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Week 10 HS football roundup: Playoff picture clearer for area teams

Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
·6 min read

According to JoeEitel.com's Ohio high school football playoff computer points website early Saturday morning, unofficially six area squads will be playing in Week 11 as part of the opening round of the postseason next weekend. The Ohio High School Athletic Association will announce the statewide brackets later this weekend.

Only one team will be hosting a first-round game as No. 7 seed Highland (7-3) will welcome No. 10 Tinora (7-3) in a Division V, Region 18 contest. In the same region, No. 13 North Union (6-4) will likely go to No. 4 Coldwater. (9-1).

Marion County is sending a pair of teams into the postseason. River Valley (5-5) is a tentative No. 14 seed and will go to No. 3 Perkins (9-1) in Division IV, Region 14, and Elgin (5-5) in Division VI, Region 23, got the final spot and will travel to No. 1 Beverly Fort Frye (9-1).

Mount Gilead (6-4) is making its first-ever playoff appearance, likely doing it as a No. 11 seed at No. 6 Worthington Christian (7-3) in Division VI, Region 23. Northmor (5-5) will play in the playoffs for the sixth straight season, also competing in D-VI, Region 23. The Golden Knights are expected to be the No. 14 seed and play at No. 3 Bellaire (6-4).

Here is a roundup of the area's high school football games from Friday night as part of Week 10:

Mount Gilead 44, Cardington 13

The Indians capped their best season since 2004 by picking up a win at home against their neighbor and rival in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, running their record to 6-4, 4-3.

"I'm so very proud of these guys," Mount Gilead coach Mike Reid said. "In just two years they have worked themselves into the playoffs and the first winning season at this school since 2004. Most of these boys were not even born then. A few of them were in diapers."

Cardington (1-9, 0-7) led 7-6 after the first period, then MG scored 24 unanswered points in the second period to pull away. Indians quarterback Matthew Bland ran for 177 yards and four touchdowns and was 4 of 6 passing for 79 yards and a score, while Garrett George also ran for 177 yards with a TD. Cam Vickers caught the touchdown pass from 12 years and Owen High had two receptions for 44 yards.

MG had 443 total yards, while the Pirates had 224 on the ground and 272 total. Both teams turned it over twice. Mount Gilead's Judah Reid recorded 12 tackles, three for loss, and had four sacks.

Cardington's Kaiden Beach was 6 of 13 passing for 48 yards, a touchdown and interception, also running for 132 yards and a touchdown. Kaylen Briggs caught two passes for 44 yards.

"I can't say enough about our offensive line dominating the line of scrimmage tonight," Reid said. "Those boys got after it, but credit our receivers, too. They were difference makers, blocking on the edge and downfield. Those are the things that aren't real attractive that our boys have bought into."

Ridgedale 26, Perry 20 (OT)

Ridgedale earned an overtime victory over Perry (1-9, 1-6) to end its season with a record of 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Northwest Central Conference.

Nathan Thiel was huge on both sides of the ball for the Rockets. He recorded 17 tackles and three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He also made six catches for 55 yards and a TD.

Brayden Townsend was 16 of 28 passing for 210 yards and three touchdowns, plus added five tackles with a sack and tackle for loss on defense. Landon Murphy caught seven balls for 109 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in OT. Ashtun Fosnaugh had a pair of receptions for 54 yards, and Koy Pauly ended with a sack and 10 tackles.

Elgin 56, Crestline 14

The Comets (5-5, 4-3) handled their business Friday night in beating Crestline (0-10, 0-7) handily in the NWCC.

Breckin Dugan led the charge with 172 yards on just seven carries, ending with four touchdowns. Darin Zier added 60 yards on six tries, Kenny Slone 35 yards and a score on five carries and Kaiden Luikart 31 yards and a TD on five totes.

Loudonville 28, Northmor 21

Northmor couldn't catch up with the Redbirds in the KMAC game.

The Golden Knights (5-5, 2-5) totaled 308 yards of offense with 223 coming in the air. They were flagged eight times for 70 yards and made 12 first downs. Both teams turned it over twice. Loudonville (6-4, 4-3) had 317 yards with 259 via the run. It was penalized four times for 35 yards and made 19 first downs.

Northmor's A.J. Bower was 15 of 36 passing for 206 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Maxton Lower ran 20 times for 100 yards and a score, plus made five catches for 45 yards. Hunter Fulk picked off two passes and made five catches for 78 yards and two scores.

Urbana 38, North Union 12

Urbana (8-2, 5-0) earned the outright Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division championship, jumping out to a 24-0 lead by halftime over North Union (7-3, 3-2).

The Hillclimbers totaled 367 yards of offense with 254 yards via the pass and 113 by the rush. They had no turnovers and 15 first downs.

The Wildcats had 318 yards with 259 on the ground. NU produced 20 first downs, but was hurt by two turnovers. Owen Davis led NU with 137 rushing yards on 26 carries, plus 10 tackles, while Tyler Krebehenne had 60 rushing yards and 12 tackles.

rmccurdy@gannett.com

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VOTE: Marion Star Football Player of Week 10 Poll

  • Marion Harding's Trinity Keith produced 120 yards and a 76-yard touchdown run in a win over Pleasant.

  • Pleasant's Owen Lowry was 20 of 33 passing for 197 yards and added 49 yards rushing, accounting for two throwing touchdowns and one running score in a loss to Marion Harding.

  • River Valley's Cayden Shidone threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 103 yards and three more scores in a loss to Galion.

  • Ridgedale's Nathan Thiel recorded 17 tackles, three interceptions with one for a touchdown, plus caught six passes for 55 yards and a TD in an overtime win over Perry.

  • Elgin's Breckin Dugan only ran it seven times, but came away with 172 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Crestline.

  • Mount Gilead's Judah Reid produced 12 tackles with four sacks and three tackles for loss in a win over Cardington.

  • Voting continues at MarionStar.com and its app through early Tuesday morning.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Week 10 HS football roundup: Playoff picture clearer for area teams