Friday, October 15, 1999
Cincinnati football picks
By Dave Schutte
Elder (7-0) vs. St. Xavier (6-0)
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tonight.
• WHERE: St. Xavier's Tom Ballaban Stadium, 600 West North Bend Road, Finneytown.
• WHAT TO WATCH: The stakes are high — the winner is the Greater Catholic League champion.
• PICK: Elder
Badin (5-2) vs. McNicholas (6-1)
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
• WHERE: Turpin Stadium, 2650 Bartels Road, Anderson Township.
• WHAT TO WATCH: McNicholas has never won a Greater Catholic League North Division football championship, but the Rockets can lock up a share with a victory.
After suffering a 38-7 loss to Chaminade-Julienne two weeks ago, the Rockets rebounded against Purcell Marian with a 28-7 victory that set the stage for this game.
McNicholas is loaded with offensive weapons.
Quarterback Bryan Cupito has completed 84-of-144 passes for 1,229 yards. His primary receiver is Joe Polaneczky, who has caught 35 passes for 516 yards. Chuck Moore and Tony Pastura are the primary rushers.
Badin has struggled offensively after losing running back John Klamo to injury.
• PICK: McNicholas.
New Richmond (6-1) vs. Batavia (7-0)
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m. today
• WHERE: Batavia Stadium, 1 Bulldog Place, Batavia.
• WHAT TO WATCH: Batavia is one of the surprise teams in Cincinnati with its biggest victory coming two weeks ago over Hillsboro (20-19).
Quarterback Chris Kent is the key offensive players for Batavia. He has not only completed 53-of-88 passes for 940 yards, but is also a threat running the ball.
New Richmond had a much easier time with Hillsboro, soundly beating the Indians last week 35-6.
Sophomore running back John McMonigle the key for a Lion offense. He has scored eight touchdowns.
• Pick: New Richmond.
Harrison (5-2) vs. Mason (5-2)
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m. tonight.
• WHERE: Mason Stadium, 770 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason.
• WHAT TO WATCH: Until Harrison was upset last Friday by Anderson, this game could have decided the outright champion of the FAVC Buckeye Division.
Mason is 5-0 in the league while Harrison and Anderson are 4-1.
Since losing its first two non-league games against Sycamore and Kings, Mason has been dominant with victories over Turpin, Anderson, Winton Woods, Amelia and Northwest.
Senior quarterback Adam Livingston is Mason's key offensive threat. He has completed 81-of-140 passes for 1,091 yards.
Junior quarterback Pat Hannon directs the Wildcat offense that also features sophomore tailback Charlie Key, a five-foot-nine, 180-pounder who has rushed for 1,129 yards on 168 carries (6.7 yards per carry).
• PICK: Mason.
Sycamore (5-2) vs. Lakota West (5-2)
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m. tonight
• WHERE: Lakota West Stadium, 8940 Union Centre Blvd, West Chester.
• WHAT TO WATCH: Tied for first place in the GMC with Fairfield and Lakota East, the Firebirds control their own destiny with two league games remaining.
Sycamore's potent offense, triggered by tailback George Wells (689 yards rushing, 14 TDs), presents a major problem for East. The Sycamore defense is allowing 19 points per game, so the Firebird offense may be able to score also.
• PICK: Sycamore
Other games
• Purcell Marian over Roger Bacon
• Hillsboro over Bethel Tate
• Williamsburg over CNE• Edgewood over Franklin
• Anderson over Anderson
• Glen Este over Northwest
• Winton Woods over Turpin
• Norwood over Goshen
• Kings over Wilmington
• Lebanon over Ross
• Little Miami over Loveland
• CCD over Lockland
• CHCA over Landmark Christian
• North College Hill over New Miami
• Indian Hill over Deer Park
• Finneytown over Mariemont
• Madeira over Taylor
• Wyoming over Reading
• Aiken over Woodward
• Walnut Hills over Mount Healthy
• Western Hills over Taft
• Colerain over Hamilton
• Fairfield over Princeton
• Lima over Lakota East
• Milford over Middletown
• Moeller over Franklin County, IN.
• Western Brown over Summit
• East Central over Oak Hills
• Last Week: 26-7 Season: 132-46.
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