31°Division VI state championship: St. Paul vs. St. John III
02:53 AM
Nov 29
2009
Nov 29
2009
This is it.
Seen a lot of that phrase in pop culture over the past few months, haven't we? However, for me, it's the best way to describe the pairing of heavyweights as St. Paul (14-0) plays Delphos St. John (14-0) for a third time in 13 years for the Division VI state championship Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.
This is it. A matchup a lot of people thought could happen in the summer months, and a matchup that frankly, a lot of people expected after the regular season ended.
During halftime of the Flyers 48-7 second round win over Mogadore, I texted many of my friends and co-workers to mark 3 p.m. Dec. 5 on their calendars, because St. Paul would be playing St. John for the title.
And here we are.
St. John and St. Paul also played in 1997 and 1999 for the title. DSJ won both matchups, scoring 42-28 and 42-10 victories. Both wins came during "The Streak" of 57 straight wins for the Blue Jays, a state record that is unlikely to be matched for quite some time. On a side note, both teams were unbeaten at 13-0 each in that 1997 meeting, as it was two years before the expanded playoffs.
I also can't help but feel this matchup is very similar to what the volleyball team at St. Paul just went through. They are probably underdogs to a team from the powerful Midwest Athletic Conference...St. Paul and Marion Local played 3 times for the volleyball title in an 8-year stretch, now the Flyer football team and DSJ meet for a third time in a 13-year stretch.
And both teams need and had to play near peferct to win. The volleyball team did briefly, falling in four games to the much more powerful Marion Local, and now the football team must do the same. Those four turnovers we've seen St. Paul commit deep in enemy territory the past two weeks? Can't happen vs. the Blue Jays...it just can't.
Throw out the MAC factor, and the past playoff success and teams DSJ had to go through to get here factor...DSJ is the clear favorite because they are the defending state champions and sit at a perfect 14-0. That above any other reason makes them the favorite.
However, one thing we also know...St. Paul it is fair to say, can score points on just about anybody. Even the most stout defense likely can't keep that team out of the end zone say at least 2-3 times, in my opinion anyway.
I'll give my final thoughts on the game later in the week, but for now, I will say this. The now famous Calpreps website that forecasts games across the country, had DSJ beating St. Paul by a 34-19 margin if you paired the teams yourself. We shall see what they put now that the matchup is set in stone, but I think if DSJ does go on to beat St. Paul, it won't be by 15 points.
I think St. Paul competes in this game, and they don't allow the 42 points from the past two meetings or the 35 points that was predicted.
For now, I will leave all of my loyal readers with that.
Seen a lot of that phrase in pop culture over the past few months, haven't we? However, for me, it's the best way to describe the pairing of heavyweights as St. Paul (14-0) plays Delphos St. John (14-0) for a third time in 13 years for the Division VI state championship Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.
This is it. A matchup a lot of people thought could happen in the summer months, and a matchup that frankly, a lot of people expected after the regular season ended.
During halftime of the Flyers 48-7 second round win over Mogadore, I texted many of my friends and co-workers to mark 3 p.m. Dec. 5 on their calendars, because St. Paul would be playing St. John for the title.
And here we are.
St. John and St. Paul also played in 1997 and 1999 for the title. DSJ won both matchups, scoring 42-28 and 42-10 victories. Both wins came during "The Streak" of 57 straight wins for the Blue Jays, a state record that is unlikely to be matched for quite some time. On a side note, both teams were unbeaten at 13-0 each in that 1997 meeting, as it was two years before the expanded playoffs.
I also can't help but feel this matchup is very similar to what the volleyball team at St. Paul just went through. They are probably underdogs to a team from the powerful Midwest Athletic Conference...St. Paul and Marion Local played 3 times for the volleyball title in an 8-year stretch, now the Flyer football team and DSJ meet for a third time in a 13-year stretch.
And both teams need and had to play near peferct to win. The volleyball team did briefly, falling in four games to the much more powerful Marion Local, and now the football team must do the same. Those four turnovers we've seen St. Paul commit deep in enemy territory the past two weeks? Can't happen vs. the Blue Jays...it just can't.
Throw out the MAC factor, and the past playoff success and teams DSJ had to go through to get here factor...DSJ is the clear favorite because they are the defending state champions and sit at a perfect 14-0. That above any other reason makes them the favorite.
However, one thing we also know...St. Paul it is fair to say, can score points on just about anybody. Even the most stout defense likely can't keep that team out of the end zone say at least 2-3 times, in my opinion anyway.
I'll give my final thoughts on the game later in the week, but for now, I will say this. The now famous Calpreps website that forecasts games across the country, had DSJ beating St. Paul by a 34-19 margin if you paired the teams yourself. We shall see what they put now that the matchup is set in stone, but I think if DSJ does go on to beat St. Paul, it won't be by 15 points.
I think St. Paul competes in this game, and they don't allow the 42 points from the past two meetings or the 35 points that was predicted.
For now, I will leave all of my loyal readers with that.
Print
Facebook
Twitter
EmailTags
Similar stories
Comments
Share your thoughts and opinions with your community. All comments on our site are governed by our Discussion Guidelines. You must have a valid account to post comments.
10:47 PM
wetsu says
I told you so.11:46 AM
grburgeidds says
Like your insite on a exciting to happen on Sat.04:14 PM
wetsu says
I'm a transplanted Sanduskian now living in Lima (yes, there are worse places than Sandusky, trust me) and have seen DSJ play several times during the year. At midseason they were nothing short of awesome, but, have not been as sharp in the playoffs. I would like to see St. Paul win and they have a chance, but, they will have to be near flawless offensively and have an answer for the Blue Jay option game. DSJ essentially two-platoons and has the complete complement of offensive packages (i.e. draw, screen, power, PAP, option, you get the idea). Wes Ulm, the QB, had the best game of any division last year and is a winner. That being said, NSP can win this game as long as they mix it up a bit offensively and prevent the big play. Until this past week DSJ had been putting the ball on the ground lately, but, I don't look for that to continue. Don't be tentative, Flyers. And if you are doing a good job on Leininger (the HB) keep in mind that they beat Coldwater with a HB pass.