High school football: Who comes out on top of loaded Eastern Cincinnati Conference? – The Cincinnati Enquirer

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With the new additions of Winton Woods, Little Miami and Lebanon, the Eastern Cincinnati Conference will continue to be one of the most competitive leagues in the city.

So, who comes out on top?

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Turpin head coach Kent McCulloughcalled the ECC schedule "a meat grinder." What will make that meat grinder tougher is the target Turpin has on its back as the ECC's defending champion.

The Spartans won the conference outright in 2019, thanks to last-second heroics vs. Anderson and a gutsy road victory over Kings with several injured starters. Offensively for Turpin in 2020, it starts with replacing quarterback Justin Silverstein, the ECC's player of the year last season.The Spartans have an ongoing quarterback competition between three suitors: senior Jakob Williams, junior Will Schulok and sophomore Clark Helgason.

Turpin running back Kaidan Naughton is pictured in action during Friday night's matchup at Lakota East.(Photo: Nick Kneer for The Enquirer)

Running back Kaidan Naughton will be a QB's best friend this fall. He had more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season and 16 total touchdowns. Turpin returns a trio of senior receiversLogan Hurley, Max Gundrum and Garrett Manaster that combined for 100 receptions in 2019. It doesn't hurt that Turpin will have first-team ECC center Gabe Hickman anchoring the offensive line.

Anderson quarterback Jackson Kuhn attempts a pass.(Photo: JIM OWENS FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Anderson came up just short of a playoff spot last season as the ECC runner-up. Luckily for head coach Evan Dreyer, senior Jackson Kuhn is the top signal-caller in the conference. Kuhn missed the final two games of last season (both wins), or he would've been the ECC leader in passer. Anderson's offense has averaged 38.3 points per game in Evan Dreyer's four seasons and one should expect the same in 2020 with Kuhn and running back Andrew Williams leading the way.

Anderson also has key defensive members returningat linebacker with junior Casey O'Toole and senior Andrew Azeez, a duo that combined for nine sacks. Senior Billy Knott, the ECC leader in interceptions (6) last season, will be the team's top corner.

Winton Woods defensive end Andrew Booker competes in pass rush drills during the Under Armor All American Camp in Cincinnati, Sunday, April 14, 2019.(Photo: TONY TRIBBLE FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Winton Woods joins the ECC after plenty of success as an independent program. The Warriors made the state tournament in 2017 and 2018 before controversially missing the playoffs last year. Winton Woods will have to move on from All-Ohio running back Miyan Williams, who is now at Ohio State. The Warriors will return Michale Wingfield, a second-team all-district selection who enters his third season as the team's starting quarterback.

Winton Woods' defense is littered with Division I talent and should be a nightmare for ECC opponents this fall. In the secondary, Tamarion Crumpley, Daylan Long and Caleb Tubbs are all Division I recruits and the defensive line is highlighted by Andrew "Bam" Booker, who had 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 blocks and a pair of sacks in 2019.

Ty Stylski (26) of Kings rounds the corner and down the field for a long gainer for the Knights, Sept. 27, 2019.(Photo: GEOFF BLANKENSHIP FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Kings finished 6-4 last season as two one-possession defeats kept the Knights from the postseason. Senior Ty Stylski returns after leading the ECC in rushing yards and rushing touchdownslast season. QB Jackson Kwasniewski also returns after a 1,726-yard year. Senior receiver Gabe Hunt (36-438-2 in 2019) rounds out a talented group of skilled returners.

Reis Stocksdale comes off the ground to take in a La Salle kickoff for Little Miami in the OHSAA Division II, Region 8, first-round football playoff action, Nov. 8, 2019.(Photo: GEOFF BLANKENSHIP FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Little Miami turned a corner as a program the last three seasons, going 24-9 combined with a pair of playoff appearances. That was in the SWOC, though. The competition beefs up for the Panthers this fall. Little Miami's biggest obstacle will be replacing quarterback Brody Reder, a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher in 2019. Aidan Jones took snaps under center last year and could be in line to be the starter.

Senior running back Riley Pringle should be the lead man in the backfield and Reis Stocksdale, who averaged 20.5 yards per catch last season (36-737-11) will be the team's top receiver. On defense, the Panthers have defensive lineman Nathan Gordon back. He had 64 tackles and seven sacks last season.

Loveland quarterback Calvin Cloud attempts a pass in the game between the Loveland Tigers and the Milford Eagles at Milford High School September 13 2019.(Photo: JIM OWENS FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Loveland has gone just 6-34 over the last four seasons combined and went 0-10 in 2019. Second-year head coach Andy Cruse is looking to notch his first victory and he'll have to improve a defense that allowed 39-plus points in every game last fall. Offensively, quarterback Calvin Cloud returns and will have his top-four receivers back, too. Tyler Lake, Ethan Lund, Austin Lodor and Bailey Jackson combined for 119 receptions last season.

Milford wide receiver Vince Ringland runs for a first down after a catch in the game between the Loveland Tigers and the Milford Eagles at Milford High School September 13 2019.(Photo: JIM OWENS FOR THE ENQUIRER)

One year after winning its first-ever playoff game, Milford finished just 3-7. The Eagles will have to replace quarterback Hunter Johnson and could turn to Vince Ringland, who threw 65 passes a year ago. Ringland and Caleb Johns will be team's primary rushers and top receiver Noah Earley is back.

Turpin quarterback Justin Silverstein is chased out of bounds by West Clermonts Gage Bullock during their 2018 Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown at West Clermont Friday, Sept. 14, 2018.(Photo: E.L. Hubbard for the Enquirer)

West Clermont's go-to is the ground game. Last season, the Wolves had five rushers with more than 50 attempts. They return two of them in Austin Fultz and Gage Bullock, a duo that combined for 633 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Bullock, Tyler Taktak and Howard Bingham will lead the defense, a trio that combined for 14 sacks.

Defense will be vital for the Wolves in 2020. In its three years as a program, West Clermont is 15-3 when holding opponents to under 20 points and just 1-12 when an opponent scores more than 20 points.

Lebanonjoins the ECC and have returned to practiceafter a positive COVID-19 test. The Warriors open the season against West Clermont Friday night andwill have to replace last season's quarterback Ethan Marsh, but return 1,000-yard rusher Keith Farr.

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What will Walnut Hills' season look like? Walnut Hills will not have football for the first five weeks of the season as Cincinnati Public Schools has suspended all extracurricular activities during its virtual start to the 2020-21 school year.

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If the Eagles do take the field, they will return quarterback Jack Reuter, who started as a freshman last season. Walnut Hills will have to replace its top-two rushers but will have UC commit Mao Glynn up front leading the offensive line. Leading receiver Nick Presley, who also ran for more than 300 yards, also returns for head coach Gerry Beauchamp.

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High school football: Who comes out on top of loaded Eastern Cincinnati Conference? - The Cincinnati Enquirer