The high school football season starts with a bang this week, when two of the city’s best Division I teams, Moeller and Princeton, face off Aug. 20 at Paycor Stadium.
That game should show off the abundance of talent Cincinnati has in Ohio Division I, as well as Division II, when 2025 state runner-up Anderson hosts Kentucky 6A state champion Louisville Trinity Aug. 21.
Cincinnati has had the Division I and II state runner-up the last two seasons, and the new year should bring another group of strong contenders for the crowns. Here is a look at the key questions surrounding Southwest Ohio’s biggest schools. Southeast Indiana and Northern Kentucky’s programs will be previewed in separate articles.
Who wins the GCL-South and contends for a state championship?
The Greater Catholic League-South has always been a fascinating story for high school football fans. The league has sent a team to the Division I state finals each of the last two years, with Moeller and St. Xavier losing in the championship game.
Last year’s season had a lot of compelling stories for GCL-South teams. Elder posted its first 10-0 regular season since 1991. St. Xavier struggled at times during the season, losing to Elder and Moeller in consecutive weeks, but the Bombers went to the state finals after beating both of them in close games, also in consecutive weeks.
All three Division I teams in the league have reasons for optimism in 2026. St. X graduated some key playmakers on both sides of the ball but have some key college prospects returning, including Ethan Cole and Logan Von Holle on offense, and Josh Fasbender and Griffin Lyons on defense. Von Holle was a key player in St. X’s state baseball championship in June.
Moeller must move on from the Matt Ponatoski era after the former Mr. Football graduated after a record-setting career and moved on to the University of Kentucky. Highly ranked sophomore Hunter McLaughlin takes over at quarterback, and the Crusaders have multiple Division I commits on both sides of the ball.
Elder returns one of the city’s best quarterbacks in Miami RedHawks commit Kaden Estep, a third-year starter. Elder returns seven all-league selections including two of the team’s top tacklers from 2025 and key anchors from both lines.
Of course, all three have brutal schedules when they’re not playing each other, with league games beginning in Week 5.
Can Middletown get back to the state semifinals?
Middletown had a season for the ages in 2025. After finishing second in the Greater Miami Conference, the Middies rolled through the Region 2 tournament and lost to Region 4 champion St. Xavier in the state semifinals.
Under realignment, Middletown is back in Region 4 this season with the rest of Cincinnati, as are Lebanon and Springboro.
Middletown graduated 12 all-league selections including three All-Ohio picks on defense. But the Middies will be tough up front this fall with Jaiden Davis anchoring the line. Davis is a top 40 player in Ohio for the Class of 2027 with several Division I offers. Demetrian James led the Middies on the ground with 646 yards and seven touchdowns last season and should be a key player on offense.
Middletown will have a tough slate to open the season, playing at Elder in The Pit in week one then starting GMC play at home against Princeton.
Can Princeton win the GMC and beyond with its key transfers?
Princeton won the Greater Miami Conference last year and was 9-3 overall without having consistent offensive production or much of a passing game. The Vikings managed to beat Winton Woods in the playoffs with 124 total yards of offense, then nearly upset Elder with less than 200 yards of offense on the strength of explosive plays on special teams and defense.
The Vikings should be more explosive on offense after top quarterback prospect and Michigan commit Monsanna Torbert transferred in from Taft. Versatile athlete and DI prospect Lorenzo McMullen Jr. and Wyoming transfer Josiah Gault should give defense problems all season. Defensively, Kentucky commit Jaylen Mercer transferred from Winton Woods and defensive lineman Terrance Jones was all-state last year. Senior linebacker Derrick Jeffries is coming off a 100-tackle season.
Of course, winning the GMC won’t be easy as the league should be as deep as ever with Middletown, perennial contender Lakota West and Lakota East all leading the pack as they battle for rankings and seeding in the playoffs as well.
Princeton will get an immediate test on how it stands by playing Moeller Aug. 20 at Paycor Stadium, then starts GMC play at Middletown Aug. 28.
Can Colerain keep improving under Jordan Stevens?
Colerain has not had a winning season since 2020, when the Cardinals’ 21-year streak of winning at least a share of the Greater Miami Conference championship ended.
Colerain broke a 27-game losing streak last year, finishing 1-9 in Jordan Stevens’ first season as head coach. He has several key players returning this year, including Division I recruit Roman Garr, who threw for 1,938 yards at QB. The Cardinals bring back several key pieces on offense, including his top four receivers. That group is headlined by second-team all-league selection DeSean Flagg Jr., who had 32 catches for 616 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. Trey Smith, Aaron Jacobs and Tariq Evans Jr. combined for 69 receptions and 980 yards last season.
The Cardinals get a key test right away, hosting La Salle in week one before facing Hamilton to open the GMC campaign Aug. 28.
Can Springboro win the GWOC title?
Springboro has not won a Greater Western Ohio Conference title since 2019, when the Panthers finished 9-2. The Panthers narrowly missed out on a share of the title last year, finishing a game behind Springfield after a 14-7 loss to that team. Springboro, 7-4 last year, returns standout QB Max Miller (2,347 yards, 18 TDs) and receiver Noah Bilinski (84 catches, 1,082 yards, 9 TDs). The Panthers lost their top two tacklers last year but return some key playmakers on that side of the ball. The league is tough including highly talented squads Wayne and Springfield.
Can Anderson win that elusive Division II state championship?
Anderson is 29-2 the last two seasons, with the only losses coming to Avon in the Division II state title game in Canton.
The Raptors seem to have the pieces to make another run to Canton. The offense should be explosive once again, with senior quarterback Owen Scalf and a bevy of returning targets including receiver Tysin Weaver and running back Jordan Davis. The defense should be strong again led by top DI prospects Ace Alston and Antwoine Higgins.
The road won’t be easy. Region 8 is full of landmines, as is the landscape in the rest of the state. Avon and other state contenders Anderson could meet in the Final Four look to be as strong as they were last year, if not stronger, including Sunbury Big Walnut, Akron Hoban and Massillon Washington.
Can someone else knock off Anderson in the playoffs?
La Salle has struggled to keep up with its bigger Greater Catholic League-South rivals in recent years. But the last two seasons, the Lancers have battled Anderson to a one-score decision in the Division II playoffs. La Salle lost some key pieces but have been able to effectively reload under Pat McLaughlin.
Badin, 10-2 last season, moves up from Division III. The Rams lost a lot from their offense but always tend to be dangerous in the postseason.
Ross and Talawanda also moved up from Division III. Talawanda was 9-1 in the regular season as it begins life without standout running back Lance Cantrell. Withrow and Harrison should be strong again, as well as Anderson’s league foes Kings, Loveland and Turpin.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here are some questions for Southwest Ohio’s big-school football teams
Reporting by James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
