Prep football: Here’s five local matchups to keep an eye on Friday

Here are five Week 10 prep football games in the Journal-News coverage area to keep an eye on Friday:

1. Waynesville (6-3) at Madison (9-0)

It’s not every day you get a chance to finish a 10-0 regular season, but that’s where the Mohawks are right now. Madison has been been hammering teams all year, so it’s hard to envision Waynesville — even as improved as it is — pulling off an upset. That’s why they play the game, eh? The Mohawks’ bid for a Division V state championship will begin in earnest next week, once again at home.

WEEK 10 FOOTBALL COVERAGE

» Waynesville on the rise as Madison eyes 10-0 season

» MVC Gray title, D-VII playoffs in New Miami’s sights

» Madison, Fenwick maintain spots in AP state poll

2. Mason (7-2) at Fairfield (7-2)

It’s a matchup of two Greater Miami Conference teams headed for the Division I postseason. They’re also playing for the right to say “We’re No. 2” in the conference race behind Colerain. Mason has won the last three meetings in the series, two on shutouts, and the Indians’ last win came in 2013. Fairfield may have the better team in terms of pure athleticism, but the Comets are big, physical and play with a winning mentality, so we’ll see.

3. Mount Healthy (5-4) at Edgewood (7-2)

Edgewood controls its own destiny as far as making the Division II playoffs, and the Cougars seem to have righted the ship since back-to-back losses to Ross and Winton Woods. But the Owls have a lot to play for as well — a victory would mean a lot in their quest to secure a Division III playoff berth. The Southwest Ohio Conference championship is also still in question. Edgewood and Harrison both have one SWOC loss, while Mount Healthy and Little Miami each have two. Harrison travels to Northwest on Friday, and Little Miami is done with conference play.

4. New Miami (5-4) at Dayton Christian (7-2)

New Miami is on a four-game winning streak and hasn’t won a Miami Valley Conference championship since 1988, but the Vikings can earn the outright Gray Division title with a win at Harmon Field in Miamisburg. NM shared the crown with Batavia and Cincinnati Country Day in ’88 — its last outright championship came in 1984. Oh, by the way, the Vikings can still get a Division VII berth. It’s all easier said than done against a DCS squad that’s 29-11 over the last four seasons, and the Warriors are fighting for a place in Division VI postseason.

5. Sycamore (6-3) at Lakota East (6-3)

The GMC rivals could both end up in the Division I playoffs, but it could also be a “winner in, loser out” scenario, so this is a big Region 4 clash. Many observers will tell you East is simply the better team and should win at home, but Scott Dattilo’s Aviators have owned the Thunderhawks the last three years. Look for East to try to impose its will on the ground in this one.

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