ASHLAND — Pigskin prognosticators across northern Ohio have read the tea leaves and the results are in.
Reporters and commentators from media outlets across the region took part in a preseason high school football poll in an attempt to determine champions in eight conferences encompassing 17 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Here are the results:
Ohio Cardinal Conference
Defending champ Mansfield Senior was favored to defend its crown.
Senior High received nine first-place votes and had a total of 29 points (the lower the point total, the better).
Lexington picked up seven first-place votes and had 32 points. Ashland garnered one first-place vote and had 58 points.
Firelands Conference
Small-school heavyweight Norwalk St. Paul was predicted to defend its title despite the retirement of coaching icon John Livengood. The Flyers received 10 of 20 first-place votes and finished with 31 points. Crestview picked up six first-place votes and had 43 points. Monroeville collected the other four first-place votes and had 55 points.
Knox Morrow Athletic Conference
Defending champ Danville is expected to be on top again this fall.
The Blue Devils received 15 of the 18 first-place votes, good for 53 points. The other three first-place votes went to Northmor, which totaled 38 points.
Wayne County Athletic League
Norwayne is expected to regain the top spot after finishing second to eventual Division VII state runner-up Dalton last fall.
The Bobcats earned 13 first-place votes, good for 40 points. Dalton finished with 36 points while Hillsdale received one first-place vote and had 76 points.
Here’s a look at some of the area’s top Week 1 games:
Ashland at River Valley
The Arrows needed overtime to dispatch the Vikings last fall, pulling out a 26-20 win. Junior quarterback Nathan Bernhard enters his second full season as the starter after throwing for 1,718 yards and 13 TDs last year. HIs top target was speedy senior Michael Franz, who caught 52 passes for 695 yards and five TDs last year. Defensive back Tyler Sauder was an Ohio Cardinal Conference first-team pick last fall after making 100 tackles and picking off three passes.
River Valley returns one of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference’s top passers in senior Chase Ebert, who threw for 2,176 yards and 18 touchdowns during the regular season en route to All-Ohio second-team recognition in Division IV. Ebert lost his top two pass catchers to graduation, but Carter Park returns after hauling in 29 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown during the regular season. Linebacker Tyson Waddle was an All-Ohio second-teamer after leading the MOAC with 166 tackles in the regular season.
Loudonville at Mapleton
New Loudonville coach Ed Honabarger, who led Danville to unprecedented heights, has brought excitement back to the banks of the Mohican. The Redbirds have a big hole to fill after the graduation of dual-threat quarterback Mathew Sprang. Receiver Josiah Hershberger caught 25 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns last year.
The Mounties are under the direction of first-year coach Mitchell Young, who took over for Matt Stafford. Mapleton lost dual-threat quarterback Kollin Cline to graduation, but running back Luke Pryor rushed for 527 yards and 12 TDs last year. Logan Conroy led Mapleton with 14 catches for 231 yards and five TDs and rushed for 377 yards and three TDs. Linebacker A.J. Workman made 50 tackles a year ago.
Black River at Hillsdale
The Pirates were roughed up by Hillsdale in the opener last year, but rebounded and eventually reached the second round of the Division VI playoffs. Running back Jayce Hopek rushed for 979 yards and seven TDs on 196 carries. Linebacker Ryan Graves returns after making 39 tackles a year ago.
The Falcons have reached the playoffs eight straight years and expectations are high again this fall. Running back Owen Sloan rushed for 798 yards and six TDs last year. Receiver Hayden McFadden caught a team-high 34 passes for 660 yards and 10 TDs. Brady Heller made 83 tackles a year ago. Defensive back Brock Bower made 54 stops and picked off a pass.