5 takeaways from Week 1 of high school football

Here are five takeaways:

1. Statement win for Piqua?

Getting a victory in the most-played rivalry in Ohio high school football is always big, but Piqua’s 26-10 triumph over Troy could portend to bigger things for the Indians in 2020.

Both teams entered this matchup with veteran defenses and questions on offense.

Troy moved the ball but was undone by four turnovers, including a pair inside the Piqua 10-yard line in the second quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Brady Ouhl flashed some star potential with a 44-yard touchdown run and a pretty fade pass to his brother, senior Blane, for a 26-yard score while Piqua’s opportunistic defense got big plays from several players.

Ca’ron Coleman led the Indians with nine tackles, including two sacks, and intercepted a pass. Josiah Medley had six tackles and an interception while Tanner Kemp put the icing on the cake with a 70-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter.

2. All is not lost for Troy.

Losing a rivalry game to start the season surely stings, but the Trojans showed things to build on.

Josh Mayfield threw for 184 yards and was effective in the short passing game with top targets Nicholas Barr (eight catches for 72 yards) and Jack Kleinhenz (three catches for 66 yards). The junior quarterback also ran for 57 yards but three interceptions marred his stat line.

The thunder and lightening backfield duo of La’Manuel Kemp-Short (6-2, 275) and Nick Kawecki (5-10, 190) also showed some potential for the Trojans. That pair combined for 97 yards on 15 carries with Kemp-Short rumbling in for Troy’s only TD.

Troy is 22-1 in league play (first the GWOC and now the MVL) with four division titles in the last four years, but the Trojans must regroup quickly with a visit from Xenia scheduled for this week.

The Buccaneers, who won the other half of the MVL last season, are in the same position as Troy after losing in Week 1 to Fairborn.

Xenia’s triple-option offense was held in check by the Skyhawks, who outrushed the Buccs 256-159.

3. Northmont the real deal?

Expectations were high for the Thunderbolts and Cade Rice entering the season.

So far, so good.

The senior quarterback, who transferred from Greenon, threw for 303 yards and five touchdowns in a thrilling 40-36 win over Springboro. Michigan-bound Marcus Allen as his top target, hauling in nine passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in the final minute. Javien Brownlee also caught nine passes for the Thunderbolts, who also have a Michigan recruit on defense (Rod Moore) and reason to think the sky is the limit.

Northmont coach Tony Broering said prior to the opener to expect every week to be a championship game in the GWOC this season, and so far that is looking prophetic.

Next up is a visit from a Fairmont team looking to bounce back from a 21-20 loss to Centerville.

The Firebirds, like Springboro, weren’t able to hang onto a fourth-quarter lead.

4. Springfield has “dudes.”

That was coach Maurice Douglass’ takeaway from a 21-14 win over Wayne to start the season.

Having been sending a steady string of players to Division I colleges since his days at Trotwood-Madison, Douglass should know.

Junior quarterback Te’Sean Smoot logged more than 300 total yards Friday night including 226 through the air, and spread the ball around to six different receivers. Anthony Brown led the way with 90 yards and a touchdown on three catches while Northwestern transfer Ben Van Noord had three catches for 66 yards and two scores.

Sophomore linebacker Jaivian Norman led the defense with 14 tackles while Delian Bradley, a junior whose offer list already includes Kentucky, Iowa State, Nebraska and Cincinnati, had six stops.

Don’t count out Wayne, either.

With quarterback Cam Fancher, receiver R.J. Mukes III and Elijah Brown, the Warriors have some “dudes,” too.

5. Lakota West breakthrough.

The big news down south this weekend came from Cincinnati, where Lakota West snapped Colerain’s 83-game winning streak in the Greater Miami Conference with a 10-0 victory.

The common denominator is Tom Bolden, who coached the Cardinals from 2007-2018 before taking over the Firebirds last season.

Both are proud programs with a winning tradition and a history of producing Division I talent.

The Firebirds have three of the top 25 juniors in Ohio according to 247Sports: Jyaire Brown, Tegra Tshabola and Alex Afari while Colerain has University of Cincinnati commit Contay Corleone in the senior class.

Also of note in the GMC: Middletown is set to make its season debut this Friday at Fairfield. Middies fall sports were reinstated last week by the school district after pausing over concerns about COVID-19.