Historic rivalries take center stage in Week 8 of the 2026 high school football season. There are plenty of battles for neighborhood bragging rights and supremacy in league and district standings.
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.
St. Xavier (3-4) at La Salle (3-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: The battle of North Bend Road rivals five miles apart has some big stakes. Neither one has a chance at the GCL-South title, which Moeller won last week, but both teams are looking to prove they are better than their records. Both teams have had brutal schedules and are looking to peak for strong postseason runs. La Salle has lost to Moeller and Elder and then fell against DII rival Withrow last week. St. X lost to nationally ranked Louisville Trinity last week.
La Salle is looking to beat the Bombers for the first time since 2019, including losing 28-7 last year, and snap an eight-game losing skid in Greater Catholic League-South.
St. X is ranked eighth in the OHSAA computer ratings in Division I, Region 4, and La Salle is 11th in Division II, Region 8, and would like a win to solidify its playoff position.
Predictions: St. Xavier (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber, Dermer)
Elder (5-2) at Highlands (6-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: After the Panthers won 40-16 last year at The Pit, these historic programs meet again at David Cecil Stadium in Fort Thomas. And they meet with designs on pursuing state championships. Elder is trying to regroup from two last-minute losses to GCL-South archrivals St. Xavier and Moeller. Highlands has won six straight since losing to one of Kentucky’s top 6A teams, Frederick Douglass, and is coming off a resounding 38-20 win over archrival Covington Catholic.
This is a battle of two of the best quarterbacks in Greater Cincinnati, Elder’s Kaden Estep and Highlands’ Bryce Armstrong. Both have had outstanding numbers in the air and on the ground, and will challenge the other’s defense.
Predictions: Elder (Harrison, Laughman, Weber); Highlands (Connelly, Souder, Dermer)
Middletown (4-3) at Lakota East (4-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: Like their records suggest, both Greater Miami Conference rivals have had their ups and downs. Middletown, 4-2 in the GMC, is seventh in the Region 4 computer rankings, while the Thunderhawks are tied with Colerain in 11th place, on the playoff bubble.
Both teams have lost to Lakota West and Princeton by big margins in league play. Lakota East was upset by Fairfield last week, 35-31. East’s defense has struggled all season, allowing nearly 30 points per game. QB Nile Knutson has been able to counteract that, throwing for 1,903 yards and 19 touchdowns. He will look to lead Lakota East to enough points against the tough Middies defense. East has won three of the last five meetings, but the Middies won 27-6 last season, limiting East to 230 yards offense.
Predictions: Lakota East (Connelly, Laughman, Weber, Dermer); Middletown (Harrison, Souder)
Colerain (4-3) at Lakota West (6-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: The Tom Bolden Bowl has some extra flavor this season. Colerain senior quarterback Roman Garr enters the game with 1,925 passing yards, just 15 away from Bolden’s single-season school record. Bolden has not lost to his alma mater since taking over the Firebirds program in 2019, winning each of the last six years, with the closest margin 10 points.
Except for a 27-24 loss to Princeton, Bolden’s Firebirds have rolled over their other five Greater Miami Conference opponents, winning by an average score of 40-8. Kenyon Norman continues to lead the way, rushing for 1,181 yards and 20 touchdowns. Garr is hoping to lead Colerain to its first winning season since 2020.
Predictions: Lakota West (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber, Dermer)
Talawanda (6-1) at Harrison (6-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: The stakes are high for this rivalry. Both teams are 1-0 in Southwest Ohio Conference play, and the winner will clinch at least a share of the title in the final season of the league, which will officially dissolve after football season. Both teams are also jockeying for positioning in the Division II, Region 8 standings. Harrison is currently third, in a bye position, and Talawanda is sixth.
Harrison has won three straight over the Brave, including 14-0 last season. Brady Lawhon has been one of Greater Cincinnati’s best quarterbacks, throwing for 1,618 yards and 16 touchdowns. Talawanda’s defense has been outstanding, allowing 26 points in six games before conceding 26 in a win over Northwest last week. Jake Van Gorden has thrown for 1,221 yards and nine TDs for Talawanda. They rush for 160 yards per game and will be look to be effective against a Wildcats defense that has been strong against the pass all year but has struggled against the run.
Predictions: Harrison (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber, Dermer)
Williamsburg (6-1) at Blanchester (4-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: The winner of this game likely takes the Southern Buckeye Conference-National title. Williamsburg has won the last two titles outright, while Blanchester hasn't stood alone at the top since 2022.
Dual-threat quarterback Landen Brandenburg has grown in confidence for the Wildcats. While he doesn't have the gaudiest numbers (25 completions for 486 yards), his QB rating has been over 100 in every game he's played. Oh yeah, he also leads the team with 613 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. The defense also held on in a 21-14 win over Roger Bacon, thanks in part to five sacks.
Blanchester has lit up the scoreboard in each of its four wins, averaging 41 points. This game could come down to who has more success on the ground as Adeson Baker is right behind Brandenburg with 600 rushing yards and eight scores. The Wildcats have forced 10 turnovers this season; Frankie McIntosh is a ball hawk with three fumble recoveries on the season.
Predictions: Williamsburg (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber, Dermer)
Madeira (4-3) at Indian Hill (5-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: For Madeira, can the offense wake up after combining for 21 points in losses to Deer Park and Wyoming? Cooper Blackburn has thrown an interception in each of the last two games and is coming off a 62-yard performance against Wyoming. A first win over Indian Hill since 2022 would go a long way toward its postseason hopes.
Led by Joey Jernigan, Topher Wachtel and Luke Mitchel, the Braves have allowed one touchdown in their last 12 quarters of play. The certainly won't look discombobulated in their first test in approximately a month. Indian Hill is in a similar position as Madeira, sitting on the playoff bubble in DIII, Region 12.
Predictions: Indian Hill (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber, Dermer)
Purcell Marian (4-3) at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (6-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: Purcell Marian can finally establish some consistency this season with a win. The Cavaliers have won two in a row after a two-game skid. William Baylor and Antonio Jackson connected for their lone touchdown against Rock Hill, then Baylor accounted for 137 yards and three touchdowns against New Miami. The defense has also forced six turnovers in the last two games.
CHCA has had little trouble with its local opponents, its closest win being a 24-12 result over Madeira. The Eagles are coming off of two straight shutouts where the defense combined for seven sacks. They didn't have a 100-yard rusher in either of those games, but three different players scored a touchdown on the ground.
Predictions: CHCA (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber, Dermer)
Beechwood (6-0) at St. Henry (4-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: Beechwood gave up a touchdown to Walton-Verona last week and is halfway to the quota of the points it normally allows in district play. Jokes aside, the Tigers have truly found a new defensive gear with the return of Noel Rash, with the exception of Covington Catholic scoring 35 points. We all know what the offense is capable of, but the it's not a stretch (or a diss to Jay Volker) to say this is the best the offense has looked since Rash was last at the helm in 2022.
St. Henry is one of the best stories in Northern Kentucky. In their first season, the Crusaders made the playoffs. Now they're one district win away from hosting a playoff game. When Tim Odom sets goals, his team meets them. St. Henry relies heavily on Lucas Pate, who is averaging 143.5 rushing yards per game. This week will be a different beast as Beechwood is allowing 82 rushing yards per game.
Predictions: Beechwood (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber, Dermer)
Dayton (6-0) at Bellevue (1-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
What to watch: The Greendevils have been the class of Class 1A in Northern Kentucky this season and look like the favorite to earn the top seed in their district. They have the third-highest scoring average in NKY and the fifth-best margin of victory in the entire state. Malachi Kennedy has 14 total touchdowns, but Kaden Anderson has been a pleasant surprise with 534 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
This certainly hasn't been the season that Bellevue envisioned; the Tigers are currently on a four-game losing streak and allowing 36.8 points per game this season. Kayden Brown has been a bright spot with 417 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The defense and special teams have also stepped up at times, totaling five interceptions, three fumbles returned for touchdowns and a kick return touchdown.
The Tigers have won the last two matchups and own a 28-9 advantage since the turn of the century.
Predictions: Dayton (Connelly, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber, Dermer)
2026 season records
Chase Souder 57-13 (7-3 last week)
Brendan Connelly 56-14 (8-2)
Melanie Laughman 55-15 (7-3)
James Weber 55-15 (8-2)
Alex Harrison 54-16 (8-2)
Shelby Dermer 52-18 (7-3)
Readers 43-17 (7-3)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Predicting top 10 football games in Week 8, with reader input
