2023 Best Bets: Week 1

We’re finally to the start of the 2023 season! Preseason scrimmages are over, two-a-days are in the rear-view mirror, and teams all across the area are gearing up for the exciting season on tap. 

Week 1 will not be short of any exhilarating matchups. In Butler County, Hamilton and Badin are playing each other for the first time in 23 years in what could be the first ever sell out in Virgil Schwarm Stadium. Another neighborhood battle will be brewing when Colerain travels the 3.9 miles to take on the La Salle Lancers. And across the border, two Indiana powerhouses will face off when the Class 3A state runner-up Lawrenceburg Tigers host the Class 4A champions East Central Trojans.

What can we expect in each of those matchups? Here are this week’s Best Bets.

#9 EAST CENTRAL AT LAWRENCEBURG
These two southeast Indiana juggernauts are no strangers to each other. They’ve played annually in the first game of the season since 2017 with the Trojans coming out victorious every time. The closest the game has ever been since the start of the series was the first meet-up, with the Trojans edging out a narrow 15-14 win.

The Trojans are returning a very stout defense that only gave up 10.3 points per game in their run to the state title a year ago. Led by a pair of experienced linebackers, Brayden Rouse and Dylan Maxwell, East Central form one of the best defenses in the area. It should have no trouble slowing down a formidable Lawrenceburg offense that put up 501 points last season.

East Central’s offense is also bringing back its star power, led by the legs of Josh Ringer, who returns to the Trojans after rushing for 2,368 yards and 39 rushing touchdowns, the latter being a school record. Cole Burton is also back under center after throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers in last year’s season opener.

Lawrenceburg should not be slept on, however. Offensively, the Tigers are returning their biggest playmakers in running back Teagan Bennett and quarterback Logan Ahaus. Defensively, some big pieces from last year’s team that stacked up six straight shutouts in the middle of the season are back. That includes Noah Knigga, who tallied 87 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks on the season.

For both teams, this season opener is a good test for a stretch run to the title game. Can Lawrenceburg continue to build off the momentum of last season’s run to the title game? Will this game help them get over the hump and bring home a trophy down the line? Or is East Central just too good and will continue to dominate in this series?

All of those questions will be answered on Friday night. East Central has the edge but don’t expect a blowout like in years past.

#24 BADIN AT #23 HAMILTON
Sellouts, parades, and big festivities are happening all over Hamilton on Friday night as the city’s two high school football teams clash on the gridiron for the first time in over two decades.

Badin is coming off a 2022 campaign that saw an undefeated regular season before falling in the playoffs to Tippecanoe. The Rams graduated a lot of players from last year’s historic campaign, but some returners at key positions could be the glue that keeps the Badin train rolling in Week 1 and throughout the season. The Rams won its season opener last year 34-3 over Villa Angela-St. Joseph. That won’t be the case this year against a tougher foe in rival Hamilton.

Alex Ritzie is back at quarterback after taking the reins of the offense last year, throwing for 2,637 yards and 26 touchdowns. Two-time All Ohio selection Carson Cheek will be a force on both sides of the ball with the possibility of wrecking the game for the Big Blue. With the defense being the bread and butter under Head Coach Nick Yordy, expect Badin to do a good job of not allowing big plays to a team that scored the third-least amount of points in the GMC in 2022.

Hamilton may be even younger than Badin, with many players that will see increased playing time from last year. Trey Verdon is back, however, and could be a run-stopper and sack machine in this opening night matchup. The junior already has MAC and Power 5 offers.

This game is a long time coming for the City of Hamilton. While it will be festive for the city, it could be ugly on the gridiron. Badin should be the favorite, but you never know in such a heated rivalry.

#11 MILFORD AT #22 EDGEWOOD
A lot of things will look different for Edgewood this year, particularly on their schedule. The Cougars have left the SWOC and will now be competing in the SWBL. One thing that hasn’t changed, however: A Week 1 date with the Milford Eagles.

One thing going for Edgewood? Milford lost star quarterback Austin Hardin to graduation. Hardin threw for well over 300 yards and four touchdowns in last season’s meeting with the Cougars. Junior Luke Brand steps in under center with Hardin’s top target, Reece Davis, back at wideout.

Edgewood as a weapon of their own in running back Braden Sullivan, who amassed over 1,600 all-purpose yards in 2022. Overall, the Cougars boast a veteran squad that could make this game a lot closer than in years past.

While the edge still goes to Milford, Edgewood should be able to keep up and compete. Losing Austin Hardin may set back the Eagles, especially early in the season, but should still be in line to make the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year.

#21 COLERAIN AT #18 LA SALLE
This is one of the most underrated inter-conference rivalries in the Greater Cincinnati area. Despite being regarded as powerhouses with multiple state championships, both teams are looking to rebound after a struggle of a 2022 season that saw the Cardinals finish 4-7 and the Lancers lose nine straight to end the season after starting out 2-0, including a thrilling 17-13 win on the road against the Cardinals.

There’s a new coach in place at Colerain but is that enough to overcome a Lancers team that was incredibly young last year but learned from the experience and now return a bevy of starters? Both teams will be intriguing to watch this season, as will this Week 1 matchup at Lancer Stadium. La Salle is the favorite and should take their third straight from the Cardinals.

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GAME OF THE WEEK
Make sure to check out the COMPLETE PREVIEW for this week’s featured game on the Blitz 5 Tour,  No. 2 Lakota West at No. 4 St. Xavier

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

OHIO
Ben Davis (IN) at No. 1 Moeller

No. 3 Winton Woods at Trotwood-Madison

Pickerington North at No. 5 Elder

No. 6 Princeton at Elyria

No. 7 Fairfield at Wayne

No. 8 Withrow at Walnut Hills

No. 10 Anderson at South Oldham (KY)

No. 13 Lakota East at Centerville

Pleasure Ridge Park (KY) at No. 14 Taft

No. 15 Kings at Sycamore

No. 16 Mount Healthy at Little Miami

Gahanna Lincoln at No. 17 Mason

Loveland at No. 19 Middletown

No. 20 Oak Hills at Turpin

KENTUCKY
Ryle at No. 12 Covington Catholic

No. 25 Beechwood at McNicholas

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