WCAL Football 2024

WCAL Playoff Matchups:
#13 Delta (+29) @ #4 Norwayne (D5:R18)
#11 Valley Christian (+41) @ #6 Dalton (D6:R21)
#9 Smithville (-15) @ #8 LaBrae (D6:R21)
#13 Rittman (+27) @ #4 Columbia (D6:R21)
#15 Fairport (+38) @ #2 Hillsdale (D7:R25)

Spreads (for fun) courtesy Fantastic50: https://fantastic50.net/

Good luck to all WCAL schools tonight!
 
If the Smithville line plays like they did against Norwayne, I like their chances. If they play like last week, could be a LONG bus ride home!

Defense needs to be prepared for the scrambling of the Labrea QB! He’s quick to take off!

Let’s Go Green
 
I'm going to sit back and enjoy this play off win! Because we know what's coming next week! Lol. Good job for the boys in green last night and might I add, against a team with a winning record lol. Bobcats struggled but got the win, Dalton and Hillsdale put running clocks on their opponents. Pretty good night for the WCAL.
 
Gotta say, I was worried at halftime of the Smithies game. Several missed opportunities and the momentum was definitely on LaBrae’s side, but Smithville got it done in the second half. They had a few big plays on defense on the final drive of the game…just what they needed. Good luck to them next week, Kirtland will be the best team they have ever faced.
 
Dalton people, how was VCS? Give me something more than the score.

The only thing I know about PY Valley is that they always win a ton of regular season games and then get clapped pretty early in the playoffs. A real Harbin Dandy. A la Toronto, Barnesville, all of the Youngstown area schools…(save 2 privates)
 
Hoist the Black said:
Dalton people, how was VCS? Give me something more than the score.

The only thing I know about PY Valley is that they always win a ton of regular season games and then get clapped pretty early in the playoffs. A real Harbin Dandy. A la Toronto, Barnesville, all of the Youngstown area schools…(save 2 privates)
Click to expand...
Norwayne played PY valley in 2021
 
Hoist the Black said:
Dalton people, how was VCS? Give me something more than the score.

The only thing I know about PY Valley is that they always win a ton of regular season games and then get clapped pretty early in the playoffs. A real Harbin Dandy. A la Toronto, Barnesville, all of the Youngstown area schools…(save 2 privates)
Click to expand...
Hard to say too much - was 62-0. Had one d-lineman that was huge (#8 I think) and could blow up some run plays. RB looked like a stout guy, prob had potential if he got in open field, but Dalton bottled him up. D was very good. Tomlinson the last few weeks has been a cheat code.
 
Hoist the Black said:
Dalton people, how was VCS? Give me something more than the score.

The only thing I know about PY Valley is that they always win a ton of regular season games and then get clapped pretty early in the playoffs. A real Harbin Dandy. A la Toronto, Barnesville, all of the Youngstown area schools…(save 2 privates)
Click to expand...
VCS could be compared to one of bottom four teams in the WCAL. The Bulldogs’s defense has been is so much better the second half of the year. Waynedale didn’t make a first down from scrimmage against the first team defense and VCS made two. Also they have cleaned up the penalties, not having a single call go against them Friday night.
 
Hoist the Black said:
We’re going to have a talk about Norwayne in the playoffs.
Click to expand...
I said after last years 2nd round blunder against Clearview that I would never again in my life, pick Norwayne in a week 12 or beyond matchup, even if I’m 99% sure they’re get the win.. It’s definitely become an issue but hopefully they can right it this week
 
WCLfan said:
I said after last years 2nd round blunder against Clearview that I would never again in my life, pick Norwayne in a week 12 or beyond matchup, even if I’m 99% sure they’re get the win.. It’s definitely become an issue but hopefully they can right it this week
Click to expand...
Eastwood is a very sold program. Norwayne needs to hit the road and get out of Creston IMO.

What’s your take on the 2 QB system? The thrower appears capable of running. Why not give him all the snaps and leave the Smith kid outside? Definitely a bigger threat out there.
 
WCLfan said:
Hillsdale lost to P. Valley the year before
Click to expand...
It’s quite a haul for Dalton. They have a decent (smaller) back, but over all they look small-ish. A little slow.

Smithville will enjoy stuffing the box and selling out against the run. Not sure where points come from…
 
Hoist the Black said:
Eastwood is a very sold program. Norwayne needs to hit the road and get out of Creston IMO.

What’s your take on the 2 QB system? The thrower appears capable of running. Why not give him all the snaps and leave the Smith kid outside? Definitely a bigger threat out there.
Click to expand...
The NBC is a strong conference! I remembering watching Oak Harbor take down Orrville the year after the state title… Orrville also had some battles with Genoa Area years prior. And I’m sure Norwayne fans remember Rossford 😳

Bruner and Moyer is a great backfield with or without Smith, so I’m not sure why they take the big play capability away from the outside as much as they do. I could see bringing him in like most teams do in a “wildcat” style and still giving him the ability to throw, but I think he’s more dangerous (and Norwayne is) with him out wide.
 
WCLfan said:
The NBC is a strong conference! I remembering watching Oak Harbor take down Orrville the year after the state title… Orrville also had some battles with Genoa Area years prior. And I’m sure Norwayne fans remember Rossford 😳

Bruner and Moyer is a great backfield with or without Smith, so I’m not sure why they take the big play capability away from the outside as much as they do. I could see bringing him in like most teams do in a “wildcat” style and still giving him the ability to throw, but I think he’s more dangerous (and Norwayne is) with him out wide.
Click to expand...
Norwayne really shot themselves in the foot against Rossford Doesn’t help we had two of our starting my dbs and wr out the week before because they got caught using Illegal substances and quit the team instead of taking the punishment.. and You’re absolutely right Bruner is a heck of a Qb and Smith is too much of a threat to not leave at WR receiver unless you’re making special run plays for him like you said really gets frustrating
 
Hoist the Black said:
Eastwood is a very sold program. Norwayne needs to hit the road and get out of Creston IMO.

What’s your take on the 2 QB system? The thrower appears capable of running. Why not give him all the snaps and leave the Smith kid outside? Definitely a bigger threat out there.
Click to expand...
Bruner is an athletic QB and can run when needed so to me it don’t make sense .. smith is to much of a threat to not leave at Wr …. The team would be much more efficient if Bruner was able to create chemistry more often with the rest of the team instead of getting taken out for 50% of the plays
 
Eastwood 10-1 @ Norwayne 10-1
Windham 10-1 @ Hillsdale 10-1
Dalton 8-3 @ Pymatuning Valley 10-1
Smithville 8-3 @ Kirtland 11-0
I think Dalton and Hillsdale win easily. Eastwood and Norwayne a toss up. Smithville gets a running clock put on them by Halftime.
 
I have watched a lot of online football games and I got to say, as much as I love being able to keep up with many different teams , The amature online announcers get so BAD at times I have to turn down the volume! It seems that so many that are calling the games dont know even the basics of football! A tip....... if you are moving towards scoring a touchdown (say the redzone) its called moving the ball "down" to the 20yard line not "out" to the 20 yard line!!!! This drives me crazy lol. Learn what different penalties mean too!!! All of this makes me appreciate Mike Brekenridge even more!!!!
 
Oldsmithie said:
Eastwood 10-1 @ Norwayne 10-1
Windham 10-1 @ Hillsdale 10-1
Dalton 8-3 @ Pymatuning Valley 10-1
Smithville 8-3 @ Kirtland 11-0
I think Dalton and Hillsdale win easily. Eastwood and Norwayne a toss up. Smithville gets a running clock put on them by Halftime.
Click to expand...
Looking at their schedule, Smithville gave both Hillsdale & Norwayne competitive games (who both narrowly defeated Dalton), but also won by single digits against Waynedale & Chippewa.

Every week is circumstantial, but I’m intrigued…do the Smithies fare better against one type of team versus another? Or is it just typical WCAL play that these games were close (minus Smithville v. Dalton this year)?
 
Kirtland4580 said:
Looking at their schedule, Smithville gave both Hillsdale & Norwayne competitive games (who both narrowly defeated Dalton), but also won by single digits against Waynedale & Chippewa.

Every week is circumstantial, but I’m intrigued…do the Smithies fare better against one type of team versus another? Or is it just typical WCAL play that these games were close (minus Smithville v. Dalton this year)?
Click to expand...
Smithville took care of business against the teams they should have beat - and lost to the teams they should have lost to. They are a run heavy team and will struggle to move the ball on Kirtland. TBH - they probably will not score against the Kirtland 1's. This is not the same kind of game that Dalton has given Kirtland earlier this year or last year. It will be a running clock as soon as the 2nd half starts.
 
Kirtland4580 said:
Looking at their schedule, Smithville gave both Hillsdale & Norwayne competitive games (who both narrowly defeated Dalton), but also won by single digits against Waynedale & Chippewa.

Every week is circumstantial, but I’m intrigued…do the Smithies fare better against one type of team versus another? Or is it just typical WCAL play that these games were close (minus Smithville v. Dalton this year)?
Click to expand...
Smithville preformed well against Norwayne and Hillsdale but if you look at the schedule, you’ll see that both teams were coming off very physical wins against Dalton. I think that had a lot to do with the result. They definitely played down to a few poor teams this year (add Claymont and Lucas)

I guess you could say that Smithville is better against the run?? (Still not great) The secondary is a major concern but I don’t see Kirtland having any issues moving the football. It’s a very bend but don’t break style of play. I’ll 3rd the running clock by 3rd quarter
 
CasualFan24 said:
Smithville took care of business against the teams they should have beat - and lost to the teams they should have lost to. They are a run heavy team and will struggle to move the ball on Kirtland. TBH - they probably will not score against the Kirtland 1's. This is not the same kind of game that Dalton has given Kirtland earlier this year or last year. It will be a running clock as soon as the 2nd half starts.
Click to expand...

Kirtland4580 said:
Looking at their schedule, Smithville gave both Hillsdale & Norwayne competitive games (who both narrowly defeated Dalton), but also won by single digits against Waynedale & Chippewa.

Every week is circumstantial, but I’m intrigued…do the Smithies fare better against one type of team versus another? Or is it just typical WCAL play that these games were close (minus Smithville v. Dalton this year)?
Click to expand...
Smithville has improved since the Dalton game, but they haven't faced a team like Kirtland. Having watched the Dalton game at Kirtland, it's hard not to be intimidated the moment you get off the bus or as a fan entering the stadium. As a WCAL fan, I hope the Smithies surprise us and keep the game respectable, but I'll go with a running clock as well.
 
Last edited:
Kirtland4580 said:
Looking at their schedule, Smithville gave both Hillsdale & Norwayne competitive games (who both narrowly defeated Dalton), but also won by single digits against Waynedale & Chippewa.

Every week is circumstantial, but I’m intrigued…do the Smithies fare better against one type of team versus another? Or is it just typical WCAL play that these games were close (minus Smithville v. Dalton this year)?
Click to expand...
How healthy are the Hornets?
 
CasualFan24 said:
Smithville took care of business against the teams they should have beat - and lost to the teams they should have lost to. They are a run heavy team and will struggle to move the ball on Kirtland. TBH - they probably will not score against the Kirtland 1's. This is not the same kind of game that Dalton has given Kirtland earlier this year or last year. It will be a running clock as soon as the 2nd half starts.
Click to expand...
WCLfan said:
Smithville preformed well against Norwayne and Hillsdale but if you look at the schedule, you’ll see that both teams were coming off very physical wins against Dalton. I think that had a lot to do with the result. They definitely played down to a few poor teams this year (add Claymont and Lucas)

I guess you could say that Smithville is better against the run?? (Still not great) The secondary is a major concern but I don’t see Kirtland having any issues moving the football. It’s a very bend but don’t break style of play. I’ll 3rd the running clock by 3rd quarter
Click to expand...
Old Tex said:
Smithville has improved since the Dalton game, but they haven't faced a team like Kirtland. Having watched the Dalton game at Kirtland, it's hard not to be intimidated the moment you get off the bus or as a fan entering the stadium. As a WCAL fan, I hope the Smithies surprise us and keep the game respectable, but I'll go with a running clock as well.
Click to expand...
Appreciate everyone’s feedback…sounds like two run heavy teams will lead to the clock ticking regardless of the score disparity. Did not realize both those close games Smithville played in were AFTER those opponents played Dalton. Sounds like this season has generated some positive momentum for the Smithies.

For anyone attending the game from Smithville, there are a couple taverns, a restaurant & a wood fired pizza place right by the stadium to grab a bite to eat prior to or after the game.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top