Best Bets: Week 1 

High School Football is back!  After a chaotic 2020 season full of questions, the 2021 campaign hopefully will get us back closer to normal, and oh how amazing it feels. The wait is over, the two-a-days of training camp have come and gone, as it’s now time to suit up and let the aura of Friday night lights take over the Tri-state area once again. 

There are a plethora of must-see matchups featuring some of the biggest teams to start the season. Get your popcorn ready folks. Here are the games to look forward to in the 2021 kickoff edition of our Best Bets.

#12 COVINGTON CATHOLIC AT #4 ELDER
Starting off with two historic interstate programs, the Colonels will see early what they are made of coming to “The Pit”. These squads will pride themselves very differently in 2021. 

Elder should be one of the best offensive teams not only in the Tri State area, but the entire state of Ohio. They return their best offensive player in Drew Ramsey. The true definition of a Swiss army knife, the senior accounted for more than 700 yards receiving and 700 yards rushing and found the end zone 22 times en route to being named GCL South Offensive Player of the Year as a junior. The undoubted leader of this team, the Panthers will go as far as he takes them. 

Elder also returns starting quarterback Ben Hambleton. The senior threw for 1,915 yards while throwing 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2020. He will be tested early by arguably the most consistent team in the state of Kentucky over the past five seasons. 

The Colonels have won 54 of their last 57 games and have two state titles to show for it. They are replacing their quarterback and leading rusher, but are anchored by All-State offensive lineman Peyton Dietz. CovCath will look to run the football early and often as they break in senior Adam Holtz at signal caller. 

Make no mistake about it, this team prides itself on defense and they will continue to do so. Over the past two seasons, the Colonels have only given 20 points or more three times. 

Let’s not forget about the Panthers’ defense either. Although they have struggled at times, 2021 looks to be a new wave of defense full of experience and leadership. Seniors Nick Paff and Andrew Spinney will anchor the secondary. Both were second team all GCL performers in 2020. Defensive lineman Samari Freeman is a name to look out for in the trenches. He will be a key cog for the Panthers up front. 

The Panthers are also locked and loaded on the offensive line, returning three starters that helped lead the way to 387 yards per game last year. Jack Conners, Will Singler, and Evan James will make life much easier for all the skill position players in this potent offense. This game will be won in the trenches. 

Both teams will look to make a statement early, and there is no better way to do that than controlling the line of scrimmage. CovCath has to make Elder one-dimensional and take Ramsey out of the game. Make someone else beat you. For the Panthers, stopping the run will be crucial. Force the Colonels to throw the ball and let an inexperienced quarterback make mistakes in a hostile environment. This game will be rough and nasty, but either team wouldn’t want it any other way.

#8 MOELLER AT #10 LAKOTA EAST
Here are two teams coming off years they’d like to forget. The Crusaders finished at 3-6 a year ago while the Thunderhawks hovered at .500, going 4-4. With head coach Mark Elder at the helm, Moeller won two of their last three games, including their first playoff win since 2014. 

They are led by senior tight end Jos Kattus. The Kentucky commit was First Team All-Ohio last year after recording 23 catches, 288 receiving yards and a team high four touchdown receptions. Quarterback Noah Geselbracht returns to take over the reins full time after starting the last five games in 2020. 

The biggest question for Moeller will be replacing key offensive lineman and getting production out of their skill position players. If senior receiver Brandon White can stay healthy, expect him to be a First Team All- GCL performer. 

The Crusaders biggest strength is defensively, specifically in the front seven. Jackson Garret leads the way on the defensive line. The 6-foot-4, 260 pound senior will anchor a line that also returns Chase Brown, a senior with unlimited potential. Senior linebacker Ivan Anderson will also be a focal point of this team. He was a Second Team All-GCL South performer and should take the next step in 2021. 

After finishing 2020 winning four of their last five games, the Thunderhawks look to ride that same momentum going into 2021. This team is loaded with senior leadership and experience and has the ability to shock teams and win a playoff game as well. 

The triple-option offense returns their quarterback TJ Kathman and their best offensive lineman Austin Siereveld. Kathman totaled over 1,400 yards of offense while finding the end zone 13 times last year, while Siereveld  should be a top three offensive lineman in the GMC after being a First Team All-GMC performer as a sophomore. 

The Thunderhawks have a Swiss army knife of their own in Charlie Kenrich, who has spent time as a running back, tight end, and linebacker as a junior. He accounted for over 1,400 yards of total offense, 551 receiving, 853 rushing while finding the endzone eight times. He has DI offers from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and MAC. He is a special player and will be the driving force to this team. 

Seniors Caleb Vanhosser and Nate Rosario-Santos will lead the way defensively, which is an area Lakota East must get better. They allowed 20 or more points in six of their eight games played last year and gave up 312 yards per game last year, seventh in the GMC. 

The key in this game is the Lakota East passing game. Moeller will be ready for the triple-option and as mentioned have the bodies in the trenches to slow it down. Kathman will have to show Moeller that he can connect on throws over the top and make them respect the passing game. 

For Moeller, they must take care of the football! They were turnover prone last year which cost them games they should have won. Look for the Crusaders to run the ball often and set up Noach Gaselbracht for easier throws. Lakota East has to play well in the defensive front seven and have constant eyes on Josh Kattus. This matchup is a true coin flip and will set up one of these teams for a solid bounce back 2021 season.

#17 EAST CENTRAL AT #18 LAWRENCEBURG
The tradition continues between these Indiana powerhouses playing opening night. East Central has dominated this series the past two meetings, winning by a combined score of 64-17. Although if there is any year the tide can change for the Tigers, 2021 is it. 

Returning an abundance of seniors and critical playoff experience, quarterback Garrett Yoon leads the charge for the Tigers. He was Indiana 3A Offensive Player of the Year and TSF Indiana Offensive Player of the Year in 2020. He accounted for more than 3,000 total yards over 40 touchdowns in 2020 as a junior. He takes care of the ball and is the ultimate leader for his team. Expect gaudy numbers yet again for the talented senior. 

The skill position players are loaded with talent. Aiden Gilmour is an athletic freak who plays both offensive and defense and excels at both. He had 11 touchdown receptions while being named the 3A Defensive Player of the Year. Other standouts such as Jayce Bohan (another two-way player) and Jake Pierce along with a hard-nosed offensive line has Lawrenceburg thinking about a state championship. 

Although they have some youth on the defensive front, senior Ashton Craig will play both sides of the ball and help anchor the unit all year. 

For East Central the formula is simple and they stick to it: Run the ball and play suffocating defense. This is a team that will also rely on its seniors in important sports. Hunter Soons is the heart and soul for this team. He will spend time at running back and linebacker. He recorded 557 yards rushing with eight touchdowns, while also being a run clogger on defense as a junior. 

Offensively, replacing Jake Feich and breaking in a new quarterback will be the biggest question for this team. Sophomore Josh Ringer impressed everyone when Feich went down with an injury last year. He ran for 714 yards and scored nine touchdowns in only seven games, and played his best against the strongest competition. If his trajectory continues, he will break records for the Trojans and will be an Offensive Player of the Year candidate for years to come. 

The biggest matchup of this game will be the Lawrenceburg defensive line vs. the Trojan offensive line. If the Tigers can’t contain the running game, this will be another blowout. As good as Yoon and company have been recently, they haven’t been able to muster anything against East Central. The Tigers must come out and make a statement early. Force a turnover, sustain a long touchdown drive, or execute a big special teams play. If East Central comes out hot, this game will be over quickly, but with the Tigers as loaded as they are, anything is possible.

#6 COLERAIN AT  #3 LA SALLE
Two powerhouse programs located about 10 minutes apart from each other do battle once again. The Cardinals streak of 20 consecutive GMC championships finally came to an end last year, finishing behind Lakota West and Princeton. 

Things won’t get any easier for Colerain as they aim to replace key starters such as Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Ohio selection Dontay Corleone and two-way star Freddie Johnson just to name a few. The Cardinals will continue to rely on defense that brings back key pieces in all three facets. First Team All-GMC defensive lineman Temesghen Khasay returns to lead in the trenches, leading tackler Lavert Jarmon returns as well. Senior defensive back Kenny Willis is regarded as one of the best at his position in the entire state. 

Offensively, the train will run through senior running back M.J. Flowers, who ran for 865 yards and scored 14 touchdowns as a junior. Starting quarterback Zae Jennings is raw, but he has unlimited potential. 

This is just the first of several tough contests on tap for La Salle, who’s schedule is one of the 10 hardest in the entire country according to Max Preps. Head coach Pat McLaughlin will have his toughest coaching job to date in 2021. 

Jaylyn Johnson and Devante Smith are off to Ohio State and Alabama and Zac Branam, arguably the most productive quarterback in school history, is off to Navy. The Lancers must also replace leading tacklers Will Heffner and Deago Brumfield, and Arron Byrd who was fourth in the GCL South in sacks a year ago. With all of that being said, this team is not going to go down easily, and will get drastically better each week playing the schedule that they do. 

Gi’Bran Payne is back to 100 percent after being nagged by injuries in 2020. JJ Ruffin returns at linebacker and will be the heart and soul of the defense. 

Turnovers will be the biggest indicator for this game. Quarterbacks are new and inexperienced and both defenses will be fired up and ready to play. The team that can avoid the big mistake will walk out of Lancer Stadium 1-0. This game will be played between the 20s and touchdowns will come at a premium. 

Expect the special teams to be busy and field position to play a massive role in this game as well. Colerain’s secondary outside of Kenny Willis is unproven, so the Lancers can and will test them early and often while making it a key point to get Payne the football. It is no secret the Cardinals will be looking to sustain long drives with the triple option and keep LaSalle’s offense off the field. Something has to give with two teams looking to prove they are still conference title contenders. 

GAME OF THE WEEK
Make sure to check out the COMPLETE PREVIEW for this week’s featured game on the Blitz 5 Tour,  Lakota West at St. Xavier.

Here are some other games for teams ranked inside the Blitz 5 Top 25:

OHIO
No. 20 Anderson at No. 5 Princeton
Trotwood-Madison at No. 7 Winton Woods
No. 9 Fairfield at Centerville
West Clermont at No. 11 Hamilton
Gahanna Lincoln at No. 13 Mason
Loveland at No. 14 Sycamore
No. 15 Kings at Middletown
Oak Hills at No. 16 Turpin
No. 23 Ross at Wilmington

KENTUCKY
No. 19 Dixie Heights at Lloyd
No. 21 Beechwood at Fairdale
Lexington Catholic at No. 22 Ryle

 

 

 

 

 

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