Lebanon among three schools to receive invite to the ECC
Lebanon was one of three high schools that accepted invitations to join the Eastern Cincinnati Conference on Saturday. The Warriors are currently one of 20 Greater Western Ohio Conference members.
Also accepting invitations to join the ECC in the fall of 2020 as new members were Cincinnati Winton Woods and Little Miami of Morrow.
The offer to the three schools was posted on the ECC website Friday afternoon.
Other current ECC schools are Anderson, Kings, Loveland, Milford, Turpin, Walnut Hills, West Clermont and Withrow.
Lebanon has previous conference ties to many of those schools and had inquired about joining the ECC last spring.
Coldwater 20, St. Henry 19: Jake Hemmelgarn found Jacob Wenning from 18 yards out in the third quarter to lead the Cavaliers in a D-VI, Region 24 semifinal Friday night at Sidney.
St. Henry’s Zach Niekamp rushed for 166 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns for the Redskins. Niekamp’s third TD came with 4:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Redskins missed the extra point, which would have tied the score.
St. Henry drove the ball into Coldwater territory with about a minute remaining, but the Cavaliers’ Cole Frilling intercepted a pass to seal the victory.
The Cavaliers improved to 10-2 and avenged a 28-10 loss to the Redskins in Week 9.
Mitch Niekamp had 159 yards and a TD and Hemmelgarn added a rushing TD for the Cavaliers, who advanced to face Marion Local (11-1) in the Region 24 final next Friday at a site to be determined.
The Cavs beat the Flyers 26-20 in double overtime in Week 10. St. Henry finished 9-3.
Marion Local 33, Lima Central Catholic 17: Nathan Bruns threw three TD passes, including two to Nick Tangeman, and Matt Rethman had a rushing touchdown for the Flyers (11-1).
The Thunderbirds led 7-6 after the first quarter, but the Flyers scored 21 points in the second quarter to earn a trip to the Region 24 final against Coldwater.
The Flyers have won 11 playoff games in a row and 15 of their past 16. Lima Central Catholic finished 9-2.
Hilliard Davidson 17, Springfield 14: Davidson made a field goal in the third quarter to take a 10-point lead and held on in a D-I, Region 3 semifinal at London.
Delian Bradley and Tavion Smith each had touchdowns for Springfield (9-3). It was the first regional semifinal appearance for Springfield since 2010 when it also lost to Hilliard Davidson 9-0.
“It’s part of the process,” Wildcats coach Maurice Douglass said. “It hurts, but to get there, you’ve got to learn how to get there. Next year, we’ll be better for it. We’ll be grinding in the weight room in January, trying to get a little closer to Canton.”
Wapakoneta 27, Fenwick 17: Junior Evan Kaeck rumbled for 216 yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries for Wapakoneta (11-1) in a D-III, Region 12 semifinal at Piqua. Wapakoneta advanced to a regional final against topranked Alter this Friday at a neutral site.
It was only the second time since 1988 Fenwick (9-3) had won nine games.