»RELATED: Week 10 schedule
»RELATED: Week 10 state poll
»RELATED: Week 10 playoff picture
On top of the playoff picture drama, a Greater Miami Conference showdown between Fairfield (9-0, 7-0 GMC) and Colerain (8-1, 7-0 GMC) awaits as the headlining area game. Here are five things to know about the Week 10 schedule:
1. Seeking to be a spoiler
Fairfield and Colerain will be playing to determine the GMC champion. The Indians have held the top spot in the Division I, Region 4 computer ratings, ahead of Colerain for weeks, but the Cardinals still remain king of the GMC until someone in the conference finally beats them.
The Indians are seeking to end Colerain’s 82-game win streak in GMC play and 19-year streak of GMC titles. The Indians last won a title in 2005 when they shared it with Colerain, and they were the last team other than the Cardinals to claim an outright championship – in 1999.
“We’ve been working all season to stay prepared for that (final game) and take home the GMC championship and be 10-0,” Fairfield defensive lineman Brandon Smith said. “We want to be playing in December. It all starts now.”
With a win, Fairfield also will lock up the top seed in Region 4, according to expert Steve Shuck’s projections provided to WCPO.com. The Indians have already clinched a home playoff game.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
2. Also seeking perfection
New Miami has won 14 consecutive regular-season games, dating back to last year when the Vikings turned things around following a 1-4 start, but they are seeking to finish off their first perfect season. They travel to Lockland (6-3, 4-1 on Friday and can claim the Miami Valley Conference Gray Division title outright with a win – they would share it with a loss.
The Vikings are atop the Division VII, Region 28 ratings and have clinched a home playoff game, according to joeeitel.com, which compiles the rankings for the OHSAA.
New Miami won its first MVC championship since 1988 last year in Jesse Hubbard’s first season as head coach, and the Vikings made the playoffs for just the second time in school history. They beat Lockland 46-13 last year.
3. Playoff drought likely over
Hamilton (5-4, 3-4 GMC) is likely to advance to the playoffs win or lose Friday night, but beating Lakota East (4-5, 3-4 GMC) would assure the Big Blue's first postseason berth since 2010. The Thunderhawks need a win and some help, as they currently are 12th in the ratings.
The Big Blue haven’t beaten the Hawks since 2008, so that’s extra motivation if any is needed, and a win would give the program its first winning season since going 7-3 in 2010. Hamilton went 1-9 last year and won just four games over the last four years before alumnus Nate Mahon took over as head coach during the offseason.
Mahon said the players are excited to have something meaningful to be playing for at this point in the season.
4. Another turnaround secure
First-year Lakota West coach Tom Bolden was met with high expectations following his past success as Colerain’s coach for the last 12 GMC titles, but the Firebirds’ turnaround is impressive nonetheless and they will be rewarded with a postseason berth.
West (6-3, 5-2 GMC) already has secured its spot in the Division I, Region 4 playoffs, according to joeeitel.com.
The Firebirds went 4-6 last year and in addition to clinching their first playoff appearance since 2014, they also are assured their first winning season since 2015.
5. Still in the mix
Talawanda (7-2) remains in the hunt for a playoff spot in Division II, Region 8, but the Braves are currently 11th in the rankings. They will need a win over Ross on Friday and some help from their defeated opponents getting results to push their point total up, but even then Talawanda will have to hope some of the Columbus-area teams in the region fall.
In Division III, Region 12, Franklin (8-1) sits at No. 2 is should be in but would fall with a loss to 1-8 Oakwood, while Badin (6-3) has hung around the No. 4-6 spot in the rankings and needs to win this week to be sure to qualify. Ross (7-2), currently at No. 8 isn’t expected to drop past No. 8, according to Shuck’s projections on WCPO.com, and could even move into the top four with a win over Talawanda.
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