Top 25 Indiana high school football rankings (10/18/2023)

Playoffs start this week for smaller classes

The regular season is over, and the state's Class 6A and 5A teams all get at least one week to rest up for the start of the playoffs in those classes. Most teams in the four smaller classes start postseason play this week.

Meanwhile, Warsaw joins the top 25. 

SBLive Indiana Power 25 high school football rankings

• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | AUG. 23 | AUG. 30 | SEPT. 7 | SEPT. 14 | SEPT. 21 | SEPT. 28 | OCT. 4 | OCT. 11 

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Indiana high school football rankings

October 18, 2023

1. Ben Davis (8-1)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Indianapolis North Central 50-3

Alijah Price got the Giants rolling with a short TD run and a 65-yard runback of a free kick after a safety, and Ben Davis led 30-3 at halftime en route to the easy win.

Next game: vs. No. 3 Brownsburg in Class 6A Sectional 5 semifinal, Oct. 27

2. Center Grove (8-1)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. Indianapolis Cathedral 45-38

Duke commit Tyler Cherry threw for 336 yards and four TDs, and Noah Coy caught three scoring passes for the Trojans.

Next game: vs. Franklin Central in Class 6A Sectional 8 semifinal, Oct. 27

3. Brownsburg (9-0)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. Hamilton Southeastern 21-14

Garrett Sherrell ran for two more TDs, giving him nine in three weeks, as the Bulldogs won the Hoosier Crossroads Conference and wrapped up their first perfect regular season since 2018.

Next game: at No. 1 Ben Davis in Class 6A Sectional 5 semifinal, Oct. 27

4. Crown Point (8-0)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. Michigan City 38-0

Larry Ellison passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season and scored his 20th TD, while Noah Ehrlich went over 1,500 yards passing and pushed his season TD total to 17.

Next game: vs. Lafayette Jefferson in Class 6A Sectional 1 semifinal, Oct. 27

5. Westfield (7-1)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. Franklin Central 28-19

The Shamrocks wrapped up second place in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference and gave coach Jake Gilbert his 100th win in his 13th season at the helm.

Next game: at No. 17 Carmel in Class 6A Sectional 4 semifinal, Oct. 27

6. Hamilton Southeastern (7-2)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Lost 21-14 to Brownsburg

Chandler Weston threw a pair of TD passes for the Royals, who finished third in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference at 5-2 behind Brownsburg (7-0) and Westfield (6-1).

Next game: at Fort Wayne Northrop in Class 6A Sectional 3 semifinal, Oct. 27

7. Fort Wayne Carroll (7-2)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Fort Wayne North Side 51-14

The Chargers led 51-7 at halftime and coasted to the Summit Athletic Conference win. They tied Snider for first in the A Division at 6-1.

Next game: at No. 24 Warsaw in Class 6A Sectional 2 semifinal, Oct. 27

8. Penn (8-1)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. South Bend Adams 42-0

Nolan McCullough was 4-of-6 passing for 66 yards and two TDs, and the Kingsmen had their fifth shutout in six games. They won the Northern Indiana Conference East-West Division title outright at 5-0.

Next game: vs. Elkhart in Class 6A Sectional 2 semifinal, Oct. 27

9. Bishop Chatard (9-0)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. Cincinnati Elder 34-7

Colin Guy scored three touchdowns as the Trojans rolled to the home win.

Next game: vs. Tippecanoe Valley in Class 3A Sectional 28 quarterfinal, Oct. 20

10. Valparaiso (7-2)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Def. Lake Central 47-7

The Vikings opened a 30-0 halftime lead and coasted home to finish second in the Duneland Athletic Conference behind Crown Point.

Next game: at Chesterton in Class 5A Sectional 10 semifinal, Oct. 27

11. Fort Wayne Snider (8-1)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Fort Wayne Wayne 37-0

The Panthers' Jamarion Kolagbodi returned the opening kickoff for a TD and Uriah Buchanan ran for two scores in the Summit Athletic Conference win. Snider and Carroll both finished 6-1 in the conference's A Division.

Next game: vs. Anderson in Class 5A Sectional 12 semifinal, Oct. 27

12. Fishers (6-3)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Def. Zionsville 34-14

JonAnthony Hall had a 69-yard TD catch and ran back a kickoff for another score as the Tigers rolled in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference.

Next game: at Homestead in Class 6A Sectional 3 semifinal. Oct. 27

13. Bloomington North (9-0)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Southport 42-14

The Cougars won the Conference Indiana title for the first time since 2018 and wrapped up the first perfect regular season in program history.

Next game: vs. No. 15 Bloomington South in Class 5A Sectional 15 semifinal, Oct. 27

14. Cathedral (6-3)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Lost 45-38 to Center Grove

The Fighting Irish scored two touchdowns in the final minute to make things interesting against No. 2 Center Grove.

Next game: vs. Indianapolis North Central in Class 6A Sectional 6 semifinal, Oct. 27

15. Bloomington South (8-1)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Def. Seymour 47-0

Jarrin Alley threw for three touchdowns as the Panthers cruised to the shutout win.

Next game: at No. 13 Bloomington North in Class 5A Sectional 15 semifinal, Oct. 27

16. East Central (9-0)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Indianapolis Roncalli 41-7

Ryan Brotherton had three TDs on eight touches and Josh Ringer also had three scores as the Trojans won their 15th straight game.

Next game: vs. Shelbyville in Class 4A Sectional 23 quarterfinal, Oct. 20

17. Carmel (5-4)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Lost 21-17 to Lawrence Central

Lawrence Central scored with 25 seconds left to beat the Greyhounds for the first time since 1974.

Next game: vs. No. 5 Westfield in Class 6A Sectional 4 semifinal, Oct. 27

18. Merrillville (7-2)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Def. Chesterton 35-7

JQ Johnson and Dontae Pope both ran for more than 100 yards in the Duneland Athletic Conference win.

Next game: vs. Munster in Class 5A Sectional 9 semifinal, Oct. 27

19. Mishawaka (6-2)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Wawasee 41-22

The Cavemen led 41-0 at halftime and coasted home for the Northern Lakes Conference win. Mishawaka and Warsaw both finished 6-1 atop the league standings.

Next game: at Goshen in Class 5A Sectional 11 semifinal, Oct. 27

20. Lawrence North (6-3)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Pike 21-6

Montez Jones ran for two TDs and passed for a third to lead the Wildcats.

Next game: vs. Lawrence Central in Class 6A Sectional 6 semifinal. Oct. 27

21. West Lafayette Harrison (8-1)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Richmond 42-6

The Raiders pushed their winning streak to seven games and clinched their third straight North Central Conference title.

Next game: vs. Plainfield in Class 5A Sectional 13 semifinal, Oct. 27

22. Decatur Central (7-2)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Franklin 36-0

KC Berry ran for two TDs and N'po Dodo caught two scoring passes as the Wildcats won a share of the Mid-State Conference title with Martinsville after losing their first two league games.

Next game: at McCutcheon in Class 5A Sectional 13 semifinal. Oct. 27

23. New Palestine (7-2)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. Delta 38-7

Grayson Thomas ran for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and Kyler Kropp scored three TDs as the Dragons won the Hoosier Heritage Conference title outright.

Next game: vs. New Castle in Class 4A Sectional 22 quarterfinal, Oct. 20

24. Warsaw (8-1)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Northridge 24-10

The Tigers wrapped up their best regular season since 2001.

Next game: vs. No. 7 Fort Wayne Carroll in Class 6A Sectional 2 semifinal, Oct. 27

25. Evansville Reitz (9-0)

Previous rank: 25 Last week: Def. Evansville Mater Dei 14-10

Hayden Summers caught two TD passes as the Panthers wrapped up a perfect regular season.

Next game: vs. Boonville in Class 4A Sectional 24 quarterfinal, Oct. 20

Indiana high school football computer rankings (10/18/2023)

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– Mike Clark | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIN