WEEK 2: A CINCINNATI HARBIN NIGHTMARE!

Where do I start? So many Cincinnati teams stubbed themselves in the foot this week, missing critical opportunities to gather valuable Harbin points early in the year. While Cincinnati teams were stumbling, Dayton teams were rolling, as Clayton Northmont, Centerville, and Huber Heights Wayne all scored big victories to put themselves in good positions for playoff births. There were a few bright spots for Cincinnati this week, as St. Xavier, Moeller, and Colerain racked up victories over "Harbin cows" that will give the teams many Harbin points throughout the year. Here's a team-by-team synopsis of who's in good shape, in bad shape, or somewhere in between after two weeks of action.

LOOKING GOOD FOR A PLAYOFF BIRTH:
1. ST. XAVIER
2. MOELLER
3. CLAYTON NORTHMONT
4. CENTERVILLE

...ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 8
5. GLEN ESTE
6. OAK HILLS
7. COLERAIN
8. ELDER

... ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
9. HUBER HEIGHTS WAYNE



Week 2 had many Cincinnati contenders lose to non-Cincinnati opponents. Elder lost to Massillon Washington by 4, LaSalle got throttled at home by Clayton Northmont 42-7, Mason got pounded by Hilliard Davidson by 24, Princeton fell to Centerville, and Fairfield lost by a point to Wayne. In addition, two perennial GMC playoff contenders, Lakota East and Lakota West, had uncharacteristic losses in week 2, with West losing to Winton Woods, and East falling to Glen Este.

WHAT THIS MEANS:

• Elder must beat Oak Hills Friday with huge games looming with GCL opponents, as well as St. Edward, and Bishop Chatard, while Oak Hills can afford a setback as long as they take care of their GMC schedule.
  
• LaSalle really misses Sheehan, and their playoff hopes look very dormant right now.
• Mason vs. Lakota East this Friday is likely a playoff game with the loser falling to 1-2, and most likely out of the playoff hunt.
• Princeton must finish the season 6-2 as they lost so many possible Harbin point in week 2.
• Fairfield must win out. They're not going to make it at 7-3. Luckily for them, Fairfield has a realistic chance to win each of their remaining games.
• Lakota West must win out. They have no margin for error.