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Best Bets: Week 7

Elder WR/RB Drew Ramsey (Photo by Dan Bieneke/TriStateFootball.com)

As we head into the home stretch of the 2021 regular season, there are still many questions to be answered and numerous conferences with multiple teams jockeying to be crowned champions. This week is all about gut checks for teams that are still looking to cement themselves as contenders. Here are the matchups to look out for in this week’s edition of the Best Bets.

#7 LAKOTA EAST AT # 6 COLERAIN
This game represents what the GMC is all about, pitting two hard-nosed, smash mouth running games. Both teams come into this showdown playing their best ball of the season. The Cardinals have reeled off four straight wins after an 0-2 start and have outscored opponents 114-51 during that stretch. 

Star running back M.J. Flowers has been a big reason for this success. He has run for over 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown in all of their wins this season. Sophomore signal caller Zae Jennings and senior back Amari Shannon have also blossomed. The Cards’ defense has also shown improvement. Since allowing 42 points in Week 2, Colerain has yet to allow a team to score more than 20 points. 

The Thunderhawks enter this contest winners of five straight games. Led by experience and an offense that has been next to impossible to stop, they are averaging over 250 yards per game on the ground and have put up at least 34 points during their recent winning streak. Although they are winning, recently the Thunderhawks have been vulnerable on defense. Two of their last three opponents ran for over 200 yards and overall this team has allowed 21 or more points in four of their six games played. 

The Cardinals are winning, but have also played some inferior competition. East has the record and passed the eyeball test on offense, but can’t stop the run and the Cardinals and their best players are peaking. This game will be quick and will be won at the line of scrimmage. The turnover battle could ultimately tell the biggest story. Which team will ride their momentum harder? Many questions will be answered in this game.

#3 MOELLER AT #8 ELDER
As GCL South play continues, here are two programs going in opposite directions. Coming off arguably their best win in two years, the Crusaders are 5-1 and feeling good about themselves. The tides are changing and head coach Mark Elder has this team playing well. 

Senior Noah Geselbracht returned in a big way after missing multiple games. He was 24/35 for 311 yards, three touchdowns and zero turnovers. Seven different Crusaders had a reception, and sophomore running back Jordan Marshall has solidified the ground game for years to come. The defense held La Salle to under 300 total yards in Week 6 and kept Gi’Bran Payne under 100 yards. 

What was supposed to be a potent Panthers’ offense has gone stagnant, a once promising defense now can’t stop anybody, and their star players at key positions aren’t contributing enough. Losers of three in a row and four of their last five, Elder has been outscored 159-59 in their losses. Senior quarterback Ben Hambleton has seven passing touchdowns, but also thrown seven interceptions. Drew Ramsey only has over 100 scrimmage yards in three games this season. 

Elder struggles against the pass and the run and the Crusaders will look to take advantage of that. Moeller will look to use their speed on the perimeter to get big chunk plays. This is a GCL South matchup and Elder is a proud program so never say never, but this is a massive hill to climb and it looks to get worse before it gets any better.

#10 WINTON WOODS AT ANDERSON
Two ECC giants with clashing styles are looking to gain ground in the conference standings. For Anderson, their formula is simple and their tendencies are clear. They are a passing football team led by signal caller Griffin Scalf and superstar wideout Joey Faulkner. Both are having career years and expect them to continue scoring points and getting chunk plays. 

The problem is the Raptors have struggled beating the quality teams on their schedule and the defense is shaky at best. In their two losses against high level teams (Princeton and Kings) they allowed 93 points and over 1,000 yards of total offense. Unfortunately, they run into a Warrior team that is now playing their best offense of the season and have a stifling defense. 

Tyreke Spikes has now found his groove and his hitting home runs on offense and on special teams. The Warriors are going to continue running the football and will look to keep the high-octane Anderson offense on the sideline. The Warriors’ defense has been one of the most impressive units in the Tri-State area as they haven’t allowed a team to score more than 14 points this season. 

This game has Warriors written all over it due to their best traits being things Anderson struggles with. However, with an offense that is built to score and capable of playing from behind, they are never a team you can count out. Anderson has a lot to prove with a massive chip on their shoulders, we will see if they have what it takes to bat the reigning conference champs.

#12 BEECHWOOD AT DIXIE HEIGHTS
It is clear by now that Beechwood is the best team in Northern Kentucky and once again favorites to win the state championship. After throttling CovCath 27-7, the Tigers had last week off and will now play three straight road games, including the team that beat them last year, Dixie Heights. Noel Rash’s bunch will look to finish their mini revenge tour on the teams they lost too just a year ago. 

Dixie Heights comes into this game with a 3-2 record, but overall a very inconsistent football team. Win a game, lose a game, lather, rinse, and repeat. In their victories the offense moves the ball and the Colonels score points. They average 37 points in those wins and only nine points per game in their losses. The defense has also been very inconsistent especially as of late, allowing 20 points or more in each of their last three games. 

Overall, Beechwood seems to be a team of destiny and dominance yet again. They are dripping with experience on offense and defense. Quarterback Cam Hergott, who is a fifth-year senior, is one of the best players in the entire area. 

For Dixie Heights to have any chance at winning this game, they have to throw the first punch and force some turnovers. The Colonels have to start the game hot and ride that wave throughout the game. If they let The Tigers get comfortable running the football and flying around on defense, this game could be over by halftime. The Tigers have last season’s loss to the Colonels in mind and with two weeks to prepare they will be out for blood.

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

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

OHIO
Louisville Trinity at No. 1 St. Xavier
Fairfield at No. 2 Lakota West
Indianapolis Cathedral at No. 4 La Salle
No. 5 Princeton at Middletown
West Clermont at No. 9 Kings
Oak Hills at No. 17 Hamilton
No. 18 Turpin at Lebanon
Alter at No. 19 Badin
Taylor at No. 20 Wyoming
Talawanda at No. 21 Ross
No. 22 McNicholas at Fenwick
Little Miami at No. 25 Milford

KENTUCKY
Boone County at No. 15 Covington Catholic
Louisville St. Xavier at No. 23 Ryle

INDIANA
Connersville at No. 11 East Central
No. 24 Lawrenceburg at Rushville

 

 

 

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