It all comes down to this. Week 10 of the Greater Cincinnati high school football season is upon us. There is a lot to play for this weekend.
League races will be decided and playoff pairings will be set in Southwest Ohio. Northern Kentucky's playoff pairing will also be set, with an exception or two. Indiana starts its playoffs, with East Central, Lawrenceburg and South Dearborn beginning their journeys for a state title.
The battle for bragging rights in The Enquirer building will be decided this week as well. It has been close all season, and last week's action was hard for everyone to pick. 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 have been 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.
Lebanon (7-2) at Winton Woods (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
What to watch: This is a huge game for the Division I playoff picture. The winner will have a chance for a first-round bye in Region 4 and will clinch at least one home game in the first round next week. Winton Woods can also share the Eastern Cincinnati Conference title with Anderson if Loveland pulls off a massive upset this week.
Lebanon runs behind Logan Schmenk, who has had an outstanding season with 1,399 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. Mason Reed and Wyatt Lassen have been a potent passing combination.
Isaiah Garrett leads the Warriors' offense with 941 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He rushed for 204 against Anderson, and the Warriors put up 456 against the Raptors but couldn’t slow down Anderson’s offense in a 47-21 loss. Lebanon’s defense has struggled all season. The Warriors lost 52-13 to Anderson and also took a wild 63-60 loss to Turpin despite putting up 629 yards on offense. Besides Anderson, Winton Woods has allowed a touchdown or less in five of its other six league games, so Lebanon will need to keep rolling on offense to beat them.
Predictions: Winton Woods (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Edgewood (5-4) at Monroe (6-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
What to watch: This is a huge game for Edgewood, which needs a win and help to get into the Division II playoffs. Monroe already has a berth in the Division III bracket and can improve its seeding but not get a home game next week.
Edgewood has won all three games as Southwestern Buckeye League foes, including 42-7 last year. Brody O’Banion and Carter Breedlove have led the Edgewood offense, combining for more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns. Both can reach 1,000 yards rushing this week. Carter Canaan has 10 sacks for the defense.
Prince Mabasa will be a challenge for the Edgewood defense. He has rushed for 1,228 yards and 20 touchdowns, including 298 yards and four scores against Clinton-Massie. Mason Reynolds has 14 touchdown passes for the Hornets.
Predictions: Edgewood (Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber); Monroe (Connelly)
Northwest (8-1) at Harrison (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
What to watch: This is the final contest in the history of the Southwest Ohio Conference. Harrison, 2-0 in the league, will win the championship outright with a victory. Northwest, 1-1, will force a three-way tie with Talawanda with a win. Both teams are also vying for home playoff games and a possible first-round bye. Harrison is in Division II and Northwest DIII.
Harrison has won the last three games in the series, including 34-3 last year. This matchup will pit Harrison’s potent passing attack versus Northwest’s powerful running game.
Brady Lawhon has thrown for 1,884 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Wildcats against only two interceptions. Northwest rushes for 235 yards per game led by Ethan Dixon and Jaylen Lilly, who could both end up over 1,000 yards by the end of the game.
Harrison’s strength on defense is in the air, with 14 interceptions, but the Wildcats have struggled against good running teams. Lilly has thrown for 13 touchdowns but only averages 10 attempts per game, so the Knights will look to keep the ball on the ground and generate offense.
Predictions: Harrison (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Blanchester (5-4) at Talawanda (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
What to watch: The Wildcats will travel 60 miles to play the Brave in Oxford, returning the favor after Talawanda traveled and won 37-7 last year. The winner clinches a playoff spot. Talawanda, in Division II, can still win a spot with a defeat, while Blanchester, in Division V, is likely eliminated with a loss.
Leading Blanchester is Brayden Behymer, who has thrown for 1,355 yards and 16 touchdowns, mostly to Cooper Reynolds (37 catches, 991 yards, 12 TDs). Adeson Baker has rushed for 667 yards and nine scores. Blanchester has struggled on defense, allowing 32 points per game.
Talawanda has allowed only nine points per game and a touchdown or fewer in six of nine games. Jake Van Gorden has thrown for 1,524 yards and 14 touchdowns, and the Brave rush for 153 yards per game.
Predictions: Talawanda (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
McNicholas (7-2) at Badin (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
What to watch: McNicholas has already clinched at least a share of its first Greater Catholic League title since 2017. Badin has won at least a share in the past eight seasons and with a win would make it nine in a row. McNick won 17-10 last year after a 10-6 Rams win in 2024.
The winner can also earn a first-round bye in the playoffs and, at the very least, clinch a home game in the first round next week. Badin is Division II and the Rockets are DIII.
Badin runs behind Chase Even, who has lit up opposing defenses with 1,153 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. QB Evan Sandfoss leads a balanced Rockets offense, throwing for 1,480 yards and 13 TDs. The Rockets have some of the most impactful defensive players in the city. Max Hamilton has 12 sacks and Max Orlando has three interceptions.
Predictions: Badin (Connelly, Dermer); McNicholas (Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Wyoming (9-0) at Deer Park (8-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
What to watch: The Wildcats were one of four undefeated teams to lose in Week 9. While they stayed competitive with Indian Hill, they couldn't overcome three turnovers. Head coach Tucker Berger calls Morgan Brown and Tink Sellers his "Batman and Robin," and for good reason. They have combined for 1,614 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Sellers has five interceptions and is one of five players with at least 50 tackles. While C.J. Warner has four touchdown catches, he also recorded double-digit tackles in each of Deer Park's last four games.
Wyoming is looking to secure its second undefeated season in the last three years and extend its winning streak over Deer Park to 21. The Cowboys last lost to the Wildcats in 2006. Wyoming has pitched two straight shutouts and is only allowing 12.1 points per game, and that number is inflated a bit after a 48-47 win over Indian Hill. In a win over Reading, Brylan Miltenberger and Donovan Brown each had over 100 receiving yards and Cam Maupin and Amir Balderos each grabbed an interception.
Predictions: Wyoming (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Madeira (5-4) at Mariemont (5-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
What to watch: Madeira is looking for its first winning season since 2022. With a win and some help, it can also sneak into the DV, Region 20 playoffs. Mariemont can secure a second straight winning season and also needs a win to stay alive in the postseason picture.
The Mustangs have to feel good about themselves after a comeback win over Taylor that saw Eli Beck haul in two touchdown catches and grab two interceptions. Cooper Blackburn threw for a career-high 277 yards while Simon Peters led the defense with 19 tackles.
Mariemont has allowed less than 10 points in four of its five wins, the latest being a 34-0 win over Finneytown, the Warriors' second shutout of the season. They only gave up 38 yards, easily its lowest total of the season but the third time this year they've surrendered lass than 100 yards.
The Warriors and Mustangs have split their last eight meetings, each winning four.
Predictions: Madeira (Connelly); Mariemont (Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Ryle (4-4) at Simon Kenton (4-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
What to watch: Class 6A, District 6 could be decided this week.
Despite starting 1-4, Ryle has won three straight and will lock up the top seed in the district with a win. If Simon Kenton wins and Great Crossing beats Campbell County, the top seed will come down to the RPI after Week 11. The Pioneers could overtake Ryle with a win but could secure that top seed with an additional win over Cooper.
During its three-game winning streak, Ryle has allowed 12 total points and forced six turnovers while the offense hasn't given the ball up once. Cruze Sauley ran for 100 yards in two of those three games.
Grant Webb kept Simon Kenton's district hopes alive with 185 rushing yards and a last-minute touchdown to beat Campbell County. He is averaging 64.6 rushing yards per game. The Pioneers' ground game could be the key to beating the Raiders, who are allowing 118 rushing yards per game.
Simon Kenton last beat Ryle in 2022.
Predictions: Ryle (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder); Simon Kenton (Weber)
St. Henry (5-3) at Walton-Verona (6-2)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
What to watch: A home playoff game will be on the line Friday night at the Walton-Verona Athletic Complex.
The Crusaders have won five of their last six thanks to a nearly unstoppable offense. They are averaging 50 points per game in their wins. After a narrow comeback win over Bishop Brossart, they won four games by 30 points or more. While Cy Parento has 659 rushing yards, Lucas Pate is leading the offense with 960 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
Similarly, Walton-Verona has won six of its last seven with an average margin of victory of 31.7 points. In each of their three most recent wins, four players have run for at least 20 yards. Sharing the rock has been a common theme for WV as Alex Yutze, Cooper Burch and Andrew Lynn all have over 375 rushing yards.
The Bearcats won by 30 points last year but expect this contest to be a much closer affair.
Predictions: St. Henry (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Ludlow (5-3) at Holy Cross (6-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Thomas More
What to watch: The Panthers have won five games for the third time in the last four seasons. The Reed brothers have been at the center of this year's success with Miller throwing for 1,056 yards. He and Deaken have combined for 740 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Jayden Watson leads the ground attack with 509 yards while Jaylen Stone has 539 receiving yards. Stone and Ryland Yates lead the defense with four interceptions each.
Holy Cross has bounced back from a two-game losing streak with dominant wins over Bishop Brossart and Trimble County. Charles Oglesby led the way in Week 9 with 129 rushing yards, a touchdown, six tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. But in the Indians' nearly two-year run of success, it's been a full team effort.
The Indians won last year on their way to a 10-0 regular season, snapping Ludlow's three-game winning streak in the series.
Predictions: Holy Cross (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
2026 season records
Chase Souder 71-19 (5-5 last week)
James Weber 71-19 (7-3)
Alex Harrison 70-20 (7-3)
Brendan Connelly 69-21 (5-5)
Melanie Laughman 68-22 (4-6)
Shelby Dermer 67-23 (7-3)
Readers 57-23 (5-5)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Predicting top 10 football games for Week 10, with reader input
