CINCINNATI -- What a Friday night it turned out to be for the Greater Catholic League South division.
All four teams earned wins in Week 8, including very significant wins by Elder and Moeller over previously undefeated opponents.
As a result, the Panthers (5-3) and Crusaders (4-4) have propelled into the top eight of Division I, Region 4, according to longtime playoff projections analyst Steve Shuck.
“Those two wins are huge,” Shuck told WCPO.com early Saturday morning. “They add point values for Elder and Moeller.”
The top eight spots in each of the seven regions in Ohio qualify for the playoffs while the top four positions host first-round games.
The Panthers are now projected to be at No. 7 with a final number of 17 points after Friday night, according to Shuck.
That includes projections of a win over International School of Broward (Hollywood, Florida) Oct. 20 at The Pit and a loss at La Salle Oct. 27.
Moeller is projected at No. 8 with a final number of 16.8 points. Shuck projected losses at Lakewood St. Edward (Oct. 20) and at Winton Woods (Oct. 27).
Elder, projected at No. 10 entering Friday, rallied from a 14-0 deficit in the second quarter to defeat host Winton Woods 35-34 in overtime.
Elder junior Michael Bittner was 18 of 26 passing for 240 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for three touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Danny Faillace had six receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Kyle Trischler had six receptions for 72 yards.
Junior defensive back Jake O’Brien (15 tackles) and senior linebacker Jared Tepe (11 tackles) were among the defensive standouts.
Winton Woods (7-1) is still projected to finish in the top three spots in Division II, Region 8, according to Shuck.
Moeller never trailed in its 41-20 win over Cleveland St. Ignatius in a game played at Otterbein University.
St. Ignatius (7-1), the 2016 Division I state runner-up to St. Xavier, entered this weekend ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press state poll.
Moeller, projected at No. 11 entering Friday, snapped a three-game losing streak after it won three of four games by mid-September.
Moeller coach John Rodenberg said he was proud of the team’s effort, including that on special teams. Rodenberg said the Crusaders kept a positive attitude the entire week and it paid off.
Senior running back Colin Thurman rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns, including a 76-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Junior RJ Khayo had six receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. He also had a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Junior Austin Bradfish, a fourth-string quarterback in the preseason who wears No. 86 as a receiver, played well in quarterback duties Friday night, too.
Junior Ryan Mullaney’s 21-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first quarter gave the Crusaders the lead for good (13-6).
While West Clermont (5-3) and Lakota East (6-2) will have an opportunity at the final spot, Shuck said Moeller’s win Friday provided a huge boost of computer points.
“Moeller shouldn’t fall any further -- maybe just a fraction of a point,” Shuck said.
The top eight in Region 4 are projected to be:
1. St. Xavier (8-0)
2. Colerain (6-2)
3. Fairfield (5-3)
4. Sycamore (6-2)
5. Milford (7-1)
6. Mason (6-2)
7. Elder (5-3)
8. Moeller (4-4)
St. X defeated Clarkson (Ontario) 47-14 Friday night, while La Salle defeated host Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 17-9.
Lakota East still has opportunities at the postseason, especially with games at Sycamore (Oct. 20) and versus Mason (Oct. 27).
West Clermont is projected to win against host Turpin Oct. 20. It could be a very interesting Week 10 matchup with West Clermont playing at Milford Oct. 27.
Shuck said the Wolves have an opportunity of almost five points against Milford in that game. So West Clermont is certainly not out of contention entering Week 9.
Shuck’s information is independent and unofficial. It has no official connection to the Ohio High School Athletic Association computer points.
The weekly computer ratings are released every Tuesday leading up to the final report on Sunday morning, Oct. 29 when 224 schools will qualify for the playoffs.
Of the 719 OHSAA member schools playing football, the largest 72 schools are in Division I, while the remaining schools are divided equally in Divisions II through VII (approximately 108 schools in each division).
Shuck will continue to update WCPO on the latest projections for all seven divisions in Southwest Ohio through Week 10.
Just another night for Jay Volpenhein
Anderson senior quarterback Jay Volpenhein was 29 of 37 passing for 377 yards and four touchdowns in the Redskins’ 58-16 win over visiting Turpin. Volpenhein also rushed 15 times for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Volphenein has thrown for 2,782 yards and 26 touchdowns this season for the Redskins (8-0), projected to be No. 1 in Division II, Region 8.
Great Scott
Harrison senior quarterback Frankie Young threw for 215 yards and four touchdowns, while senior running back Ben Scott rushed 17 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 56-20 win at Franklin County (Indiana). It was the second straight week Scott rushed for 200 or more yards.
New school record
Sycamore senior wide receiver Myron Williams is the school’s all-time leader in career receiving yards, according to Aviators coach Scott Dattilo. Williams has 1,372 yards surpassing Wes Brown’s 1,360 yards, according to Sycamore Athletic Director Phil Poggi. Brown is a 1997 Sycamore graduate. Williams had three receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s 42-6 win over host Oak Hills. He had an 89-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
Freshman sensation
Roger Bacon freshman running back Corey Kiner rushed 24 times for 282 yards and five touchdowns in the Spartans’ 41-28 win over Dayton Carroll.
Goshen stays undefeated
Goshen defeated perennial power Clinton-Massie 33-31 Friday night in Clermont County. Goshen improved to 8-0 on the season. The Warriors are currently No. 3 in Division III, Region 12, according to JoeEitel.com. Goshen plays host to Batavia Oct. 20.
