Wayne County Athletic League Football 2014

• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  Old Rider;1625498 wrote:Norwayne won't compete for the title? I thought that they had a good frosh class coming?

  Who will be Norwayne's QB? I know they've got a solid RB returning and some good lineman coming back as well. It will be interesting to see if they go away from the aerial attack that has made them a prolific offense in recent years.
• Red Rum

  

  Seems to me the WCAL is wide open. I don't see anyone that pops out as a prohibitive favorite.
  
  
  Although Chippewa & Waynedale are last years cinderella stories and both are returning alot of talent neither appears to be a juggernaut yet.
  
  
  On the flip side, Norwayne, Hillsdale & Northwestern, the recent rulers of the WCAL were hit hard by graduation. I doubt the cupboard is as empty as some would say in any of these schools.
  
  
  Smithville has nowhere to go but up and Bescanson ain't no slouch. You never know what to expect in Smithville now that they are getting used to having soccer compete with football for athletes.
  
  
  Rittman is finally free of the self serving, program killer Bill Dennis, so they can finally start forward progress.
  
  
  Dalton can no longer keep calling themselves young. This could be the year they step up again.
  
  
  Overall, this should be a great season of hotly contested league games. I doubt anyone has enough firepower to make much of a playoff run, but that's why they play the games.
  
  
  
  A quick look at the last 5 years records...
  Norwayne............48-13 (3 playoff app)
  Hillsdale................40-16 (3 playoff app)
  Northwestern.........30-22 (2 playoff app)
  Dalton...................26-27 (2 playoff app)
  Waynedale...........21-30 (1 playoff app)
  Smithville.............20-31 (1 playoff app)
  Chippewa.............12-40 (1 playoff app)
  Rittman...............10-40
• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  Red Rum;1625642 wrote:Seems to me the WCAL is wide open. I don't see anyone that pops out as a prohibitive favorite.
  
  
  Although Chippewa & Waynedale are last years cinderella stories and both are returning alot of talent neither appears to be a juggernaut yet.
  
  
  On the flip side, Norwayne, Hillsdale & Northwestern, the recent rulers of the WCAL were hit hard by graduation. I doubt the cupboard is as empty as some would say in any of these schools.
  
  
  Smithville has nowhere to go but up and Bescanson ain't no slouch. You never know what to expect in Smithville now that they are getting used to having soccer compete with football for athletes.
  
  
  Rittman is finally free of the self serving, program killer Bill Dennis, so they can finally start forward progress.
  
  
  Dalton can no longer keep calling themselves young. This could be the year they step up again.
  
  
  Overall, this should be a great season of hotly contested league games. I doubt anyone has enough firepower to make much of a playoff run, but that's why they play the games.
  
  
  
  A quick look at the last 5 years records...
  Norwayne............48-13 (3 playoff app)
  Hillsdale................40-16 (3 playoff app)
  Northwestern.........30-22 (2 playoff app)
  Dalton...................26-27 (2 playoff app)
  Waynedale...........21-30 (1 playoff app)
  Smithville.............20-31 (1 playoff app)
  Chippewa.............12-40 (1 playoff app)
  Rittman...............10-40

  You, or anyone else, know of a location that has each team's 2014 schedule? I'd like to take a look at each teams non-league schedules before I make predictions.
  
  **EDIT: I found most of the schedules on Max Preps
• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  After looking at schedules, here are my early predictions for WCAL teams. Obviously, anything can happen as teams have barely begun summer work, but just fun to look at possible matchups :
  
  Chippewa.................... 9-1 (6-1) (Loss to Waynedale)
  Waynedale.................. 9-1 (6-1) (Loss to Smithville)
  Norwayne.................... 7-3 (5-2) (Loss to Chippewa and Waynedale)
  Smithville.................... 7-3 (5-2) (Loss to Chippewa and Norwayne)
  Dalton......................... 5-5 (3-4) (Defeating Hillsdale, Northwestern, and Rittman)
  Hillsdale...................... 3-7 (2-5) (Defeating Northwestern and Rittman)
  Northwestern............... 2-8 (1-6) (Defeating Rittman)
  Rittman....................... 1-9 (0-7)
• 99bobcatdb

  Hello...... Anyone in wayne county out there???
  :RpS_blink:
• beverboy1

  Dalton going to be seniors or soph on the field his year ! only 3 jr's on team ( sadly ) to say ! we are looking around 6-4 to 7-3 couple question marks on the line , and on def. side of the ball !
• 1486wd

  You beat me to it beverboy. I would guess 7-3 or 6-4 is likely. The senior class is solid, but has never quite played to its potential so far in their high school careers. How they have developed and play this year will be the key to the season. The jr class has always been very low numbers in football and does not give you a whole lot. The sophomores have some good talent and will be important in many spots. The freshman class is very athletic and talented, but I don't expect much varsity contribution from them until next year.
• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  99bobcatdb;1634454 wrote:Hello...... Anyone in wayne county out there???
  :RpS_blink:

  beverboy1;1636037 wrote:Dalton going to be seniors or soph on the field his year ! only 3 jr's on team ( sadly ) to say ! we are looking around 6-4 to 7-3 couple question marks on the line , and on def. side of the ball !

  1486wd;1636181 wrote:You beat me to it beverboy. I would guess 7-3 or 6-4 is likely. The senior class is solid, but has never quite played to its potential so far in their high school careers. How they have developed and play this year will be the key to the season. The jr class has always been very low numbers in football and does not give you a whole lot. The sophomores have some good talent and will be important in many spots. The freshman class is very athletic and talented, but I don't expect much varsity contribution from them until next year.

  Any of you guys care to project final standings as I did previously? Just for kicks and giggles, of course...
• 1_beast

  

  Bears will be young, slow and inexperienced. Lost alot to graduation.:RpS_sneaky:
• 1486wd

  Dr. KnOiTaLL;1636366 wrote:Any of you guys care to project final standings as I did previously? Just for kicks and giggles, of course...

  This is my early guess, although that might change as some of the chatter starts to come across when practice gets ramped up.
  
  1) waynedale
  2)chippewa
  3)norwayne
  4)dalton
  5) smithville
  6)northwestern
  7)hillsdale
  8)rittman
• 1486wd

  The amazing stat of the last 5 years up above is that hillsdale, Norwayne, and northwestern are the only teams with winning records in that span. Dalton at about .500 and Smithville and waynedale well below .500!
• 1_beast

  

  Breitenstein back to Barberton?????
• 1486wd

  If that is true, that is a major blow. Kid is a gamer in every sport. Chippewa is really the only school in the wcal that has to deal much with stuff like that. Hopefully not true.
• TheWizard

  1_beast;1636880 wrote:Breitenstein back to Barberton?????

  Don't worry, Breitenstein is firmly entrenched at Chippewa. He has been leading the team and has been at camp with the Chipps. Chippewa is not a place people are looking to transfer out of anymore.
• Red Rum

  

  TheWizard;1636896 wrote:Don't worry, Breitenstein is firmly entrenched at Chippewa. He has been leading the team and has been at camp with the Chipps. Chippewa is not a place people are looking to transfer out of anymore.

  Good to hear...the WCAL will be much more exciting with Breitenstein at Chippewa.
• beverboy1

  wayne
  chipp
  nor
  dal
  nw
  smith
  hill
  ritt
• beverboy1

  1486wd;1636181 wrote:You beat me to it beverboy. I would guess 7-3 or 6-4 is likely. The senior class is solid, but has never quite played to its potential so far in their high school careers. How they have developed and play this year will be the key to the season. The jr class has always been very low numbers in football and does not give you a whole lot. The sophomores have some good talent and will be important in many spots. The freshman class is very athletic and talented, but I don't expect much varsity contribution from them until next year.

  i agree with the freshman class ! i only see 1 freshman who could see varsity time , and i hope he doesn"t !
• Wcal observer

  Why so much love for Waynedale? They lost most of their offense with their QB graduating last year. Even if the incoming QB is highly regarded, there will still be growing pains. Brietenstein is the difference maker in the league this year in my opinion.
• Gobucks55

  I tend to agree with last poster. I get it the Bears return a lot with Stanley, Strausbaugh, Lewis, Anderson, etc. I really like their team. However, I really think it's Chippewa's year this year, and the Bears next year. The Chipps just have way too much coming back with what I believe is the bests total backfield in the area with the Zollinger bros, hecker, vasilatos. Their backfield is loaded. Up front they have experience headed up by Gamble 6'6 300 with MAC schools looking at him. On defense they return 7 or 8 starters as well. This is an experienced team that is coming off a playoff win and has a lot of confidence in themselves. Of course, the straw that stirs the drink is Breitenstine and yes he isn't going anywhere. If you ask the Chipps they want people to say they won't win the league, just adds extra motivation for them.
• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  Wcal observer;1637426 wrote:Why so much love for Waynedale? They lost most of their offense with their QB graduating last year. Even if the incoming QB is highly regarded, there will still be growing pains. Brietenstein is the difference maker in the league this year in my opinion.

  Gobucks55;1637429 wrote:I tend to agree with last poster. I get it the Bears return a lot with Stanley, Strausbaugh, Lewis, Anderson, etc. I really like their team. However, I really think it's Chippewa's year this year, and the Bears next year. The Chipps just have way too much coming back with what I believe is the bests total backfield in the area with the Zollinger bros, hecker, vasilatos. Their backfield is loaded. Up front they have experience headed up by Gamble 6'6 300 with MAC schools looking at him. On defense they return 7 or 8 starters as well. This is an experienced team that is coming off a playoff win and has a lot of confidence in themselves. Of course, the straw that stirs the drink is Breitenstine and yes he isn't going anywhere. If you ask the Chipps they want people to say they won't win the league, just adds extra motivation for them.

  I think most people fully expect Chippewa to be the favorites... so I'm not sure there will be much bulletin board material from the paper or forums. There will always be some who doubt, regardless of the year or experience a team has, but for the most part I would think that Chippewa has to be the favorites. Breitenstine obviously is one of the favorites to win league MVP as well, and rightfully so.
  
  I think much of the intrigue with Waynedale comes with the returning backfield aside from the QB. Keep in mind that one of their backs missed most of the season last year, but should be back this year to fill some of the void vacated by the QB.
  
  Norwayne's greatest advantage is their coaching staff. While they graduate most of their performers from a year ago, their coaches will have those boys ready to play. I could honestly see any of these three teams at the top of the league standings, but for now, I give the edge to Chippewa.
• Gobucks55

  I'm not taking anything away from the bobcats either. They are going to have a chip on their shoulder as well, and Jeremy Miller can flat out take over a game. I wouldn't ever discount them with Miller and their coaching staff.
• TheWizard

  Oh geeze, here we go with the Waynedale and Chippewa talk...the Bears are two years removed from 0-10 and the Chipps were the laughing stock of the league at 1-29. Now after ONE good/decent season from each, it looks like each is thumping their chests. Having high expectations is nice, success needs to be consistent before the talking can be done. Norwayne has been at a consistently high level for awhile now and I would expect them to have a chip on their shoulder going into the season. That is the top program around until these two other teams beat them this year. This could be the year where two surprise teams jump up again. Maybe a Dalton, but I really like what I am hearing from Smithville and surprisingly Rittman. Rittman is finally removed from the previous coach, so hopefully they come back up to respectable. Smithville is the dark horse with a lot of young kids who got time and should win some games this year.
• 1486wd

  A little summer reading on the bulldogs i just saw. http://m.indeonline.com/article/20140717/SPORTS/140719471?sect=&map=2000
  
  Also, I hardly see how the chipps aren't getting plenty of respect. A perennial doormat, most people are picking them in the top 3 which means you think they have a good chance to win the league.
• 1_beast

  

  TheWizard;1637503 wrote:Oh geeze, here we go with the Waynedale and Chippewa talk...the Bears are two years removed from 0-10 and the Chipps were the laughing stock of the league at 1-29. Now after ONE good/decent season from each, it looks like each is thumping their chests. Having high expectations is nice, success needs to be consistent before the talking can be done. Norwayne has been at a consistently high level for awhile now and I would expect them to have a chip on their shoulder going into the season. That is the top program around until these two other teams beat them this year. This could be the year where two surprise teams jump up again. Maybe a Dalton, but I really like what I am hearing from Smithville and surprisingly Rittman. Rittman is finally removed from the previous coach, so hopefully they come back up to respectable. Smithville is the dark horse with a lot of young kids who got time and should win some games this year.

  LOL Waynedale actually has about 50 years....its TRADITION (look at WCAL titles and playoff appearances). Rittman back to respectable, they have battled Chippewa and Hillsdale for the basement? Norwayne has 5 consecutive good years out of 50....what are you really saying?
  
  The chest thumping is not coming from Waynedale, believe me. Its speculation from onlookers!
• Hunter86

  

  1_beast;1637569 wrote:LOL Waynedale actually has about 50 years....its TRADITION (look at WCAL titles and playoff appearances). Rittman back to respectable, they have battled Chippewa and Hillsdale for the basement? Norwayne has 5 consecutive good years out of 50....what are you really saying?
  
  The chest thumping is not coming from Waynedale, believe me. Its speculation from onlookers!

  It's a natural thing to fear the unknown, just keep it up !