The Western Buckeye League could not have worked out a better schedule for excitement as the three league front runners, St. Marys, Ottawa-Glandorf and Wapakoneta, will square off against each other in the final three weeks of the season. In essence the final three games are like a mini three-week tournament to determine the WBL champion.
The first of those marquee match-ups is the contest featuring Ottawa-Glandorf and Wapakoneta Friday night. On Oct. 21, Wapakoneta will face St. Marys and on Oct. 28, Ottawa-Glandorf and St. Marys will clash.
The Titans and the Redskins come into their game undefeated in the regular season and the WBL.
Titan head coach Ken Schriner and Redskin head coach Travis Moyer understand the importance and impact this game has in winning the WBL but the two are treating it like just another game on the schedule.
“This is a big game but I am telling the players to keep the moment in the moment,” Schriner said. “We just need to go out there and play football and relax. The players know they have a chance to make a special memory.”
Schriner added that he enjoys playing at Wapakoneta and knows there will be a huge crowd and the game will have the energy of a playoff contest.
For Moyer this game is another step in his plan of seeing constant improvement from his young team.
“It’s our goal to win each and every game and we treat each league game as a step and this week is step number seven towards goal No. 1 of winning the WBL championship,” Moyer said. “For us to continue to control our own destiny from a league standpoint we need to find a way to be successful Friday night.”
Coming into the year, Moyer was faced with the task of building around a team that had just three starters back on offense and four back on defense and he said his inexperienced players have responded to the challenge by being competitive.
“I think from the start of the season until now we have seen strides in terms of us continuing to get better,” Moyer said. “When we started this process we were young from an experience standpoint as any team in the league as far as returning starters.”
Moyer said he also believes the Redskins have not peaked yet as a football team and there is room to grow.
The two teams come into the game ranked third and fourth in team total offense with Ottawa-Glandorf averaging 363.6 yards a game and Wapakoneta close behind at 355.5.
The Titans are the top ranked defense in the WBL, yielding 190.7 yards per game with the Redskin defense placing third, giving up 225.
Schriner said Wapakoneta is a dangerous team that has put together a “heck of a streak” (the Redskins have won 32 straight WBL games from 2012 to present) and is a well coached unit.
The Titans’ priority on defense will be containing the vaunted Redskin running game. Led by Landon Hall, who ranks second in the WBL with 758 yards and nine touchdowns, Wapakoneta is second in the league in total team rushing, averaging 246.9 yards a game.
“We tried to be as balanced as possible and get as many people involved,” said Moyer, who added the progress of the offensive line and the maturity of his skilled players has made the Redskin offense a little more diverse.
Ottawa-Glandorf has been excellent against the run this year. The Titans are first in the WBL in team rushing defense, giving up 71.7 yards a game.
However, Schriner adds that the Redskins do have the ability to pass the ball so while the Titans’ main focus will be stopping Hall and Co., he will also have to contain quarterback Manny Vorhees. The Redskin signal caller is sixth in the league in passing efficiency. He has completed 58.7 percent of his passes and has thrown for 760 yards and four touchdowns.
“We know they are more balanced and have the ability to pass the ball,” Schriner said. “We can’t concentrate on stopping everything but our main concern is stopping the run. The first thing is we need to make great tackles.”
Like the Titans, the Redskins will have their hands’ full against a more versatile offense led by Titan quarterback Jay Kaufman. The Titan field general is second in the WBL in passing efficiency and has thrown for 1,366 yards and 16 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Kaufman is also a threat to run.
“Coach Shriner and his staff have done a tremendous job of preparing his team each and every season and we know we are in a very huge battle Friday night,” Moyer said. “Offensively, it starts with their dual threat quarterback. They have the ability to run the football and throw the football. Guys responsible for stopping the pass will have to stop the pass and guys responsible for stopping the run will have to stop the run. They are very efficient.”
Titan receiver Richie Knowlton has been Kaufman’s main target as the sure-handed receiver has hauled in 22 catches for 590 yards and five touchdowns. He is averaging an eye-popping 26.8 yards per catch.
Another Titan weapon the Redskins will have to contend with is running back Connor Niese. The senior tailback has rushed for 544 yards and five touchdowns on 82 carries.
Both coaches agree that in order to win the game, turnovers and mistakes must be held to a minimum.
While these two teams slug it out, the other front runner, St. Marys, will be facing Defiance (1-6, 1-5).
In other league games, Van Wert (0-7,0-6) travels to Celina (3-4, 3-3), Elida (4-3, 3-3) goes to Kenton and Bath (2-5, 1-5) battles Shawnee (1-6, 1-5).
Northwest Conference
Delphos Jefferson (6-1, 4-0) will face a tough test this week when the Wildcats face Crestview (5-2, 2-2). The Knights are coming off a big, 40-9, victory over Allen East (5-2, 2-2). The Mustangs will try to get back on the winning track when they face off against Columbus Grove (2-5, 0-4). Spencerville (6-1, 4-0) will try to keep its NWC undefeated record intact when it plays host to Paulding (1-6, 0-4).
Notes: Ada’s Seth Conley eclipsed the 2,000 yard barrier last week and has completed 181 out of 287 passes for 2,117 yards and 24 touchdowns. Mustang quarterback Spencer Miller has broken the 1,000 yard passing barrier with 1,041 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Delphos Jefferson’s Hunter Binkley leads the NWC with 1,196 yards. Paulding’s Preston Ingol is second with 892 yards.
Lima Senior
The Spartans’ thrilling 28-21 win overtime against Findlay win not only keeps Lima Senior (5-2, 3-1) in the hunt for the Three Rivers Athletic Conference title but puts the Spartans in a prime position to make the postseason.
Lima Senior will look to keep that momentum going when it battles Toledo St. Johns Jesuit (5-2, 2-2). The Titans are coming off a 37-14 win over Oregon Clay in which Tyler Turner carried the ball 24 times for 273 yards and four touchdowns. Backfield mate McCoy Bulter finished with 160 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown.
Lima Central Catholic
The Thunderbirds (1-6) took it on the chin last Friday night when they lost a 43-7 decision to Wynford. LCC will try to rebound this week when it faces Indiana’s Bluffton High School. The Tigers (2-6) come to Lima after dropping a 55-6 loss to Adams Central.
Delphos St. John’s
The Blue Jays (4-3, 3-2) will have their hands full when they face St. Henry (5-2, 4-1) this week. The Redskins are coming off a big 24-17 double overtime win against Anna. Redskin quarterback Daylon Lange has thrown for 789 yards and six touchdowns. Redskin running back Ryan Luttmer has rushed for 499 yards on 102 carries and seven touchdowns. Blue Jay Aaron Reindel leads the MAC in touchdowns with 18 and teammate Isaac Musser leads the MAC in total tackles with 99. The Jays’ Troy Elwer is second with 82.
Northwest
Central Conference
Upper Scioto Valley (4-3, 3-1) travels to Hardin Northern (2-2, 2-5) to take on the Polar Bears. The Rams look to stay in the race for the NWCC title. Perry (3-4, 2-2) travels to Riverside (4-3, 2-2) and Waynesfield-Goshen (0-7, 0-4) will seek its first win against Ridgemont (2-5, 0-4).
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