In a flash, we have reached week three of the high school football season. There have been two solid week of football to start the season and week three promises to be just as enticing. This week is full of great matchups that will be looking to top the games that we saw last week. In week two we saw wins from Princeton, Winton Woods, Elder, and Beechwood. These four teams got the job done in dominating fashion. They will look to keep their momentum going as others will look to get back on the right side of things.
Here in week three, we hava a round of interesting games that cross borders and counties around the area. Things will be highly contested as East Central travels to Elder, Lakota East wil look to bounce back when they visit Oak Hills. Simon Kenton will head to Covington Catholic, and Springboro travels south to visit Withrow.
#12 East Central at #2 Elder
The Trojans are off to their typical great start across the border in Indiana. Sitting at 2-0 East Central has gotten the main job done and that is to win games. They have not been as dominant as they have been in recent years but wins are wins. The defense has been particularly strong in their first two outings. The Trojans have only given up six points through two games. Chase McCracken leads the way with 16 tackles and an interception. Troy Sebastian and Jared Cox are close behind with 14 tackles a piece. Offensively the Trojans have leaned on the running game to control games. Colton Bellman has 153 yards and two touchdowns on the season and veteran back Ryan Minges is right behind with 137 yards on the ground.
Elder has made their first two opponents look very pedestrian. The Panthers have outscored their opponents 91-23 through the first two weeks and don’t appear to show any signs of slowing down. The offense has been hitting on all cylinders and the main reason why is the play of quarterback Kaden Estep. He has already thrown for 552 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 253 yards and another two scores. Andrew Lyman has been a tough cover for defenses as he has racked up 13 receptions, 268 yards, and six touchdowns. Brayden Tepe has been the main attraction on defense with 18 tackles and three sacks.
Elder looks to be on another level early in the season. Bet on the Panthers to get it done at home.
#8 Lakota East at #13 Oak Hills
After a strong week one outing, Lakota East went in the other direction in a week two rivalry loss. At 1-1, the Thunderhawks could use a big win to get their confidence back. Nile Knutson has been a steady hand at quarterback to start the season throwing for 575 yards and five touchdowns. Braxton Thurman and Carter Jones provide great weapons for him to throw to and have been impact players. The Thunderhawk defense will need to bounce back on the road and will look for Tra’Vion Bailey to lead the way on that side of the ball as he leads the team with 20 tackles.
Oak Hills is off to a great start and sit at 2-0 on the short season. With a new coach, the Highlanders have continued their program’s growth over the past several seasons. A win on Friday night could put them in a great position to possibly threaten for a league crown if things continue to go their way. Quarterback Lincoln Schreiber leads a three headed monster on offense as he has a major receiving weapon in Cordel Ball who leagues the GMC in receiving yards and has four touchdowns. In the backfield, Anquan Evans is capable of ripping off a long run at any moment and has two scores on the season. The Highlanders pitched a shutout last week at Fairfield. Fletcher Kenkel has 19 tackles and Bentley Earls has 2 interceptions.
Bet on Oak Hills to move to 3-0.
Simon Kenton at #15 Covington Catholic
Simon Kenton is 2-0 and are hoping to be back to their old selves after a rough season last year. The offense has looked good to start the season as the Pioneers have scored 76 points in two weeks. Although the offense has been stellar, the defense may have found some kinks in their armor as they gave up 357 passing yards last week to Western Brown.
Covington Catholic is 1-1 and after hanging fifty points on Ryle, the Colonels gave up fifty against Cincinnati power Elder. The Colonels will be looking to get back on the right side of things this week in their third straight home game to open the season. Dylan Courtney passed for 314 yards and two scores last week in the loss and the Colonels will need production from Kiyan Miller, Owen Pitzer, Jason Fedor, and Evan Link to get the job done on both sides of the ball.
Bet on Covington Catholic to win at home.
Springboro at #10 Withrow
Sitting at 1-1, Springboro has tested themselves with solid out of conference matchups to start the season. They will continue that trend in Hyde Park on Friday night. The offense has been a highligh for the Panthers. Quarterback Max Miller has thrown for 354 yards and rushed for two touchdowns. Brandon Birdsong Jr. has been solid at the running back position and Noah Bilinski leads the GWOC in receiving on the young season so far. The defense has shown signs they can be great but also that they can be exploited. Max Weimer leads them with 18 tackles and two sacks.
Sitting at 2-0, Withrow has outscored its first two opponents by 70 points. Sa’Vion Davis, Dion Clardy, and Charles Alexander Jr. have put in major work on offense over the first two weeks. Defensively Mister Achoe and Tyrone Berry both have an interception to their names. Springboro will be a rise in competition, and the Tigers will need to show that they are ready after two blowout wins.
This one could be a tight ball game, Bet on Withrow at home to win.
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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, Conner at Lloyd Memorial
Here are some other games for teams ranked inside the Blitz 5 Top 25:
OHIO
No. 16 Colerain at No. 1 Princeton
No. 3 Lakota West at No. 21 Mason
Little Miami at No. 6 Anderson
No 10 Middletown at No. 18 Fairfield
KENTUCKY
No. 14 Highlands at Campbell County
No. 23 Ryle at Cooper
