As predicted in the pre-season preview, the WOAC football championship title is coming down to the final two weeks with two big games on tap this Friday. 7-1 Arcanum vs 6-2 Ansonia and 8-0 Preble Shawnee ranked #10 in AP DV poll vs 8-0 Tri-Village ranked #5 in AP DVI poll.
Ansonia at Arcanum Preview
The Trojans need a win over the Tigers to have an outside shot for at least a share of a title with another big match-up the following Friday at Tri-Village should the Patriots win on Friday.
An Arcanum win helps move them up to a better position in DV Region 20 post-season playoffs. Currently, 9th, only the top 12 teams in each region make the playoffs. Ansonia needs a win to improve their standing for valuable computer points in DVII Region 28 and is in the 7th spot.
Both Arcanum and Ansonia like to run the football, but the Trojans have shown the ability to pass the ball a bit more.
Arcanum has rushed for 2178 yards as a team, led by junior running back Matt Macy with 1258 yards and 16 TDs. Arcanum has passed the ball for 946 yards between two quarterbacks. Bishop Cartwright 569 yards, 5 TDs, and Weston Schmidt 377 yards and 5 TDs. Freshman Raysean Miles is the top target with 26 catches for 452 yards, 4 TDs, and Talone Stone with 18 catches for 229 yards and 4 TDs.
Ansonia has rushed for 2677 yards as a team and is led by a couple of junior running backs, Jacob Schmitmeyer has 963 yards, 17 TDs, and Lander Shives has 588 yards and 6 TDs.
Offensively, the Trojans score 37.5 ppg and give up 13.5. The Tigers are scoring 40.3 ppg and giving up just 15.9.
In the first four years of the WOAC, Ansonia leads the series 3-1, with Arcanum winning the first year of the league.
Tri-Village at Preble Shawnee Preview
On paper this match-up looks to be a good one, in the last four matchups the two teams have scored 108 points each, however, the Arrows lead the series 3-1. Each team has won a league championship, with Preble Shawnee winning the inaugural season and Tri-Village winning the following year.
The winner of this game will clinch at least a share of the title with one more league game to play in week 10. Both are also a lock for the postseason, with the winner likely to ensure a top 4 or better seeding for the playoffs.
Preble Shawnee plays in DV Region 20 and is currently in 6th place, while Tri-Village DVI Region 24 is in 4th place.
Tri-Village currently leads the state in offensive scoring at 58 ppg, Preble Shawnee is scoring 47 ppg. Defensively, the Patriots have given up 7.4 ppg and the Arrows 12.9 ppg.
Tri-Village quarterback Trey Sagester leads the league with 1678 passing yards, 26 TDs, and has rushed for 5. His favorite target has been junior wideout Griffin Richards, who leads the league with 38 receptions for 881 yards and 14 TDs. Noah Finkbine and Kingston Shaffer each have 4 TD receptions as well.
The Patriots feature three running backs with sophomore Staley Colston running for 542 yards, 9 TDs, sophomore Colt Camacho 329 yards, 7 TDs, and senior Noah Finkbine 321 yards and 5 TDs.
Defensively, the Patriots are led by Noah Finkbine with a league-leading 100 tackles from the safety position, followed by Landen Moore with 78 tackles.
Preble Shawnee senior QB Brody Morton can throw the ball, but is an electrifying runner and even more dangerous with his feet. Morton has thrown for 1031 yards, 15 TDs, and has run the ball for 967 yards and 18 TDs, and is the team’s leading rusher.
Morton’s favorite receiver is senior Caleb Blankenship who has 31 catches for 597 yards and 8 TDs. Senior Zarrin Walton has 16 catches for 223 yards and 3 TDs. Sophomore running back Ethan Mauler has rushed for 441 yards and has 5 TDs on the ground.
Defensively, Mauler leads the way with 50 tackles; Klayton Taylor, Cooper Shrout, and Gavin Finch all have 37 tackles each.
Both teams score the ball well and are led by experienced senior quarterbacks, good receivers, and the ability to run the football. The line play in this one will be crucial, with Shawnee senior Cooper Shrout leading the Arrows and Patriots junior Dominic Black, who has several DI college offers, including Maryland and Rutgers, for Tri-Village. Whoever controls the line of scrimmage in this one gives their team the edge.
This game is shaping up as one you don’t want to miss, and if you can’t be in attendance Friday night, the game can be watched on TKDS https://www.tkdssports.tv or stream it on the Roku App.
