Blitz Recap Week 13: Best games, performances in Greater Cincinnati

Princeton is headed back to Paycor Stadium, and Elder will be waiting. The Vikings edged Moeller 40-36 in the King of the Block rematch to reach their first regional final since 1993.

The Details

The Panthers punched their ticket with two stops from the 1-yard line in the final seconds of a 27-23 win over St. Xavier at The Pit. Anderson and Harrison also took care of business, setting up an all-local Division II, Region 8 final.

Across the river, Colten Barger scored five touchdowns in Lloyd Memorial’s win at Russell, Covington Catholic put up 57 at Ashland and Holy Cross claimed its first postseason district title since 2016. In Indiana, Milan won its second straight regional crown while Lawrenceburg’s comeback fell just short against Tri-West. Here’s how it all unfolded in the Week 13 Friday Night Blitz.

PRINCETON’S LATE STRIKE SINKS MOELLER

Torbert to Torbert sent Princeton back to Paycor Stadium. Key’Sean Torbert found his brother Monsanna for a 17-yard touchdown with 2:56 left, and the Vikings recovered a Moeller fumble with 1:15 remaining to win Friday’s King of the Block rematch 40-36. Princeton (12-0) will face Elder on Nov. 20 in its first regional final since 1993.

Monsanna went 80 yards for a touchdown on the first snap, and Brandon Martin Jr. blocked a punt and recovered it for a score to put Princeton up 12-0. Moeller’s Reggie Watson answered with a 92-yard kickoff return and added a 45-yard touchdown catch in a five-touchdown first quarter.

Juice Glover-Brown rushed for 120 yards and two scores, helping Moeller build a 29-19 lead. Key’Sean hit David Fields for a touchdown with five seconds left in the half, then ran for an 8-yard score in the third to put Princeton up 33-29. Watson’s third touchdown put Moeller back ahead with 8:21 left before the Torberts connected for the winner.

Princeton piled up 514 yards, including 315 on the ground. Key’Sean threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 84 yards and a score. Monsanna rushed for 118 yards, Jordan Hall added 116 and Lorenzo McMullen Jr. caught five passes for 140 yards.

The Vikings beat Moeller 31-24 at Paycor in Week 1. Now they return with the Division I, Region 4 title on the line and are set to take on Elder.

• AROUND THE TRI-STATE
• CINCINNATI
• Division II, Region 8
• Anderson 50, Troy 7

Anderson is headed to its fifth straight regional final after rolling past Troy 50-7 Friday night in a Division II, Region 8 semifinal. The top-seeded Raptors (11-1) have won the last three regional championships and will play for a fourth in a row on Nov. 20.

Senior quarterback Owen Scalf completed 21 of 28 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns and added 58 yards on the ground. Senior receiver Tysin Weaver caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Tegan Jallick and Brody Poetter also caught touchdown passes.

Anderson has scored 108 points in two playoff games, starting with a 58-28 win over Withrow. The Raptors backed up their second straight 50-point outing by holding the Trojans to one touchdown.

Brady Lawhon threw three touchdown passes and Harrison’s defense came up with a late fourth-down stop as the Wildcats beat Trotwood-Madison 20-13 Friday at Bill Kuntz Field. Harrison (10-2) will face top-seeded Anderson in the Division II, Region 8 final on Nov. 20.

Lawhon hit Christian Roether for an 8-yard touchdown and Trey Fette for a 22-yard score to give Harrison a 14-7 halftime lead. Daylan Dennis pulled the Rams within one on a 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, but the extra point missed.

Lawhon found Colton Rehage for a 10-yard touchdown with 11:29 left, and Harrison recovered its second onside kick of the half. The Wildcats turned the Rams away on downs at the Harrison 21 with 2:49 remaining, sealing their second straight one-score playoff win and avenging last year’s 49-0 postseason loss to Trotwood-Madison.

Lloyd Memorial 42, Russell 14

Colten Barger scored five touchdowns as Lloyd Memorial rolled to a 42-14 road win over Russell in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs Friday night. The Juggernauts improved to 11-1 and advanced to the regional championship.

Barger scored on runs of 5 and 1 yards in the first quarter, then added a 7-yard touchdown run early in the second. He followed that with a punt return for a touchdown, his fourth score of the night, to put Lloyd ahead 28-0 with 9:06 still to play in the first half.

Russell got on the board on a 1-yard run by Kaiden Benge, but Marjae Peterson returned an interception for a touchdown with 51 seconds left in the half to give Lloyd a 35-6 lead at the break.

Benge scored again in the third quarter to cut the margin to 35-14. Barger answered with an 8-yard touchdown run six seconds into the fourth, and Lincoln Tomlinson picked off a pass with 4:23 left to help close out the win.

Holy Cross 26, Newport 0

Holy Cross shut out Newport 26-0 Friday night at Thomas More to claim its first postseason district title since 2016 and advance to the Class 1A regional championship.

The Indians led just 6-0 at halftime despite holding Newport to 10 total yards. Holy Cross recovered the opening kickoff of the second half at the Newport 45, setting up Brian Ferguson’s 8-yard touchdown run. The Indians recovered the ensuing squib kick, too. Ferguson added a 5-yard touchdown later in the third after Xavier Thornberry’s punt return set up Holy Cross at the Newport 21.

Dustin Wilson capped the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run early in the fourth. The Holy Cross defense kept Newport without a first down through three quarters and turned the Wildcats away on downs at the Indians’ 24 to open the fourth.

Tri-West Hendricks 24, Lawrenceburg 20

Lawrenceburg erased an 11-point deficit, but Tri-West Hendricks scored from the 1 on fourth down with 4:36 remaining to beat the Tigers 24-20 in Friday night’s Class 3A regional championship at The Pit.

The Tigers trailed 10-0 before Crue Gilmour found Campbell Williams for a 31-yard touchdown with 26 seconds left in the first half. Jack Sorgi’s second touchdown pass put Tri-West ahead 17-6 in the third quarter, but Brogan Wynn answered with a 36-yard touchdown run off a direct snap.

Gilmour ran for a 9-yard touchdown, and the two-point conversion gave Lawrenceburg a 20-17 lead with 9:10 left. After scoring the go-ahead touchdown, the Bruins intercepted Gilmour with 1:32 remaining to end the Tigers’ comeback bid. Lawrenceburg finished 11-2.

FRIDAY NIGHT STARS

Colten Barger, Lloyd Memorial — Scored five touchdowns in a 42-14 road win over Russell. He ran for four scores and returned a punt for another, helping the Juggernauts jump out to a 28-0 lead.

Kaden Estep, Elder — Rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries and threw for 145 yards and another score. His 1-yard touchdown run with 2:33 left put Elder ahead for good in a 27-23 win over St. Xavier.

Key’Sean Torbert, Princeton — Threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 84 yards and a score. His 17-yard touchdown pass to his brother Monsanna with 2:56 left lifted Princeton past Moeller 40-36 and into its first regional final since 1993.

Owen Scalf, Anderson — Completed 21 of 28 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns and added 58 rushing yards in a 50-7 win over Troy. The Raptors advanced to their fifth consecutive regional final.

Kiyan Miller, Covington Catholic — Ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries and added a two-point conversion in the Colonels’ 57-28 road win over Ashland Blazer.

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