What to watch during New Lex football's playoff game vs. West Holmes
As one coach told me recently, "this is when the playoffs really start." The regional semifinals most always separate the great from the good. This is the equivalent of the Sweet 16 in the other sports, who all make the postseason. With that in mind, New Lexington football (10-1) gets a stiff test tonight when battle-tested Millersburg West Holmes (9-2) makes the trek to Jim Rockwell Stadium for their Division IV, Region 15 clash. The winner gets the survivor of top-seeded Gnadenhutten Indian Valley (11-0) and fifth-seeded Uhrichsville Claymont (11-1) for a state berth. Here are three things to watch: More: Here are the regional semifinal pairings for Ohio high school football More: New Lex football's seniors are a 'special' blend of personalities More: Sheridan football didn't let setbacks ruin its season. What's next? The offenses These are two impressive offensive teams, particularly in the passing game. The Panthers average 406 yards per game in considerably balanced fashion — they have run for 217 yards per game and passed for 189. Senior Lane Ratliff has passed for 1,942 yards and ran for 661 while accounting for 34 total touchdowns; junior Colton Mathias has amassed 1,237 yards and 11 scores. Big-play
