After this week, the regular season will already be at the halfway point in high school football, and the first half will end in a bang. There are several crucial showdowns Sept. 19 between some of the best teams in Greater Cincinnati, setting up an enjoyable second half of the year.
Our staff is competing with each other and will try to predict the winners of the best games of the week. Picking games are assistant sports editor Melanie Laughman and writers James Weber, Brendan Connelly, Alex Harrison, Shelby Dermer and Chase Souder.
St. Xavier Bombers (4-0) vs. Moeller Crusaders (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at West Clermont
What to watch: There will be plenty of football left for both teams after this one, but this showdown is the game of the year so far in Cincinnati. It’s not only for a big leg up in the Greater Catholic League-South race, but a statement game for pecking order in the Division I, Region 4 playoffs, which Moeller has won each of the past four seasons.
It will be an important opportunity for the Bombers, who have lost six straight to the Crusaders since 2021, including three playoff matchups. Four of the six have been one-score decisions, including 45-37 and 28-23 last season.
The Bombers’ defense is much-improved from the one that allowed those 73 points to Matt Ponatoski and the Crusaders last year. St. X and its defense, stacked with high Division I commits, has allowed only 20 points this season, and an average of 141 yards per game to the opposing offense. The Bombers’ offense has been steady but not overly explosive, averaging 21.5 points per game. Jackson Frey has thrown for 619 yards and eight touchdowns this season, and the Bombers rush for 107 per game.
Since beating Princeton 41-20 in the season opener, the Crusaders have played reigning 2024 state champions the last three weeks. They lost 43-42 in an offensive showcase to Mount Carmel (Chicago), who won 7A, the second-largest school class in Illinois. They defeated Kentucky 6A champion Louisville Trinity, 24-21, then Tennessee Division II-AA (private school) champion Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, 49-28.
Against Mount Carmel, Matt Ponatoski threw for 287 yards and five touchdowns, but the Crusaders allowed 487 yards of offense and the game-winning touchdown at the final horn. Against Trinity, Ponatoski missed time with an injury but rallied the team with 201 passing yards and three touchdowns. In Nashville, he threw for 297 yards and four TDs, and the Crusaders’ defense limited running back Rawls Patterson, who rushed for 336 yards in last year’s state final, to only 78 yards, 60 on one play.
Ponatoski has thrown for 864 yards and 12 touchdowns against zero picks. Reggie Watson and Carson Khayo have been his top targets. The Bombers will have to slow them down.
Picks: Moeller (Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Weber); St. Xavier (Connelly, Souder).
Anderson Raptors (4-0) at Kings Knights (4-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
What to watch: This is for first place in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, as the defending champion Raptors are 3-0, as are the Knights, who won three titles in four years between 2018 and 2021.
Anderson has won three straight over Kings since the Knights won 46-42 in the 2022 playoffs. The Raptors are 32-3 overall since that game, 23-1 in the regular season. They have not missed a beat with junior Owen Scalf taking over as quarterback. Scalf has thrown for 1,309 yards and 11 touchdowns, including 399 last week against Lebanon. Jordan Davis leads the rushing attack with 316 yards and seven TDs. Anderson has outscored foes by an average of 47-8 and allowed only four touchdowns this season to the other offense.
Kings has prospered more on defense, including a 16-14 win over Winton Woods. The Knights allowed only 14 points to Winton Woods despite WW QB Bryshawn Brown throwing for 343 yards, and limited West Clermont to 152 last week in a 31-0 shutout. Grant Nurre has thrown for 707 yards and four touchdowns. The defense will have its toughest challenge yet against the Raptors.
Picks: Anderson (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Lakota East Thunderhawks (3-1) at Princeton Vikings (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
What to watch: This is a key game in the Greater Miami Conference race. The Thunderhawks are one of four teams tied for third place at 2-1 in the league, and Princeton is tied with Middletown for first place at 3-0. Princeton has won the last three meetings, including a 17-16 thriller last year. After defeating the two lowest teams in the league, Colerain and Sycamore, the Vikings posted an emphatic 27-10 win over Lakota West. Lakota East rebounded from a 40-35 loss to Mason with a 31-27 win over Hamilton.
East has had an explosive offense, led by standout running back Ryder Hooks with 693 yards and six touchdowns. New starting QB Nile Knutson has thrown for 966 yards and eight TDs. After giving up 41 to Moeller in the season opener, Princeton has allowed only 10 points on defense in league play, all last week to the Firebirds. The Vikings’ defense will get another big test in the other Lakota team.
Picks: Princeton (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber).
Lakota West Firebirds (2-2) at Fairfield Indians (2-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
What to watch: Both teams are tied for third place at 2-1 in the Greater Miami Conference, one game behind co-leaders Middletown and Princeton. West QB Jackson Smith has thrown for 815 yards and seven touchdowns. Tyson Davis is one of the city’s top receivers with 27 catches for 443 yards and five touchdowns. Fairfield has lost 19-2 to Middletown, then defeated Colerain and Sycamore by a combined score of 72-9. Corrious Booker leads the offense with 262 rushing yards and two scores. West has won the last five in the series, including 50-14 last season.
Picks: Lakota West (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Souder, Laughman, Weber).
Withrow Tigers (4-0) at La Salle Lancers (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
What to watch: The Lancers are 3-1 after losing 16-8 to Elder last week in their Greater Catholic League-South opener. La Salle beat the Tigers 43-19 last year. New QB Avier Carter leads the Lancers’ offense, and Colin Wooldridge leads the defense in tackles and sacks.
Withrow has been dominant, winning by an average score of 40-5. QB Sa’vion Davis and receiver Charles Alexander lead the offense, and Christian Browner the defense.
Both teams played Northmont, with Withrow winning 42-0 and La Salle 31-7.
Picks: La Salle (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Weber), Withrow (Souder).
McNicholas Rockets (2-2) at Purcell Marian Cavaliers (2-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
What to watch: The Rockets blasted off, if you will, to start the season with a win over Turpin before being grounded by Wheelersburg and Ironton. They’re coming off a 26-0 win over former Greater Catholic League-Coed for Roger Bacon and now face a second straight common opponent from years past.
Evan Sandfoss took over the quarterback duties in Week 4 and threw for 124 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Defensive back Zarius Harvey leads the defense with 21 tackles, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and an interception.
Purcell Marian has had similar results, winning its season opener before losing two straight, then rebounding in Week 4. The offense runs through senior quarterback Quindel Phillips, who has 463 passing yards, 375 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns. Junior Navin Heard led the defense in a 22-14 win over Hughes, racking up eight tackles and two forced fumbles. He has 29 total tackles and two fumble recoveries this season.
McNicholas won this game in 2019, the first year Purcell Marian was in the Miami Valley Conference, as well as last year’s matchup.
Picks: McNicholas (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber).
Aiken Falcons (3-1) at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Eagles (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
What to watch: It’s a bird battle on East Kemper Road.
CHCA has been dominant in its three wins, scoring an average of 42 points with an average margin of victory of 38 points. Griffin Ridner Richard has the most passing touchdowns (14) and second-most passing yards (827) in the Miami Valley Conference. The defense has forced 10 fumbles, but has only recovered four, and Max Labin has two of the team’s five interceptions.
With a 36-22 loss to Lloyd Memorial, Aiken missed a chance to go to 4-0 for the first time ever, but the Falcons are still 3-1 for the first time since 2017. A win would do wonders for the Falcons, who don’t have to face Taft and Withrow until Weeks 8 and 9.
Picks: CHCA (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber).
Miami Valley Christian Academy Lions (1-3) at Summit Country Day Silver Knights (2-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
What to watch: Summit Country Day is already showing a marked improvement after combining for five win in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The Silver Knights competed to the very end against Cincinnati Country Day, then got past Clark Montessori and shut out Lockland. One thing they will need to monitor the rest of the season is their rushing defense; they gave up 391 yards on the ground to the St. Bernard-Elmwood Place trio of Lucas Cannady, Demeko Taylor and Nathan Schulte.
MVCA has struggled to get its offense going. The Lions are averaging 136 yards per game and have scored a total of 18 points this season. The one bright spot so far is that four different players have recorded an interception and Hans Erickson has forced three fumbles.
Picks: Summit (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber).
Covington Catholic Colonels (2-2) at Beechwood Tigers (3-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
What to watch: The super intriguing aspect to this matchup is that both quarterbacks are facing their former team. Beechwood’s Emmett Queen, who has already thrown for 795 yards and 10 touchdowns, spent two years at CovCath before transferring two miles up the road. Cash Harney transferred the other direction last year and made a splash in his first season in white and blue, throwing for 1,303 yards, rushing for 1,476, and accounting for 32 total touchdowns.
Beechwood is 3-0 for the fifth consecutive season. The Colonels have rebounded from a 0-2 start for the second straight season. CovCath has won nine of the last 10 matchups and owns an 18-7 advantage since the 1998 season. The previous 10 times the Tigers have won a state title, they’ve lost this matchup in eight of those seasons. The Colonels have beaten Beechwood each of the last three times they’ve gone on to win a title (2006, 2017, 2019). Could the outcome of this game prognosticate playoff success?
Picks: CovCath (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber).
Ryle Raiders (2-2) at Highlands Bluebirds (3-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
What to watch: One of the best games in the Bluegrass this week comes at a crucial time for both teams. Ryle is on a two-game slide after committing four turnovers against Cooper and allowing Christian Academy-Louisville to throw for 394 yards. Highlands is coming off a tough loss to Boyle County in which the Bluebirds picked up just two first downs in the final 20 minutes of the game.
Jacob Savage, a Kentucky Mr. Football candidate, is averaging 84.5 rushing yards per game and has made 35 tackles. The one area that Ryle will look to get going is the passing game. Nathan Verax has thrown for just 441 yards and four touchdowns so far.
Highlands is pretty much the opposite. The Bluebirds’ strength is the run game, which is averaging 163 yards per game behind Gabe Williams, Tayden Lorenzen and Colt Kremer.
Ryle won this game last year, 34-28, thanks to Savage’s walk-off touchdown in overtime.
Picks: Highlands (Dermer, Harrison, Weber); Ryle (Connelly, Laughman, Souder).
Standings
Melanie Laughman: 34-6 (8-2 last week)
James Weber: 33-7 (9-1)
Brendan Connelly: 32-8 (7-3)
Alex Harrison: 32-8 (8-2)
Chase Souder: 30-10 (7-3)
Shelby Dermer: 26-14 (7-3)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Moeller vs. St. Xavier, Anderson at Kings, and other top football games to watch Sept. 19
Reporting by James Weber and Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
