Top Games for Week 9
Lakewood St. Edward (7-1) at Cincinnati Moeller (6-2) – Perhaps a preview of the Division I state championship game. Both have solid wins this season. The Eagles have beaten Olentangy Liberty (5-3), Canton McKinley (7-1), St.John’s College of DC (5-1), Cleveland St. Ignatius (4-4) and Football North (3-3), with a 2-point loss to Massillon (7-1). The Crusaders have beaten St. Xavier (4-4), Elder (6-2) and St. Ignatius (4-4), with losses to Cincinnati Princeton (8-0) and Louisville KY Trinity (7-1). You can watch this one live on the St. Edward network on Saturday at 3:00 pm.
Columbus Watterson (8-0) at Walsh Jesuit (7-1) – The anticipation for this one has been growing by the week, for it has significant impact on Division II and specifically Region 7, where Massillon and Big Walnut could close the gap on No. 1 Watterson. Walsh, the No. 1 team in Region 5, owns signature wins over Medina Highland (7-1), Toledo Central Catholic (6-2) and Youngstown Ursuline (5-3). The lone loss was 30-0 to Akron Hoban, during which they suffered five turnovers. Watterson owns big wins over Pickerington Central (5-3), Ursuline, Cleveland Glenville (6-2) and Columbus DeSales (6-2).
Akron Hoban (3-5) at Indianapolis Cathedral, IN (5-3) – With Week 10 being an open date for Hoban, they are in jeopardy of missing out on the playoffs if they drop this road game to Cathedral, the No. 9 team in Indiana. Particularly disturbing is that the Knights lost last week to Cleveland Glenville, 26-0. Cathedral has a win over Cincinnati St. Xavier (4-4) but lost in overtime to Trotwood Madison (7-1).
Wadsworth (8-0) at Highland (7-1) – Three teams continue to vie for the Suburban League championship, including Wadsworth (5-0), Highland (5-0) and Nordonia (4-1), all edging out Hudson (3-2). Wadsworth defeated Hudson last week. Highland has a win over Nordonia, which defeated Hudson. Following this big game, Wadsworth plays Nordonia and Highland closes with Hudson. Stay tuned for a big finish.
Willoughby South (8-0) at Eastlake North (7-1) – For South, this Is for all the marbles in the Chagrin Valley Conference. But North can tie for the trophy with a win.
Massillon Jackson (6-2) at Canton McKinley (7-1) – Finally, the Bulldogs (5-0) get to play a Federal League opponent that has the potential to pose a challenge, in Jackson, which is unbeaten in league play. Expect McKinley to get it done without too much trouble and enter next week’s game with Massillon on a high note. No Week 9 upset this year.
Oregon Clay (7-1) at Toledo Whitmer (7-1) – This one is a battle of Top 3 teams in the 12-team TRAC. A win by Whitmer sets up a league championship match next week against Perrysburg. Last week Clay dropped a 41-13 decision to Perrysburg, so a Whitmer win looks good on paper.
Columbus DeSales (7-1) at Steubenville (6-2) – Expect an evenly played game in Steubenville on Friday. DeSales has wins over Ursuline (5-3), 31-7, Columbus East (7-1) and Columbus St. Charles (7-1), with losses to Cleveland St. Joseph (6-2) and Watterson (8-0). Steubenville has wins over Dover (6-2) and Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (5-3), with losses to Indian Valley (8-0) and Ursuline, 44-40 in a shootout.
Pickerington North (7-1) at New Albany (6-2) – North suffered a Week 2 loss to Cleveland St. Ignatius, but has easily won every game since. New Albany has done much of the same following their Week 2 loss to Canal Winchester, except for a 35-3 setback to unbeaten Gahanna Lincoln. North plays Gahanna next week. The battle for first place is on.
Bishop Chatard, IN (7-1) at Cincinnati Elder (6-2) – Chatard is No. 11 in Indiana and will pose a severe test for Elder, which suffered recent losses to St. Xavier and Moeller. Chatard has a 2-point loss to Cathedral.
Cincinnati Winton Woods (7-1) at Cincinnati Anderson (7-1) – Yet another battle for a league championship. Both have a non-league loss: Anderson to Louisville KY Trinity and Winton Woods to Springfield in overtime. Winton Woods has outscored its league opponents by an average of 44-6. Anderson has done it by an average of 59-19. Will the Woods defense make the difference in this one?
Tippecanoe (7-1) at Troy (7-1) – Ditto for these teams, both of which are unbeaten in league play. Tippecanoe lost to Bellebrook and Troy lost to Pickerington North. Tippecanoe has surrendered just 20 points in league play and may be a touch better.
