HAMILTON, Ohio — Hamilton High School announced Friday that all extracurricular activities including athletics are suspended through Jan. 23 due to significant concerns regarding staff and student illness.

"All practices, workouts and home and away events are canceled from today through 1/23," Hamilton athletic director Missy Harvey wrote in an email.

"At this time, we are planning to resume all events on 1/24. I am currently working on rescheduling as many events as possible that are canceled during this time frame."

Hamilton City Schools superintendent Michael Holbrook announced that the school district will convert to a remote learning model of instruction for students from Jan. 18 through Jan. 21 out of an abundance of caution and safety for staff and students.

The district said it closed Jan. 12 and Jan. 13 yet reported absences have continued to increase.

Hamilton, a Division I large-school classification of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, is a member of the Greater Miami Conference.

"Once makeup dates are scheduled, dates will be announced," the Hamilton High School athletic department said in a tweet. "We appreciate your patience as we work through this."

The Hamilton at Colerain boys basketball conference game scheduled for Friday night has been postponed. Colerain athletic director Matt Stoinoff said the new date for the game will be confirmed next week.

Colerain does not have a new scheduled opponent for Friday night.

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WEST CHESTER TWP., Ohio — Lakota West senior linebacker Aden Miller exemplifies what it means to be a captain for the Firebirds this season.

"I honestly think he's probably he's one of the most underrated high school football players here in Cincinnati," Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said. "He's a 5-foot-11 mike backer [middle linebacker] that if he was probably two to three inches taller he'd probably have multiple D-I scholarship offers."

Miller, a three-year starter, has a team-leading 80 tackles (44 solo) for the Firebirds (10-1) who play St. Xavier (10-2) in a Division I regional semifinal Friday night at Princeton.

Lakota West is meeting St. X for a second time this season after the Bombers won 31-14 at home in the season opener Aug. 20.

"Man, I can't wait," Miller said. "I don't even know how to put it into words. Like I'm extremely excited. It's probably the biggest game of my life considering it could be my last but I don't plan on it being my last so been up all night thinking about it."

The Firebirds don't have to say much around practice this week in order to be motivated. They know about the task ahead of them and what's at stake for the program.

St. X defeated Lakota West 10-7 in the 2020 regional final before the Bombers went on to win the Division I state title.

The Firebirds have waited for another opportunity to play St. X in the regional tournament.

"We just know we need to handle business or we're done," Miller said. "Especially on my level because I don't have that many offers so I know that this really could be my last chance of playing football so I know what I got to do."

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Miller, 17, would like to play football at an NCAA Division I or II level. He'd like to earn a degree in kinesiology or exercise science and eventually become a physical therapist.

Bolden said a college program would benefit from having Miller in its program.

Miller has improved the Lakota West program by being a student-athlete who is a leader in the classroom, weight room and football field, Bolden said.

"He does everything you ask," Bolden said. "In the weight room, in the off-season, in the weight room during the season. He is strong. I mean it's impressive what he can do in the weight room. He's explosive. He never gets hurt, he never complains. He's just that guy."

Miller said he's grateful to be a captain with some of the most talented football players in the state and the nation.

That includes All-American Bowl commitments Jyaire Brown (defensive back/wide receiver) and Tegra Tshabola (offensive lineman) — both of whom are Ohio State verbal commitments — along senior defensive back/wide receiver Alex Afari (Kentucky), senior offensive lineman Lathan McComis and senior defensive lineman Bryan Henderson (Buffalo).

The chemistry among Miller and his teammates has been significant. That coincides with a family connection within the Lakota West football program. His elder brother, 2013 graduate Adam Miller, played defensive line for the Firebirds and is an avid follower of the team.

"It's been a fun season," Aden Miller said. "Just taking it one step at a time enjoying my last year. It's meant a lot to me in my life."

NORWOOD, Ohio — The Moeller High School football team scored 28 unanswered points Friday night en route to a 35-7 win over Fairfield in a Division I, Region quarterfinal.

"Just proud of the guys," Moeller coach Mark Elder said. "We came into this season internally we had a lot of high expectations. We knew that we were capable of being a good team. We've done a good job. We just got to keep it rolling."

Moeller (9-3) advances to play Princeton (11-1) in a regional semifinal at a neutral site Nov. 12. It is the first meeting between Moeller and Princeton since Week 1 of 2008.

Princeton (11-1) defeated visiting Sycamore 37-35 Friday night. Princeton senior quarterback Mekhi Lynn threw for 208 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 107 yards and three touchdowns.

Sophomore TJ Engleman had four receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown. Senior linebacker AJ Nunley and senior defensive back Maceo Powell had nine tackles each for the Vikings, who have won eight consecutive games.

Princeton led by 16 with 5:12 left (37-21) but the Aviators mounted a furious comeback and closed the gap to two points with 35 seconds left before Princeton sealed the win.

There was far less drama at Shea Stadium Friday night.

Moeller led 21-0 at halftime Friday night and went up 28-0 after sophomore running back Jordan Marshall scored on a 36-yard touchdown run on the third play of the third quarter.

Marshall had three touchdowns and rushed for 135 yards Friday night.

"He's been phenomenal," Elder said. "He's a really talented young man and he's the best kid in the world."

His 42-yard touchdown from senior quarterback Noah Geselbracht's screen pass helped to give the Crusaders a 21-0 lead at halftime.

"That was a huge play for us obviously because that was right before half to make that a three-score ballgame," Elder said.

Geselbracht was 12-of-18 passing for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior wide receiver Tennel Bryant had four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. Geselbracht had 168 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, junior defensive back Matthew Seliga had a team-high six tackles. Junior linebacker Joseph Ginnetti had 5.5 tackles. Senior defensive back Colin Berry and sophomore linebacker Alex French had interceptions.

Friday's Division I regional quarterfinal game between Fairfield and Moeller was be the fourth meeting between the schools and the first game in the series since 2001.

Fairfield had won four consecutive games entering Friday night. Fairfield completed the season with a 6-5 record.

WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — While the Ohio high school football playoffs do not start until next week, the atmosphere said otherwise Friday night at Firebird Stadium.

Lakota West defeated Lakota East 34-7 to win its second straight Greater Miami Conference title in a sold-out stadium of 5,000 fans, renewing the district rivalry that started in 1998. The Firebirds lead the overall series 16-9, including a 14-9 regular-season record.

"What more can you ask for?" Lakota West coach Tom Bolden said. "A chance for sole possession in the league, playing your district rival."

The Firebirds led 10-0 at halftime after senior Jyaire Brown's 50-yard interception return with 50 seconds left in the second quarter set up a 15-yard touchdown pass connection from junior quarterback Mitch Bolden to junior wide receiver Trent Lloyd.

Junior kicker Tyler Bohn made a 33-yard field goal on the Firebirds' opening drive of the first quarter.

The Firebirds excelled in all three phases in the second half.

Lakota West (8-1) went ahead 17-0 early in the third quarter after junior Malik Hartford blocked a Thunderhawks' punt and senior Alex Afari returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. Afari had a game-high 11 tackles Friday night.

The Firebirds took a 24-0 lead about six minutes later when Mitch Bolden found Lloyd for the second touchdown pass connection of the night. Bolden, the son of Tom Bolden, said the GMC title is very significant for the Firebirds.

"We're building a great tradition here," Mitch Bolden said. "It's something nice."

Bohn made his second field goal of the night early in the fourth quarter to give the Firebirds a 27-7 lead.

Senior running back Cameron Goode scored on a 67-yard touchdown run with 5:23 left, and senior Hannah Duncan's third extra point of the night gave the Firebirds a 34-7 lead. Goode had 11 carries for 107 yards.

"This was definitely a statement game to show everybody in the playoffs we're going to play hard every game," Goode said.

Lakota West entered Friday night as the No. 3 seed in the Division I, Region 4 computer points standings and will likely host a first-round game next week. Lakota East (7-3) will also likely host a first-round game next week, according to Joe Eitel.

The Thunderhawks scored on a 6-yard run by junior quarterback TJ Kathman late in the third quarter. Senior linebacker Charlie Kenrich had a team-high seven tackles, according to game statistics.

The Greater Miami Conference voted Monday to approve a nine-game conference football schedule starting with the 2022 season.

The decision by the 10-member conference arrives less than a week after the Eastern Cincinnati Conference announced Sept. 10 it has adopted a nine-game conference football schedule starting in 2022.

The expansion of the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs to 16 teams per region in the seven divisions this season was an important factor in the decisions of both conferences.

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Fairfield athletic director Aaron Blankenship, the GMC president this school year, said a "vast majority" of GMC members favored a nine-game conference schedule.

A vote total was not announced.

"I think for us obviously the expansion of the playoffs has definitely changed things for our league," Blankenship said."We've got a league that has a lot of great programs that really can struggle to find non-conference games. So that's a portion of it. But, I really think the main reason was the expanded playoffs, and it gives us an opportunity to have a true champion for the first time ever. Every team will have a chance to play everyone throughout the regular season."

Nine GMC schools are in Division I, Region 4, where 16 of the 17 eligible programs overall are set to make the playoffs this year. Middletown is in Division I, Region 2 and is one of 18 teams overall in that region.

While the computer playoff points, also known as Harbin points, are important for playoff seeding, it's not as relevant for making the postseason as in past years due to the volume of teams able to clinch a postseason berth.

"When looking at the current landscape of high school football, whether that is other conference decisions, the playoff structure, or simply placing GMC schools in the best position to be successful, moving to nine games made the most sense," Oak Hills athletic director Ben Hageman said.

GMC schools will have Week 1 as their non-conference game starting with the 2022 season.

There are 10 weeks in an Ohio high school football regular season.

"Being a member of the Greater Miami Conference is both a privilege and an honor," Lakota East athletic director Rich Bryant said. "Our ability to adjust and adapt to the ever-changing landscape that is high school football is a true strength of the GMC."

The GMC has had an eight-game conference schedule since 2017 except for the shortened 2020 regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rivalry games within the GMC will be played every year instead of a rotational basis for some of those contests.

Lakota East versus Lakota West, Hamilton versus Fairfield, and Sycamore versus Mason and Princeton versus Middletown are among the rivalry games over the years.

"All these rivalry games can happen every year," Blankenship said. "So it's great for our communities and great for our fans to have that opportunity."

Middletown athletic director JD Foust did not favor the vote but said he looked at the bigger picture for the GMC.

"We would prefer the first two weeks as non-league," Foust said. "We understand that this is for the betterment of the conference as a whole."

While the GMC and ECC only have Week 1 to schedule for a non-conference opponent, local scheduling options become narrower for the Greater Catholic League South division, Southwest Ohio Conference and Greater Western Ohio Conference looking for non-conference games.

St. Xavier and Colerain have a contract for a game at St. X in Week 2 of the 2022 season, concluding a two-year deal.

St. Xavier and Colerain played in the regular season from 2008 to 2009, 2011 to 2019 and again in Week 2 this season. (The teams did not meet in the regular season in 2020 due to the shortened schedule during the pandemic).

"It's unfortunate that some traditional rivalries aren't going to take place given the new schedule arrangement within the GMC," St. X athletic director Brian Reinhart said. "It makes scheduling more difficult but also opens up weeks for some new opportunities and rivalries."

Colerain athletic director Matt Stoinoff said he likes the GMC's decision and how it benefits the conference overall, including a true league champion.

Stoinoff said Colerain and St. X have always had a good rapport and he looks forward to continue working with Reinhart regarding the game contract.

"The unfortunate part is the relationship that we have with St. X and playing all the way back to 2010 and losing that," Stoinoff said. "That's always a big game for both of us and it's an exciting game as a true rivalry and what not. So losing that will be upsetting. But, it's a conference decision and so we support our conference on everything that they make."

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Colerain High School named Scott Kerr its boys basketball coach on Friday morning, pending board of education approval April 19.

Kerr's previous coaching experience around Greater Cincinnati includes being the head coach at Purcell Marian for seven years. Before that, he was the Clark Montessori coach for six years after being at Mariemont for three years.

"Colerain High School is excited to announce Scott Kerr as the next boys basketball head coach, pending board approval Monday night," Colerain athletic director Craig Ulland said in a statement.

Kerr succeeds Pat Cosgrove at Colerain. Cosgrove stepped down in early March after two seasons with the Cardinals.

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Kerr is enthusiastic about the opportunity. He said the competition level in the Greater Miami Conference speaks for itself. The 1990 Middletown graduate said there is "no better public school conference in the state of Ohio than the GMC."

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"No. 1 there is 10 jobs in the GMC, and this is one of the 10 jobs," Kerr said. "Quite honestly I don't look at other people's opinions of it's a good job or bad job. I don't care. I believe in myself and what we're going to do and what we can turn Colerain basketball into."

Kerr was most recently the head coach at Purcell Marian for seven seasons (2014-2021), with a record of 106-74, according to a Colerain High School media release.

Incoming Colerain athletic director Matt Stoinoff said Kerr was thoroughly impressive during the interview process. Kerr's experience and approach to helping student-athletes is what the school sought.

"Colerain High School basketball is sleeping beast," Stoinoff said.

He led the Cavaliers to two Greater Catholic League Coed championships, a district runner-up finish, four district titles, and a regional championship.

Prior to Purcell, Kerr was the head coach at Clark Montessori for six seasons (2008-2014) compiling a record of 96-42 with two league championships. He led Clark to its first league, sectional, and district titles in school history, according to the release.

Kerr’s head coaching career began at Mariemont High School, where he led the Warriors for three seasons (2005-2008).

His career record is 230-151 in 16 seasons overall. He's won numerous conference and district coaching honors.

Kerr acknowledged the challenge of turning the Colerain program around, but he said he's seen many positive aspects of working with others at the high school. Colerain was 2-19 overall including 2-12 in the GMC this past season.

But, Kerr said he is energized the possibilities of helping the Cardinals succeed.

"I want to change that whole perception and I want to do that as quickly as possible," Kerr said.

Kerr said he has a good rapport with head football coach Shawn Cutright and others at the school.

"I've obviously watched the football team for many years," Kerr said. "They've got tough, hard-nosed kids, and I just think that's the type of kid that I excel in coaching. I think we can take some of that tough, hard-nosed attitude and make some progress with the basketball program."

Kerr is a social studies teacher at Live Oaks Career Development Campus, a position he has held since 2008. Kerr received his bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education from Miami University, and his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati.