D7 Region 27 2024

The Dock said:
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.
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He wanted a get back for 2003 and 2004.

The Dock said:
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.
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When you get boat raced the whole season, at some point the kids will just feel defeated and call it quits. I've been there and done that, sadly.


FC should have their way vs Millersport. Now BU, they may have to tire them out. BU isn't very fundamentally tough. They make lots of mistakes also. (Kid was getting tackled and threw the ball in the air, pick six). If FC finishes 4-6 I think that's a winning season for them.
 
danville96 said:
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
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That's the highest I think I've ever seen our strength of schedule honestly.

Eastern is gonna go 10-0 again and have a 2nd round exit. And I'm sure they will make some 10-0 schools like a certain school up in the region 25 area.
 
trimblefootball said:
He wanted a get back for 2003 and 2004.


When you get boat raced the whole season, at some point the kids will just feel defeated and call it quits. I've been there and done that, sadly.


FC should have their way vs Millersport. Now BU, they may have to tire them out. BU isn't very fundamentally tough. They make lots of mistakes also. (Kid was getting tackled and threw the ball in the air, pick six). If FC finishes 4-6 I think that's a winning season for them.
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I’ll never know, as it relates to the change in offensive system from 21 to 22, how much of my perception as to why it happened was the truth and how much of it was fiction. All I’ll say is I never saw anything in that saga that inspired a more charitable read.

They never gave up in any of those games in 22. The scores aren’t an indictment of not having heart or grit — all of those kids fought like hell. The system just did not fit (for so many reasons) and the end result was 9 of 10 games where it was a matter of when, not ‘if’, the first brick fell. Analogous to a basketball team that can’t figure out how to get the ball over the time line. Constantly finding themselves in quicksand. I don’t think anyone was in a position to succeed. It wouldn’t have mattered if you supplanted a kid here or there anywhere on the field with a high P5-level talent, because they were so many tools and so many pieces across the board short of where they needed to be in order for the system to be successful.

Just deeply frustrating to witness. Frustrating because those kids weren’t trying to lose. They’re trying to win. For their school, community and their coach. Those same kids grew up seeing rough years like 2016 (where there was zero talent, zero depth and zero size to run any offense; despite how much talent was in the halls then), which would’ve killed spirit and ambition in lesser men. They didn’t want to win any less than everyone else with an interest in the program. That’s why I’ll always feel how I do about that season: under a more normal and realistic offense, they most certainly would’ve been able to avoid getting the route put on in most of their games. It might have been like watching paint dry in the process, but it’s better to be stable than flirt with the volatile outcomes baked into an offense that has never been a scheme fit for the program (for a reason.)
 
The Dock said:
I’ll never know, as it relates to the change in offensive system from 21 to 22, how much of my perception as to why it happened was the truth and how much of it was fiction. All I’ll say is I never saw anything in that saga that inspired a more charitable read.

They never gave up in any of those games in 22. The scores aren’t an indictment of not having heart or grit — all of those kids fought like hell. The system just did not fit (for so many reasons) and the end result was 9 of 10 games where it was a matter of when, not ‘if’, the first brick fell. Analogous to a basketball team that can’t figure out how to get the ball over the time line. Constantly finding themselves in quicksand. I don’t think anyone was in a position to succeed. It wouldn’t have mattered if you supplanted a kid here or there anywhere on the field with a high P5-level talent, because they were so many tools and so many pieces across the board short of where they needed to be in order for the system to be successful.

Just deeply frustrating to witness. Frustrating because those kids weren’t trying to lose. They’re trying to win. For their school, community and their coach. Those same kids grew up seeing rough years like 2016 (where there was zero talent, zero depth and zero size to run any offense; despite how much talent was in the halls then), which would’ve killed spirit and ambition in lesser men. They didn’t want to win any less than everyone else with an interest in the program. That’s why I’ll always feel how I do about that season: under a more normal and realistic offense, they most certainly would’ve been able to avoid getting the route put on in most of their games. It might have been like watching paint dry in the process, but it’s better to be stable than flirt with the volatile outcomes baked into an offense that has never been a scheme fit for the program (for a reason.)
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Just seems deeply frustrating for all involved.
 
trimblefootball said:
Just seems deeply frustrating for all involved.
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Yeah. That’s life, sometimes. This program between 2009 and 2019 went through three different instances of various administrators trying to put a stamp on the program in the right direction, with their own visions. Technically that number is four (as that’s the number of coaches hired since the conclusion of 08, but the two latter coaches before LT were hired under the same mandate.) They didn’t hire bad coaches or have bad plans, but they weren’t looking hard enough at the obvious person on who to hand off the keys to the car.

That also explains, I think, how I’ve felt these last couple of years. The 2010’s were guided by thinking that the program was one coach away… that everything the program wasn’t previously would flow from the coach on down. While there were glimmers of excitement across those tenures, they could not materialize into something bigger for the simple fact you don’t have the consummate FC man that paid his dues who has taught at the school for two decades (and coached on the various staffs comprising the good 2000’s) leading the program.

It just has felt like so much lost time in retrospect. Those 12 years. The call finally came following 2019; a community has its soul affirmed as a result. Well-wishers, like I, see the value in the program’s leadership and always felt it should’ve happened earlier. Had it happened earlier, we’re probably discussing FC as being likely to make week 12 playoffs today (at least as a consistent .500 team in lesser-equipped years.) There’s zero doubt in my mind had it happened earlier, the 2020’s wouldn’t have had that same level of turbulence. Sigh.
 
Miller 44 (5-2)
Fisher Catholic 18 (2-5)
Falcons get another win with a weak schedule. Still not sold.

Eastern 53 (7-0)
Symmes Valley 29 (2-4)
Eastern was down 15-0 at one point. Eastern WILL go 10-0 and get bounced in the 2nd round. 3rd if their lucky.

Trimble 52 (5-2)
Belpre 6 (1-6)
Knew it would be like this. Eastern Meigs next week.

Conotton Valley 46 (5-2)
Frontier 20 (3-4)
Don't know much about the Rockets. I know they are usually a doormat team, got some talent finally?

Utica 33 (3-4)
Newark Catholic 7 (0-7)
Green Wave effectively eliminated from the playoffs with that. Green Wave 0-7 maybe for the first time in program history? I'll look more into it.

Danville 34 (5-2)
Cardington-Lincoln 8 (2-5)
Blue Devils are still the favorites in the region.

South Gallia 46 (5-2)
Sciotoville East 8 (1-6)
Rebels benefitting from a weak schedule.

Shadyside 20 (2-5)
River 0 (2-5)
Tigers with a surprise here tonight. The "men" done it. @The Dock

Waterford 42 (5-2)
Southern 14 (2-5)
Tornadoes fall to the Wildcats.

Notre Dame and Green play tomorrow.
 
danville96 said:
I'll just leave this here
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I'm sorry, Eastern and Miller 2 of the top teams in the region? It's almost like Trimble and Danville don't exist.

It's just a big fantasy world they are living in over there. I truly believe Trimble and Danville are 2 of the best teams in the region. Did we get blown out by WC? Yeah, we did. Everything you can imagine went wrong in that game. But I'm sure 99% of the other teams in region 27 would get blown out by them also with the exception of Danville.

Going back to the 2 of the top teams in the region. No one else has proven to me yet that they are one of the top teams in the region. River took a step back this year, NC and Shadyside are way down. Steubenville CC is 6-1, but a 19-34 loss to Strasburg-Franklin concerns me. Along with a 13-6 win over 1-5 St. John School.

My takeaway from this is that is R27 is weak. You take away Trimble and Danville like last year and we get a do over of a R27 team losing by 50 in the state final four. I confidently believe if the seedings fall right, Trimble and Danville will be playing in week 14 somewhere for the R27 crown. Because us or Danville will rep this region better than Eastern Pike or Miller.

And in no way am I taking away from other schools, this is just how I feel what the reality may end up being.
 
I don’t have anything against Miller getting a plug. That staff has done a very commendable job over the years.

That said, wow.

Their (EP) lack of detailing will be their undoing. And for anyone out there that can’t connect the dots: their sub-mediocre schedule reinforces the lack of detailing. They have major weaknesses that still exist today, that programs like Danville, Trimble, NC would’ve gotten firmed up by Friday of week 2 at the latest.

This team has some serious talent on O, but the offense will in all likelihood turn into a trainwreck the moment they play a defense that has both the dudes and the braintrust. Once again, an issue of detailing. If they played detailed, disciplined, assignment football with ‘ride your butt’ intensity coaching over the course of the season and impressionable examples to convey the urgency of playing detailed (e.g. “this is where WE lost”) then yeah, they could legit be a wicked dangerous offense. Unfortunately, Huntington is not a useful measuring stick.

Alas, the rivalry between “taking the wounds necessary to play good football” and “10-0” has another chapter in R27 this year.

It’s frustrating to see this. This newfound philosophy of placation is a high-interest loan, and November is when you pay up. It’s a vicious cycle.
 
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The Dock said:
I don’t have anything against Miller getting a plug. That staff has done a very commendable job over the years.

That said, wow.

Their lack of detailing will be their undoing. And for anyone out there that can’t connect the dots: their sub-mediocre schedule reinforces the lack of detailing. They have major weaknesses that still exist today, that programs like Danville, Trimble, NC would’ve gotten firmed up by Friday of week 2 at the latest.

This team has some serious talent on O, but the offense will in all likelihood turn into a trainwreck the moment they play a defense that has both the dudes and the braintrust. Once again, an issue of detailing. If they played detailed, disciplined, assignment football with ‘ride your butt’ intensity coaching over the course of the season and impressionable examples to convey the urgency of playing detailed (e.g. “this is where WE lost”) then yeah, they could legit be a wicked dangerous offense. Unfortunately, Huntington is not a useful measuring stick.

Alas, the rivalry between “taking the wounds necessary to play good football” and “10-0” has another chapter in R27 this year.

It’s frustrating to see this. This newfound philosophy of placation is a high-interest loan, and November is when you pay up. It’s a vicious cycle.
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I think it's great Miller is having success this year. They have some talent when I watched them pre season. I just don't think I can be sold on them when I never lost to them in anything. Youth league on up. It's just hard for me to do that.

Can Miller win a playoff game or two? Absolutely, and I hope they do. But when they run into a team with 1/4 of a heartbeat (see GCC as an example), they fold.

That will absolutely play a huge factor in the playoffs. Eastern starters are more than likely not used to playing a whole game I'm sure since they are already up by 30 at halftime. I can't speak on Miller because I don't know how many kids they have out.
 
Eastern Pike 43 (8-0)
Notre Dame 22 (3-5)
Eagles pick another win up. Still not sold.

Danville 12 (6-2)
Centerburg 0 (5-3)
Blue Devils pick up a shutout!

Wheeling Central (WV) 38 (5-2)
Steubenville CC 6 (6-2)
Crusaders tough a drop one to a good opponent.

Eastern Meigs 41 (6-2)
Trimble 20 (5-3)
Down 21-0 and clawed it back to 21-20 in the 3rd. A 4th down TD and a pick six broke our backs.

Miller 41 (6-2)
Fairfield Christian 21 (2-6)
Miller gets another W.

Toronto 68 (6-2)
Conotton Valley 27 (5-3)
Ouch.

South Gallia (5-2)
Green (1-6)
No contest.

Racine Southern 55 (3-5)
Belpre 14 (1-7)
Tornadoes offense rolls against a struggling Belpre team.

River 38 (3-5)
Shenandoah 7 (2-6)
Pilots finally find their footing?

Fisher Catholic 35 (3-5)
Millersport 6 (2-6)
Irish pick up a good W for them.

Heath 51 (3-5)
Newark Catholic 0 (0-8)
Can the Green Wave win a game with 2 weeks left?

Caldwell 63 (4-4)
Shadyside 7 (2-6)
Ouch. Tigers take a thumping.
 
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trimblefootball said:
Eastern Pike 43 (8-0)
Notre Dame 22 (3-5)
Eagles pick another win up. Still not sold.


River 38 (3-5)
Shenandoah 7 (2-6)
Pilots finally find their footing?
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I don’t understand what’s going on with Shenandoah. Their QB looked like the next Isaly (River line of QB’s) when he was a freshman back in ‘22.

Agree on EP. 22 to PND in October? 😖
 
The Dock said:
I don’t understand what’s going on with Shenandoah. Their QB looked like the next Isaly (River line of QB’s) when he was a freshman back in ‘22.

Agree on EP. 22 to PND in October? 😖
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Both Eastern and Shenandoah confuse me. Shenandoah QB looked great in 2022. Since then he's been meh.

EP is gonna have a rough time here in a few weeks
 
This presumes that Danville beats Freddy and EK, but other than that it looks like the table is already set? I can’t foresee any real changes aside from which of Southern and Shadyside ends up making the long drive on Rt 7.

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Games in week 9 and 10 with playoff implications for r27.
Below are the only games with a spread of 14 or under
Week 9
Danville(-10) - Fredericktown
Trimble - Waterford(-14)
Beaver Eastern(-6) - South Gallia
Conotton Valley(-10) - Steubenville Central Catholic
River(-1) - Buckeye Local
Miller(-10) - Rosecrans
Symmes Valley(-8) - Notre Dame
Fisher Catholic - Berne Union(-14)

Week 10
FCA - Berne Union(-6)
(Danville - EK should be in there but it doesn't fall under my point spread criteria) 19, in my opinion is too high for that rivalry game
 
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Don't know much about the Rockets. I know they are usually a doormat team, got some talent finally?

CV has like 12 Seniors on a 25-man roster. They will be way down in 2025. Been playing a little better than usual (500 team) since they got some Oil & Gas money, Turf field, updated Facilites etc. I remember when they had no lights, and their field was cut of a corn patch.
 
Down in the valley said:
Don't know much about the Rockets. I know they are usually a doormat team, got some talent finally?

CV has like 12 Seniors on a 25-man roster. They will be way down in 2025. Been playing a little better than usual (500 team) since they got some Oil & Gas money, Turf field, updated Facilites etc. I remember when they had no lights, and their field was cut of a corn patch.
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Seems like the Rockets will be in for a long season next year
 
trimblefootball said:
Come on. Watch that good brand of Eastern football
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I legit thought SG would win purely on them limiting PND and FC (both offenses of some general ability, generally similar philosophy on offense) to one score each.

Props to Eastern, however. I’ll eat crow on this one.
 
Eastern 13 (9-0)
South Gallia 12 (5-3)
I think Eastern used all their season's luck in this game here.

Danville 31 (7-2)
Fredericktown 14 (5-4)
Video somewhere in the thread with this game.

Miller 41 (7-2)
Rosecrans 0 (5-4)
I still think Miller is a "pretender" in the region.

Steubenville CC and Conotton Valley play tomorrow.

Waterford 14 (7-2)
Trimble 6 (5-4)
If you like defense, this is your type of game. 2 big plays let Waterford score.

Notre Dame 26 (4-5)
Symmes Valley 22 (3-5)
Titans get Sciotoville East next week to likely finish 5-5.

Shadyside 40 (3-6)
Bridgeport 34 (3-6)
The "men" get it done. @The Dock

River 39 (4-5)
Buckeye Local 9 (2-7)
Pilots looking like they'll finish at 500 to end the season

Fisher Catholic 28 (4-5)
Berne Union 12 (2-7)
The Irish have a tall task ahead of them next week, but will finish 4-6 most likely and a trip to the playoffs.

Fairfield Christian 28 (3-6)
Millersport 0 (2-7)
I think this game should've been a running clock.

Newark Catholic 48 (1-8)
Lakewood 14 (1-8)
The Green Wave get their first win of the season. Unfortunately, there brutal schedule has them going to Johnstown. Ouch.

At this point in the season, the playoffs are basically shaped up. Now we wait for the seeding after next weeks games.
 
33 wins over a familiar foe, and win #34 is hard to beat when you stack them up. It’s without question, IMO, the best in modern program history (e.g. 2010 — present), too. ‘Best’ after you factor in the context.

FC 0 14 7 7
BU 0 0 0 12

Out-played; out-gritted; out-hearted.

Team and program that’s been through it all these last four years. Clearly a deeply difficult situation the Irish have been under over the course of these last six games. Tonight (and in the buildup) those challenges get set aside — as far as it realistically can be — in the pursuit of gold. King, for a night.

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As one who prides himself in being a statewide bon vivant of the high school game, always in the pursuit of great games weekly, catching the IVP broadcast after the fact on YouTube… let’s just say this one broke into my top 5 all-time, above the likes of Mass. Washington’s comeback vs St Edward at PBTS in ‘22 and UA’s comeback vs Liberty this year. Both of which I was there for, I’ll add.

There’s nothing like Ohio’s greatest public-private rivalry.

Slaínte to the program. Many in my network of fellow alumni are taking pride in the game tonight when I tell them of it.
 
The Dock said:
33 wins over a familiar foe, and win #34 is hard to beat when you stack them up. It’s without question, IMO, the best in modern program history (e.g. 2010 — present), too. ‘Best’ after you factor in the context.

FC 0 14 7 7
BU 0 0 0 12

Out-played; out-gritted; out-hearted.

Team and program that’s been through it all these last four years. Clearly a deeply difficult situation the Irish have been under over the course of these last six games. Tonight (and in the buildup) those challenges get set aside — as far as it realistically can be — in the pursuit of gold. King, for a night.

— — —
As one who prides himself in being a statewide bon vivant of the high school game, always in the pursuit of great games weekly, catching the IVP broadcast after the fact on YouTube… let’s just say this one broke into my top 5 all-time, above the likes of Mass. Washington’s comeback vs St Edward at PBTS in ‘22 and UA’s comeback vs Liberty this year. Both of which I was there for, I’ll add.

There’s nothing like Ohio’s greatest public-private rivalry.

Slaínte to the program. Many in my network of fellow alumni are taking pride in the game tonight when I tell them of it.
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I've always had a great deal of respect for Fisher. I knew they could win this game after watching them in week 1. Simply because they don't quit, and they fight with every ounce they have left in them!
 
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