SHOWDOWN. ELDER VERSUS SAINT. HI, CHARLIE. MIKE SHEREE 21,000 PLUS AT PAYCOR. IT WAS WORTH IT. ELDER AND SAINT. THEY PUT THE PIGSKIN DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME BACK IN 1923. IT WAS A START. 2025. THE COMMON SENSE TOLD US THIS WEEK WE NEED THIS GAME IN AN NFL STADIUM. WE’VE COME A LONG WAY ON THE BLITZ. THE REGIONAL FINAL, NEARLY A QUARTER CENTURY IN THE MAKING, IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT FOR THE PEOPLE IN BLUE 2001. THE LAST TIME X AND ELDER STARRED IN A REGIONAL FINAL NIGHT IN LATE NOVEMBER, ELDER GOES UP EARLY IN THE FIRST, AND THEN THE BOMBERS COME RIGHT BACK. JACKSON FREI LOGAN VON HOLLY. A NEW POSTER BOY AT X 54 YARD TOUCHDOWN. ELDER GOING UP BIG IN THE FIRST HALF, THOUGH. KADEN E STEPH JUST DANCING. IT IS 27 TO 7. ELDER HAD THE BALL. THERE WAS AN INTERCEPTION AND X MAKES THIS A GAME BEFORE HALF AGAIN. IT’S VON HOLLY RIGHT ON THE MONEY FROM FREI. SO A ONE SCORE GAME GOING INTO INTERMISSION AFTER A SAINT X PICK TO OPEN THE SECOND HALF. E JAKE BEYER ELDERS BACK UP 13. AND YOU’RE WONDERING IS THIS GOING TO BE A PERFECT SEASON PERHAPS FOR THE WEST SIDERS. BUT AFTER VON HOLLY SCORE. DANIEL VOLLMER PUTS X IN FRONT FOR GOOD EARLY IN THE FOURTH. HOW ABOUT THE GUTSY FOURTH QUARTER PLAYS FROM STEVE SPECK’S TEAM OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS? 4234 POST GAME COLIN PORTER’S BLITZ 5 PLAYER OF THE GAME AND YOU CAN SUPERSIZE ME. I’M GOING TO REMEMBER THE MOST EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY MAKE IT LIKE THEY MAKE IT SPECIAL BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, YOU KNOW, I. WAS JUST ANOTHER WEEK TO PRACTICE WITH MY BROTHERS AND PLAY ANOTHER GAME, AND I’M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I JUST, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO THANK GOD FOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY HE GIVES ME. AND PLAYING IN THE BENGALS STADIUM WAS PRETTY COOL. WHAT A SCENE. WE WILL TELL YOU WHO X PLAYS IN THE SEMIS IN A MOMENT. FIRST, THE MACHINE, ALSO KNOWN BY THEIR GOVERNMENT NAME THE ANDERSON RAPTORS, UP AGAINST TROTWOOD. THE BRUISERS OF DAYTON. WELL, OWEN SCARF, COOPER COFFMAN AND TANNER HOLT. THEN SCHAEF TO BRADEN MOORE. YOU’VE SEEN THIS SHOW BEFORE. 38 SEVEN EVAN DREYER’S. ANDERSON RAFTERS REPEATING AS REGIONAL CHAMPS. IT’S AWESOME. LET’S NOT TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. IT’S REALLY, REALLY HARD TO MAKE IT TO THE FINAL FOUR, AND I’M SO PROUD OF THOSE GUYS. DOWN SEVEN. NOTHING. COME BACK AND PLAY REALLY, REALLY WELL. AND OUR TEAM IS EXCITING TO WATCH. WE’RE PLAYING REALLY WELL TOGETHER AND I LOVE WHERE OUR PROGRAM IS HEADING. AND WE’RE BACK TO THE FINAL FOUR AND PRACTICING ON THANKSGIVING. THANKSGIVING WEEK IS ALWAYS BUSY OVER THERE, ISN’T IT? HIGHLANDS AND CORBIN, THE RED HOUNDS MADE THEIR TRIP UP THREE HOURS ON 75. WELL, FIRST QUARTER RHEA WHITMER. THAT WAS ONE YOU WANT BACK. THE RAIN, THE FOG, MAY BE A FACTOR THERE. AND THAT KIND OF TURNED THE TIDE OF THIS EARLY. MASON SALMON. SEVEN NOTHING FOR THE VISITORS. HIGHLANDS. WHO’S DONE SO MUCH THE STORY. WE’VE ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS YEAR. IT JUST WAS NOT THEIR NIGHT AT HOME. 3521 KORBIN HIGHLANDS. BOWING OUT IN THE ELITE EIGHT, MIDDLETOWN. YOUR LONG PAST THE LAST POSTSEASON LANDMARK THAT LOOKED FAMILIAR OUT THERE. THE MIDDIES NAVIGATING UNCHARTED WATERS. DO THEY KNOW THEY’RE ONLY TWO WINS FROM PLAYING FOR A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP? MIDDLETOWN AND WAYNE AND DAYTON WINNER GETS SAINTS THIRD QUARTER 14 SEVEN. WAYNE CANNOT START A FIRE WITHOUT A LITTLE SPARK. JORDAN VAN. HE TOOK A KICKBACK EARLIER IN THE GAME. PUNT RETURN. LET’S JUST GO INSIDE THE 20. IT LEADS TO A DIMITRI AND JAMES TOUCHDOWN TO TIE IT. AND THEN WITH A MINUTE LEFT, WAYNE GOING TO THE AIR. WE JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE IN THE AIR THAT IS PICKED. WYMAN CAR ON THE PROGRAM MIDDLETOWN LEADING 10S TO GO. THAT TOUCHDOWN PUTS MIDDLETOWN IN FRONT BY VAN I SHOULD SAY. AND HERE WITH TEN TIPS. WHERE’S THIS VAN GOING? HOW ABOUT EXIT 32 JORDAN VAN SEALS IT WITH THE PICK 2114 MIDDLETOWN COMES BACK IN THE FINAL MINUTE. STATE SEMIFINAL TICKETS PLEASE. STARTING EARLY THIS WEEK IT IS THE MIDDIES AND X WHO HAD MIDDLETOWN IN THAT GAME JOHN RODENBERG INDIAN HILL BRAVES A DIVISION FOUR REGIONAL TITLE DREAM. IT IS REALITY. IF YOU CAN GET PAST VALLEY VIEW, THE FELLAS FROM GERMANTOWN ARE 11 AND ONE AND THAT IS BRODY GIBBS. THE ANTHONY VALENTE VALLEY VIEW LED 1413 AFTER A QUARTER, AND THEN IT’S 28 UNANSWERED. EVAN RIGGS, THE RIGGS CREW MADE OF THE RIGHT STUFF IN INDIAN HILL 4114 INDIAN HILL REGIO
Friday Night Football: Highlights, scores from Cincinnati, NKY high school playoffs
Updated: 11:33 PM EST Nov 21, 2025
Another round of the high school football playoffs wrapped up Friday night, including a heavyweight battle at Paycor Stadium between Elder and St. Xavier.See below for scores across Week 14 action.CAN’T SEE THE SCORES ABOVE? CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FRIDAY NIGHT SCORES.Cincinnati roundup:Only eight teams in each division across Ohio entered Friday night still alive in the postseason — and by the end of the evening, that field had been cut in half. Here’s a quick look back at how Week 14 unfolded across Southwest Ohio.DIVISION I, REGION 4NO. 3 ST. XAVIER 42, NO. 1 ELDER 34Elder and St. Xavier renewed their GCL South rivalry in front of a packed crowd at Paycor Stadium, meeting in the regional championship for the first time since 2001. Elder entered 12–0, while St. Xavier came in on a five-game winning streak, having allowed no more than 14 points in any of its nine victories. The game quickly turned into a thriller, with nearly 700 yards of combined offense. Elder struck first on a Tommy Becker run and later went up 27–7 behind touchdowns from Becker, Kaden Estep, and a 74-yard strike to Drew Wauligman. St. Xavier stormed back as Jackson Frye hit Logan Von Holle for two scores and Chad Perkins returned a punt for a touchdown, trimming the deficit to 27–21 at halftime. Estep connected with Jake Bier early in the third, but the Bombers dominated the fourth. Daniel Vollmer powered in two short touchdowns and finished with 91 rushing yards, while Von Holle posted 115 yards and three TDs as St. Xavier completed the comeback.DIVISION I, REGION 2NO. 1 MIDDLETOWN 21, NO. 6 WAYNE 14Middletown captured its first-ever regional championship in dramatic fashion, powered by a defense that has delivered four shutouts in its last nine games and is allowing just 7.6 points per outing. In a rain-soaked slugfest, the Middies and Wayne went to halftime scoreless. Middletown finally broke through by returning the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, but Wayne immediately answered with a kickoff return of its own to tie the game 7–7 just 23 seconds into the third quarter. The Warriors later took a 14–7 lead on a Kyle Graham strike to Jamier Averette-Brown with 9:19 remaining. But with 3:12 left, a pressured Wayne pass fluttered into a Middletown interception at the Warriors’ 46. The Middies capitalized, tying the game before Jordan Vann barreled in for the decisive 2-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left, securing a historic 21–14 win.DIVISION II, REGION 8NO. 1 ANDERSON 38, NO. 3 TROTWOOD MADISON 7Top-seeded Anderson claimed its third straight Region 8 title, storming past No. 3 Trotwood-Madison 38–7 on Friday at Lakota West to earn another trip to the state semifinals. The Rams struck first on a Dallas Shehee-to-Armani Rodgers touchdown, but it would be their only score. Anderson answered with 38 straight points, starting with Owen Scalf’s 43-yard TD to Tysin Weaver to end the first quarter. Scalf and Weaver connected again from 26 yards out for a 14-7 halftime lead. Scalf added two more touchdown passes in the second half — to Cooper Kathman and Tanner Holt — pushing the margin to 28-7. Maddux Snider’s 39-yard field goal sealed the dominant win.DIVISION IV, REGION 16NO. 1 INDIAN HILL 41, NO. 2 VALLEY VIEW 14Indian Hill punched its ticket to the Division IV state semifinals with a commanding 41–14 win over No. 2 Valley View in the Region 16 final. Valley View struck first on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Brody Gibbs to Anthony Valenti, and after an Indian Hill response from Evan Riggs, the Spartans answered again with an 81-yard kickoff return by Isaac Johnson to go up 14–6. The Braves closed the quarter with a 63-yard scoring run from quarterback Devlan Daniel, then took a 19–14 halftime lead on Riggs’ second touchdown. From there, it was all Indian Hill. The Braves scored twice in the third quarter — highlighted by a 25-yard pick-six from Jaxon Frye — and added another TD in the fourth to seal the 41–14 victory and a spot in the final four.Northern Kentucky roundup:We’ve reached the quarterfinal round of playoff action in the Bluegrass State and several Northern Kentucky teams fought through the rain and for their playoff lives. Here’s a look at how things unfolded and which teams are moving on..CLASS 6ARYLE 28, FREDERICK DOUGLASS 27Ryle stunned Frederick Douglass 28–27 in an overtime thriller to claim its second straight Region Championship and eighth consecutive victory. The Raiders struck first on a shifty touchdown run from quarterback Nathan Verax, but the Broncos answered with a score from standout back Dakari Talbert, who powered Frederick Douglass throughout the night. Tied 7–7 at halftime, the game remained tight into the fourth quarter. With time expiring, Ryle completed a dramatic drive capped by a touchdown on the final play to pull within 20–20—only to see the potential game-winning PAT clang off the upright.In overtime, Talbert opened with two carries, the second producing his fourth touchdown and giving the Broncos a 27–20 lead. Ryle responded immediately, leaning on Verax and receiver Dylan Lee, who had 113 yards on just three catches, including an 85-yard sideline burst that set up an earlier score. After punching in the overtime TD, the Raiders kept the offense on the field. Verax kept the ball on the two-point try, muscling across the goal line to seal a gutsy road win made even more impressive by Ryle finishing the game without two-way star Jacob Savage.CLASS 4ABOYLE COUNTY 49, COVINGTON CATHOLIC 14Boyle County got payback for last year’s season-ending loss, eliminating Covington Catholic with a dominant home performance. The night belonged to Ji’Dyn Smith-Hisel, who delivered one of the most remarkable playoff outings in state history — rushing for 432 yards and four touchdowns on just 25 carries as the Rebels controlled the game from start to finish. CovCath found the end zone twice, once on a Cash Harney touchdown pass to Donovan Bradshaw and again on a 9-yard run by Dylan Gaiser, but could never slow Boyle County’s explosive ground attack. It marked a disappointing finish to an otherwise impressive turnaround for the Colonels, who rebounded from an 0–2 start to win nine of their next ten entering the matchup.CORBIN 35, HIGHLANDS 21Corbin powered past Highlands 35–21 on a rainy night in Fort Thomas, earning its third state semifinal berth in four seasons. The Bluebirds stumbled early, as Rio Litmer was intercepted by Trey Person on the opening drive, and moments later Mason Salmons sprinted 53 yards to put Corbin up 7–0. The Redhounds dominated on the ground, extending the lead with Person’s 1-yard run before Issac Nieman’s 3-yard score brought Highlands within 14–7. Corbin answered with a late first-half touchdown from Person to take a 21–7 lead into the break, a margin that held through the third quarter. Cam Estep pushed it to 28–7 early in the fourth, and while Highlands added two late Litmer touchdown passes, Estep’s second rushing score sealed the win. Highlands ends its season at 10–3.CLASS 3ALLOYD 28, RUSSELL 13Lloyd continued its historic season with a 28–13 win over Russell, avenging last year’s loss and advancing to the state semifinals for the first time since 2022. The undefeated Juggernauts (13–0), who have now set a school record for wins, led 14–7 at halftime behind long touchdown runs from Lincoln Tomlinson and Avery Conrad and a 64-yard TD pass from Kaleb Evans to Colten Barger. Russell pulled within 14–13 in the third on a Kaiden Benge score, but Lloyd took control late. Conrad punched in an 8-yard TD, and Evans hit Izzy Turner on a 35-yard double move to seal the victory.CLASS 2ABEECHWOOD 42, PRESTONBURG 0Beechwood rolled to its eighth straight win and a spot in the KHSAA Class 2A semifinals with a dominant shutout at home. Brody Aylor opened the scoring with an 11-yard run midway through the first quarter, and after a 60-yard burst by Nathan Prabst, Tyler Fryman added a 6-yard TD to make it 14-0. Emmett Queen connected with Fryman on a 23-yard strike just before halftime to push the lead to 21-0. Prestonsburg fumbled on the first play of the second half, setting up Aylor’s second TD. Prabst followed with a punt-return score to trigger the running clock, and Queen later hit Prabst for a final TD as the Tigers cruised 42-0.CLASS 1ACampbellsville 28, Newport Central Catholic 0Kentucky Country Day 37, Newport 6Game Highlights:
Another round of the high school football playoffs wrapped up Friday night, including a heavyweight battle at Paycor Stadium between Elder and St. Xavier.
See below for scores across Week 14 action.
CAN’T SEE THE SCORES ABOVE? CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FRIDAY NIGHT SCORES.
Cincinnati roundup:
Only eight teams in each division across Ohio entered Friday night still alive in the postseason — and by the end of the evening, that field had been cut in half. Here’s a quick look back at how Week 14 unfolded across Southwest Ohio.
DIVISION I, REGION 4
NO. 3 ST. XAVIER 42, NO. 1 ELDER 34
Elder and St. Xavier renewed their GCL South rivalry in front of a packed crowd at Paycor Stadium, meeting in the regional championship for the first time since 2001. Elder entered 12–0, while St. Xavier came in on a five-game winning streak, having allowed no more than 14 points in any of its nine victories. The game quickly turned into a thriller, with nearly 700 yards of combined offense. Elder struck first on a Tommy Becker run and later went up 27–7 behind touchdowns from Becker, Kaden Estep, and a 74-yard strike to Drew Wauligman. St. Xavier stormed back as Jackson Frye hit Logan Von Holle for two scores and Chad Perkins returned a punt for a touchdown, trimming the deficit to 27–21 at halftime. Estep connected with Jake Bier early in the third, but the Bombers dominated the fourth. Daniel Vollmer powered in two short touchdowns and finished with 91 rushing yards, while Von Holle posted 115 yards and three TDs as St. Xavier completed the comeback.
DIVISION I, REGION 2
NO. 1 MIDDLETOWN 21, NO. 6 WAYNE 14
Middletown captured its first-ever regional championship in dramatic fashion, powered by a defense that has delivered four shutouts in its last nine games and is allowing just 7.6 points per outing. In a rain-soaked slugfest, the Middies and Wayne went to halftime scoreless. Middletown finally broke through by returning the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, but Wayne immediately answered with a kickoff return of its own to tie the game 7–7 just 23 seconds into the third quarter. The Warriors later took a 14–7 lead on a Kyle Graham strike to Jamier Averette-Brown with 9:19 remaining. But with 3:12 left, a pressured Wayne pass fluttered into a Middletown interception at the Warriors’ 46. The Middies capitalized, tying the game before Jordan Vann barreled in for the decisive 2-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left, securing a historic 21–14 win.
DIVISION II, REGION 8
NO. 1 ANDERSON 38, NO. 3 TROTWOOD MADISON 7
Top-seeded Anderson claimed its third straight Region 8 title, storming past No. 3 Trotwood-Madison 38–7 on Friday at Lakota West to earn another trip to the state semifinals. The Rams struck first on a Dallas Shehee-to-Armani Rodgers touchdown, but it would be their only score. Anderson answered with 38 straight points, starting with Owen Scalf’s 43-yard TD to Tysin Weaver to end the first quarter. Scalf and Weaver connected again from 26 yards out for a 14-7 halftime lead. Scalf added two more touchdown passes in the second half — to Cooper Kathman and Tanner Holt — pushing the margin to 28-7. Maddux Snider’s 39-yard field goal sealed the dominant win.
DIVISION IV, REGION 16
NO. 1 INDIAN HILL 41, NO. 2 VALLEY VIEW 14
Indian Hill punched its ticket to the Division IV state semifinals with a commanding 41–14 win over No. 2 Valley View in the Region 16 final. Valley View struck first on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Brody Gibbs to Anthony Valenti, and after an Indian Hill response from Evan Riggs, the Spartans answered again with an 81-yard kickoff return by Isaac Johnson to go up 14–6. The Braves closed the quarter with a 63-yard scoring run from quarterback Devlan Daniel, then took a 19–14 halftime lead on Riggs’ second touchdown. From there, it was all Indian Hill. The Braves scored twice in the third quarter — highlighted by a 25-yard pick-six from Jaxon Frye — and added another TD in the fourth to seal the 41–14 victory and a spot in the final four.
Northern Kentucky roundup:
We’ve reached the quarterfinal round of playoff action in the Bluegrass State and several Northern Kentucky teams fought through the rain and for their playoff lives. Here’s a look at how things unfolded and which teams are moving on..
CLASS 6A
RYLE 28, FREDERICK DOUGLASS 27
Ryle stunned Frederick Douglass 28–27 in an overtime thriller to claim its second straight Region Championship and eighth consecutive victory. The Raiders struck first on a shifty touchdown run from quarterback Nathan Verax, but the Broncos answered with a score from standout back Dakari Talbert, who powered Frederick Douglass throughout the night. Tied 7–7 at halftime, the game remained tight into the fourth quarter. With time expiring, Ryle completed a dramatic drive capped by a touchdown on the final play to pull within 20–20—only to see the potential game-winning PAT clang off the upright.
In overtime, Talbert opened with two carries, the second producing his fourth touchdown and giving the Broncos a 27–20 lead. Ryle responded immediately, leaning on Verax and receiver Dylan Lee, who had 113 yards on just three catches, including an 85-yard sideline burst that set up an earlier score. After punching in the overtime TD, the Raiders kept the offense on the field. Verax kept the ball on the two-point try, muscling across the goal line to seal a gutsy road win made even more impressive by Ryle finishing the game without two-way star Jacob Savage.
CLASS 4A
BOYLE COUNTY 49, COVINGTON CATHOLIC 14
Boyle County got payback for last year’s season-ending loss, eliminating Covington Catholic with a dominant home performance. The night belonged to Ji’Dyn Smith-Hisel, who delivered one of the most remarkable playoff outings in state history — rushing for 432 yards and four touchdowns on just 25 carries as the Rebels controlled the game from start to finish. CovCath found the end zone twice, once on a Cash Harney touchdown pass to Donovan Bradshaw and again on a 9-yard run by Dylan Gaiser, but could never slow Boyle County’s explosive ground attack. It marked a disappointing finish to an otherwise impressive turnaround for the Colonels, who rebounded from an 0–2 start to win nine of their next ten entering the matchup.
CORBIN 35, HIGHLANDS 21
Corbin powered past Highlands 35–21 on a rainy night in Fort Thomas, earning its third state semifinal berth in four seasons. The Bluebirds stumbled early, as Rio Litmer was intercepted by Trey Person on the opening drive, and moments later Mason Salmons sprinted 53 yards to put Corbin up 7–0. The Redhounds dominated on the ground, extending the lead with Person’s 1-yard run before Issac Nieman’s 3-yard score brought Highlands within 14–7. Corbin answered with a late first-half touchdown from Person to take a 21–7 lead into the break, a margin that held through the third quarter. Cam Estep pushed it to 28–7 early in the fourth, and while Highlands added two late Litmer touchdown passes, Estep’s second rushing score sealed the win. Highlands ends its season at 10–3.
CLASS 3A
LLOYD 28, RUSSELL 13
Lloyd continued its historic season with a 28–13 win over Russell, avenging last year’s loss and advancing to the state semifinals for the first time since 2022. The undefeated Juggernauts (13–0), who have now set a school record for wins, led 14–7 at halftime behind long touchdown runs from Lincoln Tomlinson and Avery Conrad and a 64-yard TD pass from Kaleb Evans to Colten Barger. Russell pulled within 14–13 in the third on a Kaiden Benge score, but Lloyd took control late. Conrad punched in an 8-yard TD, and Evans hit Izzy Turner on a 35-yard double move to seal the victory.
CLASS 2A
BEECHWOOD 42, PRESTONBURG 0
Beechwood rolled to its eighth straight win and a spot in the KHSAA Class 2A semifinals with a dominant shutout at home. Brody Aylor opened the scoring with an 11-yard run midway through the first quarter, and after a 60-yard burst by Nathan Prabst, Tyler Fryman added a 6-yard TD to make it 14-0. Emmett Queen connected with Fryman on a 23-yard strike just before halftime to push the lead to 21-0. Prestonsburg fumbled on the first play of the second half, setting up Aylor’s second TD. Prabst followed with a punt-return score to trigger the running clock, and Queen later hit Prabst for a final TD as the Tigers cruised 42-0.
CLASS 1A
Campbellsville 28, Newport Central Catholic 0
Kentucky Country Day 37, Newport 6
Game Highlights: