CINCINNATI – Week 3 of the Ohio high school football season is nearly in the books, but Friday night presented its own challenges: Reported threats toward Mason High School and Colerain High School made it one of the strangest nights of high school football in recent memory.
Moeller will play at Mason at 2:30 p.m. Sunday while the rest of the schedule will be completed by Saturday night.
Before we dive into conference play for several teams next week, let’s look at nine takeaways from Friday night:
1. Mason, Moeller prepare for Sunday
The Moeller at Mason game was postponed Friday night after someone called in a detailed threat to the Mason Police Department. Moeller left the field at about 6:05 p.m., as it was ready to conduct warm-ups. The schools rescheduled the game for 2:30 p.m. Sunday after they considered Saturday, too.
There also was early speculation between the schools the game would possibly be called off altogether, but that didn’t occur. Mason conducted practice Saturday morning, while Moeller is scheduled for 1 p.m. to get the team together after ACT testing. Moeller coach John Rodenberg, who has been the Crusaders coach since 2008 among other coaching stops and has been coaching high school football since 1987, said it was the first time he’s ever experienced such a delay under those circumstances.
The same went for Moeller assistant Steve Klonne, who was Moeller’s coach from 1982-2000. “There is nothing you can do about it,” Rodenberg said.
2. Colerain’s defense shines
Colerain didn’t score a touchdown for the first time since 2009, but the Cardinals defeated La Salle 6-0 on two field goals from senior Ryan Murray. The Colerain defense was solid, especially in the second half. The Cardinals stopped La Salle on fourth down late in the fourth quarter and were able to hold possession for the remainder of the game.
Colerain, ranked No. 7 nationally by USA Today and MaxPreps, hasn’t lost to an area opponent at home since 2011. The Cardinals (3-0) open Greater Miami Conference play at Princeton (3-0) Sept. 16. Colerain standout defensive back Amir Riep (Ohio State commit) didn’t play against La Salle due to a hamstring injury, and it remains to be seen if he plays against Princeton.
Colerain coach Tom Bolden earned his 99th career win Friday night. Bolden is 99-16 in 10 years.
3. Undefeated Vikings
Speaking of Princeton, first-year head coach Pat McLaughlin is quickly turning around the fortunes of the Vikings this season. Princeton is 3-0 for the first time since the 2011 season. Princeton had 452 yards of offense in a 41-12 win over Dayton Dunbar. Senior quarterback Solomon Reed was 9 of 15 passing for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver CJ Henderson had four receptions for 116 yards.
4. Big win for Big Blue
Hamilton is the third team in the GMC with a 3-0 record after a 34-27 home win against Kings Friday night. Senior quarterback Eric Jackson was 7 of 12 passing for 167 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed 28 times for 140 yards and three scores.
“Eric Jackson has earned everything he’s doing,” Hamilton coach Chad Murphy said. “A guy that wants the ball in his hands.”
Senior wide receiver Vince Sanford caught four passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. Hamilton is 3-0 for the first time since 2001.
5. Game winner for Harrison
Sophomore kicker Kyle Farfsing kicked a 27-yarder as time expired to lift Harrison past host Anderson 48-47. Farfsing was 2 of 2 on field goals and 6 of 6 on extra points.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Kyle,” Harrison coach Kent McCullough said. “He works so hard and is always so composed.”
Harrison junior quarterback Frankie Young was 34 of 46 passing for 501 yards and six touchdowns, according to the Southwest Ohio Conference site. Senior wide receiver Nick Vanderpohl had 14 receptions for 231 yards and three touchdowns. Young broke the school records for most passing touchdowns in a single game (6) and passing yards (501), according to McCullough. Vanderpohl broke the school record with 231 receiving yards and was two receptions shy of breaking the receptions record.
6. Milestone win
Madeira coach Mike Shafer earned his 100th career win as the Mustangs defeated host Batavia 53-0 Friday night. Shafer is 100-68 in his 17th season.
7. More CHL success
Indian Hill, Mariemont and Wyoming are 3-0 after wins Friday night.
Indian Hill defeated Roger Bacon 48-10 in a game played at St. Xavier. Mariemont defeated host Shroder 42-8. Wyoming defeated visiting McNicholas 40-10. In that game, Wyoming senior quarterback Andrew Marty (Northwestern commit) was 18 of 23 for 320 yards and five passing touchdowns. Garyn Prater had six receptions for 163 yards and set a new school record four receiving touchdowns, according to Cowboys coach Aaron Hancock.
8. Three road wins for Elder
Elder improved to 2-1 with a 20-14 win at Scott County Friday night. That was the third consecutive game away from The Pit, including the season opener at Nippert Stadium.
Junior quarterback Danny Nieman was 16 of 23 passing for 244 yards and a touchdown.
“We gutted one out,” Elder coach Doug Ramsey said. “Danny was good again and our receivers played well.”
Sophomore Kyle Trischler had nine receptions for 128 yards. Junior Danny Falliace had four receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. Junior running back Jack Mazza had 18 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Senior defensive back Zach Lyons had 14 tackles while senior linebacker Nick Niehaus had 10 tackles.
9. Extra points
Little Miami defeated Taylor 40-14 Friday night as the Panthers posted back-to-back wins for the first time in six years, according to coach Nate Mahon.
“We’re really happy with how the kids are playing hard,” he said. “The kids are really excited.”
Sophomore Lucas Patten had over 250 all-purpose yards against Taylor.
…Oak Hills earned its first win under new coach Kyle Prosser with a 45-28 victory at Loveland. The Highlanders had 550 yards of offense. Senior Kyle Montag had 29 receptions for 243 yards and four touchdowns. Prosper is a 2004 Oak Hills graduate. Oak Hills went 1-9 in 2015.
…The season’s first Associated Press state poll will be released Monday.
….CHCA improved to 3-0 with a 48-17 win at Bishop Ready.
“I like the fact that this our second long road trip,” CHCA coach Mark Mueller said. “We started real slow and actually got behind. We responded well and then turned it on.”
