Kickoff: 7 p.m. Eastern.
    Setting the scene: For one half, the Little Miami Panthers turned Kings' Homecoming celebration into their own party. The Panthers stormed out to a 20-0 halftime lead last week, stunning the host Knights and putting an end to what had been a 17-game losing streak to their longtime rival.
    But Kings wasn't ready to hand over its Homecoming crown. The Knights mounted a furious second-half comeback, cutting the deficit to one point late in the fourth quarter. In the end, though, Little Miami's first-half dominance proved to be just enough, as the Panthers escaped with a thrilling 20-19 victory. The win marked Little Miami's first victory over Kings since 2009.
    The Panthers wasted little time setting the tone. With 1:21 remaining in the opening quarter, senior wide receiver Carter Stewart hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brayden Brown, giving Little Miami a 7-0 lead. Then, after Kings committed its first of three turnovers, the Panthers struck again. Coach Mahon dialed up a vertical route, and Brown delivered a perfect ball to a streaking Owen Hoch. Hoch did the rest, racing 86 yards for a touchdown—the Panthers' longest play from scrimmage this season. Just like that, Little Miami was in front 14-0.
    The Panthers continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, and senior kicker Cade Wojnicz came through with two crucial field goals, connecting from 38 and 25 yards. Wojnicz also remained perfect on extra points, going 2-for-2 on the night. When the halftime horn sounded, Little Miami had a commanding 20-0 advantage.
    But the Panthers soon discovered that 20 points wouldn't be enough to put away a Kings team determined to protect its Homecoming and its long-standing dominance in the rivalry. The second half belonged to the Knights. 
    Little Miami committed two more turnovers, and Kings' defense began to find its footing.
With 5:39 remaining in the third quarter, Oliver Young punched in a 6-yard touchdown run to get the Knights on the board. A bad snap on the ensuing kick led to a botched attempt at the extra point and two-point conversion, keeping the Panthers ahead.
    However, Kings wasn't finished. With just eight seconds left in the third quarter, Jay Arrington connected with Jack Sills for a 32-yard touchdown and Foley logged his only PAT of the game (20-13).
    Then, with 3:05 remaining in the game, Young struck again. The Kings running back broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown scamper down the right side, pulling the Knights within a single point.
    Suddenly, the Panthers' comfortable 20-point halftime cushion was hanging by a thread.
All Kings needed was one more point. But Little Miami's defense held. Kellen Foley's third PAT attempt sailed wide right, and the Panthers survived the furious Knights rally to secure the one-point victory.
    After 17 straight losses to Kings, Little Miami finally had its revenge. And on a night that was supposed to belong to the Knights, the Panthers walked away with the celebration.
    Paw Prints: QB1 Brayden Brown put together a career performance, accounting for 430 yards of offense. The senior quarterback threw for a career-best 361 yards and added another 69 yards on the ground.
    Stewart continued to come up big in the rivalry, hauling in seven passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. The 6-foot-5 senior target once again proved to be a matchup nightmare on in-cutting routes against the Kings secondary.
    Hoch enjoyed a career night of his own, catching four passes for 142 yards and a touchdown—including the 86-yard strike that gave Little Miami its early momentum.
    On special teams, Wojnicz continued to demonstrate his value. The senior kicker was a perfect 2-for-2 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts.
    Defensively, Carter Hainey earned Top Cat honors after leading the Panthers with 11 tackles and an interception. Colton Reynolds, Nolan Williams and Ryder Armstrong each added seven tackles.
     Scouting Report: Loveland travels to Little Miami in Week 8 looking to bounce back after falling 56-0 to Winton Woods in Week 7. The Tigers opened the 2026 season 0-3 before finding their footing with back-to-back ECC victories over Milford and Walnut Hills. But the Panthers know better than to take their rivals lightly.
    Last season, Little Miami and Loveland needed four quarters—and three overtimes—to settle the score in a wild 37-34 thriller.
    Now, the Tigers return under second-year head coach Bob Mullins and bring a rush-first offensive attack to Panther Country. Loveland averages just under 250 yards per game on the ground, compared to 32.6 yards per game through the air.
For Mark Kalugyer's 3-4 defense, the challenge will be staying disciplined up front. Reading under-keys and maintaining gap integrity will be critical against a Tigers offense that wants to establish the run. This is a rivalry, and as last year's three-overtime thriller proved, anything can happen when these two teams meet.
    Youth Night: It's our annual Youth Night, presented by Mercy Health! Be sure to check out the pregame timeline for introductions of our future Panthers and cheerleaders.

2026 LMHS Football Week 8 Gamdeday Guide
2026 LMHS Football & Cheer Roster
2026 LHS Football & Cheer Roster
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