trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
Sue is on life support with that golf cart
D7 Region 27 2024
- Thread starter FirestoneFan
- Start date
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
Freedom of Speech still lives until then.
HappyHog12
Member
This region is just not very good. I think my grandma on a motorized scooter could go for 300 up the middle against most these teams. Only two teams worth talking about and those two teams have a combined 2 posters, no wonder this forum is dead :/
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
Unfortunately your right. With Shadyside and Newark Catholic down, it isn't as strong as it has been in years past. Now I feel like it's Danville and Trimble, and everyone else at this point.
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
Northmor 41
Danville 6
Surprised at the margin of this one.
Worthington Christian 45
Trimble 14
Ouch.
Eastern Pike 27
Racine Southern 21
Eastern's schedule is so bad they'll go 10-0 again and have a 2nd round exit.
Licking Valley 49
Newark Catholic 7
Can the Green Wave get a win this season?
Barnesville 63
River 0
Ouch.
Miller 35
Berne Union 0
Miller's schedule is also terrible. Not sold on them either.
Shadyside and Notre Dame play tomorrow. I'm leaning more towards Notre Dame winning this one by 14 or more. I really think the Tigers may go winless if they don't win vs Notre Dame tomorrow afternoon.
Danville 6
Surprised at the margin of this one.
Worthington Christian 45
Trimble 14
Ouch.
Eastern Pike 27
Racine Southern 21
Eastern's schedule is so bad they'll go 10-0 again and have a 2nd round exit.
Licking Valley 49
Newark Catholic 7
Can the Green Wave get a win this season?
Barnesville 63
River 0
Ouch.
Miller 35
Berne Union 0
Miller's schedule is also terrible. Not sold on them either.
Shadyside and Notre Dame play tomorrow. I'm leaning more towards Notre Dame winning this one by 14 or more. I really think the Tigers may go winless if they don't win vs Notre Dame tomorrow afternoon.
danville96
Well-known member
Danville ran into a buzz saw tonight. No excuses.
Northmor was clearly the better team. They were able to use "their dudes" to exploit some weaknesses. Not sure anyone in r27 can do that.
Back to the season grind while most everyone else plays Sister Mary slap dick.
Northmor was clearly the better team. They were able to use "their dudes" to exploit some weaknesses. Not sure anyone in r27 can do that.
Back to the season grind while most everyone else plays Sister Mary slap dick.
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
I knew Northmor returned a lot from last year when we played them in the playoffs. The Golden Knights are for real. Good luck to the Blue devils the rest of the season. We played terrible last night.
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
Grove City Christian 26
Miller 0
I knew I wasn't sold on Miller for a reason.
South Gallia 36
Notre Dame 8
Rebels now 4-2 with a favorable last half of the schedule remaining.
Trimble 35
Southern 13
Tomcats 35th straight win over Southern. Southern hasn't beat us since 1973.
Danville 22
Loudonville 0
Was it a monsoon up there?
Bishop Rosecrans 35
Fisher Catholic 18
Non region game
Waterford 22
Eastern 19
@The Dock, Eastern was up 19-7 at half. I say the Wildcats bareassed them in the 2nd half
Miller 0
I knew I wasn't sold on Miller for a reason.
South Gallia 36
Notre Dame 8
Rebels now 4-2 with a favorable last half of the schedule remaining.
Trimble 35
Southern 13
Tomcats 35th straight win over Southern. Southern hasn't beat us since 1973.
Danville 22
Loudonville 0
Was it a monsoon up there?
Bishop Rosecrans 35
Fisher Catholic 18
Non region game
Waterford 22
Eastern 19
@The Dock, Eastern was up 19-7 at half. I say the Wildcats bareassed them in the 2nd half
danville96
Well-known member
Yes.Grove City Christian 26
Miller 0
I knew I wasn't sold on Miller for a reason.
South Gallia 36
Notre Dame 8
Rebels now 4-2 with a favorable last half of the schedule remaining.
Trimble 35
Southern 13
Tomcats 35th straight win over Southern. Southern hasn't beat us since 1973.
Danville 22
Loudonville 0
Was it a monsoon up there?
Bishop Rosecrans 35
Fisher Catholic 18
Non region game
Waterford 22
Eastern 19
@The Dock, Eastern was up 19-7 at half. I say the Wildcats bareassed them in the 2nd half
Poured rain whole 1st half. Mud pit.
Miller can't even score on GCC. Who lost to mount gilead by 20. MG might finish 5th in the KMAC
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
I can’t believe what Waterford is achieving this year. Even if it requires the help of Farmer Yoder in the white hat versus da BuckeyesGrove City Christian 26
Miller 0
I knew I wasn't sold on Miller for a reason.
South Gallia 36
Notre Dame 8
Rebels now 4-2 with a favorable last half of the schedule remaining.
Trimble 35
Southern 13
Tomcats 35th straight win over Southern. Southern hasn't beat us since 1973.
Danville 22
Loudonville 0
Was it a monsoon up there?
Bishop Rosecrans 35
Fisher Catholic 18
Non region game
Waterford 22
Eastern 19
@The Dock, Eastern was up 19-7 at half. I say the Wildcats bareassed them in the 2nd half
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
I looked it up after I posted this. Wasn't EK game a mud pit last year too?
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
Both sides at the Southern/Trimble game were happy with the final of that game. Iggles get Wahama next week
danville96
Well-known member
Yes. Tonight was not as bad as ek last year
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
I didn’t even know they were playing Whoa Mama. Thought the only Mason County school they’d schedule was Hannah?
I have no clue what to make of this region after Danville and Trimble.
probably not worth paying much mind to, tbh.
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
They get to make a trip to WV for the Falcons. Wahama isn't a slouch anymore like they had been.I didn’t even know they were playing Whoa Mama. Thought the only Mason County school they’d schedule was Hannah?
I have no clue what to make of this region after Danville and Trimble.
There really isn't much to make of this region after us and Danville. I hate being like that but it's just so unbelievably weak. NC and Shadyside being way, way down doesn't help. It would add some spice to the region if they were on par with some of the middle of the pack teams.
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
just to provide an update to this: my understanding is they’re deeply injured. Not at all near the point that uh, we tend to think of when we mix D7 programs and injuries. But they’re just derailed badly.
not providing this info to save face. Just that, in fairness to them, this isn’t going to end up being that ‘step in the right direction’ season. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Is what it is. The day will come where there’s at least one more shot across the bow in November by Irish archers (I hope.)
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
When I watched the Irish take on Crooksville in week 1, it looked like they had towards 30 players on the roster. They had some decent size on their line I thought too. I saw glimpses of talent too and hope. But in the end, I asked myself. Is it coaching the problem? Declining enrollment? I feel like there could be a notebook of problems at Fisher.
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
Hope they’re closer to the White Falcons of yore!
nah, man. Completely get this. I’m with you.
The fact NC is really under the gun, now (to where they may end up missing) is terrible for Region 27.
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
Maybe another freak of an athlete with the last name Roush is going through those halls again.
I tend to notice when the Green Wave are up, chances are region 27 is too. I've never seen an 0-6 Newark Catholic team in 18 year's I've been around. As an outsider looking in, is coaching more of a problem than declining enrollment? I know a lot of their kids graduated from that 2020-2022 run where they ate a lot of playing time. But in the past, it seemed like player development at NC was second to none. It sucks seeing this for NC because I have a ton of respect for the Green Wave.
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
the top of the program is definitely NOT the problem. I’m going to get that point across every opportunity I get — no the matter the means it takes.
The decline in enrollment compared to its height in 2007-08 matters significantly. I’ve mapped out the issues that exist: they all tie to the issue of low enrollment. There’s a corollary to this, where enrollment is an issue. When I see you, I’ll explain that corollary in detail. What I’ll say on here is, when I was still involved with FC, I relentlessly tried to get across that the school needed to seriously look at building the enrollment up in new ways.
Needless to say, I’m unaffiliated for a reason now. Because it was too tiring to try and help when no one pays serious mind to someone from outside the parish hive.
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
I feel like if Fisher had more kids out, they'd be a top 4-8 team in this region every year. I saw talent against Crooksville. Mistakes absolutely killed them. (Not taking advantage of a bad snap from Crooksville and getting the ball at the 5 and not scoring doesn't help, either). But as an outsider looking in, I think they have the talent to win. But more depth would help. I noticed a lot of the kids banged up by halftime. Eventually having 30 kids on a roster is going to come back and bite you in the rear end.
When will the FC community step in and say they've had enough of what's going on there? Or will they ever?
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
FC doesn’t have authority over what programming gets offered by the junior high 90% of their kids come from, and tbh I think this is the briefest answer to your question.
It’s very much an arrangement where FC gets out whatever was put in by the parish-school. So if you’re only averaging one JH football team every 4-5 years (the lack of continuity in SMS football has been tough for FC since 2010), guess what you get when those kids become your kids? You get wonderful, driven and coachable kids that
you’d want in your locker room… at the very least for the fact they make everyone around them better. What you don’t get though is the level of development.
The reason why this is: the junior high program is the property of the parish that sponsors the JH. Not FC. This is how it is everywhere else in the Diocese except for PND and TCC (because they actually house grades 7 and 8 themselves.)
— — —
If I had a magic wand, I’d do the following…
• Rewrite the Diocesan manual on separation of financial responsibilities b/w JH and HS level, so that FC can have the freedom to finance and thereby structure their own JH programs as they see fit. I don’t see how it benefits FC, SMotA parish or its parishioners for ‘the final say’ on everything related to JH athletics to come from the priest. (This is not a personal criticism — it just does not make sense if you’re a coach at FC to really support the fact your program’s future could get wiped out if there’s a reassignment where a future priest capriciously chooses not to put any parish support toward athletics programming for the kids in the community.)
• Have the JH program not be exclusive to St Mary School. The school’s enrollment level cannot support consistent 7th and 8th grade teams across the board, let alone support a combined 7th/8th football or baseball program for any longer than a couple of years. Let PSR* kids play (they cannot currently due to SMS being an OHSAA member — which is not a requirement at that age level btw), get linked in with Holy Trinity up in Somerset (possibly flip future Generals — those kids most certainly have cousins or parents who went to FC!!), get the word out that the programming exists etc
* PSR = Catholic education program sponsored by a parish, for Catholic students who attend public schools
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
@trimblefootball here’s another side,
FC’s demographics are great for having consistently solid athletics across the board. I believe they have, since the MSL realignment of 2013, the most All-Sports trophies on the Cardinal side (I think the number is 6 and the next closest are a 4 & and a 2) despite the fact they’ve basically been the smallest school the entire time. The school also consistently has had one of the lowest student to sports ratios among schools that fit the ‘A’ size designation (OHSAA still informally uses the three class system) at ~9.5 to 1. Which is very impressive.
I think, candidly, why this doesn’t translate to football boils down to the mores of the community. If you’re paying a significant 5-digit cumulative tuition total for FC education (*9,000 x [ n kids ] x 4 years) it is very likely that you also have an intention for your kids to go to 4-year college or with a specific career plan that can onboard quick out of high school; e.g. first responder/armed forces/professional program. You probably anticipate your kid wanting to go to any of Miami, tOSU (main), OU (Athens) or UD. Or maybe the NCAC or something out of state. That’s how it was when I was in school, that appears to still be the case today. Why I mention this is you’re likely not seeing athletic schollies as the only path to college, but instead as opportunities to reduce the sticker cost of a smaller school.
Which, I think also explains why there never is any “oh my kid is so good at sports, they’re gonna go D1” mentality. Like, the vast vast majority of FC parents are pretty chill about their kids’ participation in sports. They push them to be pretty well-rounded in the composite of activities they participate in.
The tradeoff of being universally chill, though, is you’re not going to have things like a groundswell of parents that see themselves as “football dads.” Because their kids are also doing 2 or 3 other sports, and their kid’s motivation for doing football instead of soccer probably revolves around the fact it’s fun and the fact there’s a cornerstone teacher in charge of the program. And, as much as I love and enjoy all of the parents I’ve gotten to know (past and present), it’s also kinda why I just don’t go to games anymore? The stands at Fulton never have any juice, and I’m all about the juice. Especially in baseball season (there was a reason its called it “The Hill”, because yelling from atop a hill 50 feet away is better than doing it behind the backstop where everyone’s packed like sardines being chill.) Now basketball? FC religiously brings the juice, there! Especially on Saturday nights at home and in the tournament.
FC’s demographics are great for having consistently solid athletics across the board. I believe they have, since the MSL realignment of 2013, the most All-Sports trophies on the Cardinal side (I think the number is 6 and the next closest are a 4 & and a 2) despite the fact they’ve basically been the smallest school the entire time. The school also consistently has had one of the lowest student to sports ratios among schools that fit the ‘A’ size designation (OHSAA still informally uses the three class system) at ~9.5 to 1. Which is very impressive.
I think, candidly, why this doesn’t translate to football boils down to the mores of the community. If you’re paying a significant 5-digit cumulative tuition total for FC education (*9,000 x [ n kids ] x 4 years) it is very likely that you also have an intention for your kids to go to 4-year college or with a specific career plan that can onboard quick out of high school; e.g. first responder/armed forces/professional program. You probably anticipate your kid wanting to go to any of Miami, tOSU (main), OU (Athens) or UD. Or maybe the NCAC or something out of state. That’s how it was when I was in school, that appears to still be the case today. Why I mention this is you’re likely not seeing athletic schollies as the only path to college, but instead as opportunities to reduce the sticker cost of a smaller school.
Which, I think also explains why there never is any “oh my kid is so good at sports, they’re gonna go D1” mentality. Like, the vast vast majority of FC parents are pretty chill about their kids’ participation in sports. They push them to be pretty well-rounded in the composite of activities they participate in.
The tradeoff of being universally chill, though, is you’re not going to have things like a groundswell of parents that see themselves as “football dads.” Because their kids are also doing 2 or 3 other sports, and their kid’s motivation for doing football instead of soccer probably revolves around the fact it’s fun and the fact there’s a cornerstone teacher in charge of the program. And, as much as I love and enjoy all of the parents I’ve gotten to know (past and present), it’s also kinda why I just don’t go to games anymore? The stands at Fulton never have any juice, and I’m all about the juice. Especially in baseball season (there was a reason its called it “The Hill”, because yelling from atop a hill 50 feet away is better than doing it behind the backstop where everyone’s packed like sardines being chill.) Now basketball? FC religiously brings the juice, there! Especially on Saturday nights at home and in the tournament.
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
Yeah. I look at FC’s relative struggles in football as largely a product of structural issues. No one person at FC has the power to fix it themselves.
I’d look at the situation differently if there weren’t things like the Diocesan attendance boundaries policy rendering the school as obsolete to half of the Catholics in Fairfield County (because the Diocese specifically wants the other half of families to attend Hartley) or aimless separation of financial responsibility policies that prevent FC money from getting put toward its JH programs wherein a stake is formed (although I appreciate/understand it as good accounting and financial practice — it just is at odds with what needs to happen IMO.)
The only thing I can think of that could be changed by FC, although the extent to which this would make a difference is unknown, is seriously forming a braintrust around the program. The previous administration hired the current coach following the 2019 season — 110% the correct call. The current administration has been in charge since kickoff of the 2021 season.
Go look at Joe Eitel, compare that season to the years after. A place that has the braintrust toward football would’ve evaluated the change between 2021 and 2022 after the ‘22 season, and thoughtfully chose whether to stay the course or return to the bread & butter. Because the point of having a braintrust, which exists at places that have 99% of FC’s DNA yet way more football tradition, means you have well-learned people who value the program’s success enough to spend their time wanting to be a part of the solution.
trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
A huge change from the 21 season to 22. When we played them in 2021, I really thought they held their own throughout the game. They had a lot of heart and grit. (Which I think you said something that the '21 team had more of that than the '18 team).
I think not having a layer of stability really has hurt the Irish. Put that in with low numbers for the program, and the on field quality you get is sub par. I really think FC can get back to what they was before, but change is needed, and needed soon.
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
That ‘21 team absolutely had way more heart and grit than the ‘18 team, despite having 1/4th the talent and 1/6th the size. The ‘18 game was embarrassing AF (I don’t care how good Sawyer Koons and the gang were, that doesn’t mean you don’t field a kickoff!!!) The ‘21 game I had a lot of pride in. I saw freshmen on that ‘21 team (this year’s seniors) make plays that older, bigger and more skilled kids in 2018 refused to make along with taking hits that those kids in 18 refused to take.
The ‘21 team and the ‘22 team, as is the ‘23 and ‘24 team, all have the same levels of heart and grit. Heart and grit beats Berne Union in the rain through forcing more turnovers than can be counted on one hand.
The thing that’s different between 2021 and the years that have followed: the game being played is less possessive. Fundamentally, it is less possessive. Possessive football gave FC punchers’ chances basically every week in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Even that week 10 game vs BU in ‘21. 22 was deeply rough. 23 had some general improvements but still some things that needed to get fixed. 24 I’m not speaking on because a) haven’t made it to a game [and probably won’t… because its better to stay away] and b) I know that their season is derailed by an unusually rough injury bug, so we’ll never know what would’ve happened if they were way healthier for FCA, BR, BU, MP etc this year.
I can think of other areas where lack of stability within the FC orbit has come at the expense of the program’s health, but that’s a different discussion for a different day.
Maybe if the program at Lancaster goes through upheaval it’d trickle down to the benefit of the alma, but I don’t really think that’s a program FC would benefit receiving an exodus from (BC tho?)
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trimblefootball
Region 27's most hated guest caller
I couldn't believe what I saw when they let it roll down to the 3. I think we scored something like 22 points in under a minute? I'd have to go back to the film and see. (Sawyer Koons and that whole defense was some dawgs)
I saw at least 2 hurt vs Crooksville when I went. I was very impressed with the amount of heart those young men have. Heart can go a long way in high school sports. They really held their own for most of that game, too. I think it was something like 12-0 at halftime. (Really should have been a 12-7 game). But the back breaker was a long touchdown at the end of the 3rd that made it 30-0. That's when I decided it was time to head out.
FC has a tall task vs a Miller team who is not your Miller team this year. I think the Irish have 2 winnable games left on the schedule in Millersport, and Berne Union. And if FC does sneak into the playoffs if they are to win those games, they are more than likely going to be going to Pike County for the off brand Eagles. Glouster for another date with the Tomcats. Or they get to go to Danville. I'm rooting very hard for the Irish.
The Dock
Good Takes; Even Better Picks
That ‘18 game was over the moment it was first and goal from the six-inch line for the Irish early on. 6’3” 260lb or whatever average across that line. Still can’t get in. Fortunately I had a good reputation with the Trimble buddies that I met up with that we just enjoyed the game, laughed (except for that infamous KOR disaster) and they were kind of enough to tell me that Uncle Phil was going to fake the PAT to put the clock on.
This basically defines FC start to finish. It’s very much a South Bend steel mill mentality of relentlessness, grit and spirit in everything you do when you wear the uniform. Be it the school uniform or jersey. It applies deeply to the student body across the board.
As much as I love winning, what you’re describing is precisely why the 22 season frustrated me. 0-10 is its own deal, yeah, but there’s shades of grey to 0-10. They were getting boat-raced badly the majority of that season, and I chalk that up plainly to the change in offensive scheme. Mirror image of the 2010 season and 2017 season. There’s a common denominator with 2010, 2017, 2022 = the moment they started playing possessive football, they played games where the final score was a better indication of the grit & heart of the players because they weren’t getting undone the moment the first turnover happens. Now, in fairness to weeks 9 and 10 of 2022, it was apparent they got off of playing possessive football because the o-lineman they turned into a dive back ripped his ACL in that Miller game. 23 I get to an extent why they didn’t return to that possessive ground game approach, because the RB1 for 22 transferred to New Lex and that aforementioned FB was going to miss the season rehabbing the injury.
I honestly don’t know what FC’s prospects are in those games vs BU and MP. Healthy? I’m taking the points on the Irish (probably a touchdown favorite vs BU) and the outright win as well.
danville96
Well-known member
Here are current top 16 teams in Harbin points and their strength of schedule according to fantasic 50. (out of 104 D7 teams)
Trimble 55th
Steubenville Catholic Central 83rd
Beaver Eastern 102nd
Danville 15th
Miller 101st
Conotton Valley 68th
South Gallia 100th
Frontier 85th
Racine Southern 64th
Strasburg 50th
Portsmouth Notre Dame 97th
Bridgeport 81st
Fairfield Christian 91st
Symmes Valley 87th
River 60th
Fisher Catholic 92nd
Trimble 55th
Steubenville Catholic Central 83rd
Beaver Eastern 102nd
Danville 15th
Miller 101st
Conotton Valley 68th
South Gallia 100th
Frontier 85th
Racine Southern 64th
Strasburg 50th
Portsmouth Notre Dame 97th
Bridgeport 81st
Fairfield Christian 91st
Symmes Valley 87th
River 60th
Fisher Catholic 92nd