Moeller football team continues to shine

Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) football coach John Rodenberg didn't have a ton to complain about last weekend after Friday night's game at Northmont (Clayton).
 
When your team averages 414 yards of offense over the first three games, it is obviously a very good sign that things are clicking.

Senior running back Tucker Skove rushed 26 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns – continuing to keep him in the discussion as one of southwest Ohio's most valuable players this year – as the Crusaders defeated Northmont 51-14 last week.

Skove is fourth in the Greater Catholic League with 452 yards rushing. Moeller quarterback Charlie Fiessinger is fourth in the GCL with 379 yards passing and junior receiver Monty Madaris is first in the league with 269 yards receiving.

Moeller (3-0) plays host to Findlay on Friday night at Lockland before the Crusaders enter Greater Catholic League competition at the end of the month.

"(A) great team win," Rodenberg said of the Northmont game. "We just need to clean up small details, but we feel we beat a quality opponent."

The Moeller defense was led by senior defensive lineman Jesse Hayes, who had three sacks. Hayes, who is one of the nation's top defensive linemen in the 2011 class, has 6 ½ sacks on the season.

"Our defense gets better and better," Rodenberg said.

2. Colerain continues to dominate: The Colerain (Cincinnati) football team hasn't allowed more than 12 points in each of its first three games. The Cardinals (3-0), rated No. 9 nationally by the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 presented by the Army National Guard, defeated host DuPont Manual (Louisville, Ky.) 34-7 last week. Senior fullback Trayion Durham rushed 25 times for 162 yards and two touchdowns in the game. The Cardinals average 404.3 yards rushing and 37.7 points.

3. Miller returns to lead Wayne: Wayne (Huber Heights) senior quarterback Braxton Miller (Ohio State commit) returned to the lineup and was 10 of 23 passing for 92 yards. Miller was sidelined during the game against McKinley (Canton) on Labor Day weekend because of a sprained ankle, according to the Dayton Daily News. Wayne returned to its winning ways last week and defeated visiting Seneca (Louisville, Ky.) 31-7 as Anthone Taylor (25 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown) and Seth Stuart (18 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown) helped lead the rushing attack. Wayne (1-2) plays host to 3-0 Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood) Friday at 7:30 p.m.

4. Centerville defeats Alter: The Centerville football team improved to 3-0 with a 24-7 win over Archbishop Alter (Kettering) in a highly-anticipated game last week. Junior running back Chris Barr had 26 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. The Centerville defense was also strong, allowing just 184 yards of offense to Alter. Centerville had 332 yards of offense. Alter did'’t score until the fourth quarter. Centerville plays visiting St. Ignatius (Cleveland) on Saturday and it's the first time the teams have played since the Division I state title game in 1991, according to the Dayton Daily News.

5. Flyin’ to the Hoop: The ninth annual Good Samaritan Flyin’ to the Hoop Boys’ High School Basketball Invitational announced its schedule this past week. It is the event's biggest lineup to date. Event officials said more than 80 teams showed interest and the tournament had to narrow it down to 34. The tournament, which will be held Jan. 15-17 in Dayton, boasts several of the nation's top players along with four defending state champions. The schedule:

• Saturday, Jan. 15: Troy vs. Lee ( Ala. ), 10:15 a.m.; Chillicothe vs. Springfield, noon; Alter vs. Our Savior New American (N.Y.), 1:45 p.m.; Huntington Prep (W. Va.) vs. Withrow, 3:30 p.m.; Hamilton Southeastern (Ind.) vs. Taft, 5:15 p.m.; Perspectives Charter School (Ill.) vs. Meadowdale, 7 p.m.; Garfield Heights vs. Trotwood-Madison, 8:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 16: Dublin Coffman vs. Our Savior New American (N.Y.), 11:30 a.m.; Cleveland Heights vs. Fairmont, 1:15 p.m.; Aiken vs. Vandalia Butler, 3 p.m.; Christian Faith Academy (N.C.) vs. Centerville, 4:45 p.m.; Huntington Prep (W. Va.) vs. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 6:30 p.m.; Simeon (Ill.) vs. Dayton Dunbar, 8:15 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 17: Lakota East vs. Lee (Ala.), 11:30 a.m.; Roger Bacon vs. Bowling Green, 1:15 p.m.; Wheeler (Ga.) vs. Clayton Northmont, 3 p.m.; Miller Grove (Ga.) vs. Thurgood Marshall, 4:45 p.m.; Hamilton Southeastern (Ind.) vs. Westerville South, 6:30 p.m.; Whitney Young (Ill.) vs. Huber Heights Wayne, 8:15 p.m.

TOP STANDOUTS
* Jake Nelson, Anderson (Cincinnati): The senior running back rushed 19 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-8 win over host Boone County (Ky.).

* Aaron Kemper, Winton Woods (Cincinnati): The junior running back rushed 20 times for 105 yards and three touchdowns in a 53-6 win over visiting Fairfield.

* Conor Hundley, St. Xavier (Cincinnati): The junior running back rushed for a career-high 251 yards on 22 carries and three touchdowns in a 32-13 win over visiting St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.). Hundley has 493 yards rushing through three games this season.

THIS WEEK
Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati) at Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) volleyball, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: These two Girls' Greater Cincinnati League Scarlet Division programs were both undefeated heading into the end of last week. Ursuline is ranked No. 9 nationally by the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 presented by the Army National Guard. This should be a classic matchup between two very talented teams. The teams meet again Sept. 30 at Ursuline.

Withrow (Cincinnati) at Taft (Cincinnati) football, 7:30 p.m. Friday: These two Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference teams are always competing for a league title. Withrow is led by senior running back Da'Shawn Farley, who rushed for more than 1,100 yards last season. Taft is led by junior defensive end Adolphus Washington, who is one of the nation's top recruits in the 2012 class. He has verbal offers for from Ohio State, Kentucky, Colorado and Illinois.

Colerain at Fairfield football, 7:30 p.m. Friday: Colerain returns to Cincinnati after playing in Louisville last week. The Cardinals open Greater Miami Conference play at nearby Fairfield. The teams haven't played since 2008 when Colerain won 52-14. Colerain next plays host to Lakota West on Sept. 24.

RECRUITING NEWS
Moeller junior wide receiver Monty Madaris is expected to be a "big-time recruit next year," according to Moeller football coach John Rodenberg. Madaris, who is 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, had seven receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown in a Week 2 win over visiting Hamilton. … Madison Senior (Middletown) senior forward Ally Mallot was scheduled to take an official visit to Notre Dame this past weekend. She plans to take an official visit to Purdue the weekend of Sept. 18. Malott is also considering Dayton, Northwestern and Miami University. … Withrow (Cincinnati) senior forward Aaron Thomas is expected to take an official visit to Florida State this upcoming weekend. Purdue will be at Withrow on Tuesday. He is also considering the likes of Nebraska, Cincinnati and Clemson.
 
RANDOM THOUGHTS
The Badin (Hamilton) boys’ soccer team was 3-2-1 before the weekend and off to its best start since the 2004 season. Badin next plays at Cincinnati Christian Tuesday afternoon. … The Southern Buckeye Athletic Academic Conference (SBAAC) is looking for a new member school. East Clinton (Lees Creek) will be leaving the conference at the end of the 2011-12 school year. … The Cincinnati Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its 2011 induction ceremony at Paul Brown Stadium in April 2011. … Former NFL and Ohio State cornerback Ahmed Plummer was inducted into the Wyoming (Cincinnati) athletic hall of fame this week. He is a 1994 graduate of the high school.