After three weeks, contenders are emerging in high school football. For struggling teams, there is still plenty of time to turn things around.
As September begins, it's time to preview top can't-miss games for Week 4 high school football
. Predicting games this year are writers Brendan Connelly, Shelby Dermer, Alex Harrison, Chase Souder and James Weber, as well as assistant sports editor, Melanie Laughman.In addition, we are now giving fans a voice in the process. Be sure to cast your vote - one vote per reader -on cincinnati.com until 4 p.m. Friday for readers' choice game predictions.
La Salle (2-1) at Elder (3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: It’s the first Greater Catholic League-South game of the season!
Expect the beat to roll on for the Elder defense,
which, behind Brayden Tepe, Pete Fortkamp and Max Doogan, has allowed 10 points and 278 yards per game. The high school version of the ‘Purple People Eaters’ most recently forced three turnovers against East Central. Meanwhile, Kaden Estep (689 passing yards, 365 rushing yards, 10 total touchdowns) and Andrew Lyman (305 receiving yards, six touchdowns) have both looked like Mr. Football candidates.
La Salle is coming off a back-and-forth, last-minute loss to Fairmont. The Lancers gave up 317 rushing yards, capped off by the go-ahead score with 2:04 left in the game. They’ve given up less than 100 passing yards in the last two games but are susceptible to a capable quarterback. Colerain’s Roman Garr torched them for 379 yards in Week 1. Quarterback Garrett Fraley is third in the GCL-South in passing yards and fourth in rushing yards. Javion Presswood leads the league with three interceptions.
The Panthers and Lancers have split each of their last six meetings.
Predictions: Elder (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Fairfield (1-2) at Colerain (1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: As Jordan Stevens works to restore the glory of the Colerain football program, a big step would be to have the school’s first winning season since 2020. A big step toward that would be to knock off the Indians at home this week.
Colerain can’t quite run with the elites yet, as evidenced by a 49-6 loss to Princeton last week, but the Cards showed their potential with a 41-7 rout of Hamilton in Week 2. The Cardinals have had trouble with the Indians since 2020, losing all four games by an average of 32 points, including 38-0 in 2025. Colerain beat Fairfield twice in 2019, once in the playoffs, and the teams didn’t play in 2020 or 2021.
Fairfield is 0-2 in Greater Miami Conference play, losing 21-0 to Oak Hills and 27-20 to Middletown after a win over Wayne in Week 1.
Corrious “Choo Choo” Booker rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns against Wayne and got 83 yards against Middletown in defeat. Sean Clore threw for over 200 yards against Oak Hills but Middletown held him to 111 yards.
Fairfield has allowed 235 passing yards per game, including 276 to Oak Hills. That could be a problem for them against Colerain’s Garr, who averages 288 passing yards per game with seven touchdown passes. He has also rushed for 186 yards in three games. Garr has several targets.
Colerain racked up 507 yards against La Salle in Week 1, but couldn’t finish enough drives, while limiting the Lancers to 295 yards.
Predictions: Colerain (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber), Fairfield (Dermer)
Oak Hills (2-1) at Middletown (1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: The Highlanders continue their mission for their first winning season since 2006. Middletown is off to a 1-2 start with losses against two of the best teams in the state, Elder and Princeton.
Middletown rallied late to beat Fairfield last week, 27-20. Leading 19-14, the Middies bent but didn’t break to hold Fairfield to two short field goals, then Gavin Nolan led them on a late game-winning drive. Nolan, a senior, took over for senior Kolby Morgerson in the middle of the game. Both QBs threw for over 100 yards. The Middies also haven’t had standout rusher Demetrian James available this season.
Oak Hills beat Fairfield 21-0 in Week 2, and lost 31-28 to Lakota East. The Highlanders committed four turnovers in the first half and trailed 31-7 at the break but nearly came all the way back to win.
Oak Hills has one of the best passing combos in the city. Lincoln Schreiber has thrown for 812 yards and nine touchdowns. A lot of that has gone to Division I prospect Cordell Ball, who has 21 catches for 437 yards and six TDs. Dereion Kidd also had a big game receiving against Lakota East.
Predictions: Oak Hills (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber), Middletown (Dermer)
Anderson (2-1) at Lebanon (3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: Along with Winton Woods, these two teams tied for first in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference at 2-0. Lebanon is off to a 3-0 start for the second year in a row, with ECC wins over Loveland and West Clermont. Logan Schmenk is one of the city’s leading rushers with 644 yards (214.7 per game) and nine touchdowns. After a 59-13 loss to Louisville Trinity, Anderson has beaten West Clermont and Little Miami by a total of 121-33. Owen Scalf and his returning stable of targets have played well in league games. Anderson has won all six games against the Warriors as ECC foes, including 36-10 last year.
Predictions: Anderson (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Wyoming (3-0) at Indian Hill (2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: Indian Hill has won the Cincinnati Hills League two of the last three seasons on the strength of a win over the Cowboys, including a 28-7 win last year. A double decker of talented QBs, Devlan Daniel and David Dupee, return under center to scare the opposing ‘D’. Indian Hill lost 42-0 to one of Kentucky’s best teams, Beechwood, but has dominant wins over Roger Bacon and New Richmond. The Braves have had strong defense and junior Jacob Alexander has emerged at running back, averaging 145 yards in the two wins. He had four TD rushes against New Richmond. Daniel hasn’t had to do much as a passer, but has rushed for 259 yards and three scores.
Wyoming has won its three games by a total of 118-32. Dupee, in his third year as a starter, has had an outstanding start, throwing for 772 yards (257 per game) and 11 touchdowns against no interceptions. He has over 5,000 career passing yards and 59 TDs. Brylan Miltenberger and Donovan Brown have 17 catches apiece. Brown has seven TDs and Miltenberger three.
The key will be if Indian Hill can attack Wyoming’s defense, which only allows 150 yards per game, and whether Dupee can lead the offense to a better showing against Indian Hill than in 2025.
Predictions: Indian Hill (Dermer, Souder), Wyoming (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Weber).
Withrow (2-1) at Harrison (3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: Two teams that hope to make noise in the Division II playoffs meet up near the Indiana border. Harrison looks to start 4-0 for the second time in three seasons. The Wildcats had impressive shutouts of Milford and McNicholas before rallying to beat Beavercreek, 33-28.
Brady Lawhon is one of the city’s leading passers, throwing for 824 yards (275 per game) and eight touchdowns against no interceptions. Harrison rushes for 161 yards per game, led by Wyatt Dennis with 285 and three TDs. Ben Markarian leads the defense with 18 tackles and four interceptions.
Withrow routed Walnut Hills 50-13 and Chaminade-Julienne 45-12 before losing 23-13 to Division I Springboro. Iowa State commit Charles Alexander has eight catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns but only had one reception against Springboro, and the key for Withrow is if he can get untracked against Harrison’s tough passing defense.
Predictions: Harrison (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Hughes (3-0) at Purcell Marian (2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: The Big Red is 3-0 for the first time since 2021 (when its first two games were canceled) but it has come with a little baited breath. They used a second-half comeback to beat Roger Bacon and the defense has given up 27 points per game. Kyell Alexander has been a steady presence at quarterback, while Nehemiah Engleman is the team’s leading receiver while showing glimpses of excellence at running back.
Purcell Marian’s two wins have been built on defense. The Cavaliers, led by former Big Red head coach Chris Mobley, have forced four turnovers in each of their wins. Those really came in handy as the offense scored just 18 points against Meadowdale. Purcell doesn’t yet have a 100-yard rusher or 100-yard receiver, but three players have two rushing touchdowns and four players have a receiving touchdown.
Predictions: Hughes (Connelly, Harrison, Souder), Purcell Marian (Laughman, Weber).
Dayton (3-0) at Ludlow (2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: Ludlow missed out on its first 3-0 start since 2018. On the flip side, Dayton can go to 4-0 for the first time since 2020, when it started 5-0 but fell to the Panthers in the first round of the playoffs.
After close wins against Owen County and Newport, Ludlow lost to dominant Walton-Verona. Brothers Deaken and Miller Reed couldn’t establish the ground game and the Bearcats benefited from two turnovers. A good showing against Dayton will help prepare Ludlow for the back end of the schedule against Bishop Brossart, Holy Cross and St. Henry.
On the flip side, the Greendevils have been an offensive force through three games. They’ve averaged 46.3 points per game. Malachi Kennedy was the featured running back heading into the season, but he hasn’t had to shoulder the entire load as Kaden Anderson also has over 200 rushing yards. The defense has only forced four turnovers but has been more impressive up front, holding its opponents to less than 100 rushing yards per game
The Panthers hold a 20-11 lead in the series since 1998 and dominated the series from 2008 to 2021, but Dayton has won three of the last five meetings.
Predictions: Dayton (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber), Ludlow (Dermer)
Beechwood (2-0) at Simon Kenton (2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: There’s a bit of history at stake in this matchup as Beechwood’s Noel Rash goes for his 200th career victory. If the Tigers play like they have in the first two weeks of the season, that will be a formality.
Emmett Queen has 430 passing yards so far and Nate Pabst and Tyler Fryman have both returned kickoffs for touchdowns. The defense has also allowed less than 300 total yards of offense.
The Pioneers are searching for a bounce back after losing 42-7 to Covington Catholic and putting up just 143 yards of offense and committing three turnovers. Simon Kenton’s level has dipped a bit each week since a season-opening win at Dixie Heights; a win or even a competitive loss could do wonders for them the rest of the season.
The Tigers have won six straight matchups and own a 9-2 advantage in the 21st century.
Predictions: Beechwood (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Boyle County (3-0) at Highlands (2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11
What to watch: It’s one of the games of the week in the Bluegrass state and could be a potential postseason preview.
Highlands has looked downright dominant since dropping its season opener to Frederick Douglass, beating Cooper with a bull rush of a ground game and topping Campbell County with 322 yards through the air. The Bluebirds nearly took down Boyle County in 2025 but abandoned the running game that had worked so well. Highlands hasn’t beaten Boyle County since 2012.
The Rebels won their first two games by an average of 33 points, then escaped a Lexington Catholic upset bid in week 3. They will be without Oklahoma University commit Seneca Driver, who was ejected in the second half against LexCath. Nathaniel Schepman is the only other receiver with over 100 total yards, but Boyle County has three players with over 200 rushing yards.
Predictions: Boyle County (Dermer, Harrison, Weber), Highlands (Connelly, Laughman, Souder)
2026 season records
Chase Souder 27-3 (9-1 last week)
Shelby Dermer 26-4 (8-2)
Alex Harrison 26-4 (8-2)
Melanie Laughman 26-4 (8-2)
James Weber 26-4 (8-2)
Brendan Connelly 24-6 (8-2)
Readers 15-5 (7-3)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Predicting top 10 football games in Week 4, with reader input
