Week 12 #9 8-3 Poland Seminary at #1 11-0 West Branch

Who will win

  • Poland by 14+

    Votes: 5 7.8%
  • Poland by 8-13

    Votes: 9 14.1%
  • Poland by 1-7

    Votes: 14 21.9%
  • West Branch by 1-7

    Votes: 10 15.6%
  • West Branch by 8-13

    Votes: 16 25.0%
  • West Branch 14+

    Votes: 10 15.6%

  • Total voters
    64
  • Poll closed .
West Branch has an excellent offensive scheme and dissect defenses, they don’t really have a big playmaker, just a lot of good football players, but they do have an excellent quarterback and excellent offensive line and the QB seems to always find open man. When Deshields does get pressure he is more dangerous because he moves well and keeps his eyes downfield- They are extremely well coached. What Harris did there in the last 2 years is incredible after
my Minerva Lions broke a 44 game losing streak there, the program took off. Their running back is big and runs hard so they are more than a passing team- he has over 1000 yards too. Their defense is suspect giving up 42 points to both south and Salem. Being an EBC fan the conference is good, but Poland will be the best team WB plays this year and WB is no slouch for Poland. I saw Poland play South Range on TV and I really like their quarterback. He is a lot like Johnson from Salem only bigger. I think WB will score points but they will really struggle stopping Poland and Poland will win 48-41 in a shootout. I can’t wait to see this one!!
 
Then which team is the best they played? I looked at the schedule and I am very curious about your response.
CatDog, I am simply saying I don't know enough about West Branches opponents to simply pontificate that Poland is the best team they have played.. I have however watched Poland enough to know how physical they are. You are free to overrule my objection if you judge it to be appropriate. ;)
 
Poland is absolutely the best team WB will have faced to date. Also the 3rd best team in the NE8, also Poland played a much tougher OOC schedule.
 
Yep. And WB is probably the third best team the Dogs faced, behind Canfield and SR.

Poland is built to win this game. BUT, if the defense takes plays off or they trail by two or more touchdowns, this game can get out of hand in favor of WB. Not saying Poland wins, just saying this game is very winnable for them.

Go Dogs!
My issue is pavlansky, tends to go away from what they’re good at, that’ll be the deciding factor in the game. The second half of the Hubbard game they went completely away from what they do and they lost after being up big
 
Yep. And WB is probably the third best team the Dogs faced, behind Canfield and SR.

Poland is built to win this game. BUT, if the defense takes plays off or they trail by two or more touchdowns, this game can get out of hand in favor of WB. Not saying Poland wins, just saying this game is very winnable for them.

Go Dogs!
Hubbard might be better than West Branch as well. Not counting the version of the Eagles that made stupid play calls against South Range. Contrary to popular belief Hubbard is actually capable of completing passes as evidenced in the New Philadelphia game.
Poland's opponents in order of difficulty:
1. Canfield
2. South Range
3. Hubbard
4. West Branch
 
Poland will have the best defense WB has played all year, they’ll have to do it through the air.

Howland ran the ball very well against WB, Poland is a lot better in that aspect then Howland. If Poland doesn’t get behind early they’ll grind it out by 2 scores, but it WB makes poland play catch-up like Salem did last year then was shut out in the second half we will have a really good ball game
C
CatDog, I am simply saying I don't know enough about West Branches opponents to simply pontificate that Poland is the best team they have played.. I have however watched Poland enough to know how physical they are. You are free to overrule my objection if you judge it to be appropriate. ;)
The EBC is a good league. Carrollton is probably closest to Poland, run
Poland is absolutely the best team WB will have faced to date. Also the 3rd best team in the NE8, also Poland played a much tougher OOC schedule.
Poland is absolutely the best team WB will have faced to date. Also the 3rd best team in the NE8, also Poland played a much tougher OOC schedule.
So Poland played possibly 3 teams better than WB and lost them all. They only beat 2 teams with winning records. The team are probably equally talented with similar schedules. Polands last game against an EBC team was a 3 point win over Salem last year.
 
Hubbard might be better than West Branch as well. Not counting the version of the Eagles that made stupid play calls against South Range. Contrary to popular belief Hubbard is actually capable of completing passes as evidenced in the New Philadelphia game.
Poland's opponents in order of difficulty:
1. Canfield
2. South Range
3. Hubbard
4. West Branch
1-3 beat them them , right? Wb’s order:
1. Carrollton
2. Poland
3. Canton South
4. Salem
 
Poland is absolutely the best team WB will have faced to date. Also the 3rd best team in the NE8, also Poland played a much tougher OOC schedule.
Yeah. No way anyone on WBS schedule is better than Poland. Poland however played 3 teams better than WB.
Carrollton is the same type of team as Poland and would give them everything they could handle, lost to St Clairsville, West Branch and somehow blew a game to Marlington when their running back rushed for 370. They are a very good and very physical team - those types of teams do exist outside of mahoning county whether you want to believe it or not.
 
I actually saw Carrollton, Canton South and Salem play this year
I would rank them:
1. Poland
2. Salem
3. Canton South
4. Carrollton
I could see that why you ranked them in that order and put Poland 1 but carrollton did beat both south and Salem. Carrollton is very similar to Poland. Very good running game and physical team- Carroll County has some big and tough farm boys!!
 
Carrollton is the same type of team as Poland and would give them everything they could handle, lost to St Clairsville, West Branch and somehow blew a game to Marlington when their running back rushed for 370. They are a very good and very physical team - those types of teams do exist outside of mahoning county whether you want to believe it or not.
I put Carrollton 4th because Marlington is absolutely horrendous, and that is just a really bad loss that cannot be justified at all. Losing to only St. Clairsville and West Branch and discounting the Marlington game, I would say they are roughly equal to Salem.
 
Carrollton is the same type of team as Poland and would give them everything they could handle, lost to St Clairsville, West Branch and somehow blew a game to Marlington when their running back rushed for 370. They are a very good and very physical team - those types of teams do exist outside of mahoning county whether you want to believe it or not.
Someone being physical doesn’t make them a good team. Poland gave Canfield who would name the score on WB all they wanted. It’s a battle of strengths, WB offense vs polands defense. Poland will be able to score because the WB run defense isn’t that great but their offense makes up for it. If Poland gets a couple stops they can easily win. It’s a pick ‘em for me as I’ve stated before.
 
The only common opponent was Howland
Poland won 27-14
West Branch won by a much narrower margin 37-34

So with that in mind I think this is a close game, and I actually will take Poland by 1 TD or less
COMMON OPPONENTS CAN BE MISLEADING.

CCC 15 LUCAS 0 @ LUCAS.
LUCAS 14 MOGGY 0 @ MOGADORE.

WEEK 11: MOGGY 21 CCC 13
MOGGY ALSO HAD A FG AND TD NEGATED BY PENALTY AND WERE PHYSICALLY SUPERIOR TO CCC.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT SO BASED ON THEIR COMMON OPPONENT, LUCAS.

SHOULD BE A GREAT GAME.
DRU DESHIELDS IS A GREAT HIGHSCHOOL QB.
SO IS JACK FULTON.
I'D PAY TO SEE IT.
Pay Me Kim Kardashian GIF by GQ
 
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COMMON OPPONENTS CAN BE MISLEADING.

CCC 15 LUCAS 0 @ LUCAS.
LUCAS 14 MOGGY 0 @ MOGADORE.

WEEK 11: MOGGY 21 CCC 13
MOGGY ALSO HAD A FG AND TD NEGATED BY PENALTY AND WERE PHYSICALLY SUPERIOR TO CCC.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT SO BASED ON THEIR COMMON OPPONENT, LUCAS.
I have also seen West Branch and Poland play several times this year so the one common opponent was not my only basis for predicting that particular outcome.
 
I put Carrollton 4th because Marlington is absolutely horrendous, and that is just a really bad loss that cannot be justified at all. Losing to only St. Clairsville and West Branch and discounting the Marlington game, I would say they are roughly equal to Salem.
They certainly laid an egg that game-
 
COMMON OPPONENTS CAN BE MISLEADING.

CCC 15 LUCAS 0 @ LUCAS.
LUCAS 14 MOGGY 0 @ MOGADORE.

WEEK 11: MOGGY 21 CCC 13
MOGGY ALSO HAD A FG AND TD NEGATED BY PENALTY AND WERE PHYSICALLY SUPERIOR TO CCC.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT SO BASED ON THEIR COMMON OPPONENT, LUCAS.

SHOULD BE A GREAT GAME.
DRU DESHIELDS IS A GREAT HIGHSCHOOL QB.
SO IS JACK FULTON.
I'D PAY TO SEE IT.
Pay Me Kim Kardashian GIF by GQ
Ysn 9.99 lol
 
There's a clear bias here by the bad team posters in Poland's league trying to make themselves feel better about lackluster seasons. West Branch beat three very good teams this year, Poland lost to three very good teams. The idea that just because Poland played against some good teams somehow makes them a better team than West Branch is absurd. The EBC is good this year and West Branch is the cream of the crop in that league, it isn't like they're a MVAC team.
 
There's a clear bias here by the bad team posters in Poland's league trying to make themselves feel better about lackluster seasons. West Branch beat three very good teams this year, Poland lost to three very good teams. The idea that just because Poland played against some good teams somehow makes them a better team than West Branch is absurd. The EBC is good this year and West Branch is the cream of the crop in that league, it isn't like they're a MVAC team.
How has Canfield had a lackluster season? And Canfield isn't in the NE8 either. And Canfield and South Range are definitely better than anyone West Branch has played.
The fact of the matter is the Warriors have an excellent passing game, but they don't have the best defense against the run. The Bulldogs have a serviceable rushing attack and a strong defense. The net result is the Bulldogs will probably get a few stops, the Warriors won't get the stops they need and Poland grinds out a tough victory by one score or so.
 
How has Canfield had a lackluster season? And Canfield isn't in the NE8 either. And Canfield and South Range are definitely better than anyone West Branch has played.
The fact of the matter is the Warriors have an excellent passing game, but they don't have the best defense against the run. The Bulldogs have a serviceable rushing attack and a strong defense. The net result is the Bulldogs will probably get a few stops, the Warriors won't get the stops they need and Poland grinds out a tough victory by one score or so.
This is my exact sentiment. West Branch has a phenomenal offense. But they give you a lot of points vs better competition. Howland wasn't very good offensively this year, from what I've seen. In my mind the edge goes to the defense in a close game. Should be a great game regardless.
 
You can’t say poland has played a better schedule, if you do that then that means you’re saying WB is bad. It’s okay to not play as hard a schedule and still be very good. No need to take offense to it, kirtland doesn’t play a very hard schedule but they still roll in the playoffs. Saying Poland plays a harder schedule isn’t a shot at them, just think Poland schedules a team that WB wanted kicked out of their conference because they were winning too much
 
How has Canfield had a lackluster season? And Canfield isn't in the NE8 either. And Canfield and South Range are definitely better than anyone West Branch has played.
The fact of the matter is the Warriors have an excellent passing game, but they don't have the best defense against the run. The Bulldogs have a serviceable rushing attack and a strong defense. The net result is the Bulldogs will probably get a few stops, the Warriors won't get the stops they need and Poland grinds out a tough victory by one score or so.
Great points about the game. I can see it going that way. I think WB will score enough to win the game but that’s why they play the game. As far schedule, yes south range and Canfield and Hubbard are better than anyone West Branch played but since Poland lost all of those game I really don’t understand your point. It will be fun to watch!
 
Great points about the game. I can see it going that way. I think WB will score enough to win the game but that’s why they play the game. As far schedule, yes south range and Canfield and Hubbard are better than anyone West Branch played but since Poland lost all of those game I really don’t understand your point. It will be fun to watch!
Canfield and South Range would both beat West Branch that is my point. Canfield would probably get a running clock on West Branch to be perfectly honest, because West Branch doesn't play good enough defense to get any stops against Canfield and Canfield has a pretty good secondary. South Range also has such a good well rounded offense as well that I doubt West Branch would get any stops against them either. I do think they might be able to score a bit against South Range but not every drive.
 
Canfield and South Range would both beat West Branch that is my point. Canfield would probably get a running clock on West Branch to be perfectly honest, because West Branch doesn't play good enough defense to get any stops against Canfield and Canfield has a pretty good secondary. South Range also has such a good well rounded offense as well that I doubt West Branch would get any stops against them either. I do think they might be able to score a bit against South Range but not every drive.
Still a terrible argument and Who really cares about schedules? So west Branch would be 8-2 and Friday would still be a good game, I really have no dog in the fight, not from either school. Whoever wins will probably be out when they play perry the next week. Just want to enjoy an entertaining game Friday.
 
My personal opinion and one take on this conversation is that I would rather play tough teams and take the chance of a loss or some adversity than a weak schedule. No team gets anything from beating bad teams and thumping their chest over it.

WB is undefeated and that's not easy to do no matter the league or the schedule. But, I would have to say Poland is more battle tested.

In the end, there are a lot of valid points on both sides of the discussion but all seem to agree it should be a good matchup.
I don’t disagree about scheduling good teams. You really don’t know much about the ebc teams/ it is a solid d4 conference this year. Friday should be a great game with 2 great traditions - looking forward to it.
 
The bottom line is both teams played good schedules, both teams have good football players and good coaching. They will both show up to play and it should be a great game!
I still believe both conferences should schedule each other week 1 each season. Rank your best teams before the season and let it go. Great competition for both leagues
 
Still a terrible argument and Who really cares about schedules? So west Branch would be 8-2 and Friday would still be a good game, I really have no dog in the fight, not from either school. Whoever wins will probably be out when they play perry the next week. Just want to enjoy an entertaining game Friday.
I think they both beat Perry by at least a score. Even when Perry was dominant they would lose to Poland or girard. I see the same next eeek against either of these 2 teams
 
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