“One of the most difficult things in all of football is to be up and ready to play mentally, intellectually and physically all 10 weeks,” Alter coach Ed Domsitz said this week. “I will say this for our team: We have answered the whistle every single week.”
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Alter (6-1) is now the team to beat in the Greater Catholic League Co-Ed North. That’s been a long-running challenge for Hamilton Badin (5-2), which will play Alter at Fairmont in a Week 8 GCL Co-Ed crossover game at 7 p.m. Friday. Badin hasn’t beaten Alter since 1999, a span of 20 games that includes the playoffs.
Alter (4-0) is alone in first place in the GCL North. CJ and Fenwick (both 3-1) are tied for second and Carroll (1-3) fourth. CJ was ranked No. 1 in the midseason debut of the Associated Press Division III state poll and is still No. 1 in the D-III, Region 12 computer rankings.
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However, CJ lost most of its starting backfield after Week 5 because of the new Ohio High School Athletic Association transfer rule and dropped its first game last week at Fenwick, 34-19.
Alter is at McNicholas in Week 9 and “hosts” CJ at Fairmont in Week 10. Like last season, Alter and CJ could be paired again the following week in a D-III, Region 12 playoff opener.
Domsitz likes how the Knights recovered from that Week 1 loss, again.
“These kids have been ready to play every game,” he said, “so I can’t complain about that.”
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• Wayne (5-2, 2-0) will host Fairmont (6-1, 1-0) in another high-stakes Greater Western Ohio Conference National East matchup. Both teams are in D-I, Region 3 playoff contention, Fairmont at No. 2 and Wayne No. 10.
Wayne is in playoff preview mode. The Warriors are at Springfield (6-1, 1-0) in Week 9 and host Trotwood-Madison (5-2) in Week 10. Wayne likely would host a playoff game if it sweeps those games.
Fairmont is on a five-game win streak after falling 24-21 at Northmont in a Week 2 game that was completed the next day because of multiple Friday lightning delays. Wayne handed Northmont its only loss, 49-20 in Week 4.
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• Covington (4-3) has emerged at the hottest team in the Cross County Conference. The Buccaneers roasted Bethel 54-7 last week and could run out the regular season with a seven-game win streak. If that happens, it should vault the Buccs into the D-VI, Region 24 playoffs. Covington is No. 10 this week.
Fort Loramie (6-1) has won six straight and should be favored to win the CCC title. Loramie defeated Covington 33-14 in Week 3.
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• Bellbrook (7-0, 3-0) hosts Brookville (6-1, 3-0) in what will go a long way to decide the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern title. The Golden Eagles are No. 2 in the D-III state poll. Brookville lost only at Anna 48-27 in Week 2.
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