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The state finals are here. Two days of high school football nirvana. That has never been more true than this year when there are so many great match-ups.
The headline game for Friday is the division three championship game between Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (14-0) versus Columbus St. Francis DeSales. Some are not as excited about this match-up as I am especially after seeing Mooney run roughshod over a talented Steubenville Big Red team in the state semifinals. For a smashmouth guy like me it was a thing of beauty watching Mooney put on a clinic in offensive line play. They are big and have a great back heaeded to West Virginia in Braylon Heard. He lit up Steubenville last week. It was over 200 yards rushing and it might have been over 300. He picked up alot of it behind outstanding senior tackle Eric Franklin, a player I would not mind seeing a late offer to should
one of the lineman on the Buckeyes want list decide to go elsewhere. The thing is, I think DeSales has the size to counter Mooney, and they are talented guys. Top junior Chris Rock and senior Travis Jackson are players like Mooney has not faced. Rock is a possible Buckeye target with offers from Michigan and Notre Dame. Jackson is a Michigan State verbal with offers from the likes of Tennessee and Boston College. A player on offense to watch is 2012 running back from DeSales, Warren Ball. He is looking like a very special talent. I am going to give Mooney the edge but if DeSales wins this one I am not going to be surprised. Not at all.
Heard video: http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=942&name=BraylonHeard
Franklin video: http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=1012&name=franklin
OHSAA preview: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/ft/boys/2009/d3stfinal09.htm
The other game I want recruiting fans to focus on is the division two championship game between Cincinnati Winton Woods and Maple Heights. Winton Woods has a kid that I would like to see the Buckeyes steal from UC. His name is Dominique Brown. He plays quarterback for Winton Woods but will be a receiver or safety in college. Impressed me hugely a couple of weeks ago in a game I saw. He has rushed for nearly 2000 yards and 24 touchdowns. I am not sure if Winton Woods junior Jeremiah Goins is going to get a lot of recruiting attention but he is a fine looking back. He is a short stocky kid. He reminds me of Michael Bennett of the Atlanta Falcons in build and style. He has rushed for over 1800 yards and 28 touchdowns. A lot of skills but not the athlete that everyone is looking for.Behind these two Winton Woods has put up some amazing offers. They average 42 points a game and 378 yards rushing a game. They have scored 59, 40, 28 and 69 in their four playoff games.
The kid on the other side of the ball to watch is 2011 receiver Shaq Washington from Maple Heights. He is a high school QB but will be a college wide receiver. If Shane Wynn is a Buckeye offer then we need to watch Washington. He is a bigger version of Wynn.
Dominique Brown video: http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=1802&name=Dominique.Brown
Jeremiah Goins video: http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=1781&name=Jeremiah.Goins
Shaq Washington: http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=3032&name=shaq3wash
OHSAA preview: http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/ft/boys/2009/d3stfinal09.htm
As far as the game is concerned, I have not seen a full game of Maple Heights so I can't say. I have a hard time believing they will be able to contend with Winton Woods.
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