Best Bets: Week 3

Week three has arrived and after two weeks, there are some teams feeling good and others that have to play catch up. Last week we saw many dominant efforts mixed in with a few close ball games that left some teams confident and others a bit down in the dumps. In week two we saw Elder, East Central, Kings, and Anderson all pick up wins and continue on an undefeated path. A couple surprise teams continue to be winless and will need to scratch and claw to stop the bad mojo. We are just heating up and there is still plenty of time for teams to get back on track and time to create more separation and we know that the intensity will continue to be at an all-time high.

This week we continue with an enticing slate of games that are sure to have fans riled up and players ready to take the next step in their season. The Cooper Jaguars visit Ryle in hopes of getting their first win of the season. Hamilton hosts Lakota West in a GMC tilt that could shape the conference race. Badin opens their new stadium against a county rival and Indian Hill travels to New Richmond for a high spirited date on Friday night.

Two weeks down and we’ve learned a lot but what will week three teach us. Can Cooper avoid an 0-3 start against a top team? Is Hamilton a threat in the GMC? Will the Badin Rams continue their early season dominance? Two more sleeps until we find out. Here are the Best Bets for week 3.

#16 Cooper at #7 Ryle

There is a ton of football left to play this season but the Cooper Jaguars would love to get on track with a win this week. An 0-2 start for the back to back state runner-up is something very few expected. The Jaguars have lost to two of the better teams in the area in Anderson (OH) and Highlands. Things don’t get any easier this week. Last week the Jaguars once again struggled on the offensive side of the ball only being able to produce 14 points. Star quarterback Cam O’Hara had just one completion through three quarter of football last week and the Jaguars will need to find some rhythm in the passing game if they want to make another run this season. Running back Keagan Maher was a bright spot as he accounted for all of Cooper’s yards on the ground. He rushed for 133 yards. Defensively the Jaguars improved on their showing in week one but were unable to defend the run at a high level as Highlands rushed for 192 yards on the ground. They’ll need to tighten things in that department to deal with the stout rushing ability of Ryle.

The Raiders are off to a 2-0 start and look poised for another run to state themselves. The Raiders took care on Conner last week and did so with a balanced effort on offense and defense. Defensively Ryle was able to shut down the Conner offense from the outset and they set the tone by stopping the run and getting to the quarterback. Kai Workman was a bright spot as he has seven tackles, a fumble recovery and returned an interception for a touchdown and the Raiders pitched a shutout on that side of the ball by playing fast and aggressive. Ryle allowed less than 100 yards on the night.

Offensively Nathan Vera threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns and Jacob Savage was good in the running game with 68 yards and two more scores on the ground. Savage also scored on a receiving touchdown and Gavin Lyons added seven receptions and a score of his own. Ryle led 31-0 at half and never looked back in the win.

Cooper is a proud program but Ryle so far this season is on another level. Bet on the Raiders to move to 3-0.

#3 Lakota West at #18 Hamilton

Lakota West bounced back from a week one loss to St. Xavier in a big way. The Firebirds played host to Mason and after a semi-slow start, turned on the heat to produce a big win. The West defense picked up their play in the fourth quarter as they shut out the Comets in the final frame. Derrick Edwards led the defense with 13 tackles and Cam Thomas added eight to help the Firebirds clamped down on the Comets offense. Chris Bradley had two interceptions that thwarted any passing attack.

Quarterback Jackson Smith had a great game under center as he was 12/14 for 284 yards and four touchdowns as the Firebirds did heavy damage through the air all game long. He found a plethora of targets, most notably Tyson Davis who had seven receptions, 152 yards, and two scores. Four West players had over 30 yards receiving on the night. Kenyon Norman also caught a receiving touchdown and paced the team on the ground with 54 yards and another touchdown.

Hamilton earned a bounce back win over slumping Sycamore in week two and they did so behind a solid defense and the legs of Andre Bailey on offense. The defense held Sycamore to a mere seven points and 90 total yards for the game as they shut the Aviators offensive attack down early. The defense forced two turnovers as Jayden Lewis had a fumble recovery and Jordan Ash picked off a pass for an interception. The Big Blue were led in tackles by Lewis and Eckley Bridges.

On offense Andre Bailey rushed for 228 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries as he was a workhorse for the visitors. Elijah Jones had six receptions for 105 yard and two touchdowns as he was hard to match for the Aviator secondary. Quarterback Jayden McClain had his best effort on the short season by throwing two touchdowns and having 169 yards through the air. The Big Blue were efficient all night on the offensive side of the ball.

Hamilton is looking for a signature win but bet on Lakota West to continue control of the GMC for now

Edgewood at #17 Badin

Edgewood is coming off of a tough outing against Springboro in which they were shut out by the Panthers. They’ll look to get back on track against Badin in a rivalry game that will get the juices flowing. The Cougars will be looking to put together a complete game for the first time this season in hopes of picking up their first win. Offensively Edgewood has not surpassed 130 yards in either of their first two games and were held under 100 yards by the Panthers last week. They’ll look for Carter Breedlove to make some big throws in their offense in hopes of getting some big plays. Defensively, Edgewood will lean on Quinn Parks and Brady O’Banion to get the Badin offense off of the field.

Badin RB Lem Grayson (photo from: rogerbaconsthletics.org)

Badin used a balanced attack to blowout Dixie Heights in week two and are now 2-0 on the season. Colt Emerson was able to open up the offense by going 12/14 for 201 yards and four touchdowns in the passing game. Lem Grayson paced the running attack by scoring four touchdowns on the ground to go along with 158 yards and Chase Even had another strong outing by rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown. On defense the Rams were stout and physical. A bend but not break attitude saw Dixie Heights move the ball but often without the result of points. The Rams were led in tackles by Trent Owens and Alex Pate.

Badin is on a mission to get back deep into the playoffs and bet on the Rams to stay undefeated this week.

Indian Hill at New Richmond

Indian Hill is averaging over 30 PPG over their first two games and are only giving up seven points per game. The Braves have been led by quarterback Devlan Daniel who has continued as a big-time rusher while switching positions this offseason. Devlan has 194 total yards and three touchdowns so far this season and had a huge passing game last week against Northwest as he threw for 298 yards and three scores as the Knights chose to load the box. Defensively the Braves have been spearheaded by Evan Riggs and a host of other defenders who have stepped in and made tackles. Indian Hill hasn’t given up a first half touchdown yet this season.

New Richmond is coming off of a 28-12 defeat at the hands of Williamsburg. Quarterback Brady Young was 12/26 for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Peyton Abner and Camden Dittman were on the receiving ends of those passes as the passing game was the bright spot in the outing. Braylan Patchell rushed for 68 yards as well. On the defensive side of the ball, New Richmond leaned on Patchell and Landon Ward as they led the team in tackles. New Richmond will be looking to move to 2-1 on the season and stay above .500.

Devlan Daniel is a hard man to stop. Bet on Indian Hill to stay undefeated.

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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, West Clermont at Lebanon

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

OHIO

No. 1 St. Xavier at Cathedral (IN)

No. 2 Moeller at Louisville Trinity

No. 5 Elder at Springboro

No. 9 Lakota East at #23 Mason

Loveland at No. 10 Kings

Milford at No. 11 Winton Woods

No. 13 Taft at Chaminade Julienne