Blanchester defenders Quenton Miller (12), Justin Lucas (44), Matt Burden (4, partially hidden) and Dylan Fawley (59) swarm an East Clinton ball carrier from a game earlier this season.
SBC Standings
SBC All PF PA
National Division
Williamsburg 0-0 3-2 147 84
Bethel-Tate 0-0 2-2 88 91
Blanchester 0-0 1-4 97 160
Batavia 0-0 1-4 92 139
Clermont NE 0-0 0-5 55 233
Last Week’s Results
Blanchester 29 Amelia 25
New Richmond 26 Bethel-Tate 0
Miami Valley Christian 43 CNE 29
Goshen 35 Williamsburg 19
Norwood 30 Batavia 7
This Week’s Games
Williamsburg at Blanchester
Manchester at Bethel-Tate
Batavia at Clermont NE
All games kickoff 7 p.m. unless noted
Next Week’s Schedule
Goshen at Blanchester
Clermont NE at Bethel-Tate
Williamsburg at Batavia
All games kickoff 7 p.m. unless noted
After a horrific start to the season, Blanchester gets a clean slate so to speak this week as Southern Buckeye Conference National Division play begins.
The Wildcats, now 1-4 on the year, will face nemesis Williamsburg Friday night at Barbour Memorial Field with a festive Homecoming Crowd expected.
After dominating Williamsburg from 2002 through 2009 (outscoring WHS 326 to 45), Blanchester has lost three of the last five meetings and two in a row.
“This is a real important game for us in the league,” said BHS coach Jack O’Rourke.
Williamsburg is 3-2 overall and eyeing a possible playoff berth in Div. VI Region 22.
“Williamsburg runs a Wing-T offense,” said O’Rourke. “They run the ball very well. They have a four-back rushing attack. They run a 4-4 defense and are very aggressive. They are a senior-led team and good in all phases of the game.”
The return of quarterback Tristan Greene helped Blanchester end its season-opening four-game losing streak. The Wildcats topped Amelia 29-25.
“We did a better job of taking care of the ball (against the Barons),” said O’Rourke. “Our passing game was much improved with Tristan back at quarterback. We need to improve our open-field tackling and pass defense. We had too many mistakes in our secondary.”
O’Rourke has been pleased with the defense’s performance against the run since the opener against Clinton-Massie.
Reach Mark Huber at 937-556-5765, or on Twitter @wnjsports.
