Best Bets: Week 4 – Cincinnati

Conference play starts in Ohio this week, and there are several key league games on the docket.

In the GMC, undefeated GMC foes Colerain and Princeton hook up at Viking Stadium, Hamilton looks to remain perfect as it travels to Sycamore and Lakota West looks for its first win at 2-1 Mason.

And Wyoming travels to Indian Hill in the teams’ CHL opener in what may ultimately decide the league title.

Here are the Best Bets for Week 4 of prep football in Ohio:

Anderson quarterback Jay Volpenhein (Cathy Lachmannn/TSF staff).

Anderson (2-1) at Kings (2-1), 7 p.m. – Anderson is scoring 50.0 points per game but has had two contests decided by one point, including a 42-41 overtime win vs. Fenwick in its opener. The Redskins lost, 48-47 to Harrison last week. Jay Volpenhein is 92-for-145 for a video game-esque 1,074 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one pick, and he leads the team in rushing with 258 ground yards. Six Anderson players have over 130 receiving yards. Kings’ Tyler Knecht is no slouch either under center – he is 55 of 91 for 720 yards, six TDs and just two picks, plus he also leads his team in rushing (291 yards, five scores). Kings is allowing just 16.0 points per game.

Colerain (3-0) at Princeton (3-0), 7 p.m. – Colerain has not lost a GMC contest since 2008, a span of 52 league games. The Cardinals have survived a brutal schedule, beating Warren Central and St. Xavier on the road and La Salle at home, and all three games were decided by six points or fewer. Colerain runs the ball a ton – 73 percent so far this season – although it is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry. Princeton is one of the biggest turnaround stories in the tri-state this season, already winning as many games as it did in all of 2015. The Vikings are averaging the most points of any team in the GMC (34.7) and are allowing the second fewest (13.3). Princeton runs the ball 76 percent of the time but has been exceptional in the passing game, as Solomon Reed is 27 of 40 for 490 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.

Hamilton (3-0) at Sycamore (1-2), 7 p.m. – Speaking of GMC surprises, Hamilton enters GMC play unbeaten after winning just four games last year. The Big Blue have won by three, seven and seven points and are scoring 28.7 points per game. Eric Jackson is 26-for-48 for 507 yards, four TDs and no picks, and he has 61 carries for 331 yards and five more scores. Vince Sanford is his top target with 17 catches for 293 yards and a pair of touchdowns. RB RaVon Bonner has been the focal point of Sycamore’s offense, as he has 58 carries for 394 yards and 10 TDs. Khadim Fall and Jonathan Malek both have over 200 yards receiving, and QB Jake Borman is 23 of 41 for 572 yards and two scores, averaging nearly 25 yards per completion.

Lakota West (0-3) at Mason (2-1), 7 p.m. – Lakota West has given up 150 points, but it has faced a brutal schedule, losing to Moeller, Centerville and Wayne. Zelwyn Robinson has impressed as dual threat running back, catching 14 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns – all team highs – and he has 33 carries for 158 yards and three TDs. Mason leads the GMC in points allowed (12.3 per game), and Matt Sora is the Comets’ workhorse in the backfield with 50 carries for 315 yards while Michael Kopaygorodsky leads the team with five ground scores.

Taft (2-1) at CHCA (3-0), 7 p.m. – All of Taft’s games have been decided by one score. The Senators beat Badin by seven, lost to Wyoming by three and topped Holy Cross by seven. CHCA has outscored its opponents, 142-39, scoring at least 41 points in each game. Danny Vanatsky is 36-for-54 for 645 yards, eight TDs and no interceptions, and RB Kesean Gamble is 34-506-8.

Wyoming (3-0) at Indian Hill (3-0), 7 p.m. – It’s the marquee game of the league schedule. Both teams are 3-0 with different MOs. Wyoming has allowed just 23 points or 7.7 per game, and Indian Hill has scored an average of 54.3 points. Andrew Marty is 34 of 60 for 573 yards and seven TDs to lead the Cowboys’ offense. Indian Hill has run the ball 68 times and passes 68 times. Reed Aichholz is 37-for-61 passing for 734 yards, eight TDs and no picks, averaging nearly 20 yards per completion, and Zarian Hunter-Cure has gained 366 yards on the ground, gaining 10.2 yards a carry and scoring six times.

St. Xavier (1-2) at Indianapolis Cathedral (4-0), 7:30 p.m. – St. Xavier has been atrocious in the running game, averaging just 2.0 yards per carry, which is likely why the Bombers have thrown it 48 percent of the time. St. Xavier has dominated this series, winning all 13 matchups the past 30 years, including a 31-17 win last year. Cathedral has been consistent offensively – scoring 48, 48, 41 and 44 points – and the Fighting Irish are allowing just 7.5 points per game.

Cleveland St. Edward (3-0) at Elder (2-1), Saturday, 7 p.m. – St. Edward has allowed just 11.3 points per game and just seven the past two weeks. Elder has also given up an average of 11.3 points, playing its first three games on the road. Danny Nieman is 62 of 91 (68.1 percent!) for 668 yards. The Panthers run just 51 percent of the time and are averaging just 3.0 yards per carry.

Related Posts

• 
  VOTE: Team of the Week – Week 4
• 
  Dayton Best Bets: Week 1
• 
  Cincy Best Bets: Week 1

You must be logged in to post a comment Login