Week 3 prep football preview capsules

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Updated 8:53 AM Friday, September 11, 2009

Hamilton (0-2) at Taft (0-2)

Last year: Hamilton 16, Taft 0

Last week: Moeller 47, Hamilton 20; Badin 17, Taft 14

Hamilton will win if ... the defensive backs can keep track of the Taft receivers. Hamilton allowed Moeller to complete 16-of-21 passes last week, while the Senators were rolling up 267 passing yards against Badin. Big Blue can’t let Taft quarterback Cameron Mitchell throw to open receivers or else he’ll pick them apart.

Taft will win if ... if it catches the Hamilton players feeling sorry for themselves after an 0-2 start. While 0-2 themselves, the Senators are much better than the team Big Blue blanked last year. So if Hamilton steps off the bus with anything but a killer instinct, it’s going to be a long night for the guys in the silver helmets.

Ross (1-1) at Badin (2-0)

Last year: Did not play

Last week: Franklin 34, Ross 18; Badin 17, Taft 14

Ross will win if ... the Rams can improve their rushing defense. Franklin gouged Ross for 365 yards on the ground last week, and Badin used a consistent second-half running attack to rally past Taft last Friday.

Badin will win if ... its defense continues to play bend-but-don’t-break football. The Rams are giving up a decent amount of yards, but they’ve been stingy in the red zone, allowing only 22 points through two weeks.

Lakota West (1-1) at Fairmont (1-1)

Last year: Lakota West 20, Fairmont 0

Last week: Lakota West 24, Lancaster 12; Fairmont 53, Miamisburg 6

Lakota West will win if ... it controls the clock with senior RB Jordan Thompson. The offensive line opened up big holes last week for Thompson, who accounted for 204 yards on 21 carries and scored a pair of TDs. Another performance like that from Thompson would mean another win for West.

Fairmont will win if ... it gets another balanced offensive attack like it did last week in its blowout victory. QB Nick Bower tossed for 109 yards and two TDs, while the running game produced four total scores and four guys who rushed for at least 64 yards.

Lakota East (0-2) at La Salle (2-0)

Last year: La Salle 13, Lakota East 10

Last week: Glen Este 19, Lakota East 14; La Salle 44, Covington Catholic 35

Lakota East will win if ... it can get consistent play out of junior QB Michael Boyd, who is only making his third career start. Boyd showed flashes last week (152 yards passing) but also threw three INTs. A solid performance by Boyd is necessary to complement senior RB Pedro Powell.

La Salle will win if ... its balanced offense can put together another superb showing. The Lancers piled up 334 total yards in last week’s win, and much of that came from QB Andrew Kummer (158 yards, TD) and RB Zach Abbatiello (102, 3 TDs).

Mason (1-1) at Gahanna Lincoln (1-1)

Last year: Did not play

Last week: Centerville 24, Mason 14; Gahanna Lincoln 59, Lima Senior 7

Mason will win if ... the Comets can find some offensive balance. Mason passed for 298 yards and two touchdowns last week against Centerville, but got only five yards rushing from its running backs. Eventually the Comets will have to establish a running game to keep its defense from wearing down and to help open up some receivers.

Gahanna Lincoln will win if ... the Golden Lions can settle into a rhythm under second-year coach John Snoad. Gahanna was blown out in week one against Desales 38-0, then rebounded with a 52-point thrashing of Lima Senior. Mason probably falls somewhere between those two, so look for a good game.

Northwest (2-0) at Little Miami (2-0)

Last year: Did not meet

Last week: Northwest 42, Amelia 7; Little Miami 43, Goshen 21.

Northwest will win if ... the Knights control the clock with running back Preston Brown, who leads the FAVC with 440 yards rushing in two games. Last week, Brown scored five touchdowns and rushed for 249 yards on just 13 carries.

Little Miami will win if ... the Panther defense is able to control Brown and get their high-octane offense onto the field. Little Miami gained over 500 yards on offense last week, led by quarterback Kyle Cook, who completed 17-of-27 passes for 383 yards.

Waynesville (1-1) at Dayton Christian (1-1)

Last year: Did not meet

Last week: Clinton-Massie 13, Waynesville 9; Clark Montessori 31, Dayton Christian 7

Waynesville will win if ... The Spartans eliminate the mistakes that cost them in last week’s loss to Clinton Massie and manage to get running back Seth Millar untracked again. After an explosive opening week, Millar was held to jsut 57 yards rushing by the Falcons.

Dayton Christian will win if ... the Warriors are able to match the Spartans’ explosiveness on offense with their run-and-shoot attack. Junior quarterback Josh Mannix and senior fullback Ryan Halley are the players to watch for Dayton Christian.

Trotwood-Madison (1-1) at Lebanon (2-0)

Last year: Lebanon 42, Trotwood-Madison 20

Last week: Trotwood-Madison 45, Dunbar 0; Lebanon 28, Loveland 14.

Trotwood-Madison will win if ... the Rams get production out of running back Antwan Gilbert (165 yards rushing, 3 TDs last week) and eliminate the mistakes that plagued them in their season opening loss to Mason. While the Rams reduced their turnovers to just one last week against Dunbar, they still committed 10 penalties.

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