Best Bets: Week 8

Rounding third on a riveting and competitive regular season, we have reached week 8. Teams continue to iron out the kinks as they look to be running on all cylinders come week 11 and hopefully beyond. Some are riding a little higher than others, but we know that can change in a week’s time. Last week was very exciting as Moeller, Cooper, Batavia, and Harrison all picked up wins that kept their strong seasons going in the right direction. The competitiveness will only continue as we come down the home stretch. 

This week several conference games will go a long way in helping determine seeding come the playoffs. St. Xavier and La Salle battle for Northbend Road supremacy. West Clermont looks to make a statement at Winton Woods. Batavia takes on New Richmond, and Middletown and Hamilton clash in Butler County. Bragging rights are definitely on the line.

Week 8 will tell us a lot. Is West Clermont a real threat? Can Middletown win the Butler Bowl on the road? We are four quarters away from knowing. Here are the Best Bets for week 8.

 

#6 ST. XAVIER AT #11 LA SALLE

The Bombers have lost two of their last three games and hope to get back on track with a rivalry win. A week ago their offense was non-existent in a 7-3 loss to Louisville Trinity. Quarterback Chase Herbstreit will be the catalyst if that offense gets back going this week. The senior has thrown for 871 yards and 8 touchdowns while rushing for 438 yards and another 6 scores. Rushing help from Jake Britt and Daniel Vollmer would go a long way in aiding the cause. Can Taylor is the team leader in receptions.

Defensively the Bombers hope to carry over last week’s performance on the road again. Kobe Clapper leads the conference in tackles with 55 and Lucas Bishop leads the conference in interceptions with 3. St. X is giving up 19 PPG however still and will need to be much better in that department to slow down the Lancers and teams beyond.

La Salle is 6-1 and look to be a tough outcome playoff time for any team in division II. The Lancers took a loss to top-ranked Moeller a couple weeks ago but were able to get back to their winning ways last week. Quarterback  Patrick McLaughlin is the engine to the Lancer train. He is the leading rusher in the conference with 462 yards. He has also passed for 493 yards. Isaac Goldschmidt is also a major factor in the run game as he has 369 yards on the ground with 5 touchdowns. When the Lancers look to throw, they often dial up Max Welter who has hauled in 19 receptions for 254 yards.

Defensively is where La Salle really hangs their hat. They lead the conference in scoring defense by only giving up 14.7 PPG and do well against a ground attack. Brady O’Connor leads the team with 49 tackles and Colin Daniels has 3 sacks for the team lead in that department. Take out a 38-point outburst from Moeller and the Lancers have been one of the stingiest defenses in the area through seven weeks.

La Salle is a major player to make a state run in division II but the Bombers have a balanced team that can hurt you in several ways. Bet on St. Xavier to be King of the road this year.

 

#15 WEST CLERMONT AT #4 WINTON WOODS

The Wolves have the league’s top two rushers and will look to impose a physical and tough running game to get themselves a big conference win. Landon Young has rushed for 1,018 yards and 6 touchdowns as the junior has been a major force. Quarterback Bo Rickman isn’t far behind in production with 685 yards on the ground and 11 scores. Caillou Robinson leads the team with six sacks defensively. Julian Hinkston has 50 tackles to lead in that department.

Winton Woods is giving up a staggeringly low 3.6 PPG and have only given up more than six points once this season. The Warriors give up 101 yards receiving and only 36 yards on the ground. The latter number will be tested heavily Friday night against a run heavy unit. Da’Von Cain and Justin Hill each have 6.5 sacks. Offensively the Warriors have done enough to be productive. Isaiah Garrett (381) and Tyler Gooding (323) have rushed the ball well and quarterback Bryshawn Brown has been a leader and playmaker in his second year as a starter.

Winton Woods has all the makings of a championship caliber team and a let up this late in the season doesn’t seem likely. Warriors win big.

 

BATAVIA AT NEW RICHMOND

Batavia has been on a great run offensively as they have been on their winning streak. Carson Harris continues to be a star at the quarterback position. He has thrown for 2,352 yards and loves to connect with a playmaker at wide receiver in Marcus Hughbanks who has 11 touchdowns on the season with 913 yards. Xavier Ison continues to be a threat in the running game for the Bulldogs as well. Vontay Calloway has 44 tackles.

Dylan Wolf leads the conference in rushing for New Richmond. He has 525 yards on the ground and can impose his will on a game. Cohen Manning helps the cause in the backfield with 385 yards. Quarterback Colton Abner has thrown for 1,015 yards and 16 TD. Silas Jacob has 71 tackles to lead the team.

Batavia hasn’t blinked yet in their quest for a conference title and that continues this week. 

 

#21 MIDDLETOWN AT #9 HAMILTON

Jeremiah Landers has been a great player for the Middies as he has thrown for 808 yards and 6 touchdowns. Maximilian Johnson is his favorite target and is the GMC’s leading receiver with 497 yards on 29 receptions. The Middies can be explosive and will need to be against a tough defense. A shootout is in their favor. Amarion Bryant has 7 sacks to lead the defense.

Hamilton is on a four-game win streak and have done so on the back of tailback Gracen Goldsmith. He is the league’s second leading rusher with 879 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s gone over 150 yards in three of his last four games. CJ Bryant leads the defense with 68 tackles and Carter Isaacs has two interceptions both of which went back for touchdowns. 

Hamilton is hot and the Middies are struggling after a great start. In a rivalry anything can happen but bet on Hamilton to get another win at home.

 

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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, #16 Kings at Milford.

 

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

 

OHIO
#2 Lakota West at Oak Hills
#3 Anderson at Walnut Hills
Fairfield at #7 Princeton
Sycamore at #8 Lakota East
Talawanda at #17 Harrison
#19 Badin at Alter

Mariemont at #23 Wyoming

 

KENTUCKY
Scott at #6 Cooper

Campbell County at #12 Ryle

#13 Highlands at Boone County
#14 Covington Catholic at Harrison County

#22 Beechwood at Owen County

 

INDIANA

#18 East Central at Greensburg

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• 
  Preview: #16 Kings at Milford
• 
  Blitz 5 Top 25: Week 8
• 
  Hamilton’s Goldsmith voted POW

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