Division V Elite Eight preview

Zac Jackson, OhioHSsports.com, November 18, 2009 3:01 p.m.

THE FAVORITE: Coldwater. The Cavs have plenty of November experience and are eager to make up for last year's earlier than expected exit in the Div. IV playoffs. Coldwater's only loss this season came at Div. VI title favorite Delphos St. John's, 27-20, in Week Eight. The Cavs shut out this week's opponent, St. Henry, 17-0 in Week Seven.

THE CONTENDERS: There are many in what's a pretty wide-open race. Ursuline is still Ursuline; the Irish have the best overall athleticism and size and return some key pieces from last year's title team. But this team probably isn't overall as talented as last year's group, and the defense has shown at least some vulnerability. Cuyahoga Heights will try to oust the Irish this week and might have as good a shot as anyone to do so, though Patrick Henry has been steamrolling its competition and appears to have the pieces necessary to eventually raise the trophy.

THREE HORSES: Three players whose performances will go a long way towards determining which team ultimately raises the trophy on the first weekend of December...

Keith Wenning, Coldwater: The Cavs' quarterback is also the team's leading rusher, interceptor and handles the punting duties. His main priority, though, is directing a wide-open offense that's been tough to handle and spreads the wealth as well as any still playing at this point in the season.

Luke George, Patrick Henry: The Patriots' quarterback exemplifies the balance that's made his team so hard to stop. He's over 1,000 yards passing on the season and knocking on the door of 1,000 rushing, using his quickness to make plays on the perimeter and taking advantage of defenses keying on running back Justin Beunger, who became the school's all-time leading rusher last week.

Allen Jones, Ursuline: Jones has a rare combination of speed and power, and frankly he's too much for most Div. V defenses to handle. Add in the speed Ursuline has at the other positions to keep defenses guessing, and Jones becomes probably the biggest reason many believe the Irish can repeat as state champions.

BEST REGIONAL FINAL GAME:

Ursuline vs. Cuyahoga Heights.

The Irish bring big-game experience and an overall speed advantage, but Heights has balance, a nasty defense and great senior leadership starting with QB/DB Zach D'Orazio, a University of Akron recruit. If the Redskins can limit Ursuline's big plays early, this one figures to go to the wire.

THE SHAKEDOWN: Fredericktown trailed at halftime, 14-2, last week before rallying behind two Thomas Hinkle touchdown passes to beat Wheelersburg, 15-14...Next up for the Freddies is Ridegwood, who's pulled two mild upsets to get here after entering the postseason as the Region 19 six seed...Patrick Henry has the two-headed monster in Beunger and George, but the Patriots also have the line play and the defense to play into the first weekend of December after losing in last year's regional final to Liberty-Benton...It's been quite a run for Tinora, which made the state-title game in Div. III basketball last March. The Rams' only loss on the gridiron this fall came to Div. VI favorite Delphos St. John's, which also beat Region 20 finalists Coldwater and St. Henry.