Top 25 Indiana high school football rankings (9/7/2023)

Undefeated matchup of Hamilton Southeastern-Fishers this week

Crown Point moves into the Top 10 after a decisive Duneland Athletic Conference victory over Merrillville.

• PREVIOUS 2023 RANKINGS: PRESEASON | AUGUST 23 | AUGUST 30 | 

Here is our breakdown of this week's SBLive Power 25 Indiana high school football rankings:

SBLIVE INDIANA POWER 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS

September 7, 2023

1. Center Grove (2-1)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Louisville Trinity 34-7

After losing their opener to Ohio power St. Edward, the Trojans have outscored two more out-of-state teams by a combined 62-17 – including 27-7 vs, Trinity in the second half. Center Grove will have two more games against Ohio teams before they finally see an in-state opponent: No. 20 Lawrence Central on the road on Sept. 22.

Next game: vs. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) (1-2), Sept. 8

2. Ben Davis (3-0)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. Pike 62-0

The Giants are averaging 51 points per game heading into their matchup with national power IMG, which comes in at 2-0.

Next game: vs. IMG Academy (Fla.) (2-0), Sept. 8

3. Hamilton Southeastern (3-0)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. Avon 42-23

The Hoosier Crossroads is the state's toughest conference with four teams in the top seven. The Royals see two of them the next two weeks, going to No. 7 Fishers, then hosting No. 5 Westfield.

Next game: at No. 7 Fishers (3-0), Sept. 8

4. Fort Wayne Carroll (2-1)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. Fort Wayne South Side 78-6

The Chargers rolled in their Summit Conference opener and have one more tuneup for their conference showdown with No. 11 Snider.

Next game: vs. Fort Wayne Dwenger (1-2), Sept. 8

5. Westfield (3-0)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. Zionsville 28-27

It wasn't easy, but the Shamrocks earned their 11th straight regular-season win in the series with Zionsville. Hoosier Crossroads play continues with another tough matchup vs. No, 15 Noblesville.

Next game: vs. Noblesville (2-1), Sept. 8

6. Brownsburg (3-0)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Def. Franklin Central 35-21

Garrett Sherrell ran for three touchdowns as the Bulldogs opened Hoosier Crossroads play with a home win over then-No. 21 Franklin Central. Avon is next on the road.

Next game: at Avon (0-3), Sept. 8

7. Fishers (3-0)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Noblesville 48-22

Bennett Gorak's passing and Khobie Martin's running powered another big night for the Tigers' offense against then-No. 16 Noblesville. Fishers is averaging 44 points a game.

Next game: vs. No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern (3-0), Sept. 8

8. Cathedral (2-1)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. Penn 35-6

Colorado commit Danny O'Neil threw five touchdown passes in last week's dominant win against then-No. 10 Penn. The Irish are averaging just over 40 points a game.

Next game: vs. Indianapolis Chatard (3-0), Sept. 8

9. Carmel (2-1)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. Detroit King 39-0

The Greyhounds have their third straight game against an out-of-state team this week when they travel to Kentucky to face Louisville Trinity.

Next game: at Louisville Trinity (1-2), Sept. 8

10. Crown Point (3-0)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Def. Merrillville 39-6

Larry Ellison ran for 180 yards and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs rolled by then-No. 15 Merrillville in a Duneland Athletic Conference showdown. Crown Point has allowed just 20 points this season.

Next game: at Lake Central (2-1), Sept. 8

11. Fort Wayne Snider (3-0)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Fort Wayne Concordia 52-6

The Panthers led 35-0 after one quarter and coasted to victory in their Summit Athletic Conference opener. They meet South Side ahead of a Week 5 showdown with No. 4 Carroll.

Next game: vs. Fort Wayne South Side (0-3), Sept. 8

12. Penn (2-1)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Lost 35-6 to Cathedral

The Kingsmen were shut out by No. 8 Cathedral until Vincent Horner's 35-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Their final tuneup for Northern Indiana Conference action is home vs. Hammond Morton this week.

Next game: vs. Hammond Morton (1-2), Sept. 8

13. Bloomington South (3-0)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Def. Terre Haute North 66-0

It's rivalry week for the Panthers after they cruised in their Conference Indiana opener. South has given up just 16 points this season.

Next game: vs. Bloomington North (3-0), Sept. 8

14. Merrillville (2-1)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Lost 39-6 to Crown Point

After losing to Duneland Athletic rival Crown Point for the second straight season, the Pirates will try to bounce back against Portage.

Next game: vs. Portage (0-3), Sept. 8

15. Noblesville (2-1)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Lost 48-22 to Fishers

The Millers go from one top-10 conference opponent to another with No. 5 Westfield on tap after last week's loss to then-No. 7 Fishers.

Next game: at No. 5 Westfield (3-0), Sept. 8

16. Warren Central (1-2)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Indianapolis North Central 49-17

After starting 0-2 with losses to Fort Wayne powers Carroll and Snider, the Warriors cruised in their Metropolitan Conference opener.

Next game: at Lawrence Central (1-2), Sept. 8

17. Valparaiso (2-1)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Def. LaPorte 49-0

Running back Travis Davis ran for three TDs and quarterback Justin Clark had 233 total yards as the Vikings easily won their second straight after an opening loss to Penn.

Next game: vs. Michigan City (2-1), Sept. 8

18. Mishawaka (2-1)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Northridge 37-16

The Cavemen bounced back from a loss to rival Penn by rolling in their Northern Lakes Conference opener.

Next game: vs. Goshen (0-3), Sept. 8

19. Lawrence North (3-0)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Lawrence Central 41-26

The Wildcats move up after last week's rivalry win vs. then-No. 13 Lawrence Central in their Metropolitan Conference opener at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Next game: at Indianapolis North Central (0-3), Sept. 8

20. Lawrence Central (1-2)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Lost 41-26 to Lawrence North

The Bears dropped their second straight in a rivalry game vs. Lawrence North at Lucas Oil Stadium. Another tough matchup is next against Metropolitan Conference rival Warren Central.

Next game: vs. Warren Central (1-2), Sept. 8

21. Franklin Central (2-1)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Lost 35-21 to Brownsburg

No shame in losing on the road to No. 6 Brownsburg, especially after playing the Bulldogs to a 21-all tie through three quarters. The Flashes will look for their first Hoosier Crossroads win this week at home.

Next game: vs. Zionsville (2-1), Sept. 8

22. Bishop Chatard (3-0)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Roncalli 14-7

The Trojans held Roncalli to 136 yards, including 59 on the ground on 27 carries. Up next is a tough test against No. 8 Cathedral.

Next game: at No. 8 Cathedral (2-1), Sept. 8

23. Plainfield (3-0)

Previous rank: 23 Last week: Def. Mooresville 31-15

Carter Fergerson ran for two scores and Caden Venderbush had a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD as the Quakers won their Mid-State Conference opener.

Next game: vs. Perry Meridian (1-2), Sept. 8

24. East Central (3-0)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. Cincinnati Moeller 38-28

Miami (Ohio) commit Josh Ringer ran for 246 yards and three touchdowns, and also caught a TD pass as the Trojans beat Moeller for the first time since 2020.

Next game: at Franklin County (2-1), Sept. 8

25. West Lafayette Harrison (2-1)

Previous rank: 25 Last week: Def. Marion 35-7

The Raiders bounced back from a one-point loss to Plainfield in Week 2 by rolling in their North Central Conference opener against Marion.

Next game: at McCutcheon (1-2), Sept. 8

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