Steven Wright | Greene County News
Beavercreek could qualify for the postseason in a non-COVID year for the first time in school history depending on week nine results of the high school football season.
BEAVERCREEK — Beavercreek could wrap up its first qualifying berth to the OHSAA football playoffs this week.
The Beavers are currently 14th in the 17-team Region 2 computer rankings for Division I teams. Beavercreek’s only time it has participated in the postseason was during the 2020 COVID-19 effect campaign in which all schools willing to play made it into the playoffs.
Friday’s game at Wayne is one of several factors that may play into the potential qualifying berth.
A win for Beavercreek (3-5) would guarantee it enough points to stay ahead of the other challengers for the final few playoff sports. Beavercreek has lost 11 straight matchups with Wayne, however, and this year’s contest could prove to be just as difficult a task.
The Warriors possess the GWOC’s top offensive attack, as well as the second leading individual passer in Tyrell Lewis, Isaiah Thompson as the third leading rusher, and Jamier Averette-Brown and Teaunn Hunter as two of the top four receivers in the league. Wayne started the year 1-4 but has recently won three straight games including a 36-6 victory over league leader Springfield.
Should Beavercreek not get the victory this week, they still could have reason to celebrate afterward depending on other results in the state. A game in the Columbus area between Hillard Darby and Thomas Worthington will play a role in Beavercreek’s fate.
Darby is the lowest ranked team in Region 2 and is currently 0-8 overall. They must win both of their remaining games and Beavercreek must lose both of its final two games for Darby to have any chance of moving ahead. Even with two wins for Darby, it will still need help to overtake Beavercreek but that road map will be laid out next week if necessary.
Oakwood (2-6) at Bellbrook (7-1)
Oakwood had a promising start to its season but is currently on a six-game losing streak. The Lumberjacks have not been a pushover during that stretch, staying within two scores of Valley View, Brookville and Carlisle in its previous three games and all opponents with at least a .500 record for the season.
Jackson Thobe and Michael Woeste are one of the top passing-receiving duos in the SWBL this season, and Woeste is also the league’s second leading tackler.
Bellbrook with a win will be a near mathetical certainity in the Region 12 computer rankings to assure itself a home first round playoff game.
McNicholas (7-1) at Carroll (4-4)
McNicholas has been one of the surprise teams of the area andhas blasted most of its opponents. The game will feature the two leading passers in the GCL Co-ed between Braden Bobo of McNicholas with Carroll’s Josh Holzinger right behind him.
McNicholas has names all over the league leaderboard in other areas. Caleb Naumann is atop the rushing yardage list, Bo Tobin’s eight sacks are most of any player, and Nate Colyer having five interceptions is also best for league players.
Cedarville (3-5) at Greenon (1-7)
Greenon finally displayed its potential last week in getting its first win of the season against Catholic Central. The Knights boast some of the best size in the OHC but have overall struggled on offense.
Kai Ricks had more than 250 yards in last week’s win, but it was Colten Houseman getting the glory of running into the endzone.
Cedarville’s rushing attack could have similar success others have found against Greenon’s defense, meaning Colt Coffey could be in for another night of carrying the load for his offense.
Fairborn (3-5) at Troy (4-4)
The Skyhawks took care of business last week to keep its playoff hopes alive. Now Fairborn will have to prove its worthiness against other potential playoff contenders in order to earn a spot for the second straight year.
Troy seemingly play in a tight contest in a weekly basis with all four of its losses coming by 10 points or fewer. Aiden Kirkpatrick is not always called upon to have the ball in his hands at quarterback, but he regularly shows he’s more than capable of leading his team when asked.
Both sides will look to win this one in the trenches as Troy’s defense has shown signs lately of opponents being able to move the ball on the ground against them after five weeks of strong success defending the run.
Catholic Central (2-6) at Greeneview (8-0)
The Rams are currently ranked first in the Region 20 computer numbers. Greeneview is not guaranteed to stay there even should it finish out an unbeaten regular season, as the possibility a team it defeated back in week two, Waynesville, could achieve enough points to move ahead of them before the postseason arrives. That fate would be mostly out of control at this point, with Friday’s contest very much something that can manage instead.
It has been 16 quarters since any OHC South team has scored a point against Greeneview. The last team to do it? Catholic Central during last season’s game.
The Irish this year are coming in with a six-game losing streak its looking to break and has allowed at least 30 points in its last five games. CC has been rotating bodies as needed at many positions, but Matt Nye has been a standout performance with 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss to his credit on defense.
Xenia (8-0) at Greenville (0-8)
The Buccaneers are seeing school records fall again this season, and more could be on the way with stellar performances in the final road game of the regular season as Deaunte White and Gavin McManus on offense and Ronnie Butler on defense are all on the brink of creating more history.
There’s one more step for Xenia to take before a potentially momentous game arrives next week…
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Our top performer from Greene County for Week 8 of the season is Bellbrook junior Vincent Epifano. He ran for 272 yards on only 18 carries and scored multiple touchdowns in Bellbrook’s 38-10 win at Monroe.
Contact Steven Wright at 937-502-4498 and follow on X (formerly Twitter) @Steven_Wright_.
