The GCL South title is on the line this week, as St. Xavier has a chance to sweep its conference slate while La Salle looks to remain unbeaten in league games.
Wyoming and CHCA can also take a major step toward their respective conference championships.
Here are the Best Bets for Week 7 of prep football in Cincinnati:
St. Xavier (4-2) at La Salle (4-2), 7 p.m. – It’s the battle of unbeatens in the South, as St. Xavier wraps up conference play and La Salle looks to advance to 2-0. After an 0-2 start, the Bombers have won four straight, and Sean Clifford was solid again under center last wee against Elder. Clifford went 10-for-14 for 109 yards and a touchdown, plus he rushed for three TDs. The Lancers’ Christian Turner has caught 20 passes for 295 yards the past three weeks and leads the GCL-S in receiving yards. La Salle has won back-to-back games against Winton Woods and Moeller.
Elder (4-2) at Moeller (3-3), 7 p.m. – Both teams are looking for their first wins in GCL South play, and Moeller is looking to avoid a winless league schedule while Elder still has La Salle to play. Elder QB Danny Nieman struggled last week in the Panthers’ four-game winning streak-snapping loss to St. Xavier, throwing four picks and completing 8 of 23 passes. Moeller’s Colin Thurman leads the South in rushing yards with 463. The Crusaders played their first six games on the road and are home for the final four.
Wyoming (6-0) at Madeira (5-1), 7 p.m. – These are the last two unbeaten teams in the CHL play (3-0). Wyoming has recorded back-to-back shutouts and is surrendering just 8.3 points per game. Madeira is scoring an average of 42.5 points and 44.3 in the league. This should be a contrast in offensive styles, as the Cowboys’ Andrew Marty leads the conference in passing yards with 1,405 while Greg Corn is tops in rushing yards with 999 to pace the Mustangs. Wyoming has already beaten Indian Hill while the Mustangs play the Braves on the road next week.
CHCA (6-0) at Summit Country Day (4-2), 7 p.m. – These are the only two teams with winning records in the MVC, and both are 1-0 in the conference. CHCA is the league leader in scoring with 242 points, and Summit Country Day is tops in defense, allowing just 88 points.
Fairfield (5-1) at Mason (4-2), 7 p.m. – Fairfield is 3-0 in the GMC while Mason suffered its first conference loss to Colerain last week. The Indians’ only loss was by 17 to Dublin Coffman, and they are second in the conference in points allowed at 14.0 per game. The Comets are third in that department at 14.7. Colerain beat Mason by 14 last week, and the Comets also lost to Moeller, 17-14, earlier this season.
Princeton (5-1) at Hamilton (3-3), 7 p.m. – Princeton is one of the best turnaround stories in the area, having won just three games last season. C.J. Henderson is third in the GMC in receiving yards with 484, including 131 last week. Hamilton started the season 3-0 but has dropped its last three as it seeks its first conference win, averaging just 15.0 points in the GMC.