{"id":170195,"date":"2023-09-14T03:31:28","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T08:31:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=170195"},"modified":"2023-09-14T03:32:11","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T08:32:11","slug":"pigskin-pickem-week-no-5-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2023\/09\/14\/pigskin-pickem-week-no-5-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Pigskin Pick’Em: Week No. 5"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SCOTT TRUXELL\/<\/strong>independent editor<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here we are in the blink of an eye \u2013 the halfway point of the 2023 high school football season. It doesn\u2019t seem possible but it is indeed upon us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a subpar 11-9 week, I managed to go 17-3 last week, which takes my overall season record to 73-25, just shy of 75 percent. As you know, the goal is to pick at least 80 percent of games correctly. 20 area games are on this week\u2019s slate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Games of the Week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Elida (4-0) at Bath (2-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has a chance to be an entertaining game. Elida has gone undefeated in large part because of the defense, which has given up 45 points in four games, including 22 against Kenton. Bath is coming off a heartbreaking last play loss to Kenton, but the Wildcats are definitely an improved team. I\u2019m sticking with the defensive team here but I won\u2019t be shocked at all if there\u2019s an upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Elida<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fort Recovery (0-4) at Delphos St. John\u2019s (2-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After playing back-to-back No. 1 teams (Versailles, Marion Local) and getting shut out in both games, the Blue Jays will face a Fort Recovery team that\u2019s allowing 34 points per game. This isn\u2019t to say the Indians will be a pushover but it\u2019s a chance for Delphos St. John\u2019s to get a third win at the midway point of the regular season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Delphos St. John\u2019s<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lima Sr. (2-2) at Toledo Bowsher (1-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lima Sr.\u2019s first game as a member of the Toledo City League. This isn\u2019t exactly an ideal pairing but Lima Sr. didn\u2019t have many choices. It was pretty much the TCL or be an independent after the TRAC dissolved. Anyway, I think the Spartans will fare well in the league and should at least contend for the title this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Lima Sr.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crestview (3-1) at Allen East (1-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

I think this game will be a little better than people realize. The Mustangs are better than their 1-3 record would indicate. Of course, Crestview isn\u2019t too shabby either and the Knights have a real chance to contend for the NWC title. I like Crestview\u2019s offense on artificial turf so I\u2019m going with the Knights here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Crestview<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wapakoneta (2-2) at Van Wert (3-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call me a worry wart but I have concerns about this game. Wapakoneta\u2019s strength is running the ball and the Cougars, at times, have struggled to stop the run. The Redskins have pitched back-to-back shutouts although to be fair the two opponents, Ottawa-Glandorf and St. Marys Memorial have struggled a bit during the first four games. I know this won\u2019t be a popular pick and I hope I\u2019m wrong, but I\u2019m going with the visitors here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pick: Wapakoneta<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best of the Rest<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GMC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edgerton at Ayersville: Ayersville
Fairview at Paulding: Paulding
Hicksville at Wayne Trace: Wayne Trace
Tinora at Antwerp: Antwerp<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna at Minster: Minster
Marion Local at New Bremen: Marion Local
Parkway at Versailles: Versailles
St. Henry at Coldwater: Coldwater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NWC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bluffton at Spencerville: Bluffton
Columbus Grove at Delphos Jefferson: Columbus Grove
Leipsic at Ada: Leipsic<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WBL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kenton at Celina: Celina
Shawnee at Defiance: Defiance
St. Marys Memorial at Ottawa-Glandorf: St. Marys Memorial<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-conference<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lima Central Catholic at Columbus Bishop Hartley: Bishop Hartley<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCOTT TRUXELL\/independent editor Here we are in the blink of an eye \u2013 the halfway point of the 2023 high school football season. It doesn\u2019t seem possible but it is indeed upon us. After a subpar 11-9 week, I managed to go 17-3 last week, which takes my overall season record to 73-25, just shy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-170195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-01 19:06:19","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170195"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":170231,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170195\/revisions\/170231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=170195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=170195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}