The 2021 high school football season kicks off on Friday evening.
As such, it’s once again time for the Pigskin Pickers.
Publisher Kevin Behrens, managing editor Chad Williamson and sports editor Tim Miller finished the 2020 campaign in a three-way tie for the championship.
Who will emerge at the top of a long season this year?
Who knows?
We have a very abbreviated list of games for our first week.
There are four high school games on tap.
The Marysville Monarchs will not play this week, as Cleveland Collinwood canceled its game last week.
The Monarchs were scheduled to host Collinwood on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Our regular pickers are Behrens, Williamson, reporter Mac Cordell, sports writer Sam Dillon and Miller.
Our guest pickers this season are Dean Cook of Dean Cook Nationwide Insurance, Dave Laslow of Donatos Pizza, Bob VanHoose of VanHoose Garage Doors and Rob Eubanks of Eubanks Electric.
Fairbanks-Cardington
Williamson: Fairbanks by 10
Miller: Fairbanks by 7
Behrens: Fairbanks by 1
Cordell: Fairbanks by 6
Dillon: Fairbanks by 3
Cook: Fairbanks by 12
Laslow: Fairbanks by 6
VanHoose: Fairbanks by 7
Eubanks: Fairbanks by 6
North Union-Pleasant
Williamson: NU by 6
Miller: NU by 7
Behrens: NU by 2
Cordell: NU by 6
Dillon: North Union by 10
Cook: NU by 6
Laslow: NU by 7
VanHoose: NU by 6
Eubanks: NU by 6
Jonathan Alder-Amanda Clearcreek
Williamson: JA by 12
Miller: JA by 7
Behrens: Clearcreek by 3
Cordell: JA by 6
Dillon: Jon Alder by 7
Cook: JA by 3
Laslow: JA by 6
VanHoose: JA by 3
Eubanks: JA by 7
Triad-Benjamin Logan
Williamson: Ben Logan by 7
Miller: Ben Logan by 6
Behrens: Ben Logan by 4
Cordell: Ben Logan by 6
Dillon: Ben Logan by 3
Cook: Triad by 3
Laslow: Ben Logan by 7
VanHoose: Triad by 7
Eubanks: Triad by 6
Disclaimers:
Williamson: “At this point in the high school season it is nearly impossible to figure where the talent lies. Scrimmages tell you nothing and even the coaches don’t always see a strong team forming. I’ll go with most of the local teams this week, but Triad is going to have to prove something to me. I’m more than a little disappointed that Marysville won’t be opening up with a Saturday afternoon game. Taking pictures during daytime football games affords a lot of opportunities.”
Miller: “It’s difficult to predict what will happen during the first game of the season. Hope all the local teams do well this season.”
Behrens: “If we are picking games this early in August, I think the NIL is next up for high school sports, like college.”
Cordell: “It’s way too early to pick football games.”
Dillon: “North Union opens with a BIG rivalry game. It should be a solid contest for both teams, but I see the Wildcats’ lines really pushing them to a victory. Triad seems to always be rebuilding and it takes them a few weeks to find their rhythm. Time will tell, but I don’t see it in the ‘cards’ this week.”
Cook: “Good luck to all the local teams!”
Laslow: “I hope all our local teams do well this season!”
VanHoose: “Good luck to all the local teams!”
Eubanks: “Good luck to all the local teams!”