MOAC Week 2 Games

[GHS 1999]

Granville at Clear Fork
Carey at Galion
Marion Harding at Mansfield Senior
Ontario at Highland
Pleasant at Wynford
Madison at River Valley
Lexington at Shelby

[fanofthegame]

I don’t want to be “that guy” but it’s Lex at Shelby.

[GHS 1999]

Aug 21, 2021 12:07:47 GMT -5 fanofthegame said:

I don’t want to be “that guy” but it’s Lex at Shelby.

I fixed it. It’s disappointing this is the second week that the MOAC website has had sites mixed up.

[shelbyrr11]

The MOAC did "well" in Week 1 when it came to harvesting Harbin points, but it's a stretch to say the MOAC is good. This week looks like it could be unfriendly for the league.

Lexington and Madison are very intertwined with the MOAC for their non-conference games. Because of Shelby's non-league game with West Holmes, we wind up with 5 common opponents with Lexington & Madison. This is as many common opponents as we share with Ontario & Galion, etc. Generally speaking, that limited variability in scheduling provides both a Harbin floor and ceiling. The WBL is a fine example of low variability, whereas the SBC Lake and Bay are high variability. In the 16-team playoff era, this discussion holds much lower relevance...but, hey, home playoff games are fun.

Granville probably beats Clear Fork. Hard to tell what CF is up to when they play Fredericktown.

I'm a little torn on what to think about Galion. Would Carey have beaten Elgin 15-12? I think this one goes towards Carey.

Marion Harding got a nice W over MV, but Mansfield is a step-up and ought to win.

I don't fear what Highland has going on, but they may be better than Ontario based on the score I'm seeing from the Bloom-Carroll game.

At this point, I am taking Wynford more seriously than Pleasant. Both took tough losses, but I have more confidence in Otsego than North Union.

RV beating Upper Sandusky by the margin they did was concerning to me, though Madison is a different story. RV wins.

I wasn't able to watch the Lex v Ontario game until the 2nd half, so I am not too sure what Lex is bringing to the table. Shelby sounded very good on the radio. From 2014 on, Shelby has been 5-1 against Lexington. I can see Shelby winning by 3+ TDs, but this could be one of those instant classic games in this rivalry.

[Willard Fillmore]

From a reliable source, Lex and Madison are "very intertwined" in getting into the MOAC.

[GHS 1999]

I see this week as being the week we see what some of these teams are made of.

I know nothing about Granville so I won’t comment on Clear Fork.

Galion did not look good at all after 1/2 way through the second quarter at Elgin but Carey also lost to Hopewell-Loudon. Galion made way too many mental mistakes and while the officiating wasn’t good, it wasn’t their fault. Galion played sloppy. If its more of the same, Carey wins it.

Harding steps up the competition with Mansfield Senior. If they beat them, they will be an instant contender. I don’t think that will happen.

I like River Valley against Madison but was surprised that Upper kept them close. Upper tends to play RV tough though.

Lexington is the team that should show us what they are made of vs Shelby. The Whippets are a good team. If Lex hangs in this one, then they are for real and it wasn’t just that Ontario is very down.

I could see Highland/Ontario being close. I will pick Highland. This is a league game next year.

I like Wynford over Pleasant. I think the Spartans will be down this year.

[shelbyrr11]

Aug 22, 2021 18:53:14 GMT -5 Willard Fillmore said:

From a reliable source, Lex and Madison are "very intertwined" in getting into the MOAC.

If I understood the versions of this rumor from a year or so ago correctly, this ship goes through Galion. Will that change would be my question.

[Willard Fillmore]

That's another story. It was a "what if" scenario discussed if Pleasant was accepted by the N-10. Galion then becomes the smallest school in the MOAC. Do they stay?

[dude]

Aug 23, 2021 13:41:58 GMT -5 shelbyrr11 said:

Aug 22, 2021 18:53:14 GMT -5 Willard Fillmore said:

From a reliable source, Lex and Madison are "very intertwined" in getting into the MOAC.

If I understood the versions of this rumor from a year or so ago correctly, this ship goes through Galion. Will that change would be my question.

Galion and Marion County schools shot down any discussion of inviting Lexington to the MOAC. Madison's AD is looking for any place they can win games. It is upsetting for him to only have girls soccer and softball to celebrate.

[shelbyrr11]

I suppose attitudes change when you get dealt with the threat of one of your (if not) most notable charter members leaving.

For travel and stability with a 10-team conference, both Madison and Lex would be good adds from a Shelby perspective, though I don't find too many Shelby v Madison sport matchups to be exciting.

Let's say it happens. I would be hoping to watch Pleasant bail, Highland to grow via the Dollar Tree plant, and swing Mansfield away from their newly diminished quality of life in an OCC without Madison and Lex for close drives. That would be a solid mix of D3 schools and upper level D4 schools (or a fun mixture of local teams as far as the D2 basketball district is concerned). Plus the fun Richland County unity it would bring.

I don't have much of an opinion on how to do a football schedule with a ten team league. I am not prepared to do a WBL-esque slate. The MAC set-up is much more appealing, and leads to less poo-poo attitudes than a divisional split. For Shelby, they would have to change their non-conference in football considerably, but I am sure Bellevue & Norwalk would be a great fit for non-con.

[dude]

Lexington would be a good fit for all the reason you put teams together in leagues. Location, fan support, competition, quality school system, facilities. Similar comments could have been made for Madison in past years but recently their level of competition in most sports is gone, their fan support is almost gone(fan support is not the same as parents in the stands) and it says a lot when their own teachers and coaches are leaving the district so they can remove their own kids.

[shelbyrr11]

There was some consternation in my circle when we found out the MOAC passed on Lexington. We felt that it was an opportunity you shouldn't pass up for all those reasons. There was a time when I was younger when you would hear about objectively proud Madison fans...but winning two or fewer games in 9 out of 14 seasons is a harsh amount of misery to surmount. The MOAC would be great for them as far as resetting their program goes. Even so, the facilities over there are nice, and you won't find me complaining much about a 20 minute drive. 

[dude]

Aug 25, 2021 19:25:59 GMT -5 shelbyrr11 said:

There was some consternation in my circle when we found out the MOAC passed on Lexington. We felt that it was an opportunity you shouldn't pass up for all those reasons. There was a time when I was younger when you would hear about objectively proud Madison fans...but winning two or fewer games in 9 out of 14 seasons is a harsh amount of misery to surmount. The MOAC would be great for them as far as resetting their program goes. Even so, the facilities over there are nice, and you won't find me complaining much about a 20 minute drive. 

I am with you on the facilities being nice. But I would rather attend a game at Shelby's outdated football stadium with a packed house than Arlin field with 200 people.  

[richrod]

Granville at Clear Fork- Granville will be a nice test for the Colts. They haven't been as good since Buttermore left, but they will be a better measuring stick for CF than Fredericktown was. I like the Colts at home in a close one.

Carey at Galion - Don't know much about Carey, but I feel Galion is wildly inconsistent. So I am going to take Carey here.

Marion Harding at Mansfield Senior- Senior

Ontario at Highland - Highland, Ontario does not look very solid. They have a lot to improve on.

Pleasant at Wynford - Wynford, established coach with the program, where as Pleasant, has a nice program but new coach and lack of numbers hurt.

Madison at River Valley - RV with a running clock. I really want to see Willard and Madison match up at this point.

Lexington at Shelby - Shelby.... and I think Big. They have skill everywhere and it'll be tough to match up with for many teams this year.

[shelbyrr11]

I have similar reservations about the experience of being in a league with Mansfield. The money sports are usually productive from a competitive standpoint, but that's about it as far as fan experience goes. It would be otherwise foolish to remove a local team from your competitive sphere when many local area teams may see them in the football playoffs or in basketball district play. On that premise, I would tolerate the echoes heard in Arlin field.

The single biggest gripe about the moving of the our outdated stadium is removing it from the walking-distance restaurants/bars...all three of them. It was decently unique nowadays to have a stadium in the heart of the city. That fan experience will be hard to replace. I used to park in the parking lot for the post office/PNC bank and walk over. It was nice to have plentiful parking and multiple points of exit/entry. Laughably, I'm arguing the difference of 5 minutes of potential traffic-jamming for Skiles vs. New Field. If we want to hear more opinions: I'm not a fan of having a track around the field. Shelby was similarly one of the remaining schools without a track surrounding the field. It led to better viewing angles, however slight. Local town debates aside, I anticipate the new stadium complex to look sharp, and with the blessing of bleachers via Mr. Milliron, I can't get too worked up. That's a Shelby perk that not many can claim. I'm not in those decision-making rooms, and I oft hesitate to throw rocks when I haven't seen the financials.

[shelbyrr11]

This is my perceived fantasy of the second enactment of the Richland County League.

Red dots are priority schools in my scope. Blue dots are Marion Harding and Ashland, who could easily claim stake as a participant, if not the full fledged 10-team set-up which I think could be worked on to success.

Attachments:

[dude]

^^^I surprised you left Galion out all together.

[shelbyrr11]

My friend and I brainstormed this. The logic was that Galion rejected Lexington at some point, and it would likely extent to a wholesale league shift like that. I do root for Galion, but I'd rather compete against Lexington than them. There isn't much reason to think it is fine that Bellevue is playing Tiffin, Sandusky, Norwalk, and Clyde while Shelby isn't playing Mansfield, especially in a 16-team playoff format. Any potential loss means so much less than it used to. Seeing 6-4 2019 State Champs Clyde solidifies that. The penalty for better competition is diminished. As I see it, we have an opportunity to blend the biggest area schools into one league that could survive a respectable amount of time. If I am making that decision, I think Marion Harding qualifies for more than Galion in an expanded 10-team format. Yes, I know Galion beat Shelby in 2019. The caveat would be if the Dollar Tree plant does not affect Highland as much as thought, and then Galion becomes a more local, similar choice. It's a throw of the dice without me digging into serious paperwork.

[Willard Fillmore]

You will get more Harbin points from Galion than Harding. Gallon historically wins twice as many games. You haven't said who's getting votes on who is in and/or who is out, but I would think Gallon would rather be in than be independent. I think Gallon could live with Lex, but Ashland and Senior might drive them to be an independent. I'm not sure Harding would want the drive to Ashland and for years their desire was to be in the MOAC, as it was when they joined. Its all about where else could you go? I was not kidding a while back, when I said Willard and Gallon made more sense as a partnership to the N-10.

[dude]

Aug 26, 2021 14:00:42 GMT -5 shelbyrr11 said:

My friend and I brainstormed this. The logic was that Galion rejected Lexington at some point, and it would likely extent to a wholesale league shift like that. I do root for Galion, but I'd rather compete against Lexington than them. There isn't much reason to think it is fine that Bellevue is playing Tiffin, Sandusky, Norwalk, and Clyde while Shelby isn't playing Mansfield, especially in a 16-team playoff format. Any potential loss means so much less than it used to. Seeing 6-4 2019 State Champs Clyde solidifies that. The penalty for better competition is diminished. As I see it, we have an opportunity to blend the biggest area schools into one league that could survive a respectable amount of time. If I am making that decision, I think Marion Harding qualifies for more than Galion in an expanded 10-team format. Yes, I know Galion beat Shelby in 2019. The caveat would be if the Dollar Tree plant does not affect Highland as much as thought, and then Galion becomes a more local, similar choice. It's a throw of the dice without me digging into serious paperwork.

All very good thoughts and logical reasoning. I was thinking only of an 8 team option. Marion does make good sense based on your reasons but if 10 teams would be discussed, I doubt Ashland would have any interest. Like zip, zero zilch. In recent years of discussion in the OCC they have been vocal in their desires to be in a strong football driven league. 

[shelbyrr11]

Aug 26, 2021 18:03:46 GMT -5 Willard Fillmore said:

You will get more Harbin points from Galion than Harding. Gallon historically wins twice as many games. You haven't said who's getting votes on who is in and/or who is out, but I would think Gallon would rather be in than be independent. I think Gallon could live with Lex, but Ashland and Senior might drive them to be an independent. I'm not sure Harding would want the drive to Ashland and for years their desire was to be in the MOAC, as it was when they joined. Its all about where else could you go? I was not kidding a while back, when I said Willard and Gallon made more sense as a partnership to the N-10.

If Galion were to want in, then I am positive most of our area schools would be happy to work with such a local team. No idea how such a league would come together, but most of my "leave Galion out" attitude is predicated on what I think may happen. Though it is already a bit of a leap in faith to assume Highland would be more willing/prepared to take that 8th spot than Galion, which this set-up would do. 

If this thing were to shake out as it does, I could see enough pieces laying around for some amalgamation of a league. Upper, Galion, Willard, Pleasant, Marion Harding (who is still a reserve 9th-10th member of this fantasy league)...surely something shakes out. Dominoes that remain to be seen are what happens to New London and the Firelands Conference, and whether that leads to some N10 poaching that opens room for those members. 

[shelbyrr11]

Aug 26, 2021 18:37:39 GMT -5 dude said:

Aug 26, 2021 14:00:42 GMT -5 shelbyrr11 said:

My friend and I brainstormed this. The logic was that Galion rejected Lexington at some point, and it would likely extent to a wholesale league shift like that. I do root for Galion, but I'd rather compete against Lexington than them. There isn't much reason to think it is fine that Bellevue is playing Tiffin, Sandusky, Norwalk, and Clyde while Shelby isn't playing Mansfield, especially in a 16-team playoff format. Any potential loss means so much less than it used to. Seeing 6-4 2019 State Champs Clyde solidifies that. The penalty for better competition is diminished. As I see it, we have an opportunity to blend the biggest area schools into one league that could survive a respectable amount of time. If I am making that decision, I think Marion Harding qualifies for more than Galion in an expanded 10-team format. Yes, I know Galion beat Shelby in 2019. The caveat would be if the Dollar Tree plant does not affect Highland as much as thought, and then Galion becomes a more local, similar choice. It's a throw of the dice without me digging into serious paperwork.

All very good thoughts and logical reasoning. I was thinking only of an 8 team option. Marion does make good sense based on your reasons but if 10 teams would be discussed, I doubt Ashland would have any interest. Like zip, zero zilch. In recent years of discussion in the OCC they have been vocal in their desires to be in a strong football driven league. 

Even easier. One less phone call to make over towards Ashland. I'll take that. 

[GHS 1999]

Carey at Galion will be on 107.5 WBCO. The OH Report will also do a highlight package.

[fbfan]

Aug 27, 2021 11:30:48 GMT -5 GHS 1999 said:

Carey at Galion will be on 107.5 WBCO. The OH Report will also do a highlight package.

Free live stream on wmfdsports.com also.  

[gtab]

Carey vs. Galion delayed due to weather ?

[fanofthegame]

Shelby’s first drive stalls inside the one yard line. Lex’s mid field. Shelby on offense again.

[utsherman]

Shelby 7
Lex 0
1Q

[GHS 1999]

Galion Carey kicks off at 8.

[utsherman]

Shelby 21
Lex 0
2Q

[utsherman]

Shelby 28
Lex 7
2Q