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[Rocketcorner News]

By Michael Hirn

www.michaelhirn.com

http://www.michaelhi...hawnee-preview/

One of the big games in the OHSAA playoffs will take place Friday night in Wapakoneta where Division 3 Region 10 play will kick off between the 9-1 Wapakoneta Redskins and the 9-1 Springfield Shawnee Braves. Kickoff is slated for 7:30pm at Harmon Field located at Wapak High School with the winner moving on to play either Franklin or Trotwood Madison next Friday night.

While it will be the first time these two teams have ever met on the gridiron, it won’t be the first time Shawnee has met a WBL school in the playoffs, as they stand at 2-1 with wins against Kenton (05) and Elida (2011) after losing to Bath in 1996. Wapak has never played a member of the Central Buckeye Conference (CBC).

Six previous times the Braves have made the OHSAA playoffs, winning 10 of their 16 games and making it to the state finals in 2011.

Shawnee, the 6th seed will travel north to Wapak but they will be bringing their main weapon in Senior tailback Jalen Nelson. Not only a star on the basketball court but also on the gridiron, Nelson has rushed for over 1400 yards on the season. Capping off a brilliant senior season, the Braves runner amassed 308 rushing yards just a few weeks back against Bellefontaine en route to finishing 2nd in the CBC in rushing yardage.

In addition to Nelson, the Braves rely on dual threat Sophomore Saalih Muhammad who finished 5th in the CBC in passing yards with 1154 and 5th in rushing with 954 yards.

The only setback for Shawnee this season came last week as they were defeated by Division 3 Region 10 #1 seed Tippecanoe 21-7. The 7 points were the lowest the Braves had scored in a game all season, and the only time they were held under 20 points in a game this year.

The offense averages 48.6 points per game (second to only Tippecanoe at 49.4), while the defense which is led by Kohlton Sine (5.5 sacks, 2nd in cbc) and Zach Avery (5 int’s, 1st cbc) leading the 3rd lowest scoring defense in the CBC by giving up just 17.2 points per contest.

Wapak enters the game on the back of an 8 game winning streak with their last loss being in Week 2 at the hands of the 10-0 Kenton Wildcats who have outscored everyone this season with their frantic high paced offense.

A second straight 9 win season for Coach Doug Frye and his Redskins has propelled them into the playoffs at the 3rd seed. This is Wapak’s 6th all-time playoff berth, they are 2-5 in those games.

Offensively the Redskins rely on Senior fullback Zach Schmerge who leads the Western Buckeye League in rushing yards per game with 129.3. Last week in a 49-13 win over the Shawnee Indians, Schmerge carried the ball 7 times for 144 yards and a 55 yard touchdown run. Sophomore Cameron Lauck returned the opening kickoff 95 yards to put Wapak on top 7-0, and they never looked back as they trounced the Indians on their home field. Coach Frye has to be happy with his offensive unit as they lead the WBL with 299.8 rushing yards per game and finished 2nd in points per game by putting up 39.9 per contest.

Defensively the Redskins have been lights out as they are +25 in turnovers, have only given up 16.2 points per game and have pitched a pair of shutouts (Bath/Elida).

Both teams went 1-1 this season against playoff teams who will also be in action this weekend. In the previous 9 meetings between a CBC and a WBL school, the WBL has walked away with 5 wins.

Last season in the playoffs of the 28 lower seeded teams to beat higher seeds, 10 of those were #6 seeds defeating a #3 seed. Will Shawnee begin another run at the finals or will Wapak send them packing? Head out to Harmon Field in Wapak and see one of the best first round matchups in the state and find out, tickets are just $9 at the door.


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