Those were the key wins that vaulted Springboro among the final top eight in the D-I, Region 4 playoff field. But their Week 11 reward is a maximum challenge — at top-seeded and nationally ranked Colerain (10-0) today.
“It’s a tough assignment this week, that’s for sure,” Springboro coach Ryan Wilhite said.
Divisions I, II, IV and VI play at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, Divisions III, V and VII at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. That rotation will be in place through the state semifinals. Championship weekend will be held at Ohio Stadium in Columbus Dec. 1-3, with one title game held Thursday, Dec. 1.
Springboro is one of three area teams that nabbed the final No. 8 qualifying spot and will play a No. 1 seed. Tippecanoe (7-3) is at top-seeded Franklin (10-0) in D-III, Region 12 and West Liberty-Salem (6-4) is at No. 1 Marion Local (9-1) in D-VI, Region 24. The higher seeds host first-round games. Play switches to neutral sites beginning Week 12.
Springboro has ridden the success of senior receiver Nick Kovacs, who led the GWOC with 76 catches for 1,022 yards (13.4) and 12 touchdowns, and senior place kicker Charlie Kuhbander. He made 11 field goals and is the state’s all-time leading scorer for kickers. Junior quarterback Brody Mahle also led the GWOC in passing with 2,144 yards and 25 scores.
Novacs is committed to Toledo and Kuhbander to Northwestern.
But it’s tailback Liam Foley who Wilhite said deserves extra credit. Overcoming a devastating knee injury that limited his early play, Foley has provided a backfield balance with 829 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns.
Foley’s long flowing blond hair is easy to spot among Panthers’ players. He’s vowed to donate his signature mane to Locks of Love in honor of cancer stricken senior teammate Mac Reese.
“He’s been a big key for us and had great games against Miamisburg and Lebanon (146 yards rushing, four touchdowns),” Wilhite said. “It’s a good feeling of expectations around our program that we expect to be in the playoffs. We had a great effort (last week) and it was a very emotional night for us. Momentum is a very emotional thing.”
Colerain was pushed to the limit during Week 1-3 defeats of Warren (Ind.) Central (31-28), St. Xavier (20-14 OT) and LaSalle (6-0), then blew out a seven-game Greater Miami Conference slate. The Cardinals were bounced out of the D-I state semifinals last season by Wayne, 28-21.
• Time Warner Cable has added two area games to its live first-round coverage: Kings at Miamisburg at 7:30 p.m. today and Trotwood-Madison (8-2) at Wapakoneta (9-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday. The games will be carried live on channels 1311 (HD), 311 and 99.
• The Trotwood/Wapak matchup is a familiar pairing. Trotwood hammered unbeaten Wapak 33-3 in a D-III regional final last season. They also met in 2014, with Trotwood needing four overtimes to secure a 34-28 D-III regional final win. Trotwood also beat Wapak in a D-II regional semifinal in 2011.
• Another first-round rematch from last season is Brookville (5-5) at Coldwater (9-1) in D-V, Region 20 on Saturday. Both were unbeaten in last year’s regional final, won by Coldwater, 31-13. It’s a daunting task for Brookville. Midwest Athletic Conference teams are 60-2 against non-MAC teams in the first round since the playoffs expanded to eight teams in each region.
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