By Chris Chaney
Sports Editor
With both conference titles and playoff berths coming into clearer view, area teams enjoyed another unseasonably warm Friday night on Oct. 9.
Only three more games stand between a few postseason hopefuls and accomplishing one of their biggest goals. Each of the four hopefuls won in Week 7.
Williamsburg 49, Batavia 27: A week after facing a 13-point halftime deficit to Blanchester, Williamsburg found themselves in a similar situation against bitter rivals Batavia.
Giving up the first 13 points of the game on drives orchestrated by the Bulldogs backup quarterback, Spencer Fluegel, the Wildcats’ offense found some solid footing to even the score by the end of the first period. Then they took a 9-point lead into the locker room thanks to a safety and Spencer Clowery’s second touchdown of the half.
Batavia began the second half similarly to how they began the first, scoring two quick touchdowns to go up 27-22.
From there, Clowery took over on both sides of the ball. After finding the end zone twice in the first half, he reached pay dirt four more times in the second half — three rushing touchdowns and an interception returned for a score.
All in all, Clowery ended up with 31 rushes for 172 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught two passes from Zack Ward for 78 yards. Kurt Meisberger added 83 yards on 20 touches and a touchdown. Dawson Davis added 10 runs for 58 yards.
For Batavia, Fluegel went 15 of 30 for 328 yards and four touchdowns, but he was picked off seven times.
Austin Maham and Josh Stephens led the Bulldogs receiving corps with multiple catches for more than 100 yards a piece.
Burg (5-2, 2-0 SBCN) hosts Norwood on Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. and Batavia (2-5, 1-1 SBCN) will host Bethel-Tate at Holman Stadium.
Bethel-Tate 54, Clermont Northeastern 6: A second consecutive fast start propelled the Tigers to their fourth win of the season.
Bethel scored 34 points in the opening quarter to put CNE on their heels from the onset.
A balanced Tiger rushing attack featured eight backs getting multiple touches. On the rare occasion that Bethel put the ball in the air, the change of pace flummoxed the opposition.
Austin Carter was the Tigers’ leading rusher, going for 68 yards on four carries, scoring twice. Jacob Bussell, Jeffrey Botts and Justin Hixson combined for 91 yards and two touchdowns while Botts went 2 for 3 passing, racking up 58 yards and a score. QB Chris Wheeler went 1/2 in relief with his one completion to Jacob Collins good for 36 yards.
Hixson was on the receiving end of both of Botts’ passes, adding 58 yards to his tally as well as another touchdown.
CNE was led by Dalton Miracle’s 22 rushes for 86 yards and a score. Luke Newton caught two passes for 61 yards in the loss.
BT (4-2, 1-0 SBCN) travels to Batavia in Week 8 while CNE (0-7, 0-2 SBCN) hosts Blanchester. Both games kick at 7 p.m.
Goshen 27, Blanchester 13: Goshen opened up the passing game in a 14-point win over visiting Blanchester on Oct. 9 at Jim Brown Stadium. Senior quarterback Isaac Hart threw 17 times, completing nine of them for 160 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 21 times for 115 yards.
Johnny Kube and Jimmy Strunk spelled Hart for a handful of carries each, both rushing for just over 30 yards and each found the end zone.
Logan Brand led the Warriors aerial attack hauling in three passes for 65 yards and a score. Matt Creech, Sebastian Abshire and Jason Young were all on the receiving end of Hart passes.
The Warriors (6-1, 1-0 SBCA) square off in a big Southern Buckeye Conference American Division game vs. New Richmond in Week 8.
Glen Este 45, Walnut Hills 7: The Trojans put up their sixth performance of 35 points or more this season in their third Eastern Cincinnati Conference victory.
The Glen Este offense was in full flight, balancing play calls between 29 rushes and 24 passes.
Senior quarterback Tyler Pilcher completed 15 of 24 attempts for 348 yards and four touchdowns while Elijah Johnson stepped into the backfield to pace the rushing attack with 22 carries for 127 yards and a score.
Pilcher also ran three times for 14 yards and another touchdown.
Conversely, Johnson got involved in the passing game as well, catching four passes for 111 yards and three more scores.
Jacob Hamilton led the wideouts with five receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown.
GE (6-1, 3-1 ECC) hosts Anderson on Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
Kings 34, Milford 7: The Eagles dropped their second consecutive ECC contest in Week 7 thanks to a sluggish offensive performance.
Milford was only able to muster 204 yards of total offense. Quarterback Tyler Smith accounted for 89 of them, 53 through the air on 8 of 15 passing and 36 on the ground on 10 rushes.
Tyler Brandon ran 11 times for 79 yards and the Eagles lone score. Dawson Slone carried the ball seven times for 28 yards.
Milford (3-4, 1-3 ECC) hosts league-leading Turpin in Week 8 for Senior Night. Kick is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Norwood 29, Amelia 26: The Barons dropped their fifth straight contest and second in their last three by less than five points.
Amelia (1-6, 0-2 SBCA) will host Western Brown at 7 p.m. in Week 8.