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Preview: Winton Woods at Kings

Kings WR Mike Mussari (Photo by: Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

It doesn’t get much better than this. The tour settles in at Kings for Blitz 5 Game of the Week. The Knights host reigning Division II state champion Winton Woods for sole possession of first place in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and the inside track on the course to an ECC championship.

Bragging rights are to be had in this affair. The visiting Warriors have the area’s longest current winning streak at 15 games. Kings has won 21 consecutive regular season games. The Knights last loss in the regular season was October 1st, 2019.

Both squads have their motives to avenge losses from a year ago. Kings knocked off Winton Woods in Week 3, in the ECC opener. The Warriors got sweet revenge in Round 2 of the playoffs ending the Knights quest for a perfect season and aspirations of the program’s first ever regional title. Emotions are going to be high. This should be one incredible night of football.

#3 WINTON WOODS WARRIORS (6-0, 5-0) at #8 KINGS KNIGHTS (6-0, 5-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., September 30th
Kings Stadium
Follow on Twitter: @TSFootball 

PLAYERS TO WATCH:No one has been hotter than Winton Woods senior running back Trey Cornist who is coming off career bests of 343 yards and six touchdowns rushing against Anderson last Friday. The Georgia Tech commit has run for 343, 148, 151 and 176 yards (204.5/game) with 12 touchdowns rushing in the last four games. He is averaging 16.0 yards/carry in that span. Quarterback Vance George has been very efficient when not handing the ball off to Cornist. The junior has completed 64.3% of his passes with 11 scoring strikes and just two interceptions.

The Warriors have had so many players step up on defense. The secondary is terrific with Ohio State commit Jermaine Matthews Jr., Cincinnati commit Cameron Calhoun and Lorenzo Hudson tightening the screws. Calhoun has 12 career takeaways (11 INT, one FR) and Matthews Jr. has 10 (six INTs, four FRs). Classmate Qierstin Williams leads the team in tackles. Sophomore lineman Delan Massey-Wright has burst onto the scene with team highs of six-and-a-half sacks and eight tackles for losses. Winton Woods has four defensive scores (three IRTD, one FRTD).

The Kings’ offense is fueled by quarterback Will Kocher, the reigning ECC Offensive Player of the Year. The senior has lit up opposing defenses for 1,678 yards passing, 290 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns (20 pass, six rush). He has thrown for two or more touchdowns in 14 of his last 15 games. Kocher’s top target is Mike Mussari. The senior has 30 receptions for 645 yards (21.5/rec) and 11 touchdowns. Over his last 16 starts Mussari has 23 touchdown catches.

The Kings defense has forced 19 turnovers (13 INTs, six FRs) and collected three defensive touchdowns. Junior Paul Kelly leads the team with five interceptions while seniors Brady Wik (three INTs) and Nick Hoying (two FRs, one INT) each have three takeaways. Hoying leads the team with three-and-a half sacks. Classmate Hunter Jones has nine tackles for losses. 

TEAM TRENDS: Winton Woods has won all 15 games during their current winning streak by 10 or more points. This season, the Warriors offense is averaging 49.0 points per game with an average margin victory of 36.7 points. They have not beaten a team with a record above .500. The combined record of the schools that Winton Woods has victories over is 10-26 (.278 winning %).

Kings has yielded just 44 total points. The Knights have beaten six teams that have combined to win 10 games (five of those by Milford). Those schools (yep, you guessed it), are a combined 10-26 (.278 winning %). Kings has an average margin of victory of 35.5 points per contest. The Knights have won 16 straight ECC tilts. 

HEAD COACHES:
Winton Woods: Chad Murphy (19-3 at Winton Woods, second year; 52-61 overall, 11th season)

Kings: Alex Garvin (30-6 at Kings, fourth year; 30-6 overall)

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Winton Woods (13 appearances, 26-11) – 2021 (State Champion), 2020, 2018 (Regional Champion), 2017 (State Runner-up), 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009 (State Champion), 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1998.

Kings (16 appearances, 16-16) – 2021, 2020, 2108, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999 

WINTON WOODS’ KEYS TO VICTORY: Ride Cornist until the Knights prove they can stop him. Clean up sloppy penalties and the offense should be a handful to deal with. Defensively, put pressure on Kocher, force turnovers and pick up some unconditional points. That could break this game wide open.

KINGS’ KEYS TO VICTORY: The Knights need to realize that this isn’t the same Winton Woods they beat in Week 3 or lost to in the playoffs last year. These Warriors are better. That means Kings must play with a tunnel vision of focus and attention to detail. Seven turnovers in two games did not allow us to see the real Kings team versus Winton Woods a year ago. 

Prediction: Winton Woods 35, Kings 21 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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