Jake Furr and Zack Holden, high school football analysts for the Mansfield News Journal, enter Week 3 with combined records of 21-13 and 19-15, respectively, after a mixed performance in Week 2.
Week 3 Forecast
Both men focus on regional rivalries and team momentum, leaning heavily on home-field advantage and recent form to shape their picks for the upcoming slate of games.
Furr leans toward home victories for Crestline over Mapleton, Clear Fork over Lexington, and Shelby over Bellevue, while also backing Madison after a recent win and picking Upper Sandusky despite Wynford’s injury concerns.
Holden mirrors many of those selections, adding his confidence in Clear Fork’s surge, Shelby’s current form, and a belief that Ashland will continue its road success against Clyde, while also supporting Rittman’s defensive edge over South Central.
The analysts agree that the matchup between Hopewell-Loudon and Colonel Crawford stands out as the game of the week, with Holden rating it the second-best contest, and they both anticipate a tight battle between Hillsdale and Loudonville.
Other notable picks include Furr’s confidence in Tiffin Columbian against Ontario, and Holden’s endorsement of Bucyrus over Willard, while both analysts caution against picking against Ontario, citing recent success.