The NFL wild-card weekend is one of my favorites of the entire year. Six NFL playoff games over three days, including a couple of massive NFC matchups — Packers at Bears and 49ers at Eagles.
Unfortunately, Ohio fans are without a playoff team for the third straight season. The Bengals and Browns are on the clock.
Tonight, Oregon and Indiana will play for the second time this season with a national championship berth on the line (I’ll take Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti to come out on top).
It’s a great weekend to sink into the couch.
Here’s what you need to know heading into this weekend:
Ward’s buzzer-beater sets up GWOC showdown
Credit: Steven Wright
Credit: Steven Wright
Wayne senior Alphonso Ward hit a 55-foot buzzer-beater to beat Springboro on Tuesday, earning ESPN’s Top Play of the Day. Tonight, they’ll travel to Northmont with first place in the Greater Western Ohio Conference on the line.
📺3 to watch
It doesn’t get much better than the first round of the NFL playoffs (with a little college basketball thrown in):
- Peach Bowl: Oregon vs. Indiana, CFP semifinal (7:30 p.m, Friday, ESPN): A Big Ten squad will play in the national championship game for the third straight season.
- Bills at Jaguars, AFC wild card game (1 p.m., Sunday, CBS): Can Josh Allen finally get his team to the Super Bowl?
- Wright state men’s basketball at Oakland (3 p.m., Sunday, ESPN): The Raiders face a Horizon League road test in a nationally-televised game.
🏀3 to see (in person)
Here are a few high school basketball games to check out this weekend across the Miami Valley:
- Boys basketball: Alter at Chaminade Julienne (7:30 p.m., Friday): One of the best rivalries in the Miami Valley.
- Girls basketball: Bellbrook at Monroe (1:15 p.m., Saturday): The Golden Eagles will face the Hornets in a battle for first place in the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division.
- Boys basketball: Lehman Catholic at Troy Christian (7:30 p.m., Friday): The unbeaten Cavaliers face the Eagles in a key Three Rivers Conference showdown.
ICYMI: Flyers to debut ‘Stealth Black’ uniforms at next home game
The Flyers haven’t worn black uniforms since 2011.
WHERE TO FIND OUR COVERAGE
For the latest, most up-to-date high school football news and scores from the Dayton Daily News, visit daytondailynews.com/sports.
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During football season, readers can also get our coverage sent right to their inboxes each Saturday morning by subscribing to our High School Football newsletter.
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I want to hear from you. Reach out to me directly at michael.cooper@coxinc.com with your questions and feedback.
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