Taft makes statement with rout of Hughes

On a night when their football game was competing against the Blink festival downtown, Taft High School’s Senators didn’t bat an eye.

In a pivotal Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference game at Stargel Stadium, Taft smothered Hughes 39-0 forcing a running clock in the second half. In their previous seven games, Hughes was averaging over 44 points per contest.

“It’s a really big game for us,” Taft coach Tyler Williams said. “Our kids came out and executed the plan. We’re getting better each and every week. We were looking for a game like this.”

Senior quarterback Javier Ison threw a pair of touchdown passes and a trio of 2-point conversions getting the Senators out to a 31-0 halftime lead. It was the loudest pounding of the night outside of the Hughes and Taft drum crops battling away from the field in the third quarter.

“Hesteppedinatthebeginningofthe season when our starting quarterback from last year (Anton Canady) went down with a torn ACL,” Williams said. “He stepped in and took over that role. The run game has been great and we have our receivers making great plays and great catches.”

Junior Tayshawn Banks had a 70yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter and a pair of interceptions on the night. Senior Jay’Quan Bostic had a leaping catch in the end zone and an interception. Banks transferred from Colerain in the offseason with Bostic coming from Woodward.

“We knew the game we were getting into and we knew what kind of game we had to prepare for,” Banks said. “I had to step up and be that guy for my DBs. We have great momentum going into the playoffs. I feel good about next week, I feel good about first-round. Our team is only getting better.”

Senior Johnny Cotton also had a

ATHLETES

In a vote that ended Oct. 14, Cincinnati.com readers selected the Cincinnati Enquirer Athletes of the Week, presented by Mercy Health, from high school sports action through Oct. 9. Winners will receive certificates by the end of the sports season.

The Athlete of the Week voting occurs each week during all high school sports seasons and recognizes athletes across all sports.

Ohio football team of the week: Wilmington – The Hurricane have won five-straight contests after a 34-13 victory against New Richmond.

Northern Kentucky/Indiana football team of the week: Highlands – The Bluebirds improved to 6-2 after beating Boone County 50-0. Highlands has won consecutive games by 50 or more points.

Ohio fall boys team of the week: St. Xavier golf – The Bombers had a 298 at the Division I sectional at Miami Whitewater, winning the team portion by 10 strokes.

Ohio fall girls team of the week: Sycamore golf – The Aves were Division I sectional champions shooting a 317 and winning at Walden Ponds by 11 strokes.

Northern Kentucky/Indiana fall boys team of the week: Simon Kenton soccer – The Pioneers opened the 32nd District tourney with a 5-1 win over Walton-Verona before beating Grant County 3-2 in the finals.

Northern Kentucky/Indiana fall girls team of the week: Beechwood cross country – At the NKAC/St. Henry Invite on Oct. 8, Beechwood scored 26 team points, winning the event by 21 points.

Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys cross country runner of the week: Bradyn Hatton, East Central – He finished fourth in the sectional meet in 16:51.

Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls cross country runner of the week: Allison Kopser, Ryle – She won the NKAC bigschool championship in 18:57.

Ohio boys cross country runner of the week: Sam Mizukawa, Anderson – The senior won the Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy XC Invitational with a time of 16:14.90, helping Anderson to a second-place team finish Oct. 4.

Ohio girls cross country runner of the week: Ellie Breitenstein, Clermont touchdown reception and a 2-point catch. Junior Charles Hawkins scored the first touchdown of the game from thebackfieldwithseniorJahmarRichardson adding the last.

“I pretty much knew the offensive game plan was good,”Hawkins said. “I was expecting it.”

Hawkins has been the main Taft running back recently and recorded a 200-yard game against Meadowdale in his first start. Senior Gavin Crawford carried the load early in the season with a 187-yard game against Roger Bacon. Moving from linebacker on occasion, Richardson had run 144 yards against Indian Hill. Last year he was a 1,018-yard rusher.

Both teams play for the CMAC-Red Division title where Withrow is in command. The Tigers were at Western Hills Friday night blowing out the Mustangs 54-0. They host Hughes next Friday, Oct. 21. Withrow already owns a 17-14 win over Taft.

“Our kids are playing lights out right now,” Williams said of Taft peaking late in the season.

Hawkins agrees.

“I think we’ve got a good shot at state,” said the young man in the No. 1 jersey.

Hughes has been playing the last three weeks with T.J. Engleman and Lorenzo Engleman Jr. who transferred from Princeton along with senior cousin Jaleel Engleman. T.J. and Lorenzo were both ruled ineligible by the OHSAA for the second half of the season.

Friday night, down two Englemans, the Big Red offense was held to a big fat zero.

Both Taft and Hughes could be factors in the playoffs with the Senators coming in as the No. 4 seed in Division IV via the OHSAA computer rankings Hughes entered Friday as the No. 5 seed in Division III.

First off, Taft plays Woodward next weekend with Hughes traveling to first-place Withrow.

Northeastern – The sophomore won the West Union XC meet with a time of 21:01.60 Oct. 8, helping CNE to a second-place team finish.

Field hockey player of the week: Hannah Kolb, Talawanda – She had a hat trick in the 3-1 win over Dublin Scioto Oct. 8.

Ohio big school football player of the week: Joshua Dugan, Elder – The junior linebacker had 11 tackles and a sack in Elder’s 24-23 win over Roncalli.

Ohio small school football player of the week: Michael Mulvihill, Blanchester –The sophomore threw for 100 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 139 yards and four scores in Blanchester’s 45-20 win over Bethel-Tate.

Northern Kentucky/Indiana football player of the week: Alex Amin, Bishop Brossart – He had two catches for 81 yards and the team’s lone touchdown of the game in a key 7-6 win over Bracken County in district play.

Ohio boys golfer of the week: Charlie Fish, St. Xavier – Fish’s 72 was the low score at Miami Whitewater on Oct. 6 as the Bomber finished as sectional medalist.

Ohio girls golfer of the week: Maureen Burns, Mount Notre Dame – Burns was the highest individual qualifier at the Division I sectional at Hamilton Elks with an 84.

Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys golfer of the week: Joel Craft, Highlands –He finished 42nd in the KHSAA state tournament with a two-round total of 157, third among local players.

Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls golfer of the week: Didi Jiradamkerng, Notre Dame – She finished 50th in the KHSAA state tournament with a two-round total of 176, fifth among local players.

Ohio boys big school soccer player of the week: Kenny Zang, La Salle – He had two goals and two assists in wins over Elder and Milford.

Ohio boys small school soccer player of the week: Ryan Nelson, Landmark

Badin defensive back Carson Cheek, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the second half of the Rams’ 14-6 victory over Fenwick Friday night.

JOSHUA A. BICKEL

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