Steven Wright: High School Football: 5 things to know before Week 2

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Week 1 provided a few surprises, several statement victories and the first clues about which teams and conferences could be positioned for big seasons.

Now, attention turns to Week 2, where league play begins in several conferences and early postseason implications are already emerging for teams looking to avoid an 0-2 start.

Here are five things to know ahead of Week 2 action Friday, Aug. 28:

Which leagues were dominant early?

A few local leagues flexed their strength in the opening week of the season.

Midwest Athletic Conference squads went 9-1 overall. There were shutout victories by Anna and New Bremen. MAC teams defeated four teams that made the playoffs last season and four of the wins came against foes from a larger division. The only loss was a 3-point defeat by reigning Division VII champion St. Henry — now in D-VI — at D-III Celina.

The Ohio Heritage Conference saw its teams go 7-5, and the WOAC had a 6-4 opening week record.

The Southwestern Buckeye League went 3-1 against MVL opponents. GMC teams had a 2-1 record against the GWOC. Greater Catholic League squads had a 3-2 mark over the GMC.

Conference games get underway

League play begins in the Greater Miami Conference, Miami Valley League and Western Ohio Athletic Conference. Those three are the area’s only 10-team leagues and all play nine game conference schedules.

The GMC gets its top-4 finishers from last season all squaring off right out of the gate.

Defending league champion Princeton, coming off a big Week 1 win over Cincinnati Moeller, travels to play at 2025 runner-up and Region 4 champ Middletown.

Lakota East and Lakota West tied for third a year ago and one will immediately get a leg up on the other after this week’s rivalry game.

MVL play has a pair of contending divisional crossover games. Troy visits Xenia in a battle of annual contenders, and Stebbins plays at Butler as both attempt to announce themselves as challengers.

Preble Shawnee plays at Ansonia to begin WOAC play. Both teams have finished in the top-3 of the final standings in each of the past four seasons. Tri-County North also visits Arcanum as both attempt to become darkhorse teams in the league.

Beware of going 0-2

In the past two seasons the most common record for teams finishing in the 12th spot in the Harbin computer rankings to qualify for the postseason has been 5-5. For the larger divisions it is 4-6.

There’s plenty of time for teams that haven’t picked up a win yet to get going to reach those marks, but several matchups featuring a pair of 0-1 teams could place some behind the eight ball early in trying to catch up.

Fairmont plays at Trotwood-Madison, while Wayne hosts St. Xavier in marquee pairings of teams trying to get their first wins.

Some other notable 0-1 vs. 0-1 games include Thurgood Marshall at Ross, Hamilton at Colerain, Carroll at Tecumseh, Kenton Ridge at Northridge, Benjamin Logan at West Liberty-Salem and Troy at Xenia.

Let’s play two?

Every year we see regular season rematches in the playoffs due to both league matchups and non-league tests trying to see where teams stand.

This year could be no different and there could be several first occurrences this week.

Lakota East at Lakota West is the standout game in Region 4 contenders and is reportedly a sellout, according to LW athletic director Austin Rhoads. He said the game can be streamed online through the Lakota West Student Broadcast’s YouTube account (http://www.youtube.com/@lwhsbc).

Fairfield hosts Oak Hills in another of those potential games. Bellbrook comes off its big Week 1 victory at Tippecanoe and travels to Bellefontaine in a Region 12 game.

Region 20 could have two such contests as Carlisle goes to Miami East and Waynesville travels to Greeneview.

Celina quarterback in recovery

A scary situation shows the dangers and risks that can come with playing a contact sport each time athletes take the field. This one has shown how a community can also be there for others when in need.

Celina senior quarterback Parker Wynk was injured during the second quarter of the Week 1 game against St. Henry. Wynk reportedly suffered spinal injuries during an on-field collision and was unable to move while laying on the field. He was taken off by an ambulance to a medical facility.

Wynk’s status has been updated by his mother, Sierra Wynk, through social media posts since the injury occurred. She wrote in a post on Monday, Aug. 24, that he has been able to move a toe and has regained some feeling. She said the injury also revealed Wynk was born with a congenitally narrow spinal canal that contributed to the situation.

Wynk received a visit in his recovery room from Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel on Monday. A GoFundMe account to assist with medical costs has exceeded the $25,000 donation goal with more than 350 donors including football groups from Bellbrook, Coldwater and Versailles, as well as numerous other individual and anonymous donations being made. Some have been as much as $1,000.

The Celina community has held prayer services for Wynk. The two schools involved in Friday’s game played in volleyball on Tuesday and players on both teams wore green ribbons in support of him.

As Wynk continues his recovery, the response from teammates, community members and supporters across the region has underscored the impact one athlete can have beyond the field. The encouraging signs of progress and the overwhelming show of support have provided hope and a reminder of how sports communities can come together in times of need.

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