High School Football Postseason Heats Up in Greater Cincinnati
As the high school football postseason unfolds in Cincinnati, excitement fills the air with a total of 19 games this weekend across the region. The Ohio playoffs move to neutral sites for the regional semifinals, while teams in Kentucky will take to the field at home for higher seeds, and the East Central Trojans will play on the road in Indiana playoffs.
This week is particularly poignant as the passing of Gerry Faust weighs on the minds of many, especially with the iconic rivalry between the Moeller Crusaders and Princeton Vikings rekindling. The top-seeded Crusaders (11-1) face fourth-seeded Vikings (10-2) for the first time in the playoffs since 2021 when Moeller clinched a close victory of 28-21. Princeton is hoping to overturn their earlier season loss against Moeller of 38-21. However, Moeller’s star quarterback, Matt Ponatoski, has been on fire, throwing for 415 yards and 4 touchdowns last week!
Other matchups to keep an eye on include the rematch between the Firebirds of Lakota West (11-1) and the St. Xavier Bombers (9-3). The two teams have split their previous matches, with both sides showing offensive prowess. The Anderson Raptors (12-0) take on the Mt. Healthy Fighting Owls (10-2) in what promises to be a thrilling faceoff between two dynamic quarterbacks.
The regional landscape has also shifted dramatically as the top three seeds in Region 16 were eliminated last week. Among the remaining teams, the Taft Senators (10-2) and the Indian Hill Braves (10-2) set up for a compelling matchup after Taft triumphed over Brookville decisively, while Indian Hill took out the top seed in overtime.
In Kentucky, the East Central Trojans look to prove themselves against Decatur Central (8-2) after their strong finish this season, showcasing impressive performances in their games leading up to this week.
As the weekend approaches, fans can expect thrilling action across the field with the stakes higher than ever. With teams prepared and the rivalries rekindled, this week promises to deliver unforgettable moments in high school football!
