CINCINNATI – Nippert Stadium hosted more than four hours of weather delays this weekend, but there was also some excellent high school football played on the national stage in the 19th annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown.
And while the significant fanfare of Ohio high school football's opening week is completed, September is sure to bring with it a lot more questions for some teams entering the second week of non-conference play.
Let’s take a look back at the ceremonious opening week in Ohio with nine takeaways from the past four days:
1. Weather puts damper on first Friday
Several area games were postponed Friday night due to severe weather. La Salle led Sycamore 7-0 with 9:51 left in the first quarter when a lightning delay held up the game for more than two hours. The game was finally completed Saturday night, with La Salle winning 38-35 in overtime when senior Paul Young made a 19-yard field goal at Sycamore Junior High. …Colerain and Warren Central experienced nearly two hours of delay during halftime Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals rallied to defeat the Warriors 31-28 nearly four hours after kickoff. ...Friday's doubleheader at Sheakley Athletics Center was also played Saturday morning. ...Moeller defeated Lakota West 47-14 Saturday morning after the game was postponed from Friday night at Nippert. Saturday was the first time Moeller scored 40-plus points in the season opener since 2009.
2. Memorable mid-week start
A game-winning 50-yard pick six by Purcell Marian senior Marquis Johnson highlighted the state’s first game Wednesday night, as the Cavaliers defeated Summit Country Day 27-20. Purcell coach Jon Tobin, a former University of Cincinnati player, said it was the best finish to a game he's coached at the high school level. …Oak Hills and Covington Catholic combined had 104 points and 1,026 total yards Thursday night as the Colonels defeated the Highlanders 56-48 in front of a packed house of 2,000 at Mount St. Joseph.
3. Good start for the GMC
Six of the 10 Greater Miami Conference teams won season openers this weekend. And of the four losses, three of those teams lost by seven or fewer points. Among those wins was Lakota East’s 31-14 victory over Loveland in the Showdown in a game that was delayed Friday night. Lakota East senior running back Tyler VanFossen had 26 carries for 239 yards and three touchdowns. …Princeton coach Pat McLaughlin won his debut with the Vikings Saturday night in a 35-7 victory over Glen Este in the Showdown.
4. Nice for Knecht
Kings senior quarterback Tyler Knecht was 19 of 29 passing for 267 yards and two touchdowns as the Knights defeated Lebanon 35-7. Kings led 35-0 entering the fourth quarter. “Knecht was great,” Kings coach Andy Olds said. “It is fun watching him learn to lead.”
5. Winning with the Sword
Hamilton’s Trace Sword kicked the game-winning field goal in the Big Blue’s 17-14 win over Milford. He also had two of Hamilton’s three goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-2 soccer victory.
6. Renie leads Mariemont
Sophomore quarterback Wally Renie scored on a late 13-yard touchdown run and converted the two-point conversion to lead Mariemont past Dayton Oakwood 30-29. He threw for 131 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 74 yards and a score.
7. Solid Spartans start
Turpin defeated McNicholas 27-6 after the Spartans scored 20 points in the third quarter. Turpin had 339 yards of offense, including 265 on the ground. Will Hausfeld had 102 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and Nathan Hooper had 108 yards.
8. Showdown Part II
Colerain plays at St. Xavier at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 in the 32nd game overall between the two programs. St. X (0-1) leads the all-time series 20-12, and this is the final game of the home-and-home agreement. Both schools are working on a renewal. Colerain (1-0) won both meetings in 2015, including a regular-season game in September and a second-round playoff game.
9. Rankings and extra points
The MaxPreps national rankings will be released Monday and Colerain figures to move up from its No. 13 position. …The state’s first Associated Press media poll will be released Sept. 12. ...CHCA had 517 yards of total offense in a 41-22 win over Greeneview. Senior running back Kesean Gamble had 116 yards rushing and three touchdowns in coach Mark Mueller's debut. Quarterback Danny Vanatsky was 22 of 30 for 365 yards and three touchdowns. ...Cooper (Ky.) wide receiver/defensive back Dante Hendrix announced his commitment to Indiana State.
