Week 9 football: Area teams making playoff push

All it took to shake out the area’s high school football playoff picture were a couple of overtime classics and an unlikely knockout. How else to describe an eventful Week 9 of high school football?

Here’s what we think we know: Springfield (8-1) and Northmont (8-1) are in the playoffs (Division I, Region 3). So is Troy (D-II, Region 8). Unbeaten Bellbrook also is good to go (D-III, Region 11). Alter and Fenwick (D-III, Region 12) have clinched and are bidding for home games.

»RELATED: Xenia lands KO of Trotwood-Madison

»PHOTOS: Xenia at Trotwood-Madison, Week 9 football

Others likely joining the playoff party are Clinton-Massie (D-IV, Region 16), Anna (D-V, Region 18), Middletown Madison (D-V, Region 20), Marion Local, Mechanicsburg, Coldwater and St. Henry (D-VI, Region 24) and Fort Loramie, Ansonia, Minster and Lehman Catholic (D-VII, Region 28).

That’s a whole lot of second-season success and a lot more teams could also extend their seasons with regular-season finale Week 10 wins.

»RELATED: Ponitz forfeits two games

»RELATED: Week 8 football rewind

Xenia converted a two-point pass to stun host Trotwood-Madison, 29-28 in double overtime. Springfield also worked OT to take down rival Wayne, 33-26. And then there was winless Centerville. All the visiting Elks did was unplug rival Fairmont, 17-0.

“This is Friday night football,” said Trotwood coach Jeff Graham with an approving nod toward the celebrating Xenia players. “Anything can happen.”

Here’s some highlights from Week 9 games:

Northmont 38, Springboro 21: Quarterback Miles Johnson passed for 205 yards and two touchdowns as the Thunderbolts clinched a share of the Greater Western Ohio Conference National West Division title.

Michael Franklin rushed 17 times for 115 yards and a TD and teammate Jestin Jacobs rushed for 80 yards and two scores for Northmont (8-1, 2-0). Drake Hickman and Jason Kohr each caught TD passes in the victory.

»PHOTOS: Fairmont at Wayne, Week 8 football

The Thunderbolts can clinch an outright division title with a Week 10 win at Miamisburg. Springboro is 4-5 and 0-2 in the division.

Alter 42, Cin. McNicholas 0: The Knights clinched at least a share of their third straight Greater Catholic League Co-Ed North Division title with their eighth straight victory.

»PHOTOS: Miamisburg at Lebanon, Week 8 football

Alter (8-1, 6-0) can clinch the title outright by beating Chaminade Julienne in Week 10 at Fairmont.

Badin 38, Chaminade Julienne 21: The Eagles (7-2, 4-2 GCL Co-Ed North) dropped their second game in the last three weeks. QB Luke Chandler had TD tosses to Matthew Lewis (29 yards) and Colin Downing (18).

Carroll 33, Cin. Purcell Marian 13: The Patriots led 24-0 at the half, improving to 6-3 and 3-3 in the GCL Co-Ed North Division. Keith Farr had two rushing TDs and Paul Anderson also ran for a TD for Lebanon.

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Bellbrook 61, Oakwood 12: The Eagles (9-0, 5-0) led 55-0 at halftime, clinching at least a share of their first Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern title since 2014. Bellbrook can clinch the title outright with a win at Monroe in Week 10.

St. Henry 28, Coldwater 10: Zach Niekamp rushed for 218 yards and four TDs as the Indians (7-2, 5-2) snapped a 22-game losing streak to Coldwater.

The Cavaliers dropped their second straight game, falling to 7-2 and 5-2 in the Midwest Athletic Conference.

»RELATED: Week 8 football power ratings

Miamisburg 42, Beavercreek 7: Zion Lewis rushed for 168 yards and two TDs and Jon Yerkins rushed for 75 yards and two TDs as the Vikings improved to 7-2 overall.

Butler 27, Sidney 9: Mason Motter rushed for 125 yards and a TD and teammate Ryan Martin rushed for 73 yards and two TDs as the Aviators improved to 6-3 and 3-1 in the GWOC American North Division.

Caleb Harris rushed for 108 yards and a score for the Yellow Jackets (4-5, 1-3).

»PHOTOS: Springfield at Northmont, Week 7 football

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Lebanon 61, Stebbins 6: Kyle Short had four total touchdowns — two on ground and two in the air — as the Warriors improved to 6-3 overall.

Mechanicsburg 54, Northeastern 0: The Indians improved to 8-1 and 3-1 in the Ohio Heritage Conference North Division. They'll travel to Fairbanks (6-3, 3-1) with a share of the division title on the line in Week 10.

»PHOTOS: Oakwood at Brookville, Week 6 football

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»PHOTOS: Fairmont at Miamisburg, Week 6 football

»PHOTOS: Northmont at Wayne, Week 5 football

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Playoff push: Week 9 full of upsets, OT classics and title shares