Homegrown football stars taking the field for Victory Bell rivalry

In what could be the final game of the Victory Bell rivalry between Miami and Cincinnati, plenty of local talent will be on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Cincinnati and Miami take the field at TQL Stadium for the final scheduled meeting of their rivalry at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Bearcats enter the finale with a narrow 61-60-7 series advantage over the RedHawks but have won 17 of the last 18 meetings.

Even in an age of increased player mobility, thanks to the transfer portal, both teams understand the significance of the rivalry. With more than two dozen Greater Cincinnati locals between the two rosters, both the RedHawks and Bearcats want to secure the potential series-ending win.

"This game means almost everything," Miami defensive tackle Brach Rice said. "It's two really local teams just fighting … We're going to do everything we can to win that game."

As the Victory Bell rivalry gets set for its 129th meeting, Cincinnati locals may recognize some names from their high school days. These are the former Cincinnati high school football stars suiting up for the Bearcats and RedHawks.

Grant Edgington, Madeira

Edgington is the second center on the Bearcats' depth chart, checking in at 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds. The senior appeared last week against Western Carolina in a lopsided 62-10 victory. He also took the field against Northwestern State and Oklahoma State in 2025.

Edgington graduated from Madeira in 2023, where he gained recognition primarily as a defensive lineman. He was named to the All-Ohio second-team defense as a senior. He recorded nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2022, leading Madeira to an 11-2 record.

Max Lemasters, Elder

Lemasters slots in as Cincinnati's backup kicker heading into the Victory Bell. The senior is still looking for his first made kick for the Bearcats, though he saw limited action last week against Western Carolina.

Lemasters was the kicker of the year in the Greater Catholic League-South in 2022. He went 6-for-7 on field goals and hit all 46 extra-point attempts, helping Elder to a 10-3 record.

Grant Lyons, St. Xavier

Lyons is a starting defensive end for the RedHawks in 2026, now in his fifth season in Oxford. The redshirt senior has played at least 10 games each season since 2023, last year playing in all 14 contests and recording 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. He's recorded four tackles so far this season, including a tackle for loss against Pitt.

Lyons was a star linebacker for St. Xavier, helping the Bombers to win the 2020 Division I state title with three sacks against Pickerington Central. In 2021, he was named to the All-Ohio first-team defense after recording 67 tackles, nine sacks, forcing three fumbles and snagging three interceptions. St. Xavier won the GLCS title that year, ending the season at 10-3.

Ben Minich, Lakota West

Minich joined the RedHawks this offseason, transferring from Notre Dame after three seasons. The senior is a starting safety for Miami and secured three tackles against Pitt in the season opener.

Minich was a consensus four-star recruit out of Lakota West, after helping the Firebirds win three consecutive Greater Miami Conference titles. As a senior in 2022, Minich led Lakota West to an undefeated regular season in a 13-1 season. He recorded 45 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, also forcing two fumbles and securing three interceptions, earning first-team All-Ohio honors.

Antwan Peek Jr., Indian Hill

A former walk-on safety for Cincinnati, Peek worked his way up the depth chart beginning in 2023. He appeared in all 12 games as a redshirt freshman, then started six games as a sophomore and was a Burlsworth Award nominee. Last year, Peek was the Big 12's top safety per PFF and was named a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist. This season, he's recorded 14 tackles and a pass breakup.

Son of former UC defensive great and NFL player Antwan Peek Sr., Peek Jr. was a standout running back and corner for Indian Hill. Offensively, he rushed for 952 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in 2021. On defense, he recorded 57 tackles, forcing one fumble and one interception. He was named to the All-Southwest Ohio second-team offense.

Brach Rice, Dixie Heights

Rice is a starting defensive tackle for the RedHawks, earning full-time starting duties after making four starts last season. He ended last season with 16 tackles, with two sacks both coming against UNLV. This year, he's recorded three tackles with one for a loss against Holy Cross.

Rice, The Enquirer's 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, set records as a defensive lineman for Dixie Heights. His 181 tackles in 2023 led the state and set a school record. He also owns the school's single-game record with 28 tackles. He also put up 32.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks that season, earning a first-team All-Kentucky selection.

Jacob Schorsch, Elder

Schorsch started the final seven games of the 2025 season for Miami as a redshirt freshman and has remained the starter at right guard into 2026. His efforts helped the RedHawks run for over 150 yards per game last year.

Schorsch was a standout offensive lineman for the Elder Panthers, earning first-team all-state honors in 2023.

Quintin Simmons, Withrow

Simmons transferred to Miami after spending one season at Kentucky. The redshirt freshman is listed third on the depth chart at one of the receiver positions. So far this season, he has two catches.

ESPN named Simmons, a four-star recruit out of Withrow, Ohio's No. 15 recruit in the 2025 class. He was an All-Ohio first-teamer in Division II, putting up 637 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns as the star for the Tigers. As a junior, he recorded 652 total yards and 11 touchdowns to lead Withrow to the regional finals.

Lyviel Waters, Winton Woods

Waters sits in the third tight end spot on the Bearcats' depth chart in 2026. The redshirt sophomore saw action in three games last season, seeing the field against Northwestern State, Oklahoma State and Baylor. He recorded his first catch in a Cincinnati uniform last week against Western Carolina.

Waters was a second-team all-district player as a junior in 2022, helping Winton Woods achieve an undefeated regular season and an Eastern Cincinnati Conference championship.

Other local players for Cincinnati

• Will Kocher, QB, Kings
• JJ Miller, QB, Williamsburg
• Landon Schaefer, S, Reading
• Drew Robinson, LB, Moeller
• Kenny Baker, LS, Elder
• Kellen Davis, TE, Middletown
• Pierce Ayers, WR, Williamsburg
• Juan Bates, DL, Mason

Other locals players for Miami

• Mitch Bolden, LB, Lakota West
• Jackson Ruth, WR, Elder
• Josh Ringer, DB, East Central
• Brady Stidham, K, Loveland
• Jake Britt, DB, St. Xavier
• Mas Kief, OL, La Salle
• Nick Brady, LS, St. Xavier
• CJ Castner, WR, Mason
• Brayden Boeing, TE, Elder
• Sam Williams, DL, Wyoming

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Homegrown football stars taking the field for Victory Bell rivalry