Saturday, August 04, 2001
Lebanon, Mason to kick off prep season
Thursday game part of Crosstown Showdown
By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Lebanon and Mason will have the Ohio prep football stage to themselves on Thursday, Aug.23.
That night, the Warren County rivals play at Galbreath Field in the first game of the Ohio prep football season. The game is part of the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown package, which features a five-game schedule at UC's Nippert Stadium on Aug.25.
The full Showdown schedule, whose Aug.25 games were announced last week by Don Schumacher's DSA Prep Sports division, will include:
Aug.23 (at Galbreath
Field):
• Lebanon vs. Mason, 7 p.m.
Aug.25 (at UC's Nippert Stadium, five games):
• Dixie Heights vs. La Salle, 11 a.m.
• Oak Hills vs. St. Xavier, 1:30 p.m.
• Fairfield vs. Moeller, 4 p.m.
• Elder vs. Sycamore, 6:30 p.m.
• Colerain vs. Harrison, 9 p.m.
Most Ohio teams will open their seasons on Friday, Aug.24.
This is the second year for a Thursday “kickoff game.” Last year, Edgewood beat Kings 21-0 in the Ohio season opener at Galbreath.
Rod Russell, Mason athletic director, said the opener gives the schools great exposure.
“The key thing that appealed to us is that it's a unique way to start the year,” Russell said. “It's a great Warren County rivalry, and you can't get a much better matchup.”
Lebanon was 10-1 and was a Division I playoff team last year. Mason, 4-6 last season but a playoff team two years ago, has a new coach in Gary Popovich.
For ticket information on the Showdown games, call the GTE Wireless Info Line at 513-886-0030.
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Lebanon, Mason to kick off prep season