The Manchester Panthers (11-1) will host the Poland Seminary Bulldogs (10-2) in a high school football playoff game on Friday, November 15, at 7 p.m. The matchup is part of the 2024 OHSAA High School Football Playoff Brackets (Ohio) – Region 17 tournament.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: Ohio High School Football
Who: Manchester vs Poland Seminary
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7 PM
Bracket: 2024 OHSAA High School Football Playoff Brackets (Ohio) – Region 17
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Game preview: Manchester vs Poland Seminary
As the high school football season continues, two teams from Ohio have made a significant impact, showing strong performances in both regular-season play and conference matchups. Poland Seminary and Manchester are standout teams, each boasting impressive records and scoring abilities. Here’s a closer look at both teams as they head into the postseason.
Poland Seminary (24-25)
Poland Seminary has had a solid season, finishing with a 10-2 overall record. The team has shown dominance at home, where they remain undefeated with a 7-0 record. On the road, they have a respectable 3-2 mark. Their overall win percentage stands at .833, demonstrating a well-rounded squad capable of performing both at home and away. The Bulldogs have been particularly potent offensively, scoring an average of 28.7 points per game, with their highest output coming in the second quarter, averaging 15 points.
In terms of scoring, Poland has been balanced across the game, with a first-quarter average of 7 points and a solid second-quarter performance of 15 points. However, the team does have room for improvement in the final quarter, averaging only 1.8 points in the fourth quarter. Despite this, their strong first-half showings have often been enough to secure wins.
Manchester (24-25)
Manchester has been a powerhouse this season, finishing with a near-perfect 11-1 record. The team has been flawless in conference play, going 6-0, and has been equally dominant at home with a perfect 6-0 record. Their overall win percentage stands at an impressive .917, with their scoring average at 36 points per game. This offense has been consistently high throughout the game, with strong performances in all quarters.
The Greyhounds’ offensive attack is led by a well-balanced scoring distribution. They average 8 points in the first quarter, 11.5 in the second, and 7 in the third. The fourth quarter has been where they shine the most, putting up 6.5 points on average. In overtime situations, the team can still be dangerous, averaging 6.5 points in their first overtime period.
Key Matchup Breakdown
Both teams have been outstanding in different aspects of the game. While Poland Seminary has been more consistent on defense, allowing only 124 points over the season, Manchester’s offense has been a high-scoring juggernaut, putting up 432 points in 12 games. Poland’s defensive strategy has helped them stay competitive, but Manchester’s offense will present a major challenge for any defense they face.
When comparing the two teams head-to-head in terms of home and away games, Poland Seminary holds the edge at home (7-0), while Manchester is undefeated in both conference and home games (6-0). On the road, Poland has been a bit more vulnerable, but they’ve shown they can still compete, with a 3-2 away record.
One area where Poland Seminary might have an edge is their playoff performance. Both teams have secured their spots in the playoffs, with Poland at 2-0 in playoff games and Manchester also undefeated in their playoff appearances (2-0). This could mean an exciting postseason matchup between these two top contenders.
Looking Ahead
As the season progresses and the postseason begins, both Poland Seminary and Manchester are expected to make deep runs. Poland’s strong defense and balanced offense make them a formidable team, while Manchester’s high-scoring attack and perfect conference record give them the edge as a dominant force in Ohio football. It will be intriguing to see how these two teams fare against each other and other contenders in the postseason.
