Wayne wins defensive battle; Ponitz celebrates best season ever; Dunbar Belmont epic matchup; Top 5 Matchups of Week 10;

THURSDAY RECAP  

Wayne pulls out defensive battle vs Trotwood on Senior night
  The Wayne Train didn't really gather full steam on Thursday Night Lights, but did do enough to defeat Trotwood 17-6 at Heidkamp Stadium in a battle of 2 of the heavyweights in HS Football in Ohio.
   Senior WR Trew Davis hauled in 5 passes with a spectacular TD, RB Fred Pitts ran for another and the Wayne defense stifled Trotwood in the 2nd half to hold on to the win against a game Rams squad.

Senior WR Trew Davis scores TD as Wayne defeats Trotwood 17-6 (courtesy of Image Jock)

With the game being on National TV, there was no shortage of drama. Early on.

   Trotwood looked as if they would get on track first, as star RB Raveion Hargrove seemingly pulled in a TD grab for a 6-0 lead. However, the call was overturned, and the Rams would not score.


   Trotwood would score on its next possession to cut it to 7-6, but only after the Trew Davis TD put Wayne on the board first.
  Pitts then came through with another TD, in which put Wayne up 14-6.

The Wayne defense was rock solid and able to stop Hargrove and Stephens Peppers from any serious threat after halftime.
  While some will say that Trotwood was cheated, the fact is that the Warriors D shut down the Rams offense in the second half after the Rams had showed that they could move the ball early.

    Trotwood star LBs James Parker and Mikey'ion Hunter both had 10 tackles while DB Kobe Vinegar had 11 and was able to stifle the Wayne Train passing game.

 
  While Trotwood didn't win, they did serve notice that they could be headed for a deep run come playoff time.

 Wayne knows they didn't play their best ball, but still was able to pull out a tough win against a state type of opponent going into playoffs.




Ponitz  secures best season in history

  Ponitz shut out Cincy College Prep Academy 33-0 to run their record to 7-3, their best record in Panthers history. Coach Jim Place and the coaching staff did a excellent job to get the team to the next level.
 Ponitz was ahead 33-0 at half, and the clock was running from the start of the 2nd half.
While Ponitz needs some major help to get into playoffs, they have nothing to hold their head about, as the only teams they lost to was Belmont, Dunbar and Taft. 3 teams, who all are in playoff contention.
 Salute to the Panthers, and look for Place and the Panthers to contend for a SWOPL Championship next year.
 Led by D'Edgar Cooks, Xavier Henry, Isiah Gordon, and star RB Jamil Freeman, the Panthers showed explosiveness this season unlike any other.
 


FRIDAY GAMES

Can Belmont and coach White stop Dunbar and get to playoffs?

Top 5 Games of Week 10;  Playoff Implications

With the playoffs starting next week, here are our Top 5 Games of  Week 10;

(1) Belmont    @    Dunbar    
In what will be the game of the night, everything is on the line for Belmont. The Bisons strategy is simple; win and get into the OHSAA playoffs for the second consecutive year. Belmont will have to beat a team who is playing at a very high level and has a lot of confidence in their squad in Dunbar. The Wolverines have knocked down every obstacle this season, sans 1, so can they send the Bison packing? Or will Coach Earl White, Elijah Malcolm and the Bison get it done?

                Listen to Coach Darran Powell talk about his team, playoffs, Belmont and more:

(2)  Troy   @  Piqua  

  Can Troy knock off their rival in a game Piqua must have to get into playoffs? Troy already has a berth, and it will be interesting to see how they play it. With all everything RB Darien Tipps Clemons out, Piqua has used the "Next Man Up" Philosophy to stay in the playoff race. Can Piqua get it done on Senior night? Or will Troy spoil the party?

(3) Alter    @  C-J 

  C-J  has taken what looked like a early season to the dumps, and turned it into what could be a magical one. After starting 0-2, they have won 6 of 7 and now sit in a spot where if they win, they will make the playoffs. Only one problem, as the state ranked Alter Knights have made a living of ruining the Eagles season in the last game. With a new stadium, Senior night, and a charged up Eagles team? Should be a great contest tonight for these 2 GCL studs.

(4)  Springboro  @  Lebanon 
Can Springboro continue its roller coaster of a season with a win that would get them into the playoffs? They have a chance with a win over a already tourney bound Lebanon team. The Boro knows that they have to put it all together tonight, or else the season will be over.

(5) Fairmont   @  Springfield  

 Can "The Field" clinch a playoff berth? If they can get past a pesky Fairmont team, then they will do just that. After losing a tough one to Wayne, now they will get a less than average Firebirds team, and nonetheless, on Senior night. Look for all-everything player Danny Davis to show out with a chance to get to the playoffs on the line tonight.

Wayne shuts down Springfield and twitter beef; Dunbar earns playoff berth; Thurgood, Ponitz, earn Ws

Here's the lowdown on Week 9 and what happened in some of the big games around the Miami Valley:

Dunbar RB Tavion Thomas powers Wolverines past Taft to playoff berth

Wayne stops Springfield - 
 Wayne once again showed that when the chips are down, they still are the premier team in the Miami Valley as they were able to win @ Springfield in a nationally televised game 38-14.
  Wayne Train star RB Fred Pitts dominated along with the O-Line, as he ran for 202 yards and 2 TDs, & the Warriors dominated in the trenches on both sides.

Star RB Fred Pitts making waves for the Wayne Train 

After the game, Wildcats coach Maurice Douglass admitted that Wayne had controlled the line of scrimmage. While he feels his squad is close, they were not quite to the level they needed to be to defeat Wayne in a national game. While he was pleased with the effort, he still hopes for his team to get better.
   Leading up to the game there was some twitter and social media beefing  in which the Cats and the Warriors went at it. At the end of the day, the twitter fingers took the field, and a game was played, and it was the Warriors who got the last laugh.

  Wayne now moves to 8-0-1 while Springfield falls to 6-3. The Wildcats, with a win, could still get into the OHSAA playoffs.  Wayne, ranked 2nd in the state, hopes to get a 1st round home playoff game.




 Dunbar exacts revenge, garners playoff berth
    Dunbar wanted to show anybody who will listen that they are ready for anybody. And knowing that Cincy Taft was the one team that stood in their way, and with the SWOPL championship berth and playoff implications on the line?
  The Wolverines know their time is now, and Dunbar once again seized the moment, scoring early and often as they turned the expected battle into a rout 42-12.
 The Wolverines were led by Junior QB Jamar Walker  & Senior 2 way star Keyshawn Jones. 
Walker threw for 4 TDs on the day, 2 of them long TDs to Jones in the 1st half, as the Wolverines went up 30-0 at half.

And the rout was on.

With the win, Dunbar has clinched a playoff berth for the first time in 6 years.  Dunbar moves to 8-1 while Taft falls to 6-3. Taft was in position to make the playoffs but will have to win and hope for help now.



C-J wins again, preps for Alter 
   C-J trampled over Badin to move 1 step closer to a playoff berth. The Eagles now move to 6-3, & with a win over Alter, could reach the playoffs after starting 0-2.

Star QB DariJuan Stroud leading the Cougars to a W

Thurgood handles Meadowdale  
 Thurgood was able to handle Meadowdale in a huge city battle 34-7. Coach Brian Carter has led his troops to a 4-5 record as they head into last game. Star QB Darion Stroud led the Cougars to another big win, as the  Cougars have had their share of big Ws this season. Meadowdale falls to 3-6.

Can Ponitz get to playoffs? (6-3) 

Ponitz sets record for wins   
  Ponitz continues to set records this season, as the Panthers defeated Cincy Gamble Montessori this season. The Panthers were led by D'Edgar Cooks, who was unstoppable.
 Coach Jim Place has taken the Panthers and now have them at 6-3. If the Panthers weren't D-3,  they'd be playing for a playoff spot. They need some help, but there's still a outside chance they can get in.



Northmont upsets the "Boro"  
 Nothmont delivered a tough loss to Springboro as they rode star RB Devin Kenerly 4 TDS - 2 in the 4th quarter, as the Bolts won 32-20. Springboro was ahead 20-19 going into 4th, but Northmont took control for the win. Northmont moves to 4-5 while Springboro falls to 6-3, & now must win and get a little help to make playoffs.



Trotwood cruises, ready for Wayne  
 Trotwood smacked down Xenia 49-14  in a "Trap Game" for the Rams.
QB Markell Stephens Peppers led the way with 3 TDs, as the Rams now ready for a huge GWOC match-up with Wayne this week. The Rams have won 8 straight since Week 1 loss.



Miamisburg moves 1 win away from playoffs  
 Miamisburg continue its strong play with hey easy win over Beavercreek 28 - 7.  3 TD  runs by Clark & 100 yards running by Netherton basically sealed the deal as the O-Line dominated for the Burg. Miamisburg moves to 7-2 & in good playoff position.



Lebanon secures win 
  Lebanon basically secured a playoff berth as they ran over Stebbins 41-14. Star QB Dakota Allen  went ham on Stebbins with 5-TDs, as the Warriors moved to 7-2 on the season.



Franklin throws up 66 on Oakwood
 Franklin continued it's dream season with a big time win over Oakwood 66-48. The Wildcats are 9-0 & will look to go undefeated and ready for a playoff berth.  Franklin star RB. Ryan Montgomery scored 5 times.

Wayne shuts down Springfield and twitter beef; Dunbar earns playoff berth; Thurgood, Ponitz, earn Ws

Here's the lowdown on Week 9 and what happened in some of the big games around the Miami Valley:

Dunbar RB Tavion Thomas powers Wolverines past Taft to playoff berth

Wayne stops Springfield - 
 Wayne once again showed that when the chips are down, they still are the premier team in the Miami Valley as they were able to win @ Springfield in a nationally televised game 38-14.
  Wayne Train star RB Fred Pitts dominated along with the O-Line, as he ran for 202 yards and 2 TDs, & the Warriors dominated in the trenches on both sides.

Star RB Fred Pitts making waves for the Wayne Train 

After the game, Wildcats coach Maurice Douglass admitted that Wayne had controlled the line of scrimmage. While he feels his squad is close, they were not quite to the level they needed to be to defeat Wayne in a national game. While he was pleased with the effort, he still hopes for his team to get better.
   Leading up to the game there was some twitter and social media beefing  in which the Cats and the Warriors went at it. At the end of the day, the twitter fingers took the field, and a game was played, and it was the Warriors who got the last laugh.

  Wayne now moves to 8-0-1 while Springfield falls to 6-3. The Wildcats, with a win, could still get into the OHSAA playoffs.  Wayne, ranked 2nd in the state, hopes to get a 1st round home playoff game.




 Dunbar exacts revenge, garners playoff berth
    Dunbar wanted to show anybody who will listen that they are ready for anybody. And knowing that Cincy Taft was the one team that stood in their way, and with the SWOPL championship berth and playoff implications on the line?
  The Wolverines know their time is now, and Dunbar once again seized the moment, scoring early and often as they turned the expected battle into a rout 42-12.
 The Wolverines were led by Junior QB Jamar Walker  & Senior 2 way star Keyshawn Jones. 
Walker threw for 4 TDs on the day, 2 of them long TDs to Jones in the 1st half, as the Wolverines went up 30-0 at half.

And the rout was on.

With the win, Dunbar has clinched a playoff berth for the first time in over 20 years.  Dunbar moves to 8-1 while Taft falls to 6-3. Taft was in position to make the playoffs but will have to win and hope for help now.



C-J wins again, preps for Alter 
   C-J trampled over Badin to move 1 step closer to a playoff berth. The Eagles now move to 6-3, & with a win over Alter, could reach the playoffs after starting 0-2.

Star QB DariJuan Stroud leading the Cougars to a W

Thurgood handles Meadowdale  
 Thurgood was able to handle Meadowdale in a huge city battle 34-7. Coach Brian Carter has led his troops to a 4-5 record as they head into last game. Star QB Darion Stroud led the Cougars to another big win, as the  Cougars have had their share of big Ws this season. Meadowdale falls to 3-6.

Can Ponitz get to playoffs? (6-3) 

Ponitz sets record for wins   
  Ponitz continues to set records this season, as the Panthers defeated Cincy Gamble Montessori this season. The Panthers were led by D'Edgar Cooks, who was unstoppable.
 Coach Jim Place has taken the Panthers and now have them at 6-3. If the Panthers weren't D-3,  they'd be playing for a playoff spot. They need some help, but there's still a outside chance they can get in.



Northmont upsets the "Boro"  
 Nothmont delivered a tough loss to Springboro as they rode star RB Devin Kenerly 4 TDS - 2 in the 4th quarter, as the Bolts won 32-20. Springboro was ahead 20-19 going into 4th, but Northmont took control for the win. Northmont moves to 4-5 while Springboro falls to 6-3, & now must win and get a little help to make playoffs.



Trotwood cruises, ready for Wayne  
 Trotwood smacked down Xenia 49-14  in a "Trap Game" for the Rams.
QB Markell Stephens Peppers led the way with 3 TDs, as the Rams now ready for a huge GWOC match-up with Wayne this week. The Rams have won 8 straight since Week 1 loss.



Miamisburg moves 1 win away from playoffs  
 Miamisburg continue its strong play with hey easy win over Beavercreek 28 - 7.  3 TD  runs by Clark & 100 yards running by Netherton basically sealed the deal as the O-Line dominated for the Burg. Miamisburg moves to 7-2 & in good playoff position.



Lebanon secures win 
  Lebanon basically secured a playoff berth as they ran over Stebbins 41-14. Star QB Dakota Allen  went ham on Stebbins with 5-TDs, as the Warriors moved to 7-2 on the season.



Franklin throws up 66 on Oakwood
 Franklin continued it's dream season with a big time win over Oakwood 66-48. The Wildcats are 9-0 & will look to go undefeated and ready for a playoff berth.  Franklin star RB. Ryan Montgomery scored 5 times.

Trotwood will face familiar foe, looking to get back to State Championship

 After seeing the playoff performances from  Trotwood and Wayne, it's no surprise why these are the two teams still standing in the Miami Valley making it to the state semifinals.

Rams Coach Jeff Graham talks "Rap Diss Song" & reaching State

Let's start with Wayne.

    All-season Wayne has made it look easy scoring a multitude of points, usually having a "Running clock" by the third quarter because of the blowout rule in high school football which is a 35+ lead.

    Last week in the regional finals vs Hilliard Davidson there were all the signs of a upset: Frigid weather, raining off and on, a gusty wind, a tough Defense and a well coached team in Hillard who runs, runs, and yes, runs the ball. As  a matter of fact, Hilliard hadn't passed the ball the last 2 games prior to playing Wayne.
 
    Hillard shut down the Wayne Train in the first half (3-3 halftime score) and the game had the look of a low score, grind it out affair that it would take to win, which Wayne hadn't won all year.
    Considering that Wayne had cruised to every victory in the 2nd half, this was their first Real Test of the playoffs.
  In the 2nd half they outscored Hillard with 2 big TDs, shut down the Hillard squad completely with their D, and gutted out a 20-6 win in front of almost  7,000 fans at Welcome Stadium.

   Now while the Wayne faithful didn't quite like the way they won that game, they might wanna get used to it if they plan to hoist a State Championship and complete the most dynamic season in Wayne history.
   The pretty wins are probably over, as only 4 teams remain, and Wayne, despite being ranked #5 in the Country by USA Today, are only ranked 3rd in the State, and will face the #1 seeded team this week in Cincy Colerain  who dismantled Elder last week 41-11.

   After seeing what Wayne was able to do on Saturday night, it shows that they are far beyond the "Flashiness and Style Points" that have been affiliated with them. And that their "D" can stand up and be dominant when it needs to be.

   Daryl McCleskey Jr. scored late in the 3rd, Fred Pitts scored in the 4th, and the D locked down for the W.
   Can the Wayne Train continue to steamroll to its 2nd consecutive State Championship game?

Rams continue to ride hot player, dispatch of Wapakoneta

Rams Coach Jeff Graham talks "Rap Diss Song" & reaching State

   Last year Wapakoneta lost to the Rams in the Regional finals which Trotwood won in 4 OTs; so when Wapak saw that Messiah DeWeaver had transferred, they felt like they could - & would beat the Rams. The my even had a "diss song" rapping & talking about it.
   However they had no clue how to stop the new "Star Player" in Raveion Hargrove, which they had no answer for.
  Hargrove ran up, down around, and through the Redskins for 320+ yards, 3TDs and took the liberty of dominating from the opening drive after Wapakoneta fumbled on its opening 2 drives.
  The Rams seized control and sensing the nervousness of the Redskins, took control with their aggressive D & running game.
  In speaking with  head coach Jeff Graham, he laughed off the supposed, "Rap Song" that Wapakoneta made and said that his boys heard about it, but was focused on the task at hand, while having a laugh or two in the process.
 
  Wapakoneta has been undefeated the last two years and the only opponent to stop them?
  Trotwood.

   The irony Is that Trotwood will now have to face a team who has had their number recently in  Toledo Central Catholic, who won in OT, and will be looking to get back to the State Championship as well.
  Can Trotwood erase the demons of Toledo Central Catholic and get one step away from another Championship game?
  We like the Rams chances and their mentals right now,  and don't expect a rap song about Toledo Central Catholic anytime soon from the Rams.
 We'll just assume they just want to get the job done and in the words of the infamous Jay Z and Swizz Beatz from  the hit song,
"On to the next, On on to the next"