There’s a lot on the line in Week 7’s game of the week in Clermont County, and this one stands above the rest.
On homecoming night, Goshen (1-0, 6-0) looks to continue its unbeaten streak as it has its sights set on its first American Division title since 2017. The Warriors also want to continue their ascension in the Division III, Region 12 computer rankings in hopes of securing a home playoff game. Entering Week 7, there is a 60 percent chance of the Warriors hosting a playoff game, according to Drew Pasteur’s Ohio Fantastic 50. The Warriors are home for the first time since Week 3.
New Richmond (1-0, 3-3) is coming off a high from last week in its come-from-behind win over Clinton-Massie, its first victory against the Falcons in 25 years. It’s the first time the Lions have opened American Division play with a 1-0 record since beating Goshen in 2022. Despite the monumental program win, New Richmond sits on the edge of playoff contention in Division IV, Region 16, yet has an 81 percent chance of clinching its fifth straight playoff berth, according to Drew Pasteur’s Ohio Fantastic 50.
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INSIDETHEMATCHUP
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 2
Where: George Rise Field at Jim Brown Stadium, Goshen
Note: Homecoming night
Last meeting: New Richmond won, 41-35.
Notes: Lions have won five of last six meetings; 15-5 over last 20 games in series. Leads series, 24-15-2 dating back to 1972.
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While Goshen has beaten its opponents by a 35.5-point margin and has allowed just 40 points all season, the Warriors are 1-5 in their last six meetings with New Richmond, including a postseason loss to the Lions in 2020 and a comeback attempt that fell short last season in New Richmond.
In fact, the Lions have dominated the series, winning 14 of the last 17 meetings dating back to 2010, even in seasons when Goshen was a strong program. The Warriors are looking to change that narrative this season.
Goshen has turned into a complete team in 2026 with a high-powered offense and a suffocating defense.
Running back Gage Croley is third in the Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference in rushing yards with 727 and is atop the American Division with 12 touchdowns, all while missing two games this season.
Junior quarterback Caden Slusher has progressed as a passer as he sits fourth in the conference and third in the American Division in passing with 778 yards, 11 touchdowns and a 65.8 percent completion rate. He’s still dangerous as a dual-threat with 329 yards and three rushing scores.
Slusher has two solid receivers to go to in Jomar Berg (15 receptions, 361 yards, 5 TDs) and Camden Telinda (18 catches, 247 yards, 5 TDs).
The Warriors’ defense has been stout entering Week 7 by allowing an average of 6.7 points per game and shutting out two opponents. Ryder Barrial is the team’s leading tackler with 41 stops, one sack, two tackles for a loss and a forced fumble. Telinda and Brody Flynn each have 41 stops, with Telinda being a menace in the secondary with two interceptions and a team-high and tied for the conference-best seven passes defensed.
Goshen has a knack for forcing turnovers with six forced fumbles and six interceptions to go with its eight sacks and 18.5 tackles for a loss.
New Richmond is now a balanced offense with the return of running back Dylan Wolf. In just two games, Wolf has 234 yards on 42 attempts and averages a healthy 5.6 yards per carry. He accounts for nearly half of the team’s rushing yards and three of the team’s five rushing scores.
That makes quarterback Brady Young even more dangerous through the air with an effective play-action game. And that’s factoring in that Young is already dangerous enough.
The senior is second in the SBAAC in passing yards with 1,500 to go along with 15 touchdown passes, eclipsing last season’s TD count.
What makes the Lions offense lethal is the depth at receiver, led by senior Peyton Abner’s 33 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns. James Vail (24 catches, 332 yards, 2 TDs), Leland Hammonds (12 catches, 128 yards, 3 TDs), Thomas Uhlenbrock (10 catches, 181 yards) and Waylon Willis (8 catches, 212 yards, 3 TDs) follow, not to mention Wolf’s ability as a pass catcher.
The Lions might not look as dominant on paper on defense as the Warriors, but that unit is full of playmakers, including Dallas Klinker (team-high 35 tackles, fumble recovery for a touchdown and interception), middle linebacker Georgi Gligorov (34 tackles, five for a loss) and Landin Ward (30 tackles, two interceptions).
Goshen can control the clock with its potent rush attack, while the Lions can score quickly, as shown by their game-winning touchdown pass in 13 seconds against Clinton-Massie. It could come down to whose defense makes a play or special teams. Telinda has a punt return for a touchdown this season on just two returns, while Hammons averages 20 yards per kick return.
Goshen is favored by 22 points by Drew Pasteur’s Ohio Fantastic 50, which got its Massie beating New Richmond by nine points prediction incorrect last week.
WESTERN BROWN (0-1, 1-5) AT BATAVIA (0-1, 1-5)
The winner gets out of the cellar of the American Division.
The Broncos offense is powered by quarterback Brody Barber, the conference’s passing leader with 1,948 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, he is prone to turning the ball over with 11 picks. After a 49-42 defeat to Wilmington (1-0, 3-3) last week, Barber threw for 496 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Barber is the younger brother of Williamsburg graduate Grady Barber.
Batavia surrenders 38.1 points per game this season, while West Brown’s offense averages 30.1. Batavia’s Jamari Watson will look to disrupt the Broncos’ pass attack with his SBAAC-leading five sacks.
EAST CLINTON (0-1, 0-6) AT BETHEL-TATE (0-0, 1-5)
As it did a season ago, Bethel-Tate will look to go on a late-season win streak. It’s very capable of doing so against an Astros team that has scored 42 points all season. The Tigers defense certainly has some dudes, led by Landen Collins’ 54 tackles — fourth-most in the conference — and one sack. Parker Harvey has 38 stops, one sack and a fumble recovery, and Tanner Armacost has totaled 40 tackles and two interceptions.
East Clinton’s Kylan Floyd is listed second in the SBAAC in tackles with 60, followed by Jaxson Manning, who is fifth with 53 stops.
CLERMONT NORTHEASTERN (0-1, 2-4) AT BLANCHESTER (1-0, 3-3)
The Wildcats are capable of putting up points behind quarterback Brayden Behymer — third in the SBAAC in passing — and SBAAC-leading receiver Cooper Reynolds. Behymer has nearly thrown for 1,000 yards with nine touchdowns, and Reynolds accounts for 637 yards, averaging 106.2 yards per game with seven touchdowns.
Tyler Watkins could be a game-changer with his conference-leading five sacks. Isaiah Brunner and Jake Johnson each have four sacks.
MILFORD (1-4, 1-5) AT LEBANON (4-1, 5-1)
The Eagles’ tough portion of their schedule continues against Lebanon, which sits behind Anderson and Winton Woods in the standings. The Warriors are coming off a 35-24 victory over Kings, and running back Logan Schmenk is second in the ECC in rushing with 809 yards.
WALNUT HILLS (0-5, 0-6) AT WEST CLERMONT (1-4, 2-4)
The Wolves have a chance to eclipse their ECC and overall win total from a year ago by beating the last-place team in the conference. The Eagles average 14.6 points per game, with most of that coming from last week’s 49-42 loss to Loveland.
Quarterback Joshua Thornton is completing fewer than 50 percent of his passes with eight interceptions. Thornton is also the team’s leading rusher with 512 yards and seven touchdowns.
ROGER BACON (1-5) AT WILLIAMSBURG (5-1)
The playoffs look to be out of reach for the Spartans for the first time since 2018. Offense has been an issue, with the team scoring more than 27 points twice this season. However, the Spartans’ schedule consists of Indian Hill (4-2), McNicholas (4-2) and Hughes (6-0).
Bacon is coming off a 41-7 loss to Harvest Prep, which got its first win last week.
It’s been a tough season for the Spartans. A storm sewer overflow took out Bron Bacevich Memorial Stadium, forcing the school’s fall programs to play and practice elsewhere.