Yellow Jackets battle the Medina Battling Bees in the first round of Ohio Division 1 football playoffs

Jude Chamberlain
eSomethin staff

The Yellow Jacket’s season has come to an end for the regular season. The Jackets lost 31-14 to the undefeated Anthony Wayne Generals.

The Jackets are currently 8-2 and made the playoffs as the number 3 seed. At the number 2 seed are the Whitmer Panthers who won over the Jackets, 27-13.

As the number 3 seed, the Jackets will play the Medina Battling Bees, the number 14 seed. Medina is 2-8 and will travel to Perrysburg to play on Friday, November 1.

Paulo Walkoski, a defensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets, said that “our playoff bracket is difficult and we have to work hard, everyone needs to play hard and play well.”

The Battling Bees were outscord in the regular season 352-184; conversely, the Jackets scored 337 points while only allowing 113 points throughout the regular season.

David Yunker, a weight lifting coach for the Yellow Jackets, said, “We have a difficult bracket but the regular season has prepared us, everyone has a job that’s needed to continue.

There are no common matchups between The Jackets and the Bees. According to Fantastic 50, the Yellow Jackets had the 61st hardest schedule and Medina had the 44th hardest schedule in Division 1. Both schedules are ranked from Division 1 football. Medina is ranked 59 in Division 1 while the Jackets are ranked 25.

If the Jackets win this week against Medina they will play the winner of the Lorain Titans and the Berea-Midpark Titans. Berea Midpark is 3-7 with the 23rd hardest schedule and finished as the 123 team in the state for the regular season. Lorain is 9-1 and the 150 team. Out of 71 Division 1 Lorian was 71st in strength of schedule. Lorain is projected to lose by two points.

Through the regular season, The Bees played teams with a combined record of 57 wins to 42 loses. The Jackets in the regular season played teams with a combined record of 50 wins and 50 loses. This comparison indicates that The Bees faced a tougher schedule in the regular season.

The Bees have experience facing highly ranked opponents. Based on state rankings, the toughest opponent the Jackets played was Anthony Wayne, which was ranked 47 in the state at the time of the matchup. The hardest opponent of The Bees was Mentor who was 23 in Ohio at the time of the contest.

(The Yellow Jackets on the sideline. Grey Swanson gets ready for his game against Whitmer. Photo taken on October 4, 2024. Photo Credit: Sebastian Contreras)

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