High School Football Kicks Off; Trotwood, West Carrollton host midnight events; Dayton Public Schools Football Recap;

As we hit August 1st, that only can mean one thing:

Can Belmont Star QB Rian Reeves and QB Coach Marvan Gordon do it again?

Football Season has started in the High School Ranks!

 This week begins the journey for OHSAA Fall season, as Football, Volleyball, Soccer, and other sports get ready to kick off their seasons.

However there are some teams who will get the jump on the competition as perennial powerhouse Trotwood and upstart program in West Carrollton did midnight madness - football style.

The Rams, who just won the State Championship 2 seasons ago, will look to ride 2 of its star seniors (Sammy Anderson and Carl Blanton) back to prominence this season.

Trotwood will be in the new (now split up) GWOC for the final remaining season, then who knows?
Independent power, a union with Dayton Public or another league?

Regardless,  look for the unified Rams to be back in the State Chase.

As for West Carrollton, they have a new coach in former Miamisburg and Trotwood Defensive Coordinator Dion Black.
    Black was the Coordinator during the Rams Championship Run, and will look to install some energy, new schemes, and a new foundation for the Pirates, who have switched conferences (MVC) which goes into effect this school year.

Could dynamic WR Austin Jones be headed for All-State type season? 

With Rising Star WR Austin Jones leading the Pirates, it could be a solid year for the West Carrollton, as they look to replace the job done by Freshman RB Jordan Ward, who is now at Wayne.

 Dayton Public Schools Recap (Last Season)

Last season Belmont dominated the City League once again as the Southwest Ohio Public League merger with Cincinnati schools was ceased.

Led by Rising Junior dual threat QB Rian Reeves, Belmont would go undefeated in the city, before losing in the 1st round of the OHSAA playoffs.
Since Earl White has taken over Belmont, the Bison have been at or near the top of the Standings every single year.


Dunbar ended up in 2nd place, led by Player of the Year Candidate and then Super Sophomore QB Greg Packnett Jr.
Now that some of the coaching staff who helped Dunbar reach prominence back on the sidelines?

Could be a interesting year for the Wolverines.
Can Coach Freed take the next step and get the Wolverines back in playoff contention?

Thurgood finished in 3rd place, led by Do it all Senior V'Sean Palmer and Power QB Ayoub Muhammad.
The Cougars have some talent returning and could be the sleeper team to win the city this year.

Meadowdale and Ponitz competed, but both look to be better this season.

Meadowdale was better than Ponitz last year, and if they would have more kids in the program, coach Brown probably would be much more competitive than they already are. His teams are always prepared.

Senior Bryson Flucas was the Do-It-All Player for the Lions


As far as Ponitz?
Its a wait and see approach for the 2nd year coach. Last season was tough, but there should be some improvement with some talent on deck.





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Wayne get shot at much more than just State Football Title today

      Last year the Wayne Warriors came within a quarter of being State Champions on the football field. It was then that Lakewood St Edward stopped their dream season last year 31-21 -
along in 2010 when Braxton Miller was at the helm.

  Lakewood has won it's only two OHSAA State titles courtesy of the Wayne Train.

 And you know that eats at the Warriors skin. Just makes any and every Wayne fan angry. Wayne has dominated every opponent in the last 5 years, except for one.

Lakewood St Edward.

In what has become one of the greatest single season team performances by a team in Miami Valley history, Wayne now must exercise one last demon.
  And what a demon it is...

 Lakewood, led by RB Cole Gest (Indiana signee)  & QB Jimmy Keefe, have been dominant and could be headed for a another title.

Except for two things:

 Revenge and the Wayne Train.

  Wayne players know that, no matter how good they are they will never be considered great until they win a State Title.
They are 0-3 in State Title games.
  To lose for a 3rd straight time for a chance at it all?  Would be devastating.
And with the players, coaching staff, and fans, they truly believe they will make it happen.
  It has been a unbelievable, magic year for Wayne.
Absolute dominance on offense, while the D got better every week,  becoming dominant in the last month.
But the last question remains:

Is it Wayne's time to shine on the big stage? & bring a big Division HS football championship to the DYT for the first time ever?
 
    A whole lot at stake for the Warriors.
But they'll be up for the challenge on a lovely day, unlike last year when it was horrible weather I might add.

We got the Warriors winning 30-26.

No matter what happens, it has been one hell of a ride with the Wayne Train.

Good luck, but I  dont think theyll need much luck today. I think fate will do them just fine.



 
 

Rams find themselves in familiar position tonight vs Wapakoneta

    When we spoke with former NFL  player, now Trotwood Rams head coach Jeff Graham  before the season started, he felt like he had a team loaded with talent and ability, and if he could just get them to listen and not worry about their lack of experience,  they could go deep in the playoffs.

Can Soph sensation Raveion Hargrove lead Rams to State?

     Well, the Rams (9-3)  find themselves one win away from another State berth, as they will head to Lima to face unbeaten Wapakoneta, (12-0) who look to continue their magical season as well.

    Wapak squeaked out a win vs Mt. Healthy 12-7 last week while Trotwood handed it to Tippecanoe.

    Although Wapak is undefeated, they definitely have not faced a team like Trotwood this season.

    After hearing sources say that Belmont was having  their way with the Redskins D before the Davion Lankford injury in Playoff Week 1,  only has to please All-American worthy RB Raveion Hargrove,  who along with a great offensive line, has been nothing short of spectacular. With a healthy Hargrove, the Rams have blown every team out lately.

  While the Rams won't blow out Wapak, they do have a seasoned staff, great play callers and execute properly, and a ability to rise up in key games.
  Not to mention that this will be the 7th straight time the Rams have completed in this round, an amazing Stat to say the least.

 We're taking the Rams by a score of 30-21. 

Wayne Train set to debut tnite vs Reynoldsburg (7pm)

After seeing how the GWOC fared last night, it's time for the main event as the Wayne Warriors look to battle Reynoldsburg (7-3) at Heidkamp Stadium tonight (7pm).

Will the Wayne Train unleash on Reynoldsburg?

  The Warriors have been ranked in the USA Today and National Top 25 polls all season, ranking as high as 8th Nationally.

But tonight they will be tested by a sound  Reynoldsburg squad who has nothing to lose.
 
 They know winning this game could result in legendary status.
And on top of that, they have been in playoff mode for weeks.

However,  the Wayne Train playing in front of its ruckus fans who will generate a 12th man like few places can.

Then there's the team.
With D-1 talent littered all over both sides of the ball, this squad looks focused like no other.

Coach Jay Minton has done a great job of keeping the team hungry, and I'm sure they will be ready tonight.
Could this be the start of the most celebrated Wayne run towards HS Football history?

We think so.

Expect a Wayne win 37-14.

Impact of Dunbar - Belmont game could be huge tonight (830pm)

For years the Belmont Bison have been the doormats of the City League.  Almost 37 to be exact. They've had a year or so where they have been decent, but nothing like what has happened in the last 2 years.  

    Well, the Bison have a chance to kick down history once and for all.
    At the hands of possibly the most celebrated High School in the Miami Valley.
   Before the season started, Dunbar was the team who were one of the pre-season favorites to win the newly formed SWOPL (Southwest Ohio Public League) which merges Dayton & Cincinnati Public schools for football.

Belmont? Figured to go .500 at best.

   But after both teams took season opening losses on the road, Belmont was able to bounce back and ride it's star to 7 straight wins, a possible playoff berth and a chance to complete history, as the first team to win the SWOPL outright in its first year back.
   But can they actually beat Dunbar?

    Dunbar smacked Belmont last season, and for years at that. They're like the big bro who smacks lil bro around and never thinks twice about that lil bro will get bigger and stronger one day and not forget all them whoopins. After the tough loss last season you can be sure that coach learned a thing or two about this team since that time.
   Dunbar is supremely talented, well coached and if not for a couple of tough late game losses, they'd be playing for a playoff spot themselves. They seemingly have the top talent that bring themselves to the Wolverines each and every season. However, they have made some timely mistakes which has been their undoing.
 
Will Dunbar once again prove that their talent and will outweighs that of any other team in the city, and stop The Bison amazing momentum?
The Wolverines are notorious for slamming Title hopes.
   Just not sure they can hold off 37 years of Bison frustration.
  Welcome Stadium will be rockin' tonight (830) as we will see if the Bison are forreal.

   Win this game? & Expect a Bison revival, a playoff run, and a new Era at Belmont.
Lose? Well, we've heard that story for 37 years. We know that ending.
At least the Bison are exciting,  relevant, and doing things the right way.
Expect a classic game tonight. Expect great High School football, coaches by two of the best coaches in the Miami Valley tonight. Expect plays made by D-1 players all over the field tonght.
City League football is on the rise.

NOTE: A possible Annual Dayton HS Sports City League All-star HS Football Challenge in the works for March - April debut.
Football in Dayton, Ohio is back on the rise.
History will be made tonight.

Who makes it, Belmont or Dunbar?


 

Top 5 Games of Week 8

Here's our top games for week 8 as teams make their playoff runs and key rivalries heat up.

Will the Wolverines be ready for the Cougars?

(1) Dunbar  vs Thurgood  @ Welcome Stadium (7pm)
     Last years City League championship game features two of the best in the city, as a revamped Thurgood squad who was reigning City League Champs 6 years straight, will look to keep the dynamic Wolverines from putting up big numbers.
Dunbar has been inconsistent in key moments, but has looked unstoppable in others. After losing City League player of the year Jamahl Manley, the Cougars have started to rebound.
We have the Wolverines winning a wild one 34-28.



(2) Beavercreek (6-1)   @ Centerville (5-2) (7pm)
   In the GWOC game of the Week, both teams desperately need this game. The Creek', led by 1,000 yard rusher Tim Beadshaw, will be ready, but so will Centerville, who has won 4 straight and could be the hottest team in the area.
We have Centerville winning a close one 28-24


(3) Northmont  (4-3)  @  Wayne (7-0) (7pm)
   Can Northmont, led by star player Avery Miliner, pull off the upset of the season? Nationally ranked Wayne has throttled every team it has seen this season, sans one.
The WayneTrain will continue its steamrolling 41-21.


(4) Piqua  (2-5)  @ Trotwood (5-2) (7pm)
After a shocking loss to Troy at home last week, can the Rams bounce back and get a much needed W this week to stay in drivers seat for playoffs? Piqua has had some great moments and key wins this season.
The Rams will get it done by a score of 30-16.


(5) Dayton Christian  @ Lockland 
Can the Crusaders go on the road to get a huge Weight and keep their playoff hopes alive? Been a good season so far, but Lockland will be ready.
We're riding the Crusaders in a close one, 26-18

New Southwest Ohio Public League features City Battles in Wk 2

While Belmont (0-1) and Meadowdale (0-1) have joined a new power conference they will be battling each other tonight for City League bragging rights in week 2 of high school football in the Miami Valley tonight.
 (7pm @ Welcome Stadium)

With Dayton public schools joining Cincinnati Public schools to combine to make the first ever multi big city Power Public League - named the Southwest Ohio Public League, or the SWOPL, it created some questions about how it would work, and if it was worth it.

While the driving won't please most people, the coaches from Dayton City schools like the idea of playing the Cincinnati schools, even if it's just only football this season.

Due to the fact that its been hard for City League teams to get picked for the playoffs (for whatever reason), most teams feel like if you win your respected division this season, you should grab a playoff spot.

That what makes this Belmont - Meadowdale game tonight that much more important.

Belmont is coming off a tough loss to Hamilton, while the Lions lost  to Carroll, in which it was outscored in the second half after the game was tied at 24 at halftime.
The Bison feel this could be the breakout year they need, as RB Davion Fails will lead the charge.
Meadowdale will also have fire in their eyes after that tough second half last week.

Both teams know going 0-2 could be trouble for the season filled with matchups in Cincy.
Expect a intense atmosphere at Welcome Stadium tonight.