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Best Bets: Ohio – Week 13 (Saturday)

Only three Cincinnati-area teams play on Saturday, and two face each other in the quarterfinal round.

That game pits Elder and Colerain against each other in what should a must-see contest at Mason High School.

Clinton-Massie also plays this Saturday after beating No. 2-seeded Indian Hill last week.

Dayton-area teams Wayne and Fenwick also have a chance to advance to the semifinals this Saturday.

Here is a look at the Best Bets for Saturday in Ohio, Week 13:

Elder's Peyton Ramsey (Michael Collins/TSF).

Elder’s Peyton Ramsey (Michael Collins/TSF).

Elder (9-3) vs. Colerain (11-1), Mason H.S., 7 p.m. – The first, second, third and fifth seeds all remain in the Division I, Region 2 field, and Colerain was tops heading into the playoffs, with Elder holding the fifth spot. A 14-0 loss to Winton Woods seems to have rejuvenated the Panthers’ offense, which has averaged 36.8 points per game since during a four-game winning streak. Elder QB Peyton Ramsey’s completion percentage has been 67 percent or above in three consecutive contests, including 15 of 19 last week. He has thrown for 2,562 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 1,152 yards and 15 scores. Colerain has played three GCL opponents this season and has won two, suffering its lone loss of the year to La Salle in Week 3. The first two contests the Cardinals have played against South foes were decided by three points, and Colerain clobbered St. Xavier in a rematch, 42-14 last week. It’s amazing that a top-seeded Division I team could reach this point of the season throwing the ball a total of 80 times, but the Cardinals’ running game has been that good. QB Deshaunte Jones leads the team with 1,591 ground yards – averaging 10.1 yards per carry – and Monalo Caldwell has 1,054. The duo has combined for 41 scores. Colerain’s defense has been another key to its success, as the Cardinals allowed a GMC-low 193 yards per game during the regular season and have given up just 403 yards in two postseason games. Colerain is likely a slight favorite but this game could be decided in the final minutes.

Wayne (12-0) vs. Hilliard Davidson (11-1), University of Dayton, 7 p.m. – Wayne is the third seed in Region 2 and Hilliard Davidson is No. 2, so these teams were extremely close in the Harbin ratings. Messiah DeWeaver has been the main cog of the Warriors’ offense, throwing for 2,651 yards, 29 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He has thrown for over 300 yards in both of Wayne’s postseason games. The Wildcats’ calling card has been their defense, as they have given up just 61 points all season or 5.1 per game, including four shutouts. Both of Hilliard Davidson’s playoff games have been close – a 17-9 win over Central Crossing and a 17-10 victory over Upper Arlington. The Wildcats’ lone loss was to local rival Hilliard Darby by five points in Week 2. This one is too close to call.

Clinton-Massie (11-1) vs. Fenwick (12-0), Xenia H.S., 7 p.m. – Clinton-Massie advanced with a six-point win over No. 2 Indian Hill last week and now faces the top seed in Division IV, Region 14. Third-seeded Clinton-Massie has scored 110 points in two playoff games and have now eclipsed the 40-point mark 10 times in 12 games. Clinton-Massie loss to Steubenville, a fellow Division IV team that is still unbeaten. Fenwick has not lost a game all year, although three of its wins have been decided by a touchdown and its average margin of victory is 8.5 in its two postseason games. Michael Jeffers has had the hot hand in the Fenwick’s backfield recently, going for over 100 yards three straight weeks. The seeding points to Fenwick as the favorite but this game could go either way, especially after Clinton-Massie disposed of Indian Hill last week in a matchup of teams both named the Falcons.

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