Friday, October 29, 1999
Mason tries to take giant leap into Division I playoffs
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The transition from Division II to Division I was expected to be tough for the Mason football team.
“Everyone thought it would take awhile to compete at the higher level,” Mason coach Tim Lichtenberg said. “We've been in the Division II playoffs two of the last three years, but no one expected us to make it this year.”
After losing its first two games to Sycamore and Kings, Mason has won seven consecutive games and can wrap up a playoff berth with a home victory tonight over Lebanon (8-1). A loss probably will eliminate the Comets.
The Mason-Lebanon matchup is one of four Division I games that will make or break teams with playoff aspirations.
Winton Woods needs a victory over Fairfield, Moeller must defeat Princeton, and Lakota East can clinch by defeating Columbus Watterson.
“The key defensively is not allowing Lebanon the big play,” Lichtenberg said. “On offense, we must run the ball in order to keep their offense off the field.
Mason's offense received a boost when senior tailback Danny Little, a 1,300-yard rusher in 1998, returned to the lineup. But Little's replacement, Roger Rist, is now out for the season with a knee injury.
Nick Singleton (1,720 yards rushing) is Lebanon's major offensive threat.
The only league title up for grabs is in the Queen City Conference. Western Hills will win the outright championship with a victory over Walnut Hills.
The top Division II game has Turpin playing at Kings. If the Spartans upset Kings, they could make the playoffs. New Richmond needs a victory over Williamsburg to stay in the hunt.
Elder visits Oak Hills in another big game tonight. Both teams already have clinched playoff berths, but the rivalry has become one of the biggest in western Cincinnati.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association will announce first-round playoff matchups Sunday afternoon.
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