Week 1 Key Games; Top 10 Players To Watch; Columbus City Schools Brings Sports Back; Top Games of Week 1

 

With the Covid-19 crisis still looming, the GWOC, the MVL, and the GCL and other schools have decided to move forward with fall sports.

While volleyball and other sports started earlier  this week, football kicks off tonight, albeit in a shortened season.

But at this point? Any season is a good season, provided there aren't any tragic accidents that occur. 

 

Here are Key Games in Week 1 as we ready for a season. 

(1) Wayne @ Springfield  

With the Wayne Train looking to get back to the elite level this season, the key will be Roosevelt Mukes and his ability to integrate his system and style into the Warriors players and staff. Last year was tough, after legend Jay Minton stepped down unexpectedly.  

With the likes of their senior Stars and high profile recruits such as Cam Fancher (QB), Elijah Brown (TE-WR), and Jaden Hurd (S), it could be a banner year for the Warriors. 

Springfield, after having a very good season last year,  will rely on the talents of Top Junior QB Tae'Sean Smoot.

 Smoot, already offered by Kentucky, could be ready for a breakout type season that could propel him into the Top 10 QB discussion in the country by the end of the year. He has gotten a myriad of hype and his workouts that his dad has him do are stuff of legends. 

He is that good, but the Cats have some other players who are ready to step in the spotlight after the Cats lost the likes of Larry Stephens III, Jeff Tolliver, Tavion Smoot, Jokell Brown, and other top players off a team that was 1 quarter away from the State Semifinals last season.  You know Coach Douglass has his troops ready for war, especially against the Wayne Warriors.  

Alter  @ Clinton Massie - Can the Knights start their season on a good note against a perennially tough and prepared Massie team? With D-1 talent all over the field, can Massie pull out the gameplan to stop C.J. Hicks, Derrick Shepard and the Knights? 

Stebbins  @ West Carrollton - Two upstart teams looking to get off to a fast start with both programs boasting D-1 talent. With Pirates Head Coach Dion Black in his 2nd year as coach, look for his style to be implemented much more this season.  Stebbins looks to take advantage of its talented young group

Centerville @ Fairmont - Will Junior Star QB Harrison lead the Elks back to prominence this season? Or will the Firebirds who still have talent back, be able to get a big home win against a rival? 

Fairborn @ Xenia - Can Xenia defend its MVL crown after a good season last year under Trace Smitherman?  Look for a inspired Xenia team tonight. Fairborn will be up for the challenge. 

Troy  @ Piqua - Can the Trojans, who made the playoffs last year, take out their rival, who they have beaten the past couple years? Look out for Troy senior WR  , as the 2 sport star could be headed for a breakout season? 

Butler  @ Tippecanoe - Can Coach Puckett get his Aviators squad back at the top of the GWOC this season? With a young hungry team in tow, can defeat a solid Tipp team who also has deep playoff hopes? 

Harrison @ Chaminade - Can the Eagles shake off the excruciating playoff loss at home and get back to the top of the GCL again? With the likes of Ward and Co in the defensive side, look for Eagles to be ready for this season opener against Cincinnati Harrison. 

10 Players to watch Early this Season:

Tae'Sean Smoot- QB (Springfield)

Cam Fancher  - QB (Wayne) 

C.J. Hicks  -LB (Alter) 

Derrick Shepard  - OL-DL (Alter) 

Jason Ward  -DB (C-J) 

Eljiah Brown -TE, WR (Wayne) 

Jacob Harrison - QB (Centerville) 

Kamryn Cleveland - QB (West Carrollton) 

Tyron Darby - RB  (West Carrollton) 

Shaeden Olden - WR (Troy) 

Columbus Public Schools Resumes Sports, will other Ohio cities follow? 

Columbus Public Schools decided that they will resume fall sports, with football starting this Saturday. 

While the numbers were staying at the same level, and even having dips in the percentages during the last months, gave officials the courage to decide to give the kids a shot.

While it remains to be seen if any other metropolitan cities in Ohio will come back as well, but regardless, Columbus felt like they could run a league, be responsible, and try to give the kids, parents, and district hope that things can be done despite the threat of Covid-19.