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2023 high school football preview: A look at the Greater Miami Conference

brendan connelly, cincinnati enquirer
·12 min read

Across Greater Cincinnati, high school sports teams officially began practicing on Aug. 1 in anticipation of another fall season. Before long, football stadiums will be lit up every Friday night.

As the season draws closer, The Enquirer is providing previews of 10 conferences in Southwest Ohio, all six classes in Northern Kentucky, and three teams in Southeast Indiana.

Here is a preview of the Greater Miami Conference. Lakota West completed a three-peat in 2022 with a perfect 10-0 record, but every team has talking points heading into this season.

More: Catch up on the Enquirer's 2023 high school fall sports coverage

Colerain Cardinals

2022: 4-7, sixth in GMC

Coach: Carl Huber, first season

Top returning players: QB Shawn Billups, RB/LB Hayden Danielson, WR/DB Corey Myrick, WR Jordan Robison, LB Greg Williams, LB Cooper Krieg

Outlook for 2023: Changes are aplenty in Colerain this year. Carl Huber takes over as the head coach after Shawn Cutright stepped down. How will the Cardinals rebound from the transfers of Zae Jennings and Mikale Satterwhite?Senior defensive back and Marshall commit Corey Myrick will have to step up and lead the Cardinals after an uncharacteristic losing season.

Carl Huber was named Colerain's next head football coach in January after Shawn Cutright stepped down.
Carl Huber was named Colerain's next head football coach in January after Shawn Cutright stepped down.

Colerain has been a run-dominant team since the days of Tom Bolden and Kerry Coombs, a trend that should continue this season even though their top two rushers are gone.

For the third straight year, the Cardinals open the schedule with rival La Salle before facing Middletown, Oak Hills and Sycamore. Colerain started 0-4 in 2022, getting blown out in three contests. That shouldn't be the case this year. The second half of the schedule is undeniably tougher than the first two months, but the Cardinals have a chance to build momentum for a postseason appearance.

Games to watch: Aug. 18 at La Salle; Sep. 15 vs. Lakota West; Sep. 29 vs. Mason; Oct. 13 vs. Princeton

Fairfield Indians

2022: 7-4, fourth in GMC

Coach: Jason Krause (13 years, 156-125)

Top returning players: QB Talon Fisher, RB Juseters Fataki, WR/CB Braeden Shanklin, WR Noah King, K Aiden McGuire, OL Ryan Creutzinger, LB Jordan Baker, LB Dorian Soriano, S Rayzier Jones

Outlook for 2023: The Indians were a contender in the GMC in 2022 before falling to Princeton, Lakota West and Mason in the second half of the season. They put up big offensive numbers behind Navy commit Talon Fisher. The All-GMC first team selection will be a frontrunner for the conference's Offensive Athlete of the Year award.

Fairfield quarterback Talon Fisher was fourth in the Greater Miami Conference with 1,386 passing yards in 2022.
Fairfield quarterback Talon Fisher was fourth in the Greater Miami Conference with 1,386 passing yards in 2022.

The defense, led by Jordan Baker and Rayzier Jones, gave up 20 points once in the first half of the season before doing so four times in their final six games. Only four teams on Fairfield's schedule had winning records last year, and three of those teams appear on the first half of the docket. The Indians are more than capable of being a conference contender if the defense is an early and often factor.

Games to watch: Aug. 18 at Wayne; Sep. 1 vs. Lakota West; Sep. 22 at Hamilton; Oct. 20 vs. Colerain

Hamilton Big Blue

2022: 3-8, eighth in GMC

Coach: Arvie Crouch (two years, 98-55)

Top returning players: QB Nicholas Lindsay, QB Na'sir Harper, RB Cournell Bennett-McCoy, WR R.J. Shepherd, OL Kaleb Taylor, DL Trey Verdon, DB Caleb White, DB Carter Isaacs

Outlook for 2023: Arvie Crouch's first season at Hamilton may not have gone as expected. After 12 years and four conference championships at Mt. Healthy, the veteran coach found his new team near the basement of the GMC.

Quarterbacks Nicholas Lindsay and Na'sir Harper both return while transfer Antonio Mathis gives the Big Blue options under center. The main goal will be to score more than the 11 points per game they produced in 2022. With the defense only allowing 216 yards per game and 22 points per game last year, the onus will be on the offense to lead Hamilton to an improved record.

Add Badin to an already-tough GMC schedule and the Big Blue is looking at a gauntlet in the first month of the season. Hamilton then faces Middletown, Colerain and Sycamore, who combined for a 7-25 record in 2022, before finishing the schedule at home against Lakota West.

Games to watch: Aug. 18 vs. Badin; Sep. 15 at Princeton; Sep. 22 vs. Fairfield; Oct. 13 at Sycamore

Lakota East Thunderhawks

2022: 3-7, seventh in GMC

Coach: Jon Kitna (first season, 69-38)

Top returning players: RB Shaun Stacey, TE Parker Elam, WR Andy Vogelman, WR Elijah Perry, DL Wyatt Pleasant, LB Marvin Richter, LB Cohen Reip, LB Hezekiah Holliman, LB Nathan Butturini

Lakota East junior linebacker Cohen Reip will be a defensive leader for the Thunderhawks this year.
Lakota East junior linebacker Cohen Reip will be a defensive leader for the Thunderhawks this year.

Outlook for 2023: Expectations are high for the Thunderhawks heading into the season. The big story is the arrival of head coach Jon Kitna and his son Jamison, who will be the starting quarterback. Jamison's arm and legs bring an added dynamic to a Lakota East team that was last in the GMC in passing yards and seventh in total offense in 2023.

For the shiny new centerpiece on offense, there are questions on defense after the Thunderhawks graduated 28 seniors last year. The good news is that there are 28 more seniors and 35 juniors on this year's roster. Look for the linebackers, led by Nathan Butturini, Hezekiah Holliman and Cohen Reip to step up and play a large role on defense.

'All you got, all the time': Jon Kitna sets tone for Lakota East football in 2023

Before last year, the Thunderhawks hadn't had a losing season since 2015. Facing all nine GMC opponents is a perennial challenge, but Lakota East now has the pieces in place to return to prominence within the conference. The road to winning football begins with a road tilt at Centerville. The Hawks also host rival Lakota West, a team they haven't beaten since 2018.

Games to watch: Aug. 18 at Centerville; Sep.1 at Princeton; Sep. 8 vs. Fairfield; Sep. 22 vs. Colerain; Oct. 6 vs. Lakota West; Oct. 20 at Mason

Lakota West Firebirds

2022: 13-1, first in GMC

Coach: Tom Bolden (five years, 181-29)

Top returning players: RB Eudes Gonzales, TE Luka Gilbert, WR Brennan Remy, DL Elijah Davis, LB Jacob Asbeck, DB Drew Minich, DB Bukari Miles, S Taebron Bennie-Powell

Outlook for 2023: For as long as Tom Bolden has been at Lakota West, he's been an offensive-minded coach. That philosophy changes a bit this year as Mitch Bolden, who threw for over 6,000 yards in his high school career, graduated and is now playing for Army. Freshman Jackson Smith will take the snaps to begin the season, beating out three teammates for the starting spot. He will have talented receivers Luka Gilbert and Brennan Remy, as well as Dixie Heights transfer Trey Barnette as targets.

Lakota West wide receiver Brennan Remy (14) is one of the headliners on the Firehawks offense this year.
Lakota West wide receiver Brennan Remy (14) is one of the headliners on the Firehawks offense this year.

The Firebird defense will be reliable as ever, even after graduating Malik Hartford, Ben Minich and Josh Fussell. Drew Minich, Bukari Miles, and Notre Dame commit Taebron Bennie-Powell will anchor another strong secondary, while Elijah Davis and Jacob Asbeck lead a strong linebacker unit.

'We push each other every single day': Lakota West hopes for title run with new QB

Smith's resolve under center will be tested right out of the gate with a trip to St. Xavier, followed by a home contest against Princeton and a trip to Fairfield. Lakota West is riding an 18-game regular season winning streak. Will it continue this season, and how long will it last?

Games to watch: Aug. 18 at St. Xavier; Aug. 25 vs. Princeton; Sep. 15 at Colerain; Oct. 6 at Lakota East; Oct. 13 vs. Mason

Mason Comets

2022: 10-3, second in GMC

Coach: Brian Castner (13 years, 84-62)

Top returning players: QB Quinn Brown, RB Gavin McDaniel, RB Cael Jordan, WR Chase Blevens, WR Braden Greer, WR Carter Phillips, TE/DL Liam McManes, OL Vaughn Johnson, OL Ben Cravens, DL Malachi Reid, LB Kai Woolfolk, DB Stephen Collins

Outlook for 2023: Is it any surprise that the state's largest high school is a contender in one of the state's toughest conferences? The Comets lose a lot from last year's GMC runner-up squad, but having such a large enrollment means plenty of options to fill the empty shoes.

Mason head coach Brian Castner graduated a large number of seniors after a 10-3 campaign in 2022, but the Comets should be a contender in the GMC.
Mason head coach Brian Castner graduated a large number of seniors after a 10-3 campaign in 2022, but the Comets should be a contender in the GMC.

Quinn Brown is making the switch from wide receiver to quarterback. He will have returners Chase Blevens and Braden Greer as targets, and incoming transfer Sky Talley at running back. The offense can score when they need to, but can the defense hold the majority of their opponents to single digits like they did in 2022? Mason was second-best in the conference allowing just 12.2 points per game.

The Comets' schedule begins with a major challenge against 2022 Division I state semifinalist Gahanna Lincoln. Their only league loss came against Lakota West, which ended up deciding last year's GMC champion. That contest will come in week nine at Lakota West and could very well have conference title implications.

Games to watch: Aug. 18 vs. Gahanna Lincoln; Sep. 8 vs. Princeton; Sep. 29 at Colerain; Oct. 13 at Lakota West

Middletown Middies

2022: 3-8, ninth in GMC

Coach: Don Simpson (six years, 8-39)

Top returning players: QB Virgil Coleman, RB Eric Schroeder, WR/S Talan Malicote, WR/S Chandler Shields, LB Gabe Terrell, LB DeAndre Goodson, LB LaMondte Chambers

Outlook for 2023: The Middies have unfortunately been a bottom dweller in the GMC for the better part of the last decade. They've won three or more games just three times (2014, 2015 and 2022) and are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2011.

Quarterback Virgil Coleman and second-leading rusher Eric Schroeder return to a Middies team that began 2022 with a 3-4 record but ended the season on a four-game losing streak.

Don Simpson's team didn't allow a lot of points last year, but they didn't score many, either. In all eight of their losses, Middletown failed to score more than 14 points, a problem that must be fixed if they want to break out of the conference cellar.

The main challenges on this year's schedule are Loveland in week one, Lakota West in week four, Mason in week six and Princeton in week eight. Those games are spread out, allowing Middletown the chance to tread water in the weeks in between.

Games to watch: Aug. 18 vs. Loveland; Sep. 1 at Sycamore; Sep. 29 vs. Hamilton; Oct. 20 at Oak Hills

Oak Hills Highlanders

2022: 5-6, fifth in GMC

Coach: Justin Roden (four years, 7-24)

Top returning players: QB Wil Kraus, RB Demar Parker, Jr., RB Max Supe, WR Elias Wheeler, DL Jimmy Breeze, LB Max Rhodes, LB Cooper Harrison, DB Owen McChristian

Outlook for 2023: The Highlanders showed promise in 2022. They won their first two games for the first time since 2018 and won five games in a season for the first time since 2013. Oak Hills picked up three conference wins in the process; now it's time to beat the top half of the GMC.

Quarterback Jaxon Schreiber is gone but his brother, Lincoln, is a freshman quarterback. Sophomore Wil Kraus is also an option to call the plays, giving Oak Hills youth this year and options in the coming years. Leading rusher Demar Parker is back and Max Supe is a threat to run and catch the ball.

The defense only gave up 10 points per game in winning efforts, but that number ballooned to 34.2 points in six losses. The defense boasts experience in lineman Jimmy Breeze and linebackers Max Rhodes and Cooper Harrison. The wins may be tough to come by against the likes of Princeton and Lakota West, but the least the defense can do is give the Highlanders a chance.

Games to watch: Aug. 18 at Turpin; Sep. 8 vs. Hamilton; Sep. 15 at Sycamore; Oct. 20 vs. Middletown

Princeton Vikings

2022: 9-3, third in GMC

Coach: Andre Parker (three years, 97-35)

Top returning players: RB Teryntino Brown-Freeman, WR Jordan Houtson, WR Dorian Williams, OL Jaylen Ederhardt, LB Paul Nelson, LB Solomon Farrell, DB Chaz Cole, DB Kevin Jordan

Princeton running back Shelvon Hibbet picked up 692 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore at Mason.
Princeton running back Shelvon Hibbet picked up 692 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore at Mason.

Outlook for 2023: The Vikings lose quarterback R.J. West but pick up Bishop James, a transfer from Oak Park (Michigan). Add Mason transfer Shelvon Hibbet to a backfield that already features Teryntino Brown-Freeman and Princeton once again possesses a dangerous running game.

The Vikings face a question mark at wide receiver after Dorian Williams sustained an injury during Princeton's scrimmage against Withrow. Head coach Andre Parker knows how to get the most out of his roster, having done so at Winton Woods before coming to Princeton. The loss of Williams is a hurdle, but if anyone knows how to overcome it, it's Parker.

Princeton has finished with a winning record each of the past four seasons and has been in the top four of the conference each year since 2020. With key pieces returning and playmaking transfers coming in, look for those streaks to continue as the Vikings challenge for their first league title since they were co-champions in 2003.

Games to watch: Aug. 18 at Elyria; Aug. 25 at Lakota West; Sep. 8 at Mason; Sep. 29 at Fairfield; Oct. 20 vs. Sycamore

Sycamore Aviators

2022: 0-10, 10th in GMC

Coach: Scott Dattilo (17 years, 120-91)

Top returning players: QB Seth Truter, RB/DB Eugene Harney, WR Gio Garrett, WR Drew Dattilo, WR/DB Elijah Hill, DL Jahad Jabar, LB Nick Brenam, DB Tre Meadows, CB Ron Matthew

Outlook for 2023: The Aviators were consistently in the top half of the GMC in the 2010s, but have won just seven games since the start of the 2020 season.

In order to avoid being held to a league-low 10 points per game, quarterback Seth Truther and running back Eugene Harney (who is also a state champion wrestler) will have to lead Sycamore to more than 184 yards and 10 points per game. Those numbers respectively ranked ninth and 10th in the GMC last season.

The secondary is anchored by defensive backs Tre Meadows and Ron Matthew, but it will be a group effort to allow less than 33.7 points per game they allowed last year, including surrendering 21 points in nine of the Aviators' 10 losses.

Sycamore faces two battles to begin the season against 2022 Division II state semifinalist Kings before traveling to Fairfield. The Aviators are on an 11-game losing streak that dates to 2021, a spiral that should come to an end within the first month of the season.

Games to watch: Aug. 18 vs. Kings; Sep. 1 vs. Middletown; Sep. 8 at Colerain; Sep. 15 vs. Oak Hills; Oct. 13 vs. Hamilton

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati high school football: 2023 Greater Miami Conference preview