Shawnee, after suffering a week one loss, will look to get back in the win column this week when the Indians open Western Buckeye League play with Bath Friday.
With one week done, it is time for some Western Buckeye League fun.
Well, fun for the fans that get to enjoy the competitiveness of the league but for the teams it is a test every week as the league boasts some of the best teams in the area and the race for the title has always been close.
Although taking a look at the last 10 years, Wapakoneta has been the most dominating team in the WBL as they have won or shared six league titles since 2012 including the last three that they shared with either St. Marys, Kenton or Van Wert.
From 2012-15, the league was won by teams posting undefeated records. In 2016, St. Marys and O-G shared the league title. St. Marys went undefeated in 2017, the last squad to post an unblemished record in the league.
Not included was the pandemic year of 2020 where no league champion was crowned. In that year Van Wert and Ottawa-Glandorf went 5-1.
In the last 10 years, covering 87 games, Wapakoneta has posted a 72-15 mark since 2012, winning more than 80 percent of its games. O-G went 61-26 in that time span and Kenton went 52-35 the last 10 years. The only other two teams with winning records since 2012 are St. Marys (52-35) and Celina (45-42).
If you take away the pandemic year where the Redskins went 2-4, Wapakoneta is the only school to record winning records since 2012.
What does this mean?
In reality, nothing. But it also shows the trend that Wapakoneta, St. Marys, Van Wert and Ottawa-Glandorf have all been prominent in the hunt for the title the last 10 years. But that does not mean we can see another team step up this year and get themselves in the mix.
Remember these important facts. In 2012 and 2013, St. Marys went winless only to rebuild and become a frontrunner the last seven years. Van Wert was another team that posted one win seasons in 2012 and 2013 only to post winning records the past four years, including winning a state title.
Well that is the past. We have entered a new season and in the first week of the season we got a small glimpse of the WBL teams against non league opponents. In opening week, Defiance, Elida, S. Marys and Van Wert all posted wins.
What does this mean?
Again. Nothing. Teams have lost the first game and gone on to win the WBL title and as Wapakoneta showed last year losing your opening WBL game does not eliminate you from the race but a team has not won the WBL with two losses since 2008. In that year, four teams, Shawnee, Kenton, St. Marys and Defiance, finished with a 7-2 record to share the title.
What does this mean?
The obvious and that is losing two games can almost be certain doom for a team looking to win the WBL title.
The early part of the season could dictate the frontrunner for the second half of the year.
Wapakoneta’s schedule in its first league games are Ottawa-Glandorf, St. Marys, Van Wert and Shawnee. All four of those schools made the playoffs last year and combined for a 40-13 record. O-G takes on Wapakoneta, Elida, St. Marys and Bath in its first four contest and St. Marys faces Defiance, Wapakoneta, Ottawa-Glandorf and Van Wert.
Van Wert takes on Celina, Defiance, Wapakoneta, St. Marys and Ottawa-Glandorf in its first five games.
What does this mean?
It means again nothing because this is a new season with new faces and new teams ready to compete for the WBL so as always stay tuned.
Other games of interest in week 1:
Delphos St. John’s (0-1) at Lima Central Catholic (0-1)
The gridiron holy war pits two teams coming off big wins in the first week of the season. LCC downed Shawnee, 27, in week one and Delphos St. John’s ousted city rival Delphos Jefferson, 49-27.
For the Thunderbirds, quarterback Carson Parker was instrumental in the win as he rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 222 yards and two touchdowns.
Delphos St. John’s displayed a well-balanced attack. Quarterback Nate Schwinnen passed for 161 yards and running back Clay Paddubny rushed for 217 yards and four touchdowns.
Allen East (1-0) at Perry (0-1)
Allen East is coming off a gritty 27-14 win over Upper Scioto Valley in week one. The Mustangs got some solid running from Jack Hoel, who gained 100 yards and scored twice, and Jacob Hershberger, picked up where he left off as he rushed for 89 yards and passed for 122 yards. Perry struggled in its opener, falling to Lehman Catholic, 27-6. Perry is resetting its offense after losing four-year starter Ryan Yingst to graduation and hoping to improve on last week’s outing against Lehman.
