Prep football: 5 local Week 2 football matchups to keep an eye on

Here are 5 games to keep an eye on Friday night in the Journal-News coverage area:

1. Ross (0-1) at Monroe (0-1)

It’s a Butler County matchup of two teams that no doubt look at each other and say, “This is a game we’ve got to win.”

Both teams were 1-9 last season. Ross lost to Badin 41-20 last week, while Monroe extended its losing streak to nine with a 49-7 defeat at the hands of Edgewood.

Ross won the last meeting in this series 40-7 in 2013. The Rams had a pair of 100-yard rushers that night, James Sandlin (17 carries, 115 yards) and John Kinkaid (14 carries, 111 yards).

WEEK 2 COVERAGE

2. Fenwick (1-0) vs. Belmont (0-1) at Welcome Stadium

The Bison blanked Fenwick 12-0 last season and went on to make the Division II playoffs, and Belmont provides a different kind of challenge with its double-wing running attack.

Of course, that ground game only produced 86 yards in a season-opening 43-8 loss to Troy, so the Bison have already lost more games than they did during the 2017 regular season.

The Falcons have turned some heads under first-year coach Dan Haverkamp as strong scrimmage play was followed by a 42-27 victory over Anna last week. But the schedule is a grind — Fenwick’s next five opponents (in order) are Clinton-Massie, Badin, Alter, McNicholas and Chaminade Julienne.

3. Kings (1-0) at Lakota East (1-0)

The Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown comes to Liberty Township for two Week 1 winners, Kings 17-14 over Lebanon and East 42-7 over Walnut Hills.

It’s a bit of an old-school matchup of two offenses that like to run the ball. Kings ran 60 times for 266 yards last week, while East ran 43 times for 278 yards.

East will go on the road for the first time next week to begin Greater Miami Conference play against Middletown.

4. Springfield Kenton Ridge (0-1) at Carlisle (0-1)

Week 1 didn’t treat either team kindly, with Kenton Ridge losing to Mechanicsburg 54-14 and Carlisle losing to Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy 41-14.

KR is one of only three Division IV schools on the Division V Indians’ schedule — everybody else is D-V or D-VI.

Senior quarterback Zach Jewell paced Carlisle’s rushing attack with 90 yards on 15 carries against CHCA. The Indians will be seeking more aerial production after completing only one pass in Week 1.

5. New Miami (1-0) at Greenon (0-1)
JessieBall got off to a rousing start in the village last Saturday as the Vikings blanked Gamble Montessori 32-0 in Jessie Hubbard’s debut as head coach, New Miami’s first shutout win since 2015.
The Vikings aren’t at full strength and don’t have great numbers to begin with, so getting to 2-0 probably won’t be an easy task for Division VII New Miami vs. Division V Greenon.

It’s hard to know what to expect from the Knights. Hubbard noted the size difference in the schools, but Greenon hasn’t had a winning season since 2007 (when it was Division III) and has a combined record of 20-80 in the last 10 years.

About the Author