Football frenzy underway across GPI coverage area

Heading into Week One of the 2011 State high school football playoffs, there were eight teams Graphic Publications, Inc. – publisher of the Holmes County Journal – was focused on throughout its three-county coverage area, involving publications that include the Holmes Bargain Hunter, Tuscarawas Bargain Hunter, Wayne Bargain Hunter and Wooster Weekly News.

Going into Week Two, only four remain.

In Division V, Region 17, fourth-seeded Garaway (9-2) fell behind early at home on Friday, Nov. 4, but rallied to knock off No. 5 New Middletown Springfield 32-14, as the Pirates advanced to the Regional semifinal round against top-seeded and unbeaten Kirtland (11-0) Friday, Nov. 11, starting at 7:30 p.m., at Green High School in Uniontown.

In Division III, Region 11, another Tuscarawas County representative advanced, in an absolute shootout, as second-seeded Dover (10-1) out-paced No. 7 Thornville Sheridan (9-2) 68-53 inside Crater Stadium, sending the Tornadoes into the semifinals against unbeaten, third-seeded Minerva (11-0), Friday night, at 7:30 p.m., inside the stadium at Canton Central Catholic High School.

Playing as a No. 7 seed, New Philadelphia was one of two schools, out of the four representing Tuscarawas County, not to advance over the weekend, however, as the Quakers were beaten 14-7 by second-seeded Tallmadge in the Division II, Region 5 quarterfinals, bringing their season to an end at 7-4.

Also in Division II, one of only two schools to advance from the Ohio Cardinal Conference bowed out in the Regional quarterfinal round, as the No. 6 seeded, OCC Champion Ashland Arrows (6-5) – 35-31 losers at West Holmes back on Sept. 23 – couldn’t keep pace with New Albany, falling to the Eagles (8-2) 51-37 to miss out on a Region 7 semifinal date against Dresden Tri-Valley.

The other Tuscarawas County team that failed to advance was seventh-seeded Indian Valley, which was doubled-up 42-21 in its Division IV, Region 15 quarterfinal game at undefeated Johnstown-Monroe (11-0), bringing the Braves’ 2011 campaign to a close at 7-4.

Meanwhile, a perennial Wayne County representative saw its season come to a close as well, at 8-3, when eighth-seeded Smithville was punished 33-7, in Division V, Region 19, by the unbeaten, top-seeded Bucyrus Wynford Royals (11-0).

But on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m., the two remaining Wayne County teams will square off in the semifinal round of the Division IV, Region 13 tournament, at Medina High School, after OCC representative, and No. 2 seeded Orrville (8-3) – a 28-21 winner at West Holmes on Sept. 30 – pounded seventh-seeded Leavittsburg LaBrae (6-5) 53-14 to advance; and the third-seeded Norwayne Bobcats (10-1) did the same thing to No. 6 Brookfield (9-2) on Saturday, Nov. 5, knocking off the Warriors by a final score of 42-7.

The schedule for remaining teams of area interest this coming weekend includes:

Division V, Region 17 semifinal
No. 4 Garaway (9-2) vs. No. 1 Kirtland (11-0)
Friday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Green High School (Uniontown)

Division III, Region 11 semifinal
No. 2 Dover (10-1) vs. No. 3 Minerva (11-0)
Friday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Canton Central Catholic High School

Division IV, Region 13 semifinal
No. 2 Orrville (8-3) vs. No. 3 Norwayne (10-1)
Saturday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.
Medina High School