High School Football News from Cincinnati: Week 8 Recap

The high school football regular season in Cincinnati is nearing its end, and excitement is building as teams race towards the playoffs. Week 8 brought some intense matchups and standout performances across the region.

In Division I, both Moeller and Winton Woods have secured top-eight seeds in Region 4, which guarantees them at least one home playoff game. The Crusaders experienced a deep playoff run last year, reaching the state semifinals as the No. 4 seed. Winton Woods made a significant jump to Division I after being the No. 6 seed in Division II last season. Anderson, having reached the Division II state semifinals this year, is also on track for a top-eight seed, aiming for their second consecutive No. 1 seed in Region 8.

This week, a total of 32 games across Southwest Ohio ended with a margin of victory of 20 points or more. Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana also witnessed 13 games finished with similar wide margins. Among the standout games, the Bombers edged past La Salle 9-0 in an unlikely low-scoring contest, with Owen Davidson kicking a 28-yard field goal and Chase Herbstreit connecting on a touchdown pass to Cameron Taylor to seal the win.

Meanwhile, Batavia continued their strong season, recording a dominant 38-0 victory over New Richmond, bringing their record to 7-1 and placing them in a tie for first in the Southern Buckeye Athletic & Academic Conference-American Division with Clinton-Massie. The two teams will face off next week.

The Cincinnati Lions improved their record to 6-2, claiming a narrow 6-0 victory in their league opener against Shroder in a defensive battle. Griffin Ridner and Brayden Mitchum powered the Eagles to a 35-14 win over Roger Bacon, showcasing their offensive prowess by racking up 428 yards.

Mason’s senior standout had an impressive showing with 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 31-0 win against Colerain. This follows up on a week where he recorded a career-high 244 yards and five touchdowns against Middletown. The Mustangs also shined, notching a 35-0 victory over Holy Cross led by Mandell’s athletic performance.

Defensively, Weimer from Springboro made waves, leading the Greater Western Ohio Conference in tackles, having tallied 97 tackles this season, including 17 in a single game against Fairmont, despite his team falling 24-7.

As the playoffs approach, these final weeks of the season promise to bring more thrilling football action, with teams battling for better positions and aiming for postseason glory.