Now the fun begins.

With five Morning Journal area teams in the 2009 OHSAA playoff tournament, The Swami has his work cut out for him. He sees some great games on the schedule and has a big surprise for those who do not believe in magic.

When a team of destiny comes along, not everyone realizes it at first. It kind of sneaks up on people and, next thing you know, BAM ! (to quote Emeril) the magic happens.

Without further adieu, The Swami wants to introduce his legions of fans to a team of destiny.

North Ridgeville at Toledo St. Francis

St. Francis finished first in the Region 6 computer points, and is ranked in the top five in the state. Everyone expects them to roll over North Ridgeville, who will be making its first-ever OHSAA playoff appearance. The Rangers lost two games this season by a combined three points. They lost at home to Bay on a special teams hiccup in overtime, getting the game-tying extra point blocked when they did not have the right personnel on the field. They then lost to Rocky River on a last-second field goal by a back-up kicker who was attempting the first field goal of his high school career. The Rangers win those games, which they probably should have, and we’re talking about two teams ranked in the top five in the state.

Karma is a dangerous thing, and North Ridgeville has bit it twice. Last week it all changed.

The Rangers were trailing by two touchdowns at halftime. They turned it all around in the second half, scoring 18 unanswered points to beat Midview and, when Olmsted Falls lost a shocker to North Olmsted, the Rangers not only had a share of the West Shore Conference championship, but they also were on their way to the playoffs. In less than two hours, the Rangers ran the gamut of emotions.

There are forces much higher than The Swami at work here, and The Swami knows better than to step in front of the destiny train. North Ridgeville 24-21

Avon Lake at Maumee

The Swami loves to say “I told you so.” Let’s revisit what he wrote heading into Week 6 of the regular season: “You heard it here first ... if the Shoremen make it to the playoffs (they would have to win the rest of their games and get some help) they will play for a state championship.” Well, Avon Lake won out and got help. The Shoremen held up their end of the bargain. The Swami, at this point, does not think Avon Lake can be stopped. The Shoremen are the most dangerous team in Division II right now and it will be interesting next week when they run into the Rangers (the aforementioned “team of destiny”). And the Rangers-Shoremen game will take place next week on Friday the 13th. Avon Lake 35-14

Tippecanoe at Perkins

Tippecanoe has a long haul from Tipp City, which is about 20 miles north of Dayton. The Swami hopes they do not travel by canoe and, if they do, sincerely hope it does not tip over. Tippecanoe is one of the strangest names for a school The Swami has ever encountered, so he did a little research.

According to Ohio History Central, the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 came about when two brothers, both Shawnee Indians, devised plans to deal with the white settlers who were taking over their land. The brothers, Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa (aka The Prophet). The Prophet was convinced if they gave up all white customs and products and returned to traditional ways the Master of Life would drive the white settlers out of their land.

Tecumseh, on the other hand, thought the Indians had to accept the ways of the settlers. The brothers generated a large following and eventually moved their followers to Prophetstown, near the Tippecanoe River in the Indiana Territory. Their following grew so large the settlers demanded the government do something to protect them.

Long story short, William Henry Harrison, the governor of the Indiana Territory, led an army against Prophetstown in the fall of 1811. Tecumseh was away recruiting more followers and his brother, not having much military acumen, attacked Harrison’s army because he had convinced his followers the bullets would not harm them because they were being protected by the Master of Life.

The American army defeated the Indians, but it was a historic battle and came to signify the Indian spirit.

The Swami thinks that’s a pretty cool thing to name a school after. Perkins 28-27

Edison at Genoa Area

Genoa Area put up the kind of offensive and defensive numbers you see in video games with the skill level set to “beginner.” However, they play in the Suburban Lakes League, which quite possibly is the worst football league in the nation, if not on Earth. Edison lost two games this season, both losses coming to teams that would probably win the Suburban Lakes League with their junior varsity teams (Clyde and Perkins).

They had two common opponents, Oak Harbor and Port Clinton. Genoa Area outscored these teams 113-7, Edison outscored them, 88-22. This is going to be a shootout. Edison 63-58

Berlin Center Western Reserve at St. Paul

The Blue Devils can put tons of points on the board and their quarterback, Shane Ewing, is the second-best signal-caller the Flyers will see this season (the best they see every week in practice). Last season, St. Paul quarterback Eric Schweiterman was the Division VI Offensive Player of the Year, but he missed significant time this season because of injury. Ewing, who threw for 2,156 yards and 24 touchdowns against just five interceptions during the regular season, is getting some support to win the award this season. Schweiterman is going to make a statement and remove all doubt as to who is the best Division VI quarterback in the state. St. Paul 43-13

Fearless forecasts

In The Morning Journal Staff picks race for the title, Steve Walker pulled off his version of the “Music City Miracle.” Like a Frank Wycheck cross-field lateral to Kevin Dyson to break the hearts of Bills fans everywhere, Walker stunned Jim Brady fans (all two of them) by making up six games on the last weekend of the regular season to tie things up. Both sit at 159-54, with Scott Sommers (157-56) and Colin Wilson (156-57) still in the hunt.

The funniest part of all this, last week Brady picked Firelands to defeat Vermilion. He was the only one to do so, but in the paper is showed, in error, that he selected the Sailors. He sent an e-mail to point out the mistake, costing himself a game at the end of the day.

What is the moral of the story? Like if the person at the counter accidentally prints out the wrong numbers for your lottery ticket, you do not mess with karma. You buy that ticket anyway. Brady should have stuck with the Sailors, but had to tempt fate. And he paid the price.

And just like that, POOF, he’s gone.



Editor's Note: The views of the Swami do not necessarily represent The Morning Journal, its sports staff or George Steinbrenner's body double.