High School Football Roundup: Week 8 Highlights

This week in Cincinnati, high school football is heating up as the regular season quickly comes to a close. The playoff picture in Ohio and Kentucky is becoming clearer with significant performances and outcomes from Week 8.

In Division I, Moeller and Winton Woods have both clinched a top-eight seed in Region 4, ensuring at least one home playoff game. Moeller has shown impressive resilience, advancing to the state semifinals last year despite being seeded fourth. Winton Woods has made a notable jump to Division I after claiming the sixth seed in Division II.

Another standout team, Anderson, which reached the Division II state semifinals in 2023, has also secured a top-eight seed and aims for their second straight No. 1 seed in Region 8.

This week’s games saw a staggering number of blowouts, particularly in the Greater Miami Conference and Southern Buckeye Conference, with a total of 32 games across Southwest Ohio being decided by 20 points or more. Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana also witnessed 13 games finishing with similar margins.

One of the most exciting games saw the Bombers narrowly defeat La Salle 9-0. Owen Davidson kicked a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter, giving them a 3-0 lead, before a touchdown pass from Chase Herbstreit to Cameron Taylor sealed the victory.

The powerful defense of Winton Woods managed to secure a 12-7 win over West Clermont, despite recording their lowest offensive output of the season. Batavia continues to impress with a commanding 38-0 victory over New Richmond, improving their record to 7-1 and maintaining a tie at the top of the Southern Buckeye Athletic & Academic Conference-American Division.

In a memorable performance, a senior from Mason recorded his first 100-yard rushing game, with 194 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-0 win against Colerain. The week also featured a standout moment from a junior kicker who converted a 57-yard field goal in a close 35-31 win over Dixie Heights. This kick is believed to be among the longest in Northern Kentucky and state history.

On the defensive side, a senior linebacker took charge of the Greater Western Ohio Conference with a season-high 17 tackles, showcasing his pivotal role in the Springboro team, although they fell to Fairmont 24-7.

With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the playoff race is shaping up to be an exciting finish for teams across the area.