2023 high school football preview: A look at the SBAAC
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 this year's edition of the Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference.
2023 high school football preview: A look at local teams in the SWBL,GCL-Coed
Batavia Bulldogs
2022: 1-9, sixth in SBAAC-American
Coach: Wayne Stacy (two years, 16-25)
Top returning players: QB Jess Roller, RB/LB Austyn Shepherd, WR Max Mehlman, WR/CB Evan Hamilton, OL Ken Meeker, OL Charlie Belcher, LB Elliott Thompson, LB Vontay Calloway
Outlook for 2023: The Bulldogs' biggest question mark heading into the season is their defense. Batavia allowed an average of 386 yards and 49 points per game to nine SBAAC opponents in 2022. Senior quarterback Jess Roller, who was fourth in the SBAAC with 1,853 passing yards, will have several offensive weapons around him. In order to keep Batavia's defense off the field, he will have to improve his touchdown-to-interception ratio; he threw for 10 scores and 14 interceptions last fall.
The Bulldogs have only won five games since 2018. A winning record this year will be an uphill battle, but they can take steps to return to where they were in the mid-2010s.
Games to watch: Sep. 1 at Clermont Northeastern; Sep. 8 vs. Shroder; Sep. 29 vs. Wilmington; Oct. 20 at Goshen
ICYMI: Huddle up for city's top high school football players by position heading into 2023
Bethel-Tate Tigers
2022: 5-5, third in SBAAC-National
Coach: Jeff Essig (eight years, 46-26)
Top returning players: QB Cameron Snider, RB/LB Talon Armacost, RB/LB Nolan Darnell, WR/CB Troy Harris, WR/SS Jordan Essig, OL Jackson Glenn, OL Conner Hounshell, DE Blake Brookenthal, LB Levi Schultian, LB Will Rapp
Outlook for 2023: The Tigers turned in a fourth straight season with a .500 record or better in 2022. Despite missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018, the program has turned around under Jeff Essig. Cameron Snider will lead Bethel-Tate in his final prep season after throwing for 1,801 yards and running for 306 yards as a junior (he handled the kicking duties, to boot). The Tigers also return Talon Armacost and Nolan Darnell, the top two sack leaders in the SBAAC in 2022. After reclassifying to Division V, a return to the playoffs is imminent at Bethel-Tate.
Games to watch: Aug. 25 at Bishop Brossart; Sep. 29 vs. Clermont Northeastern; Oct. 6 at Blanchester; Oct. 14 vs. Williamsburg
Blanchester Wildcats
2022: 8-4, first in SBAAC-National
Coach: Justin Schmitz (first season)
Top returning players: ATH Bryce Sipple, RB/LB Sebastian Smith, WR/DB Caleb Sears, WR/DB Sammy Roush, OL Ben Morlan, OL Collin Elston, LB Tristan Malone, LB Ray Montgomery
Outlook for 2023: The big news in Blanchester is that former head coach Jon Mulvihill and his son Michael, the 2022 SBAAC National Division Player of the Year, left for Cooper in Union, Kentucky. Justin Schmitz, a 2005 graduate, takes over a team that not only lost a player who could make an impact on every snap but six of their top-10 tacklers. The Wildcats won the SBAAC National Division in 2022, but when they lost, they lost big. Three of their four defeats came by 30 or more points. That's a trend they'll have to reverse if they want continued success in Schmitz's debut season.
Games to watch: Aug. 18 at Paint Valley; Sep. 1 vs. Waynesville; Sep. 29 at Williamsburg; Oct. 20 vs. East Clinton
More: Cooper adds to talented football roster with Blanchester transfer Michael Mulvihill
Clermont Northeastern Rockets
2022: 3-7, fourth in SBAAC-National
Coach: Steve Thompson (four years, 7-23)
Top returning players: QB Josh Groeber, WR/CB Mitchel Braden, OL Lance Cornwell, OL Wyatt Van Pelt, DE Connor Yeager, LB Andrew McIntosh, LB Nathan Dunford, DB Ethan Sandlin
Outlook for 2023: The Rockets were oh-so-close to their second-ever postseason appearance in 2022. They were the first team out of the playoffs in Joe Eitel's computer rankings, and four of their seven losses came by seven points or less. Steve Thompson's squad can avenge three of those losses (Batavia, Bethel-Tate and Williamsburg) this season. The Rockets face four teams this year that had a winning record in 2022, and five teams that are in Divisions VI and VII. An easier strength of schedule combined with a roster that returns several key playmakers should see CNE into the postseason.
Games to watch: Aug. 19 at Riverview East; Sep. 14 vs. Cincinnati Country Day; Sep. 29 at Bethel-Tate; Oct. 13 vs. East Clinton
Clinton-Massie Falcons
2022: 7-6, second in SBAAC-American
Coach: Dan McSurley (28 years, 257-66)
Top returning players: RB Logan Chesser, TE/DL Brighton Rodman, WR/DB Brady Russell, OL Justin Beekman, OL Mace Neeley, K Ean McGuinness, DE Elijah Groh, LB Ty Clutter, LB Nolan Phipps, DB Miles Theege, DB Tristen Trampler
Outlook for 2023: The Falcons stumbled a bit in 2022, losing more than two games in a season for the first time since their return to the SBAAC in 2017. Clinton-Massie lost its first four games last fall, something it can't repeat this year if the Falcons want to set themselves up for success in league play. Their schedule is bookended with challenges; they open at home against Waynesville and Edgewood before facing Western Brown and New Richmond in weeks eight and 10.
Running back Logan Chesser returns after accruing 1,353 yards last year (the Falcons averaged 314 rushing yards per game). Brighton Rodman, Brady Russell and Miles Theege, who combined for nine interceptions in 2022, anchor a defense that allowed just 134 pass yards and 19 points per game last season.
Games to watch: Aug. 18 vs. Waynesville; Aug. 25 vs. Edgewood; Oct. 6 vs. Western Brown; Oct. 20 vs. New Richmond
East Clinton Astros
2022: 2-8, fifth in SBAAC National
Coach: Steve Olds (five years, 15-26)
Top returning players: QB Lukas Runk, RB/DB Dameon Williams, RB/DB Glenn Peacock, WR/DB Clayton Kimmey, OL/DL Owen Roberts, OL/DL Liam McPherson, OL/DL Denver Day, LB Landen Dunn, DB Noah Mess, DB Zimri Mahanes
Outlook for 2023: Head coach Steve Olds will try to rebuild the Astros after their worst record since 2018. Fortunately, leading passer Lukas Runk and leading rushers Dameon Williams and Glenn Peacock return to a team that averaged 192 rushing yards per game in 2022. The defense forced 11 turnovers last fall but also allowed 40 points per game.
The Astros went 0-4 in the SBAAC National Division in 2022 and will face the same divisional opponents on the schedule. However, they have mixed in games with McClain, Hillsboro and Mississinawa Valley to help them build confidence.
Games to watch: Aug. 18 at Huntington; Sep. 1 vs. Fayetteville-Perry; Sep. 29 vs. Mississinawa Valley; Oct. 6 vs. Williamsburg
More: Catch up on the Enquirer's 2023 high school fall sports coverage
Goshen Warriors
2022: 2-8, fifth in SBAAC-American
Coach: Greg Miller (five years, 13-25)
Top returning players: QB Logan Haley, RB Gabe Cope, RB/LB Lucas Perkins, WR Corbin Miller, WR/DB Camden Barrial, WR/LB River Gambrell, OL Dylan Anderson, OL/DL Derrick Johnson, LB Grant Herndon, DB Evan Harris, DB Zachary Keitz
Outlook for 2023: The first step for the Warriors to improve the 2022 record is to balance out their scoring offense and defense. They allowed 37 points per game while only scoring 15. After losing their first game by two points, their average margin of defeat the rest of the season was 38 points per game.
Quarterback Logan Haley only threw seven interceptions, but he also only threw seven touchdowns. Leading rushers Gabe Cope and Lucas Perkins also cannot fumble the ball four times if the offense wants to stay on the field.
The Warriors will not face any teams higher than Division III but will face Hillsboro, Woodward and McNicholas before getting into conference play.
Games to watch: Aug. 18 vs. Piketon; Sep. 1 at McNicholas; Sep. 15 vs. Blanchester; Oct. 6 at Wilmington
New Richmond Lions
2022: 8-4, fourth in SBAAC-American
Coach: Brian Pitzer (two years, 14-18)
Top returning players: WR Trey Sininger, WR Cohen Manning, OL Aiden Brons, OL Jacob Smit, LB Kaleb Frazier, LB Lex Hounshell, LB Silas Jacob, DB Tyler Senters, DB Matthew Wooten
Outlook for 2023: The Lions enjoyed their best season since they went 9-3 in 2017. However, they face offensive questions this year. A.J. Metzger, who led the team in passing and rushing yards, graduated. So did Laurence Smith and Matthew Duty, the only other players to rush for more than 100 yards.
New Richmond faces a balanced schedule, playing four teams that made the 2022 playoffs, as well as an improved Clermont Northeastern team in week four. After graduating 20 seniors from last year's team, Brian Pitzer will once again have to count on his upperclassmen if the Lions want to go as far as they did last year.
Games to watch: Aug. 25 at Williamsburg; Sep. 1 vs. Western Hills; Sep. 29 vs. Western Brown; Oct. 20 at Clinton-Massie
Western Brown Broncos
2022: 11-2, first in SBAAC-American
Coach: Nick Osborne (four years, 27-8)
Top returning players: QB Brady Sutton, RB Matthew Osborne, RB/LB Tye Spaulding, WR Isaiah Smith, WR/DB Lucas Powell, LB Austin Huff, DB Brian Balser
Outlook for 2023: Western Brown has been known for their high-scoring offense since Drew Novak took over at quarterback in 2019. Could that change this year after the 14,000-yard passer graduated? Head coach Nick Osborne faces the biggest challenge of his coaching career after the Broncos graduated 23 seniors from a team that won the SBAAC American Division for the first team since 2015.
If the defense allows 17 points per game in conference play like they did last year, the Broncos should be in good shape. However, Osborne needs to count on them to keep non-conference opponents to less than the 30 points per game they gave up last year.
Games to watch: Aug. 25 vs. Washington Court House; Sep. 8 vs. Jackson; Sep. 29 at New Richmond; Oct. 6 at Clinton-Massie
Williamsburg Wildcats
2022: 8-3, second in SBAAC-National
Coach: Nick Ayers (two years, 54-59)
Top returning players: QB/DB J.J. Miller, WR Alex Ervin, RB Landon Harcourt, WR/DB Pierce Ayers, WR/DB Kian Stamper, DL Austin Sipple, LB Dane Jones, DB Ayden Holden, DB Michael Day
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Outlook for 2023: Head coach Nick Ayers certainly made a splash in his first season at Williamsburg. Despite losing in the first round of the Division VI playoffs, the Wildcats achieved their highest National Division finish since they won the division in 2015.
Do-it-all quarterback J.J. Miller returns after throwing for 2,377 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also grabbed three interceptions as a defensive back. Alex Ervin and Pierce Ayers combined for 1,125 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Austin Sipple joins Ervin on a defense that will surely improve on 27 points per game allowed in 2022.
The Wildcats ended the season looking up at Blanchester in the standings; that may not be the case in 2023. They will face improved Bethel-Tate and Clermont Northeastern teams, but the division is theirs for the taking.
Games to watch: Sep 1. at Mariemont; Sep. 8 vs. Hillsboro; Sep. 29 vs. Blanchester; Oct. 13 at Bethel-Tate
Wilmington Hurricane
2022: 5-6, third in SBAAC-American
Coach: Ryan Evans Sr. (two years, 5-6)
Top returning players: QB Aiden Price, RB Caydn Denniston, RB/LB Jesse Keith, WR/DB Michael Brown, WR/DB Zane Smith, OL/DL Malachi Cumberland, DL Bryson Schutte, LB Luke Achterman, LB O'Ryan Keith, LB Luke Johnson, DB Jonathan Custis, DB Eli Stewart
Outlook for 2023: The Hurricane had three distinct streaks in 2022. They lost their first three games by a combined 29 points before ripping off five straight wins. The season ended the same way it started, with three straight losses to Western Brown, Clinton-Massie and Wapakoneta. Wilmington should be a contender in the American with the return of both an offensive and defensive core.
Caydn Denniston was a 1,100-yard rusher for a rush-heavy offense. Third-leading tackler Luke Achterman returns. So too does Michael Brown, who combined with Achterman for seven interceptions.
Looking at the schedule, they face two Division II opponents (Northwest and Ross) before hosting Clinton-Massie to begin league play in week five. The Falcons may be their toughest league opponent, and a win in that matchup would give the Hurricane an early leg up in the standings. Ending the season against New Richmond and Western Brown will also help prepare Ryan Evans' squad for the playoffs.
Games to watch: Aug. 25 at Miami Trace; Sep. 1 vs. Mt. Healthy; Sep. 22 vs. Clinton-Massie; Oct. 13 at New Richmond
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: SBAAC high school football preview 2023
