The Greater Cincinnati high school football playoffs got fully underway on Nov. 7 as Kentucky’s postseason got started and the top four seeds in each Ohio region took the field after a week off.
Here’s a recap of all the top action, plus a list of some key statistical performers.
Princeton rallies for wild win over Winton Woods in 4-hour thriller
The thick fog that caused havoc and brought gorgeous pictures at some football games around the area tonight didn’t arrive at Fairfield Alumni Stadium until Princeton players started heading toward their buses to go home.
By then, Winton Woods players prepared for a somber bus ride, while the Vikings were in disbelief and joy after they prevailed in one of the longest and weirdest playoff games in recent Southwest Ohio history.
Princeton defeated Winton Woods 23-22 in a regional quarterfinal that ended nearly four hours after kickoff. Princeton, 9-2, advances to play 11-0 Elder at The Pit next week. The Warriors finish 9-3.
The Vikings scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the game after the tough and talented Warriors defense shut them down for most of the contest and the offense staked them to a 16-0 lead.
Winton Woods led 22-10 early in the fourth quarter, and had the ball at the Princeton 10 after Rihyael Kelley recovered a fumble. But the Warriors committed several penalties, and Princeton’s Gianni Simpson intercepted a pass at their own 5.
At that point, Princeton had 18 yards total offense, and Winton Woods had six sacks. Princeton’s first touchdown came after Andrew Wells returned the second-half kickoff to the Warriors 4-yard line. But the Vikings found a way to rally at the end.
Penalties were a damaging blow for the Warriors, as they committed a whopping 21 of them for 152 yards. Princeton had nine of their own for 75 yards.
Princeton sophomore Neamiah Neal scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes, a 38-yard pass from David Hambrick III, which capped a 76-yard drive, then a 30-yard pass from Hambrick with 1:36 to go. The winning touchdown came after the Vikings appeared to partially block a punt, taking over in Warriors territory.
Neal stepped up in place of his brother, Zion Neal, who was shaken up in the first half.
Bryshawn Brown drove the Warriors down to the 18-yard line. The Warriors didn’t gain another yard in three plays, and Michael Galaes barely missed a field goal from 35 yards out at the buzzer.
Brown, a Northern Illinois commit, who broke Winton Woods passing records this year, threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, two to Jon’ir Travis from 77 and 29 yards.
Princeton advances to the third round of the playoffs for the third straight year. The Vikings last played Elder in the 2020 playoffs, losing 26-21.
Clinton-Massie’s loss to Taft marks the end of a coaching era for Dan McSurley
With the season officially in the books after a 44-7 loss at Taft, the Falcons are bidding farewell to head coach Dan McSurley, who spent 29 years on the sideline, 25 at Clinton-Massie. The Wilmington News-Journal first reported the move.
He had a career record of 308-92, including a 288-72 mark with the Falcons that included state championships in 2012, 2013 and 2021. He is a member of the Clinton County Sports Hall of Fame and the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Moeller, St. Xavier set up regional semifinal rematch
Three Greater Catholic League-South teams remain in the DI, Region 4 playoffs and two of them will square off for a spot in the regional final after Moeller and St. Xavier moved on Nov. 7.
No. 2 Moeller (8-3) overcame a 14-12 halftime deficit to No. 7 Lakota West Friday at Mount St. Joseph University.
“That was a gritty win,” Moeller head coach Bert Bathiany said. “They made us earn it. I’m really proud of the response from our guys.”
Moeller got a trio of touchdown tosses from reigning Mr. Ohio Football Matt Ponatoski. However, the Crusaders were led by its rushing attack as Tyler Josleyn racked up a season-high (and unofficial) 173 yards on 34 attempts.
Josleyn carried the rock 26 times in a dominant second half by Moeller on both sides of the ball. The senior’s two-yard touchdown run with 10:26 remaining gave Moeller a 26-14 lead.
“We played a pretty good game, especially in that second half,” Josleyn said. “It was a fun game to get after it.”
Lakota West blocked a pair of first-half extra points and got two touchdown passes from quarterback Jackson Smith to take the lead at the half. In the second half, Moeller’s defense allowed just 26 yards, zero points and got an interception from junior Marino Middleton.
“Just play our ball,” Moeller defensive lineman Christian Harris said. “We came out, stopped the run because they have two really good running backs. We stopped the run and made them pass, that was our objective.”
Lakota East got on the board first against St. Xavier thanks to a 27-yard pass from Nile Knutson to Jayden Seay six minutes into the game.
St. Xavier came to life four plays later when a Daniel Vollmer 51-yard touchdown run led to 42 straight Bomber points. The Bombers got a 37-yard interception return from Jax Hendon and a 65-yard return by Brayden Reilly on a blocked field goal.
Lakota East outgained St. Xavier 316 to 219, but Steve Specht’s game plan centered around Ryder Hooks, who finished with 104 yards on 22 carries.
“I told him after the game that I look back at my career and how many times there was one guy where we said, ‘That guy’s not beating us. Somebody else might but that guy’s not.’ That’s how talented that young man is,” Specht said.
The Bombers hadn’t played a game since Oct. 17 after their Week 10 opponent canceled and they received a first-round bye. While there were signs of rust early, St. Xavier quickly left no doubts.
“The past couple weeks, we’ve just been hitting each other. It hasn’t been fun but it had to be done. We were competing every single day just to make sure we were ready for this game,” Reilly said.
In addition to grabbing three interceptions, St. Xavier also sacked Lakota East quarterback Nile Knutson seven times.
Moeller has won seven straight over St. Xavier dating back to 2021, including a 30-13 victory in September.
“We plan on playing them two times every single year,” Bathiany said. “They’re hitting their stride and they’re ready for playoff football. It will be a classic Moeller-X matchup like it always is.”
Dixie Heights drops heartbreaker to Collins after epic comeback
Fans at Colonel Stadium were treated to a shootout of a playoff opener – with two quarterbacks dueling and combining for nearly 1,000 yards of offense and 13 touchdowns.
Dixie Heights senior quarterback Mason Fields went toe-for-toe with Collins junior quarterback Kaden Goodin in the first round of the KHSAA Class 5A playoffs. But despite Fields’ heroic effort, Dixie couldn’t complete the rally late, as the Titans defeated the Colonels 52-49, courtesy of a game-winning field goal with one second remaining in the game.
Fields totaled 458 yards of offense, including seven passing touchdowns in a game in which he became the Colonels’ all-time leading passer – and officially his final game as a Colonel.
“Mason’s a competitor,” Dixie coach Patrick Burke said of Fields. “He’s going to have a heck of a career at the next level. More importantly, his character, his leadership and his integrity is second to none. . . He’s a heck of a young man. I’m so proud to have coached him and know he’s going to be very successful in his life after football.”
Despite falling behind 21-0 early, Fields rallied the Colonels (4-7) back, paving way to a 35-28 halftime deficit.
Courtesy of a couple of second-half takeaways, the Colonel defense seemed to find more of a rhythm, including interceptions on a fake punt and a deep pass attempt by Goodwin, just his second turnover of the season.
With the defense handing it back to the red-hot Colonel passing attack, Fields continued to shred the Titan defense and eventually tied the contest at 49-49 late in the fourth quarter following his third touchdown connection to senior wideout Nishawn Golsby. He hauled in 248 receiving yards, this time a 46-yarder.
Following the equalizing score however, the Colonel defense struggled to contain Goodin, who gashed their defense with his ability to throw on the run and create in space. Goodin quickly drove the Titans 55 yards down the field, setting the stage for a walk-off 19-yard field goal for Titan kicker Gage Miller.
With the loss, Dixie ends its season at 4-7. Collins (8-3) advances to the KHSAA Class 5A second round, where the team faces Woodford County.
Who were the top performers in Week 12 of the high school football season?
Tommy Becker, Elder: The senior had 148 rushing yards on 32 carries and scored four touchdowns of 2, 1, 1 and 3 yards. Becker has scored four touchdowns in three of his last four games and has 18 for the season.
C.J. Bryant, Middletown: The senior linebacker had six tackles and a 95-yard pick-six in Middletown’s 30-0 playoff win over Lebanon.
Preston Flick, Harrison: Flick ran 23 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns in Harrison’s 35-31 win over Kings.
Nishawn Golsby, Dixie Heights: He caught seven passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns.
Tyler Josleyn, Moeller: Josleyn ran 34 times for 173 yards and a touchdown in Moeller’s 33-14 playoff victory over Lakota West.
Zachary Maier, Mariemont: The senior threw for 158 yards and three touchdowns in Mariemont’s 30-0 win over Miami East.
Brayden Reilly, St. Xavier: He had nine tackles, forced multiple incompletions and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown.
Rio Litmer, Highlands: He tossed five touchdowns in the first half along with 248 passing yards and 47 rushing yards in a 35-7 win over Greenup County.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati high school football Week 12 takeaways, top performers
