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Robert Leifheit/The Fenwick Falcons travel to Hamilton to take on their rival, the Badin Rams, Saturday, October 17th, 2009.

Rams can also secure a share of the GCL Central Division title with a win over McNicholas.

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer Updated 8:39 AM Friday, October 30, 2009

HAMILTON — The end of the regular season comes tonight, Oct. 30, for Badin High School’s football team.

If the Rams want to still be playing in Week 11, they’ll need to take care of some business when they face McNicholas at Turpin.

A victory will put Badin in good — though not guaranteed — position for a Division V, Region 20 playoff berth and forge a tie with the Rockets for the Greater Catholic League Central Division championship. A loss will almost certainly put the Rams in uniform collection mode.

“We know we still have all of our goals out in front of us,” said Badin coach Bill Tenore, whose squad is 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the GCL. “I think this is definitely a game we can win. Our kids are pumped up and ready to go.”

The Rams are coming off an emotional 27-24 loss at Carroll, having watched the Patriots rally to win in the final 40 seconds.

And nobody should expect McNick (5-4, 4-2) to be a passive opponent tonight.

Not only can the Rockets snag the outright Central title, they’re still alive in the Division III, Region 12 chase. They need to win and get some help, but a playoff berth is not out of the question.

“It seems like a lot of things have to happen, so at this point, we don’t even mention the word ‘playoffs,’ ” McNick coach Steve Klonne said. “Badin is our Super Bowl. To be outright GCL Central champions, that’s enough motivation for us.”

The Rockets are the first triple-option team Badin has faced this year, with junior quarterback Matt Staubach leading the way on the ground (143 carries, 639 yards, 11 touchdowns).

But McNick runners other than Staubach combined for 167 yards last week against Fenwick, and Klonne hopes to give the Rams’ defense a diverse challenge.

“I think they’re going to have to take everything away,” Klonne said.

Defensively, the Rockets have been consistently solid all season, especially against the run.

“Our Achilles’ heel has been our pass defense,” Klonne said. “I’m sure Badin will try to take advantage of that.”

Said Tenore, “I think McNick’s defense is better than Carroll’s. I think they’re a little quicker than Carroll.”

Both teams are dealing with some injuries. For Badin, junior linebacker Andrew Kugler is out with a shoulder sprain and will be replaced by classmate Chris Swormstedt.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.

Today’s game

Who: Badin Rams (6-3, 3-3 GCL Central) vs. McNicholas Rockets (5-4, 4-2 GCL Central)

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Turpin High School, Cincinnati

Notable: Badin holds a 32-10-1 edge in the series, which began in 1960.

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