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Best Bets: Week 6

We have reached week 6 which means we are past the midway point of the regular season and the heat has turned up just a bit more with only four weeks remaining until playoff time. While many teams like where they are so far, there are many more who still have work to do to get in a position to do some damage come postseason. A week ago we saw several statement wins as Lakota West, Anderson, and La Salle all produced blowout wins over their week 5 opponents. Over in Kentucky, Covington Catholic got a statement win over a great Beechwood team. The pressure is undoubtedly on for teams to keep winning and get that momentum flowing at just the right time.

This week features another gauntlet of high-profile games as conference races and rivalries come center stage. We tap into big games across the tri-state that are filled with potential playoff teams looking to improve their standing. In Indiana Lawrenceburg travels west to Batesville for a key conference tilt. GCL South action heats up in Ohio as Moeller heads to La Salle and St. Xavier visits Elder in Price Hill. Across the river in Kentucky, Cooper makes their way to Highlands for an exciting matchup.

What will we make of week 6? Can anyone knock off Moeller? Can Cooper pass yet another test? Just a couple more sleeps until all is found out. Here are the Best Bets for week six.

 

LAWRENCEBURG AT BATESVILLE

Lawrenceburg has won four straight games since an opening night loss to rival East Central. The Tigers have leaned on their rushing attack to control games and win the battle in the trenches. Crue Gilmour (421), Landon Cornett (207), and Isaiah Williams (177) have all been threats in the rushing attack. The play caller Gilmour has also passed for 506 yards and four scores.

Star linebacker Noah Knigga has 45 tackles for a defense that has held three of their five opponents to seven points or less including a shutout of Taylor in week two. The Tigers hope to take those defensive efforts with them on the road against a pass heavy attack. 

Lawrenceburg LB Noah Knigga (photo by Sandy Mahoney / X: @InMotionBysandy)

Batesville also sits at 4-1 with a loss to East Central. They have been led by quarterback Will Jaisle who is completing 56 percent of his passes. He has thrown for 962 yards and 12 touchdowns against 4 interceptions. Jaisle has also rushed for 5 scores on the season. Damien Dance is his favorite target as he has hauled in 29 receptions for 569 yards and 8 touchdowns. Gage Pohlman has anchored the rushing attack with 371 yards on the ground.

Defensively the Bulldogs have been paced by junior Sebastian Hall who has 28 tackles and Dance who has 18. Batesville has made some big plays defensively when they have needed them in key moments which have helped the Bulldogs to win three of their four wins by a touchdown or less.

This one is about whose style will win out and a solid rushing attack is always a good place to start. By controlling the trenches, Lawrenceburg should take on one the road.

#1 MOELLER AT #9 LA SALLE

Moeller bounced back from their first loss last week with a thrilling victory over conference rival St. Xavier. Matt Ponatoski set a school record for passing yards in a career and is only halfway through his junior year. The unquestioned leader of the team, Ponatoski has already thrown for 1,426 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season. A myriad of weapons are all around him in wideouts Jovan Love and Mattew Fogler along with Dante Ware and Tyler Joselyn in the running game.

Defensively Moeller has a ton of talent as well, those that get after the ball on a relentless level. Jacob Cravens and Jonah Hayes lead the team in tackles while Christian Harris paces the unit with four sacks. Ricky Thomas has two interceptions on the season.

Moeller DE Jonah Hayes (photo by: Sandy Mahoney/ X: @InMotionBySandy)

La Salle has been a machine to start the season as the Lancers defense has really stood out through five games. La Salle is holding their opponents to 7.8 PPG and only around 66 yards per game through the air. La Salle has induced a no-fly zone that will need to be special again on Friday night. Brady O’Connor leads the team in tackles and Colin Daniels has two interceptions.

Quarterback Patrick McLaughlin has been the head of the snake in La Salle’s offense. The senior has passed for 366 yards and rushed for another 301 yards on the season. He has made it hard for defenses early on. Ty Brown has been a major player at running back with 207 yards rushing and Max Welter leads the team in receptions. The Lancers average 226 yards per game on the ground and would love to control the tempo in this one to keep Moeller’s offense off of the field.

The Lancers are off to a strong start in 2024, but Moeller seems to be on a different level. Bet on the Crusaders to pull out a comfortable win if they can stop the run.

#4 ST. XAVIER AT #8 ELDER

The Bombers will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss at home against Moeller where they saw themselves make a late comeback that just came up short. Chase Herbstreit has been leaving it all on the line for St. X. The Bombers average just over 30 PPG and Herbstreit’s ability to beat teams with his arm and legs has been a big reason for that. He has passed for 732 yards and 7 TD and rushed for another 397 with 5 scores. Jake Britt and Daniel Vollmer are strong weapons in the backfield and Cam Taylor is a deep threat. The Bombers give up 22 PPG that could bode well for an Elder offense that can be explosive. St. Xavier will lean on Kobe Clapper (37 TKL) to lead the defense.

St. Xavier QB Chase Herbstreit (Photo By: Shelby Frieszell / TriStateFootball.com)

Elder has been a fairly balanced team offensively to start the season. They are the kind of team that can fly under the radar. A home win this week won’t allow that to continue. Kaden Estep has been a nice addition at quarterback. The sophomore has held his own and has passed for 628 yards and six touchdowns. Joey Thamann has been a presence at tailback and Christopher Paff leads the conference in receiving yards with 295 yards. Defensively Cooper Sandhas leads the conference with 39 tackles on a defense that gives up only 12.8 PPG against very solid competition.

This one could go either way but winning at The Pit is no easy task. Elder will make some plays when they need to defensively and pull out a tough home win.

#7 COOPER AT #12 HIGHLANDS

The Cooper Jaguars are undefeated and have been looking like the premiere team in Northern Kentucky. A win this week on the road could bring some reality to that. Cam O’Hara has been special at quarterback and the Jaguars have some of the most talented skill players in the area with the likes of Austin Alexander, Isaiah Johnson, and Keagan Maher. Defensively Alexander and Isaac Brown have been keys to the Jaguars success, and they all have a strong desire to get back to the state title game and finish the job.

Cooper WR Isaiah Johnson (photo by: Chris Granger / X: @regnargc)

Highlands was a state semifinalist a year ago and has aspirations to get a bit further this year as well. The Bluebirds are off to a solid start and have leaned on their leaders to lead the way. OL Max Merz has been a physical presence on both sides of the ball and Max Arnold has done the same with his duties at wide receiver and defensive back. Quarterback Rio Litmer has controlled an explosive offense and can beat you with his arms or his legs. Adam Surrey has been the favorite target in the passing game and the Bluebirds have made plays defensively when they have needed to. They’ll need to have their best game on Friday night.

Look for a ton of offense in this one and whoever gets the ball last may just win on the final possession. The Jaguars are hot and bet on that to continue on Friday night.

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

OHIO
#2 Princeton at #15 Hamilton
#5 Anderson at #17 Milford
#10 Middletown at #13 Lakota East
#21 Badin at Fenwick
#22 Fairfield at #23 Mason
Northwest at #25 Mount Healthy

KENTUCKY
#11 Ryle at Louisville St. Xavier
#14 Covington Catholic at Holmes

INDIANA
#20 East Central at South Dearborn

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