The third week of the Greater Cincinnati high school football season showcased intense competition, mirroring the sweltering weather conditions. As teams reach the one-third mark of the regular season, the landscape of conference races in Ohio is beginning to solidify, while in Kentucky, district contenders are emerging.
One of the most notable games featured Newport Central Catholic and Boone County, where Boone County appeared poised for a historic start. Asa LaGrand's 45-yard touchdown pass to Amare Newberry gave the Rebels a 21-7 lead just before halftime. However, the Thoroughbreds responded quickly, with Parker Hurtt connecting with Van Hundemer for a 19-yard touchdown, narrowing the gap to 21-14 by halftime. The second half saw NewCath's Thomas Tweheus return the kickoff for a touchdown, leveling the score.
Newport Central Catholic seized control of the game, ultimately flipping the score to 34-21 by the end of the third quarter. Coach Terry Brown praised his team's resilience, stating, "It started off a little slow. We didn’t help ourselves too much with turnovers, kind of put ourselves in a hole. Boone County came out and they were on fire." The victory marked a significant turnaround for NewCath, who had struggled offensively in their previous games, scoring only 10 points combined.
Boone County's hopes for a 3-0 start were dashed, and they will need to regroup as they face Walton-Verona next week. Meanwhile, NewCath aims to build on this momentum against Conner. Walton-Verona also had a strong showing, shutting out Ludlow 33-0, marking their first win of the season and denying Ludlow a chance to start 3-0 for the first time since 2018.
In another thrilling matchup, Lakota East managed to hold off Oak Hills in a nail-biting 31-28 victory. Despite facing a second-and-25 situation after a mishap, Lakota East coach Jon Kitna opted for aggressive play-calling, trusting his junior quarterback Nile Knutson, who threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns. Kitna expressed confidence in his quarterback, stating, "He’s the best quarterback in the GMC." This win was particularly meaningful for Lakota East, as they bounced back from a previous heavy loss to Lakota West.
Goshen Warriors celebrated their first 3-0 start since 2017 with a convincing 34-12 victory over Aiken, outscoring their opponents 123-19 in the process. Similarly, Lebanon also improved to 3-0, defeating West Clermont 34-20, with standout performances from running back Logan Schmenk, who has amassed 644 rushing yards this season.
Badin football continues to impress, maintaining their unbeaten streak with a 31-7 victory over Edgewood. Junior running back Chase Even had a breakout game, rushing for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Badin's defense also played a crucial role, forcing three turnovers and stifling Edgewood's offensive efforts.
As the season progresses, standout players are emerging from the pack. Newport Central Catholic's Van Hundemer was instrumental in his team's comeback, scoring multiple touchdowns and forcing a fumble. Other notable performances included Nile Knutson from Lakota East, who displayed exceptional skill with four touchdown passes, and Chase Even from Badin, who significantly contributed to his team's win.
With several teams still unbeaten and others looking to bounce back, the Greater Cincinnati high school football landscape is shaping up for an exciting season ahead.
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