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Best Bets: Mason aims to stay unbeaten

With only two games left in the regular season in the Buckeye State, it is now time for teams to lock in and find their winning formula. We have conferences that could be decided this week, and teams are also playing for their playoff seedings. In a season where nobody has separated themselves from the pack, we are in for an exciting next few weeks. 

Things are heating up in Indiana too with post-season aspirations growing for each team while in Kentucky there are some early-season showdowns to keep your eyes on.

Here are the games to look forward to in this week’s edition of the 5 Best Bets.

NO. 6 MASON AT NO. 11 HAMILTON
The Comets are riding high after recording their fourth consecutive win to start the season. Their combination of a stifling defense and efficient offense led by Senior running back Nolan McCormick has Mason in the hunt for a GMC Title. The Big Blue are now playing their best football of the season after dropping their first two games. This is a hard team to predict, as they have won and lost in different ways this season. They won a nail-biter game and also lost one, while getting blown out by Lakota West and just last week blowing out Oak Hills. Quarterback Quicny Simms Marshall and the running back tandem of Keyshawn Stevens and Kaleb Johnson provide virtually all the offensive production. If even one of them is off their game, Hamilton struggles to move the ball. For the Comets, this is an ideal matchup due to their commitment and success running the football. The Big Blue are allowing 232 rushing yards per game. Mason will look to exploit that weakness early and often. If we get the Hamilton of the first two weeks, this game will be all Mason. If we get the Hamilton of recent weeks, we could have a GMC classic on our hands.

NO. 14 MOELLER AT NO. 2 ST. XAVIER
Thankfully for the Bombers, their matchups against Indiana schools are finished for the season. St. Xavier is undefeated in conference play, and can win the outright GCL South title with a win against the Crusaders. For Moeller, although they have now lost three in a row, their performance last week against an excellent Elder team was something to behold. They started the game well leading 13-0 early, but most importantly finished the game with no turnovers. It will be a process in rebuilding the culture for head coach Mark Elder, but these are the steps you like to see. Something to look out for this week will be the quarterback situation for the Bombers. Brogan McCaughey, the normal starter, was lifted at halftime against Indianapolis Cathedral and replaced by junior Ryan Nolan. The reason for the change was not specified, but it will be something to monitor moving forward. Regardless, St. Xavier is at their best when running the ball effectively behind their massive offensive line. In their two conference victories, St. Xavier ran for a combined 356 yards. In their two losses, a combined 33 yards. The formula is etched for the Bombers, run the ball, control the clock, and continue to play solid defense. Expect them to get back to their winning ways this week and secure another conference championship.

LAWRENCEBURG AT BATESVILLE
These two Indiana teams are playing solid football. The Tigers have been led by sophomore quarterback Garret Yoon, who has taken a massive leap in year two. After a Week 1 loss, Lawrenceburg has since looked like one of the best teams in their division. The Bulldogs also lost their first game, but have reeled off three wins in the past four weeks. Both teams were defeated handily by East Central. For the Bulldogs, they key to success is their offensive efficiency. In all three of their wins, they scored over 30 points, including two 40-point outbursts. In their two losses they had a combined 16 points. The Tigers have been clicking on all cylinders and for Batesville to have any chance their defense needs to be special.

CLINTON-MASSIE AT NEW RICHMOND
This is a battle for first place in the American side of the SBAAC.  Both teams come into this game undefeated. This matchup has all the ingredients to be a barn-burner, high-scoring game. The Falcons have offensive outputs of 42, 57, and 86. They have scored at will, and have a running game that has been next to impossible to stop. They are averaging a jaw dropping 407 yards per game on the ground. The Lions have also had a lot of success on offense, but they do it with a more pass first approach. They accumulated more yards passing then they’ve produced rushing in three of their four games played. With all of this being said, the game will be decided on defense. Which one of these teams can get the big stop? Both defenses have been suspect at best. The Lions are allowing 25 points per game, while the Falcons are giving up 31 points per game. Clinton-Massie has won the conference every year since entering in 2017. Until we see otherwise, the Falcons remain the favorite.

NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC AT NEWPORT
The Battle of Newport is renewed with both teams looking to settle into the new season. The Thoroughbreds come in undefeated with two solid showings, especially on the defensive side of the ball allowing only 13 points in two weeks. The Wildcats are coming off their first loss of the season to Holmes, a contest where the offense couldn’t find their ground. Although their defense has also been stifling through two games, allowing only 14 in Week 1, and 12 in the Week 2 loss. Don’t expect there to be a lot of scoring in this matchup. This is a high-level rivalry game, and both teams will come out hungry and ready to battle. The turnover differential and special teams will be crucial in deciding this game. One big mistake going the other way could be the ultimate X factor. The Thoroughbreds are the favorite, but don’t count out the Wildcats.

GAME OF THE WEEK: NO. 20 ANDERSON AT NO. 5 WINTON WOODS
Make sure to check out the COMPLETE PREVIEW for this week’s featured game on the Blitz 5 Tour presented by TriStateFootball.com

Other games for teams ranked inside the Blitz 5 Top 25:

OHIO
Oak Hills at No .1 Lakota West
No. 3 La Salle at Indianapolis Cathedral
No. 4 Elder at Walnut Hills
Middletown at No. 8 Princeton
No. 9 Colerain at No. 12 Sycamore
No. 13 Fairfield at No. 19 Lakota East
Lebanon at No. 16 Turpin
Carroll at No. 17 Badin
No. 18 Kings at West Clermont
Edgewood at No. 22 Ross
Finneytown at No. 23 Wyoming
Taylor at No. 24 Indian Hill
CCPA at No. 25 Roger Bacon

KENTUCKY
No. 6 Covington Catholic at Cooper
Johnson Central at No. 15. Simon Kenton
No. 21 Highlands at Boyle County

INDIANA
No. 10 East Central at South Dearborn

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