Cooper: Labor day marks the beginning of football season

The Tippecanoe High School football team beat Bellbrook 21-0 on Friday, Aug. 22 at Miami Valley South Stadium. NICK FALZERANO / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Tippecanoe High School football team beat Bellbrook 21-0 on Friday, Aug. 22 at Miami Valley South Stadium. NICK FALZERANO / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Good morning and welcome to another Friday edition of the Dayton Daily News Sports update!

Labor Day weekend typically marks the beginning of football season. We’ll get a full slate of college games on Saturday, including the marquee matchup in Columbus - Texas at Ohio State. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know heading into this weekend.

High School Football: Five things to know about Week 2

The Tippecanoe High School football team beat Bellbrook 21-0 on Friday, Aug. 22 at Miami Valley South Stadium. NICK FALZERANO / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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Three local conferences - the Greater Miami Conference, Miami Valley League and Western Ohio Athletic Conference - will jump right into conference play this week. Others will face tough competition from around the state, including Walsh Jesuit at Springfield and Centerville at St. Xavier.


3 to watch

  • Ohio State hosts Texas: The defending national champions will host Arch Manning and the Longhorns in a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal game at noon Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Keep an eye out for Lakota East grad Austin Siereveld, the senior offensive tackle who was recently named a team captain. On defense, keep an eye out for defensive end CJ Hicks, an Alter grad, and cornerback Aaron Scott, a Springfield grad. The game will be televised on FOX.
  • Notre Dame at Miami (Fla.): Wayne grad Marcus Freeman and his Irish squad will travel to the Sunshine State for a primetime Sunday night showdown with one of their biggest rivals. The game will be televised on ABC at 7:30 p.m.
  • College Gameday: Legendary coach and broadcaster Lee Corso will host his final College Gameday at 9 a.m. Saturday on ESPN, live from Columbus. Will he take the Buckeyes?
FILE - Nick Saban, left, and Lee Corso talk on the set of ESPN College Gameday on the sideline before an NCAA college football game between Michigan and Texas in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Credit: AP

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Credit: AP

3 to see (in person)

  • Taft vs. Alter at Miamisburg High School: The two perennial playoff contenders will meet at Holland Field. The Senators eliminated the Knights from the postseason two years in a row.
  • Trotwood-Madison at Fairmont: The Firebirds will host Trotwood. They beat the Rams 27-18 last season and hope to bounce back after a tough Week 1 loss to rival Alter.
  • Xenia at Troy: The Buccs beat the Trojans 21-18 last season at Memorial Stadium. They’ll return to Miami County to face Troy for the second straight year. Xenia beat Beavercreek in Week 1 and Troy fell to Middletown 28-20.
Images from Xenia's 28-17 Week 1 victory over Beavercreek on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, at Doug Adams Stadium in Xenia. Steve Black / Staff

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ICYMI: Schwarber can’t stop hitting bombs

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber reacts after hitting a home run against Atlanta Braves pitcher Cal Quantrill during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Credit: AP

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Credit: AP

Kyle Schwarber became the 21st player in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game. He hit homers in four of his five at-bats. Could he be considered for National League Most Valuable Player? Stay tuned.


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