Monday Mailbag: rivalry, upsets, more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

The Monday Mailbag is back by popular request. Each week, readers can submit questions or comments about any type of sport. In previous years, the focus has been on high school athletics but questions and comments about college and pro sports are welcome as well.

Q: I have always heard the rivalry between Van Wert and Bryan in football is one of the oldest in the state of Ohio. Are there any documented facts? Just how old is this rivalry? Is it the oldest rivalry in Ohio? Also what is the series all time in terms of wins and losses? Jeff Perry, Nashville Tennessee

A: Hi Jeff, it’s a long standing series but it’s not the oldest Ohio or even really that close to it. If you look at it by number of years, Cincinnati Hughes and Cincinnati Woodward hold the record for the oldest rivalry in Ohio. Believe it or not, it dates back to 1878, according to the OHSAA record book. This year will be the 131 time they’ve played. Hughes leads the series 69-52-9.

A number of Ohio’s other oldest high school football rivalies also date back to the late 1800s. As far as Van Wert, it appears the Cougars’ oldest rivalry is against Defiance, which goes back to 1916.

I believe the all-time series record between Van Wert and Bryan schools is decidedly in favor of Van Wert. Including last Friday’s win, the Cougars lead the series 62-22-3. Now, I’m still looking to see in what year they began squaring off in the season opener. I know it goes back at least 50 years. Perhaps someone out there can chime in on this?

I’ve heard from multiple people that Van Wert and Bryan hold the record for longest opening game rivalry in Ohio high school football history. I would think that is currently an unconfirmed record, one that would take a ton of research given how many high school are playing/have played high school football.

Of course, there is an asterisk. The two teams didn’t play during the 2020 COVID-19 season. The Cougars played a six-game regular season, all against WBL opponents before entering the playoffs and eventually winning the state championship. Given the circumstances, I would think it’s possible they hold the non-COVID years record for opening games.

Here’s a fun fact – the Cougars and Golden Bears agreed to play once each school was done in the playoffs that year. A quirky COVID-year OHSAA rule allowed schools to resume playing regular season games (if they wanted to), once they were out of the playoffs. But Van Wert kept winning and finished the season as Division IV state champions.

Q: How do you think Ohio State will do this year? What do you think their final record will be? Name withheld upon request

A: This is a tough one, thanks to a tough schedule. Off the top of my head, I can see anything between 12-0 (not counting the Big 10 championship game) and 9-3.

The biggest games on the schedule appear to be at Texas, at Iowa, at Indiana, and at USC, along with home games against Illinois, Oregon and Michigan. If you break it down further, the Texas and Indiana games could be considered toss-ups. I don’t have a great feeling about the Texas game right now. Oregon is a big one and the game against the Wolverines – well, we’ll see.

My final answer is best case 12-0, worst case, 9-3. As far as the season in its entirety, I know Ohio State is ranked No. 1 in both major polls but that’s basically a curse. In the 21st century, just two preseason No. 1 teams have won the national championship – 2004 USC and 2017 Alabama. I’ll be very surprised if they win the national championship.

Q: What’s up with all of the high school football upsets on Friday? Which one surprised you the most? Name withheld upon request

A: It really was a pretty wild night, wasn’t it? I admit to doing a double take more than once as the scores started to roll in.

The one that surprised me most was Ottawa-Glandorf’s 52-7 win over Liberty-Benton. The Titans were 0-10 last year while the Eagles went 12-1. Now, I know last year’s Liberty-Benton team was a senior laden team. The Eagles lost nine starters on offense and eight on defense. Still, I didn’t see this one coming, especially the margin, which I think was most shocking to me. Hats off to new O-G head coach Ben Kaufman and the Titans.

Parkway’s win over Brookville was surprising to me as well. The Panthers had lost 19 straight entering that game and Brookville, a Division IV team last year, was coming off a 10-2 season. Congrats to new head coach Keenan Leitchy and the Panthers.

I was mildly surprised by Clay over Wapakoneta, Delphos Jefferson’s sizable win over Evergreen, and surprised/not surprised by Versailles over Harvest Prep.

Q: Will the Browns have a winning record? Shedeur Sanders or DeShaun Watson? Buckeyes  No. 1? And the big question: are my Yankees winning the World Series? Dave Baker, Van Wert

A: I’ll break this down.

Browns and a winning record: an emphatic no. If they do, it would be the surprise of the NFL this season.

As a Browns fan, I never want to see DeShaun Watson take another snap for Cleveland, and I felt that ways before his bizarre postgame press conference comments on Saturday. The trade for him has been an absolute disaster and may very well be the worst trade in NFL history. The only one I can think of that might be worse would be when Seattle fleeced Denver in the Russell Wilson trade. But I think the Watson trade was slightly worse and I blame it solely on ownership. Maybe I’m in the minority but I actually see some potential with Sanders. At this point, start him and let’s see what happens. Honestly though, I think the front office has an eye on next year’s draft and a new quarterback.

Yes, the Buckeyes are No. 1 now but won’t finish the season there (see the earlier question).

Oh – they’re still playing baseball? Sorry, I’m distracted by the start of high school football and the college season starting this weekend. I’ll go out on a limb and say yes, the Yankees win the World Series and thwart the Dodgers’ attempt to win a third straight championship.

If you have a sports question or comment for the next Monday Mailbag, please email it to sports@thevwindependent.com by 5 p.m. Sunday.