CINCINNATI — There is plenty of intrigue sprinkled into some very familiar matchups in the Division I, Region 4 semifinals Friday night.
Colerain plays Fairfield for the second time in three weeks while Elder and St. Xavier renew their rivalry in the 101st meetingbetween the programs.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced the neutral sites for the regional semifinals across seven divisions that will be played Friday and Saturday (Nov. 15-16) around the state. Divisions I, II, III and VI games are at 7 p.m. Friday, while Divisions IV, V and VII games are at 7 p.m. Saturday.
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Colerain (10-1) and Fairfield (10-1) will meet at Princeton Friday night.
It is the second time the Greater Miami Conference powers will have met this month after the visiting Cardinals defeated the Indians 16-10 in overtime Nov. 1 to capture their record 20th consecutive Greater Miami Conference title.
“Fairfield is a great team and I knew it would be a high likelihood that we would meet again in the postseason,” Colerain coach Shawn Cutright said.
“It is a unique scenario that we play again so soon and coming off a very emotionally charged conference title game. I’m sure both teams will be prepared and looking forward to the rematch.”
Colerain defeated visiting Princeton 30-7 Nov. 8 to improve to 21-0 in the first round of the playoffs not including the 1995 forfeit.
Fairfield defeated Hamilton for a second time this season as the Indians won 37-13 Nov. 8 in its regional quarterfinal. The Indians captured their first playoff win since the 2000 season.
Elder (9-2) plays St. Xavier (9-2) in the other Division I regional semifinal Friday night in a game at Mason. It is a rematch of the Oct. 4 game in which visiting Elder won 31-28.
“I figured we would see them again,” Elder coach Doug Ramsey said. “The first go-around we had a good game with them and it ended up being a little bit closer than what we would’ve liked it at the end. They do a good job of throwing the ball so we will have our hands full next week.”
Elder defeated visiting Lakota West 42-17 Nov. 8. St. X, the No. 1 seed in Region 4, defeated visiting Mason 48-20 at Ballaban Field Nov. 8.
St. X senior tight end Marshall Lang (Northwestern commit) had six receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Kellen Newman had 172 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Sophomore defensive back Eli Kirk had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. That marked the second-longest interception return in St. X history, according to statistician Kurt Brinkman. Kevin Wolf had a 102-yard interception against visiting Elder Sept. 30, 2005.
In Division II, La Salle (9-2) plays Columbus Walnut Ridge (11-0) at Bellbrook in one regional semifinal while Harrison (10-1) plays Columbus St. Francis DeSales (9-2) at Miami Trace.
La Salle, the No. 1 seed in Region 8, defeated visiting Little Miami 42-0 Nov. 8.
“It was a good team effort,” Lancers coach Pat McLaughlin said. “We got out to a fast start, which I thought was important. Our kids did a good job in all three phases.”
Senior running back Cam Porter (Northwestern) had 96 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Sophomore running back/linebacker Gi’Bran Payne had six tackles including two sacks and a forced fumble on defense in his first action since Oct. 18 after suffering a wrist injury in practice during Week 9. He picked up his first scholarship offer – from Northwestern – on Friday.
“He had some fresh legs and he always seems to make plays,” McLaughlin said.
Harrison defeated visiting Canal Winchester 24-18 Nov. 8. Harrison senior quarterback Connor Kinnett threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Levi Tidwell had seven receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
Harrison coach Derek Rehage liked the Wildcats’ defensive effort and the ability to limit the Canal Winchester run game.
Defensively, senior linebacker Jake Reardon had a team-high nine tackles. Senior defensive back Kyler Fankhauser had seven tackles and a forced fumble. Junior defensive back Dom Little and junior linebacker Logan Sowders had six tackles each.
In Division III, Badin (8-3) plays Alter (7-4) at Monroe Friday night while St. Marys Memorial (9-2) plays Trotwood-Madison (8-3) at Sidney.
Badin defeated Ross 46-14 Nov. 8. Badin senior quarterback Zach Switzer threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another score. Senior running back Alex DeLong rushed 15 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
In Division IV, Region 16, Wyoming (11-0) plays Indian Hill (9-2) Saturday night at Princeton in the second meeting between the Cincinnati Hills League rivals this month. Wyoming defeated visiting Indian Hill 21-18 Nov. 1.
Wyoming defeated visiting Milton-Union 49-18 in the regional quarterfinal.
Wyoming senior quarterback Evan Prater (UC) had 20 carries for 234 yards and five touchdowns. He was also 8-of-11 passing for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Freshman CJ Hester had 13 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown. Wyoming had 514 yards of offense.
"The guys just continue to compete and play their tails off every opportunity they get," Wyoming coach Aaron Hancock said.
Indian Hill defeated Kenton 61-32 in the other regional quarterfinal Nov. 9.
Indian Hilll senior quarterback Tre Lopez rushed for two touchdowns and had a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter. Senior safety Alex Lindberg had two interceptions returns for touchdowns.
"I was very happy with our offensive execution," Indian Hill coach Tony Arcuri said.
Roger Bacon (10-1) plays Germantown Valley View (9-2) in the other Division IV, Region 16 semifinal.
Roger Bacon defeated Waynesville 42-21 Nov. 9. Junior running back Corey Kiner had 21 carries for 290 yards and six rushing touchdowns.
"He was incredible," Roger Bacon coach Mike Blaut said.
Kiner joined the OHSAA's state list for most rushing touchdowns in a season (39). He also joined the OHSAA state list for most points scored in a season (270), career touchdowns (87) and career rushing touchdowns (80), according to Roger Bacon assistant athletic director Brandon Spaeth.
Kiner has 2,024 rushing yards this season and 4,990 for his career, according to Roger Bacon.
In Division V, Region 20, Taft earned its first playoff win with a 35-3 victory over visiting Blanchester Saturday night at Stargel Stadium.
It was the first football playoff win for a Cincinnati Public Schools program since Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education (CAPE) in 1993, according to Joe Eitel.
"I really didn't say much before we went out to play," Taft coach Jeff Cargile said. "We started preparing for this game back in January when we began the offseason. They were ready to play."
Junior quarterback Robert Brazziel threw for two touchdowns and ran for another for the Senators. Junior wide receiver Chris Stewart caught two touchdown passes including a 78-yarder in the third quarter.
"We have flown under the radar all season and no one but the people in our camp believed that we would be where we are now," Cargile said.
Junior defensive tackle Jairon Wilson had 13 tackles, including five tackles for loss and two sacks, Cargile said.
"He dominated at defensive tackle," Cargile said. "He was a one-man wrecking crew."
Taft (10-1) plays West Liberty-Salem (10-1) in a regional semifinal at Miamisburg Saturday night. The winner plays either West Jefferson or Springfield Shawnee in the regional final Nov. 23.
Friday, Nov. 15
(All games at 7 p.m.)
Division I, Region 4 semifinals
Elder (9-2) vs. St. Xavier (9-2), at Mason
Fairfield (10-1) vs. Colerain (10-1), at Princeton
Division II, Region 8 semifinals
(All games at 7 p.m.)
La Salle (9-2) vs. Columbus Walnut Ridge (11-0), at Bellbrook
Harrison (10-1) vs. Columbus St. Francis DeSales (9-2), at Miami Trace
Division III, Region 12 semifinals
(All games at 7 p.m.)
Alter (7-4) vs. Badin (8-3), at Monroe
St. Marys Memorial (9-2) vs. Trotwood-Madison (8-3), at Sidney
Saturday, Nov. 16
Division IV, Region 16 semifinals
(All games at 7 p.m.)
Wyoming (11-0) vs. Indian Hill (9-2), at Princeton
Roger Bacon (10-1) vs. Germantown Valley View (9-2), at Lakota West
Division V, Region 20 semifinals
(All games at 7 p.m.)
Taft (10-1) vs. West Liberty-Salem (10-1), at Miamisburg
West Jefferson (10-1) vs. Springfield Shawnee (9-2), at London
