Even though there are still four weeks left in the regular season, we get to see a variety of high-stakes league games and district showdowns in Week 7 as the calendar turns over to October.
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.
Elder (5-1) vs. Moeller (4-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at University of Dayton Welcome Stadium
What to watch: For the third time in four seasons, Moeller will be
asking supporters and media to drive an hour north for a big Greater Catholic-League South game. UD’s stadium holds at least twice the capacity of Moeller’s other home fields, and all of it might be needed for this showdown with the Panthers for league supremacy.
Moeller has already clinched at least a share of the GCL-South crown for the fourth time in five seasons with a win over the Lancers. Elder can clinch a tie with Moeller with a win, and St. Xavier could join that tie by beating La Salle next week.
Moeller beat St. Xavier 30-15 and Elder lost 31-29 to the Bombers on a last-second field goal last week. Moeller’s offense is on a roll, scoring 39 points per game in a three-game winning streak after a competitive 31-14 loss to nationally ranked Louisville Trinity. Elder was unstoppable on both sides of the ball until allowing 353 yards and 31 points to the Bombers last week.
Thomas George had an effective game passing for St. X, throwing for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Moeller’s two-headed attack of Hunter McLaughlin and Nick Monserez could pose problems for Elder’s defense. Moeller’s defense held La Salle to 74 yards and no points last week after limiting the Bombers to 217 yards and 15 points. They will get a bigger challenge from Kaden Estep and the Elder offense, which will havereceiver Andrew Lyman available.
Predictions: Elder (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Withrow (3-3) at La Salle (3-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
What to watch: These two teams are probably better than their records and have had tough schedules. La Salle has won the last two meetings against the Tigers, including 35-26 last year. Withrow needs to win to improve its chances of making the playoffs in Division II. La Salle is in a solid playoff position in DII but has lost by a combined 80-0 in Greater Catholic League-South play.
La Salle has key wins over Colerain and Badin. Withrow has close losses to DII foe Harrison, plus Springboro and McNicholas. Sa’Vion Davis and Chucky Alexander lead the Withrow offense against Garrett Fraley and the Lancers. Davis had a big game against the Lancers in 2025.
Predictions: La Salle (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Lakota West (5-1) at Middletown (4-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Barnitz Stadium
What to watch: Both teams have lost to Princeton this season, and the winner of this game will still have a realistic shot of catching the Vikings for the Greater Miami Conference title. The Firebirds have won 11 straight against the Middies since 2011, including 27-13 last season. Middletown has allowed only 72 rushing yards per game, and fewer than 20 in the last three games, but will have a big test against Lakota West standout Kenyon Norman. The Northwestern commit has 1,036 yards and 16 touchdowns this year. He has three games of 200 yards or more.
West has been hard to stop this year, with its only loss by three points to Princeton in a wild 27-24 Vikings' win.
Middletown has been effective on offense while winning its last four games, but only produced 10 total points in losses to Elder and Princeton, so the Middies will have to build on their development in the last month.
Predictions: Lakota West (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
North College Hill (5-0) at Summit Country Day (4-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
What to watch: This is the first Miami Valley Conference-Gray game for both teams, and the winner will be the strong favorite to win the league title.
When Tyler Williams went from being head coach at Taft to NCH, one thing he brought was a dominant defensive philosophy. The Trojans haven’t had the most difficult schedule, but they have yet to allow a point in the 2026 season. That is reminiscent of Taft’s seven clean sheets in a row in 2025.
In five games, NCH has forced 3.4 turnovers per game and has 22 sacks plus a total of 57 tackles for loss. NCH doesn’t post yardage for its opponents but it’s safe to assume that is a small number. Bethel-Tate managed 84 yards against the Trojans Sept. 4.
Summit's offense is the best that NCH has met so far. The Silver Knights have scored 24 points or more in every game and have outings of 47, 47 and 38 points, including a 38-36 win last week over previously unbeaten St. Bernard-Elmwood Place. Dillon Minton leads the rushing attack. Colt Fry has seven touchdown passes, three to Korde Williams. Summit’s defense will need to regroup after allowing 546 yards to SBEP last week.
Predictions: NCH (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Gamble Montessori (6-0) at St. Bernard-Elmwood Place (5-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at Bron Bacevich Stadium
What to watch: These playoff contenders are meeting for the second straight year after the Titans won 42-0 in 2025.
The Titans, in Division VI, are regrouping after taking their first loss last week. They fell 38-36 to Summit Country Day despite gaining 546 yards on offense. Senior quarterback Lucas Cannady has had an outstanding season, throwing for 1,301 yards and 12 touchdowns, and rushing for 567 and seven. Brothers Deon and Keon Campbell are his top targets.
The Gators have had a fierce bite on defense, allowing two touchdowns or less in five of their six wins. They have scored 34 or more in five of the six games. Q’Moni Bankhead has thrown for 14 touchdowns and rushed for 660 yards and six TDs. Bankhead, Red Diawara and Aboubacar Diagouraga lead a talented defense that has forced 16 turnovers in six games and will be a challenge for Cannady and the Titans.
Predictions: SBEP (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Talawanda (5-1) at Northwest (6-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
What to watch: Last week, Ross became the first team to score on Talawanda's defense since Week 3. The Rams only had 170 total yards but converted good field position into two touchdowns while limiting the Brave to 3-of-10 on third down and 1-of-5 on fourth down. Talawanda can't let those crucial moments define this week's matchup, especially when it boasts one of the best scoring defenses in Southwest Ohio. This is the second week the Brave have started with a 5-1 record or better.
Thanks to defensive standouts Hezikiah Kelley, Payton Mixon and Elijah Sterling, the Knights are 6-0 for the first time since 2013. Kelley is also one of top receiving targets for quarterback Jaylen Lilly. The defense has pitched three shutouts and played a major role in a 20-point win over Mt. Healthy and a 14-12 win over Ross.
Predictions: Talawanda (Connelly, Harrison, Weber), Northwest (Dermer, Laughman, Souder)
Wyoming (6-0) at Madeira (4-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
What to watch: Last Friday, Wyoming limited Mariemont to 126 yards of total offense, nine first downs and 30 percent conversion rate on third and fourth downs. David Dupee posted his second 300-yard passing game of the season. The Cowboys have also run for 100 yards in each of their last four games, proving the offense can stampede opponents on the ground or in the air. Wyoming has 7.5 sacks and has forced 11 turnovers so far, and Tyler Johnson-Huff and Charlie Walker are among the Cincinnati Hills League leaders in tackles.
Madeira is 2-1 at home so far this season and has two separate two-game winning streaks. But two turnovers led to a second-half collapse at Deer Park. Cooper Blackburn has been one of the top quarterbacks in the CHL this season and Luke Kuester and Simon Peters have been consistent threats out of the backfield.
Predictions: Wyoming (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Deer Park (6-0) at Mariemont (3-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
What to watch: The Wildcats pulled away from Madeira in the second half to advance to 6-0 for just the second time in school history, and first time since 1981. Morgan Brown also set the program record for career points in that game. While Sefa Sackey was Deer Park's breakout player last year in his first year of varsity football, D'Juan Hedges has taken the lead for the defense this year, leading the team with 57 tackles. Brown and Tink Sellers have also combined for six interceptions.
Mariemont has now lost three of its last four games, but the toughest part of the schedule will be behind them after this Friday. The offense has averaged just 12 points per game over the last four weeks and has had a turnover in every game this season. Every coach preaches ball security; playing their first turnover-free game will give the Warriors a chance as they host the Wildcats.
Predictions: Deer Park (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
New Richmond (3-3) at Goshen (6-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
What to watch: Goshen is 6-0 for the first time since 2017. That season, the Warriors went 9-0 before losing to New Richmond in the regular-season finale. While the current roster was still in middle school for that game, there's still a historical aspect to the game.
The Warriors are arguably the most well-rounded team in the Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference, averaging 42 points per game with an average margin of victory of 35.5 points. Gage Croley has run for over 100 yards and scored multiple touchdowns in four games; the only thing that has stopped him so far this season has been a minor injury. In a shutout win over Batavia, the defense forced three more turnovers and recorded three more sacks.
New Richmond has rebounded well from a three-game losing streak, picking up wins over Purcell Marian and Clinton-Massie. It took a Hail Mary from Brady Young to Peyton Abner for the Lions to beat the Falcons for the first time since 2001, but it also provided the kind of moment that can propel them to success in the rest of the regular season.
Predictions: Goshen (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
Highlands (5-1) at Covington Catholic (4-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2
What to watch: Class 4A, District 5 will be decided this week as the Bluebirds travel to Park Hills to take on the Colonels.
Highlands is nearing unanimous No. 1 status in the Kentucky statewide media poll. Each of its five wins this season are by at least 20 points and three wins are by at least 40 points. While some of those teams simply weren't up to the Bluebirds' level, CovCath poses a different threat.
Sophomore Kiyan Miller is averaging 116 rushing yards per game but Highlands has fared exceptionally well against the run this season. Even in a loss to Beechwood, the Colonels were able to convert on crucial third and fourth downs, keeping the offense on the field. Matching Highlands' offensive firepower is a major key to the game for CovCath.
Predictions: Highlands (Connelly, Dermer, Harrison, Laughman, Souder, Weber)
2026 season records
Chase Souder 50-10 (7-3 last week)
Brendan Connelly 48-12 (7-3)
Melanie Laughman 48-12 (7-3)
James Weber 47-13 (6-4)
Alex Harrison 46-14 (5-5)
Shelby Dermer 45-15 (7-3)
Readers 36-14 (6-4)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Predicting top 10 football games in Week 7, with reader input
