Best Bets: Week 7

We have reached Week 7 of the high school football season. After six weeks, there is still some uncertainty about just how serious some teams are and who can throw a kink into what we think we know.

Whatever the case may be, there are still four regular season games left on the schedule and plenty of movement can be made as we head toward the playoffs. What we do know is that every team has to bring its best every week if it wants to win.

Last week, Princeton aced a road test with a win at Lakota East. Lebanon and St. Xavier did the same with road wins over Kings and Elder. In the CHL, Deer Park continued to show its explosiveness with a home win over Madeira.

Week 7 will have its own fireworks as Talawanda visits unbeaten #25 Northwest, #2 Lakota West heads north to #9 Middletown, #5 Elder and #3 Moeller clash at Welcome Stadium and Withrow travels to #12 La Salle.

Time to see who’s ready to play. Here are the Best Bets for Week 7.

Talawanda at #25 Northwest

Flipping the script from a season ago, the Brave have been a pass-heavy team in 2026. They enter at 5-1, and quarterback Jake Van Gorden has thrown for 1,141 yards and nine touchdowns through six games. The sophomore is completing 71 percent of his passes while leading the offense.

Camar Ellis and Joey Beckett have been his top two targets, and Van Gorden likes to find them often. Oliver Bennett leads the team in rushing, while Kemper McAfee is the team’s leading tackler with 29.

Northwest sits at 6-0 and has allowed just 52 points all season. This will be the Knights’ toughest test to date, but they look more than up for the challenge.

Quarterback Jaylen Lilly has been a bright spot, passing for 479 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 666 yards and nine more scores. The senior has been a major dual-threat weapon. Ethan Dixon has added 631 rushing yards and four touchdowns to bolster the ground attack.

This one has the makings of a classic. Bet on Talawanda to sneak one out.

#2 Lakota West at #9 Middletown

The Firebirds have an explosive unit that can hang with and beat anyone in the area, and possibly beyond. West is 5-1 and coming off a drubbing of Fairfield last week. Kenyon Norman leads the GMC with 1,036 rushing yards through six weeks to go along with 16 touchdowns. A big game from Norman usually means a big win for West. Defensively, Roman Combs and Judah Blair are two of the best defenders in the state of Ohio.

Lakota West RB Kenyon Norman (photo by: Mike Noyes / TriStateFootball.com)

Middletown is off to a 4-2 start and has won four straight after dropping its first two games. The Middies step back into high-level competition this week at home.

Kolby Morgerson has been ruled out by the OHSAA, leaving the Middies to keep the ball in the hands of Gavin Nolan, who threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns last week. Defense and the running game will be huge for Middletown going forward. Players like Memphis Driscol, Julius Reed, Cris’Shaun Smith and DJ Bryant will be critical if the Middies want to make another deep playoff run.

Bet on Lakota West to keep the ball rolling.

#5 Elder vs #3 Moeller (Welcome Stadium)

Elder is coming off an upset loss at home to rival St. Xavier. The Panthers’ stingy defense was finally outplayed to the tune of 31 points as Elder fell by two.

The offense was potent as usual. Kaden Estep led the team in passing and rushing, as he has all season, while Andrew Lyman caught another touchdown pass after being ruled eligible to return to play. The Panthers will be looking to bounce back and grab a share of the GCL South crown. Pete Fortkamp and company on defense will need a bounce-back effort in this showdown.

Moeller is looking to win the league outright with a 3-0 record. The Crusaders are 4-2 and quietly becoming a team no one will want to see in the postseason.

Hunter McLaughlin has stabilized the Moeller offense since taking over the full-time duties. Through four weeks, he has thrown for 742 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. Juice Glover-Brown has been a steady presence at running back, while Reggie Watson is tough to cover in the passing game. In their four wins, the Crusaders have allowed just 50 total points.

Expect a back-and-forth affair. Bet on Elder to bounce back.

Withrow at #12 La Salle

Withrow and La Salle have played two of the toughest schedules in the area, and they will clash Friday night.

Both teams will look to establish the run and give their athletes opportunities to make the plays needed to win. In this one, the defense that steps up to the challenge could be the difference.

The Lancers have shown an ability to play well defensively at times, while Withrow has been competitive in every game it has played this season. This should be a close ball game.

Bet on La Salle to do enough to get the win.

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