Cornell Beachem highlights Winton Woods High SchoolWatch the senior receiver and AOW Nominee in action against Massillon Washington. Beachem accounted for three touchdowns in the state semifinal win over the Tigers. Who wins in Week 15? This is it. For the past seven years I've picked Ohio high school postseason games against Drew Pasteur's Fantastic 50 formula. This season we again added Need Freeman's CalPreps picks into the fold. This week we're adding even more! We extended an invite to several Ohio prep experts and solicited their picks for the state finals. Glad they obliged.
As for last last week...it was again close. Of the 14 state semifinal games, I predicted 13 of 14 correctly. So did the Fantastic 50. This is the second straight week have tied. CalPreps was behind with 11 correct outcomes.
Overall, I maintain a two-game lead on the Fantastic 50 and open a four-game lead on CalPreps with one week left.
Below is a comprehensive look at who each of us - and the guest pickers - thinks wins this year's Division V state final...
Division V State FinalWheelersburg (14-0) vs. Eastwood (Pemberville) (14-0)Friday, Dec. 1, 3 p.m.
STATEWIDE BRACKETS
OHIO STATEWIDE STAT LEADERSLIVE SCORES, RESULTS & SCHEDULESEric Frantz (MaxPreps.com/JJHuddle.com): Both teams own explosive offenses (Wheelersburg averages 41 points per game, Eastwood averages 40) and elite defenses (both have allowed 116 points this season). Wheelersburg is one of the more storied small school programs in Ohio, but despite the fact the Pirates own 29 playoff berths this is just their second trip to the state final. Regardless, the last time they made it this far they won it all in 1989. I think they do it again. Wheelersburg was my No. 1 team in the state in D-V in the final Fab 5 rankings most of the season and I’m standing behind Tanner Holden, Xander Carmichael and Co. It won’t be easy – at all…
Wheelersburg 24, Eastwood 21.
Drew Pasteur (Fantastic50.net): Pemberville
Eastwood (14-0 D5 R18) by 2 (54%) Wheelersburg (14-0 D5 R19)
CalPreps (Calpreps.net): Pemberville
Eastwood 24-23
Steve Helwagen (247sports.com): Both teams can light it up and have rolled through the playoffs…
Wheelersburg 46, Pemberville Eastwood 33.
Gary Housteau (Bucknuts.com): I'll go with
Eastwood over Wheelersburg. Eastwood beat my South Range Raiders.
Mark Porter (ScoutingOhio.com): WheelersburgTim Rogers (OPSWA HOF): What stands out to me is Eastwood’s 35-0 win over sixth-ranked Marion Pleasant in the regional finals. Its defense must be the real deal, having allowed less than a touchdown per game in the playoffs and fewer than two TDs per game throughout the regular season. And, you can bet the Eastwood coaching staff took a long, hard look at the state semifinal tape when Middletown Madison held the Pirates to 15 points. What’s the saying? Defense wins championships? Pick:
Eastwood 24, Wheelersburg 20
Kurt Stubbs (@ohiohshoops): This should be a fantastic encounter featuring two undefeated teams in Pemberville Eastwood and Wheelersburg. The two schools are separated by over 200 miles, but one thing they will have in common is the want to get win No. 15. Wheelersburg trailed in the 4th quarter a week ago to Middletown Madison, while Eastwood beat previously unbeaten South Range. The Eastwood defense has given up seven or fewer points in 11 of 14 games, while the Pirates have done the same in nine of 14 contests. This game is a total toss up to me, I'm going to give Eastwood a slight edge due to its win over South Range. I’ll take
Eastwood 21-20.
Steve Blackledge (Columbus Dispatch/OPSWA HOF): On paper, these teams looks almost identical. Both teams excel on defense. The hunch here is that Wheelersburg offensive balance may tilt the scales in a tight game…
Wheelersburg 17, Pemberville Eastwood 14.
Wheelersburg is in the playoffs for the 29th time and has reached its second state final.
Photo by Mark Porter/ScoutingOhio.com
EF Picks 2016: 3-4 (43%)
EF Picks 2015: 3-4 (43%)
EF Picks 2014: 3-4 (43%)
EF Picks 2013: 4-3 (57%)
EF Picks 2012: 5-1 (83%)
EF Picks 2011: 3-3 (50%)
EF Picks 2010: 4-2 (67%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 5-2 (71%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 4-3 (57%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 4-3 (57%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 3-4 (43%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 5-1 (83%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 5-1 (83%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: N/A
CalPreps Picks 2016: 4-3 (57%)
State Semifinal HistoryEF Picks 2017: 13-1 (93%)
EF Picks 2016: 11-3 (79%)
EF Picks 2015: 11-3 (79%)
EF Picks 2014: 13-1 (93%)
EF Picks 2013: 11-3 (79%)
EF Picks 2012: 7-5 (58%)
EF Picks 2011: 9-3 (75%)
EF Picks 2010: 8-4 (67%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2017: 13-1 (93%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2016: 9-5 (64%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 9-5 (64%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 10-4 (71%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 9-5 (64%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 6-6 (50%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 6-6 (50%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: 7-5 (58%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 11-3 (79%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 10-4 (71%)
Regional Final HistoryEF Picks 2017: 21-7 (75%)
EF Picks 2016: 23-5 (82%)
EF Picks 2015: 24-4 (86%)
EF Picks 2014: 24-4 (86%)
EF Picks 2013: 24-4 (86%)
EF Picks 2012: 16-8 (67%)
EF Picks 2011: 20-4 (83%)
EF Picks 2010: 17-7 (71%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2017: 21-7 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2016: 21-7 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 23-5 (82%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 22-6 (79%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 25-3 (89%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 19-5 (79%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 18-6 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: 16-8 (67%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 20-8 (71%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 19-9 (68%)
Regional Semifinal HistoryEF Picks 2017: 46-10 (82%)
EF Picks 2016: 43-13 (77%)
EF Picks 2015: 43-13 (77%)
EF Picks 2014: 44-12 (79%)
EF Picks 2013: 40-16 (71%)
EF Picks 2012: 39-9 (81%)
EF Picks 2011: 31-17 (65%)
EF Picks 2010: 35-13 (73%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2017: 45-11 (80%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2016: 42-14 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 45-11 (80%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 42-14 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 41-15 (73%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 39-9 (81%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 35-13 (73%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: 37-11 (77%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 45-11 (80%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 43-13 (77%)
Regional Quarterfinal HistoryEF Picks 2017: 92-20 (82%)
EF Picks 2016: 87-25 (78%)
EF Picks 2015: 94-18 (84%)
EF Picks 2014: 94-18 (84%)
EF Picks 2013: 93-19 (83%)
EF Picks 2012: 72-24 (75%)
EF Picks 2011: 76-20 (79%)
EF Picks 2010: 72-24 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2017: 91-21 (81%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2016: 91-21 (81%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2015: 89-23 (79%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2014: 94-18 (84%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2013: 89-23 (79%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2012: 72-24 (75%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2011: 82-14 (85%)
DP FAN 50 Picks 2010: 77-19 (80%)
CalPreps Picks 2017: 92-20 (82%)
CalPreps Picks 2016: 94-18 (84%)
