happen in order for them to be regional champs
 
shakenbake said:
Findlay has the best chance because of Montgomery. But do they stand a chance against St. Ignatius and Mentor?? Would they even compete with St. Ed’s? No. It would take a lot of things to happen in order for them to be regional champs
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I like Findlay's odds against St. Ignatius and Mentor. St. Eds? Not at all
 
shakenbake said:
Findlay has the best chance because of Montgomery. But do they stand a chance against St. Ignatius and Mentor?? Would they even compete with St. Ed’s? No. It would take a lot of things to happen in order for them to be regional champs
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Any chance they might have is gone due to having a very well-paid cheerleader as a coach. They had no running game last year and no reason to think they will have one this year. Reminder, they lost to a 3-7 team last year. If they played in a Columbus or Cleveland D1 league they likely would win about 2 games.
 
Hot takes for all teams

Anthony Wayne loses to all 3 D1 NLL schools

Perrysburg’s TJ Takats improves, and goes on to play D1 football

Whitmer’s defense gives up less than 14 PPG

Montgomery passes for over 3,500 yards

Springfield shows out, starting off 4-0

Northview reveals the stadium, and is the best in the NLL

Napoleon faces Perkins in the Region 14 final

Southview takes a step back, going 4-6 with a loss to Scott

Clay’s offense is the best in Northwest Ohio, scoring 35+ a game

Chad Long and Fremont Ross part ways after the season

Bowling Green goes 1-9, only beating Fostoria
 
There is still some high end talent which is evident with Montgomery and Lowe but from a program health standpoint both Findlay and Whitmer are shells of what they were 10-15 years ago. Most on this thread get this but since we have such a small sample of DI in NWOhio many do not understand the shear jump in depth in talent to DI. Most DI schools that compete for a title look more like small college teams with tremendous depth, size, and speed and both Findlay and Whitmer are simply not there like they had been in certain stretches in the past.
 
irish_buffalo said:
There is still some high end talent which is evident with Montgomery and Lowe but from a program health standpoint both Findlay and Whitmer are shells of what they were 10-15 years ago. Most on this thread get this but since we have such a small sample of DI in NWOhio many do not understand the shear jump in depth in talent to DI. Most DI schools that compete for a title look more like small college teams with tremendous depth, size, and speed and both Findlay and Whitmer are simply not there like they had been in certain stretches in the past.
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2012 Whitmer is likely the best team in NW Ohio history. Absolutely dominated until that title game, including blowing the doors off Mentor and Central Catholic that year
 
Maple_City_Fan said:
1956 Fremont Ross

Keith, Jafo, and Upside told me ;)
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Yep. Saying that a team is the best of all time, requires you to actually KNOW all-time teams. That 1956 Ross team was smack in the middle of a 30 game unbeaten streak that started with the 1955 Ross squad and finished with the 1957 season. Mal Mackey's '56 team would roll through the current NLL. Also, as much as it kills me to say this, there are a number of Sandusky teams that would fill the bill as well. The Blue Streaks of 1965 and 1990 come to mind.
 
FremontKeith said:
Yep. Saying that a team is the best of all time, requires you to actually KNOW all-time teams. That 1956 Ross team was smack in the middle of a 30 game unbeaten streak that started with the 1955 Ross squad and finished with the 1957 season. Mal Mackey's '56 team would roll through the current NLL. Also, as much as it kills me to say this, there are a number of Sandusky teams that would fill the bill as well. The Blue Streaks of 1965 and 1990 come to mind.
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That streak was snapped by Cincinnati Purcell and Jr. QB Roger Staubach
 
bestofohio said:
Hot takes for all teams

Anthony Wayne loses to all 3 D1 NLL schools

Perrysburg’s TJ Takats improves, and goes on to play D1 football

Whitmer’s defense gives up less than 14 PPG

Montgomery passes for over 3,500 yards

Springfield shows out, starting off 4-0

Northview reveals the stadium, and is the best in the NLL

Napoleon faces Perkins in the Region 14 final

Southview takes a step back, going 4-6 with a loss to Scott

Clay’s offense is the best in Northwest Ohio, scoring 35+ a game

Chad Long and Fremont Ross part ways after the season

Bowling Green goes 1-9, only beating Fostoria
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I have little issue with Coach Long, but when you profess to make Ross a premier Program in NW Ohio, and going into Year 10, but hasn't been close, well, you eat your words
 
smurfyeah19 said:
2012 Whitmer is likely the best team in NW Ohio history. Absolutely dominated until that title game, including blowing the doors off Mentor and Central Catholic that year
Click to expand...
I agree.
Maple_City_Fan said:
1956 Fremont Ross

Keith, Jafo, and Upside told me ;)
Click to expand...
FremontKeith said:
Yep. Saying that a team is the best of all time, requires you to actually KNOW all-time teams. That 1956 Ross team was smack in the middle of a 30 game unbeaten streak that started with the 1955 Ross squad and finished with the 1957 season. Mal Mackey's '56 team would roll through the current NLL. Also, as much as it kills me to say this, there are a number of Sandusky teams that would fill the bill as well. The Blue Streaks of 1965 and 1990 come to mind.
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96' Lima Sr., 62' TCC, 66' Toledo SF, and 91' Fostoria also come to mind. Always tough to gauge across generations but they were all GREAT teams.

84' SF, 97' SF, 01' SF, 02' Findlay, 05' TCC, 08' Southview, 10' Whitmer, 10' SJ, 11' Whitmer, 14' TCC, 15' Pburg, 22' TCC, 23' TCC.
 
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BirdDog10 said:
I just looked back at that year on joe eitel... 42-0 in week 10 over the D2 state champs..... holy crap
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Odd game. Whitmer just started fast and TCC turned the ball over and it just got away from the Irish. I am not certain TCC wins the title without losing that game. All about peaking and playing your opponent at the right time. We will never see two NWOhio teams, let alone two Toledo teams make the DI and DII title games in the same year again. Never.

The 2010 and 2011 Whitmer teams were more talented but the 2012 had a bunch of killers. Kids that simply believed in one another and played with bad intent.
 
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bestofohio said:
Anthony Wayne loses to all 3 D1 NLL schools

Perrysburg’s TJ Takats improves, and goes on to play D1 football

Whitmer’s defense gives up less than 14 PPG

Montgomery passes for over 3,500 yards

Springfield shows out, starting off 4-0

Northview reveals the stadium, and is the best in the NLL

Napoleon faces Perkins in the Region 14 final

Southview takes a step back, going 4-6 with a loss to Scott

Clay’s offense is the best in Northwest Ohio, scoring 35+ a game

Chad Long and Fremont Ross part ways after the season

Bowling Green goes 1-9, only beating Fostoria
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I like these takes, for discourse reasons.

I can believe Anthony Wayne struggles. After Kinnee, I am not sure who else will produce a whole lot for that offense.

JOSH Takats (TJ has been at BGSU for a while) could play D1, but his chances of doing so largely rely on how he performs this season. He and that Perrysburg team look promising. They will probably be Whitmer's biggest competition just like last year.

TCC will put a dent in that PPG, but I have a feeling the gap will be a lot closer than the last two years they have played each other. Other than Perrysburg and Findlay (and maybe an outsider's chance for Clay?) Whitmer should handle all the other teams they play easily.

Who will Montgomery throw the ball to? He has the arm and the prowess, but who are his targets this season?

Springfield's game against Maumee could go 50-50, but IIRC Rogers and Start were very close games until the end. I could see them beating a depleted BG team though, but they very well could end up 1-3 at the middle of what would be a long season.

NV's field certainly wouldn't be the worst stadium, but nowhere near the best compared to the others in its league.

Any chance Napoleon has at a regional final appearance is dependent on Glenville not being on their side of the bracket. That being said, I could see them having a punchers chance at the Tarblooders.

Scott graduated their three best players and lost their HC. That being said, I could see Southview going 3-7 with nobody but Mayzes returning on the offensive side of the ball. This might be Northview's best chance at winning the Battle of Sylvania in a while.

Completely dependent on Mason Heintschel not having to run for his life every single play. Outside of the Big 3 and the Napoleon game I can see them taking their comp to the Shed.

*shrug*

Respectfully, there is no way BG loses to Toledo Woodward.

Keep em coming if you got more!
 
ayCC! said:
I like these takes, for discourse reasons.

I can believe Anthony Wayne struggles. After Kinnee, I am not sure who else will produce a whole lot for that offense.

JOSH Takats (TJ has been at BGSU for a while) could play D1, but his chances of doing so largely rely on how he performs this season. He and that Perrysburg team look promising. They will probably be Whitmer's biggest competition just like last year.

TCC will put a dent in that PPG, but I have a feeling the gap will be a lot closer than the last two years they have played each other. Other than Perrysburg and Findlay (and maybe an outsider's chance for Clay?) Whitmer should handle all the other teams they play easily.

Who will Montgomery throw the ball to? He has the arm and the prowess, but who are his targets this season?

Springfield's game against Maumee could go 50-50, but IIRC Rogers and Start were very close games until the end. I could see them beating a depleted BG team though, but they very well could end up 1-3 at the middle of what would be a long season.

NV's field certainly wouldn't be the worst stadium, but nowhere near the best compared to the others in its league.

Any chance Napoleon has at a regional final appearance is dependent on Glenville not being on their side of the bracket. That being said, I could see them having a punchers chance at the Tarblooders.

Scott graduated their three best players and lost their HC. That being said, I could see Southview going 3-7 with nobody but Mayzes returning on the offensive side of the ball. This might be Northview's best chance at winning the Battle of Sylvania in a while.

Completely dependent on Mason Heintschel not having to run for his life every single play. Outside of the Big 3 and the Napoleon game I can see them taking their comp to the Shed.

*shrug*

Respectfully, there is no way BG loses to Toledo Woodward.

Keep em coming if you got more!
Click to expand...
Glenville no longer in Region 14

Perkins the Region favorite
 
NLL Week 1 Spread

Findlay @ Central Catholic (-35.5)
Perrysburg (-22.5) @ St. Francis de Sales
Dublin Coffman (-12.5) @ Whitmer
Hilliard Darby (-8.5) @ Anthony Wayne
Clay (-5.5) @ Sandusky
Fremont Ross @ Tiffin Columbian (-28.5)
Maumee (-4.5) @ Springfield
Southview (-19.5) @ Northview
Bowling Green (-2.5) @ Otsego
Defiance (-3.5) @ Napoleon
 
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