All games Friday, Aug. 28
Lakota East at Lakota West
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Firebird Stadium, West Chester
One of Greater Cincinnati’s top Week 2 games also opens Greater Miami Conference play with both Lakota programs coming off impressive victories. Lakota East rolled past Centerville 41-14 as sophomore quarterback Nile Knutson completed nearly 69% of his passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Lakota West knocked off St. Xavier 20-7 behind Kenyon Norman’s 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns and a defense led by linebacker Judah Blair, who made 13 tackles. East won last year’s rivalry game 42-28, ending West’s five-game winning streak in the series. The Firebirds hold an 18-10 all-time advantage.
Fenwick at Monroe
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Monroe High School
Two teams coming off dramatically different openers meet in an intriguing Butler-Warren County matchup. Monroe gave first-year coach Brad Hunt a 39-6 victory at Loveland, an encouraging start for a program that finished 2-8 last season. Fenwick came within a conversion of forcing overtime in a 28-26 loss to Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. The Falcons now begin a three-game road swing that also includes Franklin and Edgewood. Monroe will try to show its Week 1 offensive breakthrough was more than a one-night occurrence.
Princeton at Middletown
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Barnitz Stadium, Middletown
Middletown gets little time to recover from a difficult opener. The Middies lost 35-3 at Elder and now welcome a Princeton team that vaulted into the Greater Cincinnati spotlight by defeating Moeller 31-24. The Middies’ defense, a strength during last season’s run to the Division I state semifinals, faces an immediate opportunity to rebound against one of the area’s most highly regarded teams.
Meadowdale at Talawanda
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Talawanda High School, Oxford
Talawanda will try to build on an impressive opening performance after going on the road and beating Taylor 33-6. The Brave now return home against a Meadowdale team that edged Independence 8-6 in its opener Saturday. That gives both programs a chance to move to 2-0. Talawanda’s 27-point Week 1 margin was one of the more impressive starts for the future SWBL football program, while Meadowdale showed it can win a low-scoring game.
Miamisburg at Edgewood
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Edgewood High School, Trenton
Edgewood’s demanding nonconference schedule continues with another Division I opponent. The Cougars lost 49-20 at Oak Hills in Matt Root’s debut as head coach and now face a Miamisburg team that overwhelmed Chaminade Julienne 44-14. Root is attempting to restore Edgewood’s traditional physical, Wing-T identity, but the Cougars will need a significant defensive improvement after allowing seven touchdowns in Week 1. Miamisburg arrives having scored the most points of any GWOC team in its opener.
Waynesville at Greeneview
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Greeneview High School, Jamestown
Waynesville takes its first road trip after opening with an attention-getting 20-17 victory over Clinton-Massie. The Spartans have now won seven consecutive home games but will test themselves away from Waynesville against another 1-0 opponent. Greeneview opened with a 35-28 victory over Blanchester. That sets up a matchup between teams that each had to make key plays late in competitive Week 1 games.
Carlisle at Miami East
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Miami East High School, Casstown
Something has to give between two offenses that exploded in Week 1. Carlisle opened with a 43-12 victory over Milton-Union, continuing the momentum of a program that won 10 games last season. Miami East was even more productive in a 48-13 victory over Dayton Christian. Carlisle senior running back Alex Collins remains the centerpiece of an Indians offense after rushing for 1,566 yards last season, and this matchup should provide a much stronger early-season test for both unbeaten teams.
Thurgood Marshall at Ross
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Ross High School
One of these teams will earn its first victory after difficult openers. Ross managed only a field goal in a 28-3 loss at Wyoming, while Thurgood Marshall fell 51-0 to Purcell Marian. Ross coach Kenyon Commins entered the season optimistic about an experienced roster featuring 20 seniors after having only seven last year. The Rams also have worked to diversify their offense under coordinator Eric Geiser, making Friday an opportunity to show progress after being held out of the end zone in Week 1.
Franklin at Valley View
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Niswonger Field, Germantown
The defending SWBL Southwestern Division champion meets the defending Buckeye Division champion with both looking to rebound. Franklin was beaten 41-7 by Butler in its opener, while Valley View fell 37-21 at perennial power Coldwater. Franklin is replacing a 19-player senior class from a team that overcame an 0-5 start to win its division last season. Valley View’s opening assignment was difficult, too, making this an early measuring-stick game between programs accustomed to competing near the top of the league.
Hamilton at Colerain
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Colerain High School
GMC play begins with two programs trying to bounce back. Hamilton lost 33-7 at Badin in the first meeting between those rivals played on Badin’s campus. Colerain fell 30-21 to La Salle. Hamilton coach Arvie Crouch’s Big Blue finished last regular season with three consecutive victories before reaching the playoffs, so avoiding an 0-2 start would be significant. Colerain showed more offensive production in Week 1, but both teams enter their conference opener looking for their first victory.
Oak Hills at Fairfield
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Fairfield Alumni Stadium
Two 1-0 GMC teams meet after scoring a combined 84 points in their openers. Fairfield earned one of the area’s notable Week 1 victories by beating Wayne 35-25, continuing the program’s progress in Justin Roden’s second season. Oak Hills was even more explosive, beating Edgewood 49-20.
Mason at Sycamore
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Sycamore Stadium
Two GMC teams are searching for answers after being shut down offensively in Week 1. Mason lost 33-0 at Springboro, while Sycamore managed only six points in a 34-6 loss at Kings. Mason entered the season with a senior-led roster and high expectations under coach Brian Castner, making the shutout a particularly disappointing start. The Comets and Aviators now have an immediate opportunity to reset as conference play begins.
Lebanon at Loveland
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Loveland High School
Lebanon carries momentum into its first ECC game after opening with a convincing 38-17 victory over Northmont. Loveland is looking for a quick turnaround after Monroe handed the Tigers a 39-6 home loss. Lebanon’s 21-point win was one of the stronger Week 1 results in the area and provides the Warriors an opportunity to begin 2-0 while immediately gaining ground in their conference race. Loveland, meanwhile, needs to stabilize defensively after struggling to contain Monroe.
Little Miami at Turpin
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Turpin High School
Little Miami could hardly have asked for a better start, shutting out South Dearborn 28-0. The Panthers now begin ECC play on the road against a Turpin team coming off a 31-10 loss to McNicholas. Little Miami enters 1-0 after producing the only shutout among this group of Warren County teams in Week 1. The challenge becomes carrying that defensive performance into league play against a Turpin program looking to avoid an 0-2 start.
Kings at Winton Woods
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Winton Woods High School
An early ECC showdown features two teams with very different Week 1 emotions. Kings rolled past Sycamore 34-6, while Winton Woods suffered a 14-13 overtime loss at Springfield. The Warriors’ last four losses have come by a combined 11 points, while Kings arrives with confidence after dominating its opener.
Dixie Heights at Badin
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Matandy SportsPlex, Hamilton
Badin will try to make it two straight victories at home after opening with a 33-7 win over Hamilton in the first Big Blue-Rams meeting played on Badin’s campus. The Rams now welcome a Dixie Heights team that endured a difficult opener, losing 42-13 to Simon Kenton. Badin controlled the line of scrimmage and generated explosive plays against Hamilton, and another strong performance would give the Rams a 2-0 start before the schedule grows increasingly challenging.
Harrison at McNicholas
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: McNicholas High School
Harrison goes on the road looking to establish early momentum against a McNicholas team that already owns an impressive victory. The Rockets opened by defeating Turpin 31-10, showing balance on both sides of the ball. Harrison faces a difficult road assignment against a McNicholas program that reached Week 2 with confidence and already has experience defending an ECC opponent. The Wildcats will need to limit explosive plays and avoid falling behind early.
Springboro at Gahanna Lincoln
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Gahanna Lincoln High School
This is one of the strongest interregional matchups on the Week 2 schedule. Springboro opened with a dominant 33-0 victory over Mason, while Gahanna Lincoln shut down Pickerington Central 35-3. That means the teams enter having outscored their opening opponents 68-3. Springboro’s road trip to central Ohio should provide an early indication of how the Panthers stack up beyond the Dayton-Cincinnati area, while Gahanna has already shown the defensive ability expected from one of central Ohio’s established Division I programs.
Belmont at New Miami
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Mara Field, New Miami
New Miami returns home looking for its first points and first victory after falling 28-0 at Dixie. Belmont comes in 1-0 following a 29-0 shutout of Woodward, creating a difficult assignment for the Vikings. Coach Chris Fogle’s New Miami team needs to find offensive consistency after being blanked in Week 1, while its defense faces a Belmont team that showed it can control a game on both sides of the ball.
Madeira at Madison
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Mohawk Stadium, Madison Township
Madison’s home opener brings a dangerous Madeira team to Mohawk Stadium. The Mohawks showed improvement but fell 20-13 at Preble Shawnee in Week 1, while Madeira erupted for a 47-8 victory over Shroder. Second-year Madison coach Evan Crim is trying to continue rebuilding a program that has leaned heavily on younger players, and slowing Madeira’s offense will be the immediate priority. A victory would give the Mohawks an early sign that their close opening loss represented progress.
