So who are the early favorites in D3 Region 12? Region has some newcomers and lost a few rather strong programs (Badin). With very little knowledge of what teams have returning I think Wapo, Bellbrook and newcomer Archbishop McNicholas are probably in the hunt. Predicting just on recent performance there are lots of mediocre teams in this region.
D3 Region 12 Thread
- Thread starter Schmitt
- Start date
Irwin20
Well-known member
Chaminade Julienne will compete in this region.
the_beezer
Active member
Wapakoneta brings back a very potent offense but needs to fill some holes on defense.
Badin, Trotwood-Madison, Mt. Healthy, Butler are all top 8 seeds from last season in D3 R12 that have moved up to D2 R8. Elida, New Richmond, and Oakwood are also lower seed playoff teams from last year that departed D3 R12 for D4. This region will certainly have a much different feel this upcoming year, so that'll be interesting.
This is all alphabetical order, but below is who I'd expect to be contending for the top 8 seeds. The next group below that are what I'd consider contenders for playoff berth and potentially a top 8 seed. Out of this region in general, my initial thoughts would assume that: Bellefontaine, Wapakoneta, Tippecanoe, and Archbishop McNicholas are the most likely teams to win the region.
Archbishop McNicholas
Bellbrook
Bellefontaine
Chaminade-Julienne
London
St Marys Memorial
Tippecanoe
Wapakoneta
Celina
Hillsboro
Miami Trace
Ross
Western Brown
This is all alphabetical order, but below is who I'd expect to be contending for the top 8 seeds. The next group below that are what I'd consider contenders for playoff berth and potentially a top 8 seed. Out of this region in general, my initial thoughts would assume that: Bellefontaine, Wapakoneta, Tippecanoe, and Archbishop McNicholas are the most likely teams to win the region.
Archbishop McNicholas
Bellbrook
Bellefontaine
Chaminade-Julienne
London
St Marys Memorial
Tippecanoe
Wapakoneta
Celina
Hillsboro
Miami Trace
Ross
Western Brown
Fried Bacon
Active member
It doesn’t matter what Tipp graduates, they always just reload. They had lost 21/22 starters going into 2022 when they went to state and only returned 3-5 starters last year. Tipp has now made the regional semis in this region each of the last 4 years, never returning more than 50 percent of their starters, Tipp has always been a senior led/heavy team. They do however return at least 10 guys who contributed a lot according to the MVL website. Over the last 4 years they’ve gone 30-6 in the regular season and won 10 playoff games. As long as Matt Burgbacher is the coach, Tipp will be at the top.
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Fried Bacon
Active member
For my money, CJ is gonna be hard to beat with their size and the type of offense they run, they were young last year to. Bellefontaine will be hard to beat with St. Clair leading them, he might end up as the top recruit in the country. I don’t know what Celina returns but they did win this region last year and were incredibly tough.
In no particular order I’d expect one of these teams to win the region.
Bellbrook
Bellefontaine
CJ
Celina
London
St. Marys
Tipp
Wapak
In no particular order I’d expect one of these teams to win the region.
Bellbrook
Bellefontaine
CJ
Celina
London
St. Marys
Tipp
Wapak
covidsucks
Moderated User
I think it's diffidently the GCL teams are going to be the teams to beat. This region has become much softer with the yearly favorites moving to D2.
ghsknightsfan
love the Knights and Grey Ghosts!
this should be a competitive field. my bet would be on the regional champ coming from north/east of Dayton.
Bellefontaine
Tippecanoe
London
Wapakoneta
Bellefontaine
Tippecanoe
London
Wapakoneta
Fried Bacon
Active member
Yeah right, the yearly favorites who haven’t won the region in 3 years?
covidsucks
Moderated User
Last time I checked Badin which is a GCL team has won the previous 3 out of the past 4 years and Alter another GCL team two years before that. Not really hard to look up. This region goes through the GCL all-stars.
ghsknightsfan
love the Knights and Grey Ghosts!
you do know neither team is in this region, right?
Badin has won region 12 (1) time in the last 8 years, which was 2021.
BoomerSooner
Active member
Tipp has a QB who will be a sophomore next year that should be pretty good, right? At least from what I see, I'd say his arm talent is about as good as anything they've had at QB for a while, though obviously he'll be young assuming he is starting as a sophomore.
Outside of that I know about nothing, but agree with you, although they have almost never had top end talent like scholarship D1 players (aside from kickers), Tipp finds a way to be competitive, especially with what Burgbacher has built now.
ex_dc_atc
Moderator
Definitely will be a different feel losing several playoff teams to different divisions. Badin in particular has been a top team in this region for the last few seasons. I tend to agree with your rankings, thinking Bellefontaine, CJ, Wapak, Tipp City, St. Mary's, and perhaps Bellbrook have the best chances to win R12.
ghsknightsfan
love the Knights and Grey Ghosts!
you must not be familiar with London. i would put them above St Mary’s and probably CJ
Not hard to look up at all... yet you're wrong. If you look it up, 3 of the last 5 champions of region 12 were non-GCL schools. 7 of the past 10 champions of region 12 were non-GCL schools. So much for "GCL all-stars"
St Marys-London had a recent home-and-home week one game in 2021 & 2022. St Marys swept the series. 10-7 at London in 2021 and 42-31 at St Marys in 2022. I'm not sure what each team has coming back for 2024, but I wouldn't say it's a forgone conclusion that London is above St Marys. That said, both games were competitive and both programs are very talented.
covidsucks
Moderated User
If everyone sleeps on mcnick, don't be surprised. Lost to Badin by 3. A lot of players returning. If they beat stuby at stuby, this team is for real. Beat CJ by 35. This program is on the rise. Seems as if they're getting a lot of players from Turpin and Anderson.
ghsknightsfan
love the Knights and Grey Ghosts!
not to take away from St Mary’s, but i think they caught London at a good time both seasons.
2021- London started out 0-2, losing to a good St Mary’s team, and then laying an egg against a 2-8 Licking Valley team. London didn’t lose again until they met the eventual regional champ Granville in the regional semis.
2022- London had some good wins, but also some questionable performances. they lost to a very average Tecumseh team 6-3. they also lost to Chillicothe by 3 in week 2. they beat that same Chillicothe team in the playoffs by 30.
London is very well coached and usually plays its best ball towards the end of the season. they finsihed 10-0 in 2023 and should have a similar record in 2024.
Irwin20
Well-known member
How many GCL Coed schools have been in Region 12? Badin….Not hard to look up at all... yet you're wrong. If you look it up, 3 of the last 5 champions of region 12 were non-GCL schools. 7 of the past 10 champions of region 12 were non-GCL schools. So much for "GCL all-stars"
Thavoice
Well-known member
And they got rid of that pesky D7 team so they have a better chance to win in week 1 and finish a Lil higher in the harbins....
ex_dc_atc
Moderator
I did not mean to leave them off. I would agree with you putting them in that same mix.
Should be a competitive region as a whole, it just feels like it may fall off a little losing the likes of Badin. They've fielded some really quality teams of late.
All of them. Alter, Badin, C-J, Carroll, Fenwick, and McNick have all been in R12 previously, at one point or another.
RazorRamon
Well-known member
Moving Badin to division two is hilarious.
Irwin20
Well-known member
They have a pretty big CB number and some pretty poor performing HIgh schools (Hamilton for one) that probably helps them attract students. They will do fine in D2 but wouldn’t expect any Regional titles in the near future.
RazorRamon
Well-known member
Yordy will need to do the near impossible to compete in region eight
Irwin20
Well-known member
Agree. They will likely be 8-2, 7-3 with their schedule so that should put them in the top 8. I’d expect at least 1 win come playoff time.
Edit: Just looked at Region 8. On second thought it’s not that scary..LaSalle, Anderson, Kings..not seeing anyone else Badin couldn’t beat. Who else scares you in that Region?
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I was thinking the same thing. R8 isn't unbeatable, especially since Winton Woods got bumped up to D1. Almost half of D2 R8 was D3 R12 in recent history. Don't get me wrong, R8 is better and has some forces, but the idea that it's going to be near impossible for Badin to compete in this region is overdramatic. La Salle, Anderson, Kings, Miamisburg, and Withrow have all been really good. However, Trotwood-Madison competed just fine against a lot of these teams in R8 for years when they were a member of the GWOC.
Irwin20
Well-known member
Forgot about Withrow they should be pretty good even with Henry leaving.