Pioneer Valley Conference

• I drain 3's

  Just wondering how many fellow PVC followers made the jump over to this site. We used to get some pretty good discussions going during football season, and i'm hoping there are still some followers to get it going again.
  
  Seems the PVC may be on somewhat of an upswing, with 5 of the 7 teams finishing the season with a winning record. Monroe Central won the PVC title last year, and it seems they are the early favorite to repeat this year as well. What are everyone's predictions on how the standings will turn out this year?
  
  Hard to argue against Monroe Central with all the players they have coming back, but of course they play the games for a reason. The way I see it, MC finishes first, and Caldwell/Fort Frye/Frontier battle it out for second. I'm hoping for another overall good season for the PVC. Both Caldwell and Monroe Central made the playoffs in region 19, and Frontier barely missed out in region 23. I'd like to see something similar happen, with quite a few teams representing the PVC, although it may be tough for Caldwell since the jump to Div 5.
  
  So, what's everyone's predictions on how the PVC turns out? All predictions, info, etc are welcome.
• Pick6

  

  I think MC takes it and for years to come as well, they have alot of talent coming up I hear.
  
  Here's my guess:
  1.MC
  2. Frontier
  3. Caldwell(with Devol, Caldwell will always compete)
  4.Shenandoah
  5. River
  6. FF(I think last year was a mix of a fluke season/easier schedule)
  7. Trail..
  
  What team do you follow? Im actually from St.C
• I drain 3's

  I graduated from Caldwell. Frontier should have a pretty good team with Fickisien (sp?) returning at QB I believe. I wouldn't be surprised to see them make some noise this season. I like the balance Devol has implemented into the Caldwell offense. They'll have to replace Todd and Snodgrass in the backfield, but i'm guessing the younger Snodgrass will be getting the carries this year.
  
  I believe Sayre will be back for his senior year at QB, and should have some solid weapons to throw to, with the most well known being Morris at TE. He had a pretty successful season last year.
  
  The way I see it, the PVC ends up like this:
  1. MC
  2. Caldwell
  3. Frontier
  4. Fort Frye (Huck has that program headed in the right direction)
  5. Shenandoah (losing their QB I believe, but have a decent RB returning I think)
  6. River
  7. Trail
• I drain 3's

  Had a little preview of the Frontier football team in the Marietta paper today. Should have a pretty good squad. Not really sure of their schedule, but i'm guessing they'll finish right around where they were last year, something like 7-3 or 8-2. Start off the season @ Shenandoah I believe. Their coach also stated he expects Monroe Central and Caldwell to challenge for the title, and that Caldwell will be the most improved team.
• Pick6

  

  I watched Frontier in a passing scrimmage a couple weeks ago. The Qb was the best player on the field. Just didnt seem to me like he had a real good recieving corps. One wr was pretty shifty though
• barbarian

  The PVC will be going into year 2 of being a down conference. Last year it was Monroe and then the rest. I know Caldwell made the post season, but they were considerably out classed, and probably wasn't a legit playoff team. I don't see much difference this year except Monroe falling closer to the rest, but still the clear cut best team. The PVC might get 2 in the playoffs.
  
  1. Monroe Central- Clearly still the best team in the league, but Monroe fans better come down to earth because a giant void sits where Dierkes use to sit. He won't easily be replaced. Assuming they win 1 of their first 2 they should be sitting in good shape for a playoff berth. But come on Noles, you know it's sad when Frontier schedules 2 D4's to your 0!! Rise up and be a leader in this conference. 8-2/6-0
  
  2. Frontier- Should be a good year with Fick back. The best QB in the PVC this upcoming year. I give the Cougar staff major plus points for scheduling Oak Glenn (which teeters on the Ohio D3/D4 border; this year classified as D4), and Alexander (D4 playoff team from a year ago and expecting the same this year). If they survive their schedule without major injuries they should be playoff prepared. 6-4/4-2
  
  3. Caldwell- Good coach is why I put them this high. Sayre should be poised to the be leader of this team. But they just lack a guy that can score from anywhere on the field at any time... consistently. They lacked that threat last year, but still banged their way to the playoffs. 7-3/4-2
  
  4. Shenandoah- Too big of a school to count them totally out of the conference, but I don't see them making any noise. Honestly don't know what they have coming back, but I'm not giving much credit to what is coming back. Easy schedule a year ago helped them win 6. A slight upgrade in schedule this year leaves them 5-5/3-3
  
  5. River- From what I read nice talent returning that got a lot of playing time last year. Still young and raw, but headed up. I fully expect them to be a spoiler somewhere... maybe upsetting a top 3 team. All in all I expect more next year. 5-5/3-3
  
  6. Fort Frye- Huck is a good coach, but they need to show me before I buy what they are selling. I will always see them as a basketball first school. I like Huck though. He's a good guy, and I hope he gets them turned around. Somewhat easy schedule (which is okay for this team imo) gives them 4-6/1-5
  
  7. Trail- Rent the movie "Lost in Space." They had their once every 15 years "hey day" in 2006 and 2007. Who knows when they'll get out of the cellar. I'm guessing not this year. 1-9/0-6
• Pick6

  

  I agree wholeheartedly barbarian. I think is MC wants to do any damage in the post season, they should add a team or 2 from the buckeye 8. Probably St.c. they are playing columbiana crestview and nelsonville york this year. MC is above everybody in this league by a considerable margin right now, which isnt good for them. They will not really be challenged until the playoffs, except by Magnolia (Who actually would be d4 in ohio). I look for the noles to be a primary run team this fall, with Kinchen at QB and the other kid at rb, number 44 i think was his number. Kole ____???
• I drain 3's

  Considering the expectations many people had for Caldwell going into last season with the loss of like 15+ seniors, i'd say they had a pretty good season. Were they outclassed against Fredericktown? Probably. Maybe teams like Nelsonville-York or Liberty Union were in fact better teams, but Caldwell had a goal and they did what they needed to do. Just how the system works out sometimes. As for Monroe Central's schedule, I think it'd benefit them greatly to get a D4 or D3 team on the schedule, but sometimes that's easier said than done.
• I drain 3's

  Pick6 - I don't know the kids number, but there is a Cole Hoag on MC's team. I believe that might be who you're talking about.
• barbarian

  The kid you are referring to is #44 Cole Hogue. He is a solid RB with good size and quickness. He'll be a junior this year.
  
  With Kinchen at QB I would expect a lot of the "wildcat" from the Noles until Kinchen gets comfortable throwing. Monroe Central has the makings of having a special team... more so next year than this year which is why they should play a Buckeye 8 team, or even Wheeling Central. Play somebody that will knock you around a little bit. Wheelersburg totally shocked them. They had never been in a situation like that. They had never been tested like that defensively so they had no idea how to react. Still, had Dierkes not gotten hurt they might have still won that game; and had they won that game they could have hung with anybody else in Region 19.
  
  Incidentally, Magnolia was classified as Ohio D5 last year and will be this year as well. Maybe 4 of 5 years ago Magnolia was a D4 equivalent school, but their enrollment is declining. They may never be D4 again.
• barbarian

  I drain 3's;446939 wrote:Considering the expectations many people had for Caldwell going into last season with the loss of like 15+ seniors, i'd say they had a pretty good season. Were they outclassed against Fredericktown? Probably. Maybe teams like Nelsonville-York or Liberty Union were in fact better teams, but Caldwell had a goal and they did what they needed to do. Just how the system works out sometimes. As for Monroe Central's schedule, I think it'd benefit them greatly to get a D4 or D3 team on the schedule, but sometimes that's easier said than done.

  
  I agree that's the way the system works. Caldwell earned it on the field where as Liberty Union and Nelsonville lost it on the field. Every team knows the rules going in.
  
  
  My main point was Caldwell was really a 6 win team disguised as an 8 win team. They totally pulled the Barnesville game out of their rears, and I can't remember the exact circumstances at the end of and into OT in the Frontier game, but I remember thinking Frontier had a chance of winning it but blew it.
  
  I feel bad for Caldwell though. They reside on the D5/D6 line. Sometimes they are one of the largest D6, and sometimes they're the smallest D5 school. Makes it hard to hone in a perfect schedule to satisfy their needs. They have a good schedule for a D6 school. The fact they qualified for D5 playoffs with 8 wins shows their schedule is good enough for D5, and how good of a coach Devol is.
• I drain 3's

  I'll agree about the Barnesville game, but I wouldn't really say they should have lost the Frontier game. Frontier did have a chance to win it, but I'll give props to the D for stepping up in a big situation like that.
  
  Also, this was a while ago, but I believe going into last year I was told that Caldwell was just barely above whatever the D5 cut-off line was, and by barely I mean like maybe 2 or 3 kids. If they're D6, I think they make some noise in the playoffs, but that bump up to D5 is going to be tough for them. Especially being in region 19, which from what I have heard is an extremely tough region.
• I drain 3's

  Found an article on the Caldwell/Frontier game. Looks like both teams had their fair share of opportunities to seal the win.
  
  http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/516367/Caldwell-edges-Frontier-in-3OTs.html?nav=5025
• barbarian

  That's right. Frontier went for 2 instead of the x-point FG to win in OT. Plus the fumble on the squib kick toward the end of regulation. But you're right, Caldwell could have won it with a FG late.
  
  To put Region 19 and Div 5 in perspective, Monroe Central beat the PVC by a combined score of 265-29 last year. They then proceeded to give up 52 points to fifth seeded Wheelersburg. Region 19 champ Ridgewood went to the semi's and were beaten by Youngstown Ursuline 48-6 and probably could have been worse. Region 19 was tough last year, but it isn't even near the level of region 17 or 20. Ursuline would probably beat Monroe Central by 60 points or so. Imagine what they could do against say... Shenandoah, or Trail, or Caldwell. It's a tough HS Football world out there in this state. A PVC team that can win a regional championship should be celebrated because it hasn't happened that often.
• I drain 3's

  I guess I should have said region 19 is much tougher compared to what Caldwell was in the past few years. (Div 6. Region 23) Athletically speaking, it looked like Caldwell was outmatched in a lot of places against Fredericktown. I couldn't imagine what it would be like against some of those teams you mentioned. And that goes for pretty much every PVC team. Just don't have the same type of athletes overall that some of those other schools probably have. You could probably compare it to Big Ten speed vs SEC speed lol.
• enigmaax

  This thread won't officially be in business until Kapono comes around.
• Pick6

  

  ^^ I wonder where he is.. he would hype FF up so much every year lol
• barbarian

  He did overhype them too much on the huddle, but last year they deserved some of it. With Tanner Robinson at QB I think they're the 2nd best team in the PVC last year, and MAYBE make a push for a playoff spot. I emphasize maybe because they're ooc schedule was weak and might not have given them enough points without winning 9 games. Without him they still did ok against the PVC.
• I drain 3's

  He's on another site I frequent and he's still hyping Fort Frye up like always. Not sure if he knows about this place or not? Just might have to tell him about it.
• enigmaax

  I drain 3's;450873 wrote:He's on another site I frequent and he's still hyping Fort Frye up like always. Not sure if he knows about this place or not? Just might have to tell him about it.

  
  I thought he was on here at one time. Tell him to at least come here enough to do the weekly pick 'em.
  
  Or....you could just do it.
• ffkapono

  Fort Frye will 6-4 at worse with that schedule.Fort Frye has a nice size line and a lot of good skills guys.Players like EdWatson,Spencer Lang,Colton Skinner,Matt Klinger,Chan Lang,and Jordan Anderson.They have played really well in the scrimmages and beat Con Valley,Beallsville,and Philo.I won't be susprised when they crush River.
• ffkapono

  P.s Frontier has no lineman and will struggled at WR.
• I drain 3's

  I believe Caldwell has a scrimmage coming up sometime soon, although i'm not sure against who. Meadowbrook maybe? Not sure if i'll go or not, but it'd be nice to see what this years Redskins have to offer.
  
  Also, will you be doing your PVC pick'em again this year Kapono?
• ffkapono

  1.Monroe Central-They have Jay. 2.Caldwell- They have Sayre a player who I like and play FF at home. 3.Fort Frye- Great Group of Srs and I love coach Hucks offense in HS. 4.Frontier-I like Fickeisen but they have no front 7. 5.Shenandoah-Starting to like this team more behind Starr,Horst,and Derek Lesisure. 6.River- They did get a lot of P.T last season. 7.Trail- Lost top4 players from 1-9 team.
• I drain 3's

  wtov9.com has a few video previews of some PVC teams as well as some other area teams on their site if anyone is interested.