Surprising Xenia takes Troy challenge in Week 2 football

Xenia (1-0) has another chance to make a major early season statement against visiting Troy (1-0) in a Week 2 high school football showdown on Friday.

Buccaneers senior running back sincere Wells put a Greater Western Ohio Conference-best 239 yards rushing and four touchdowns on host Beavercreek in a season-opening 41-14 win. Why is that significant? Xenia lost 35-6 to Beavercreek last season and was 2-8.

»RELATED: Week 2 football power ratings

»RELATED: Northwestern vaults to top of CBC stats

That was the signature win Bucs coach Trace Smitherman had been looking for. It’s too early to label the Bucs a Division II playoff contender, but that’s the goal, something Xenia has not yet qualified for.

Troy, which opened with a 43-8 bashing of Belmont, has been a D-II playoff regular under coach Matt Burgbacher. The Trojans also have an outstanding senior runner in Jaydon Culp-Bishop, who had 166 yards rushing and three scores against the Bison.

»RELATED: Ohio Supreme Court sides with OHSAA

»RELATED: OHSAA goes on the defensive over lawsuit

• Sidney (0-1) was scheduled to host longtime non-conference rival Bellefontaine (0-1) on Thursday as part of the ABC 22/FOX 45 Thursday Night Lights. According to the Ohio High School Athletic Association, that game is tied for fifth as the state’s oldest rivalry, dating to 1899. Matching that start year is the Bellefontaine vs. Urbana game and Piqua vs. Troy.

Canton McKinley and Massillon Washington patrons like to tout Ohio high school football started in that Stark County hotbed, but that honor goes to Cincinnati’s Hughes and Woodward. The Cincinnati Metro Conference teams played their first game in 1878.

»FOOTBALL: Week 2 schedule

»FACEBOOK: For more sports you should like Marc Pendleton

• Also scheduled to play on Thursday was Alter (0-1) vs. Thurgood Marshall (0-1) at Welcome Stadium and Ponitz (0-1) at Hughes (0-1).

• The temporary restraining order that was put on the Ohio High School Athletic Association by way of Hamilton County Court has been resolved for now. And it took the Ohio Supreme Court to do so this week.

»TWITTER: You should like @MarcPendleton

This is the lawsuit that was brought about by Cincinnati Roger Bacon that challenges the OHSAA competitive balance formula. All private schools, such as Bacon, must choose a neighboring public school district as its go-to district for student enrollment. Bacon wants more than one district.

»WEEK 1 REWIND: Observations and other big hits

The lawsuit also represents the entire Greater Catholic League Co-Ed, which includes Alter, Carroll, Chaminade Julienne and Fenwick of the GCL North. The Supreme Court hasn’t set another court date to revisit the lawsuit, but its action clears the way for an uninterrupted fall regular season and postseason in football, girls volleyball and soccer.

»RELATED: ‘Playing up’ should be rewarded

• Email game information as soon as possible to sports@coxohio.com.

About the Author