Top 25 Ohio high school football rankings (9/5/2023)

St. Edward remains at the top, while Pickerington Central, Ursuline and Cleveland Hights make their debuts

If you love upsets, you loved Week 3 in Ohio high school football. Teams from as high as No. 4 all the way to the end of the Power 25 were not safe as upsets found their way into every corner of the state. From Ashtabula to the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, from Pickerington to Celina, upsets ruled the weekend in Ohio.

SBLive Ohio Power 25

1. St. Edward (3-0)

Last week: 1

Don’t let the score fool you, it was not all St. Edward in the 42-14 win over Rock Creek Christian (Maryland). Rock Creek outgained St. Edward, 297-295. The difference maker was the turnover battle as the Eagles defense came away with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries at key points, scoring on a pair of them. St. Edward will have their first in-state opponent on Saturday when they head down to Cincinnati to face Elder.

2. Avon (3-0)

Last week: 2

Glenville at Avon was the most anticipated game in northeast Ohio this past weekend and the Eagles and Tarblooders lived up to the hype. After touchdowns by Jakorion Caffey and Cole Kepner, it looked like Avon may run away. But Glenville scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass with less than two minutes left in the first half and then took the lead, 16-14, early in the fourth. But a clutch field goal, an onside kick, and a Nolan Good strike to the corner of the end zone saw the Eagles come out on top, 24-16. Avon heads to Elyria on Friday.

3. Toledo Central Catholic (3-0)

Last week: 3

Toledo Central Catholic made their debut in the Detroit-based Catholic High School League this past week with a home win over Detroit Catholic Central, 42-21. Senior Marquan Braswell was a freight train, rumbling for 156 yards on 22 carries, including a 6-yard touchdown run. Junior Tyler Morgan scored three touchdowns on the night. The Fighting Irish head back on the road against Birmingham Brother Rice (Michigan) on Friday.

4. Princeton (3-0)

Last week: 5

Princeton completed the Lakota sweep with a 30-16 win over Lakota East on Friday. It took a quarter and a half for Princeton to find their bearings, but after allowing Lakota East to get a 7-0 lead, it was all Vikings the rest of the way. David Hambrick hit a 46-yard strike to Jordan Houston to open the third and East could not find any solutions to the Princeton rushing attack. Princeton heads to Mason this week.

5. Massillon (3-0)

Last week: 7

Massillon and Mansfield Senior both went into week 3 riding a wave of momentum. Massillon looked like a Division II favorite in their wins over Valdosta and GlenOak, while Mansfield Senior was coming off a win over defending Division III state champion Canfield. But it was all Massillon in a 51-10 win, as DaOne Owens had two rushing touchdowns and another through the air in the first half alone as the Tigers took a 35-10 lead into halftime. Owens ended the night with 197 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns in total. The Tigers host Elkhart (Indiana) this coming Friday.

6. Archbishop Hoban (3-0)

Last week: 8

It was all Hoban from the kickoff in a 34-6 win over Trinity Episcopal (Virginia) on Saturday. Caleb Jones tallied 148 yards on the ground and three touchdowns and sophomore Elbert "Rock" Hill IV put the game away with a leaping interception that he returned for a touchdown early in the fourth. The Knights host undefeated Akron East this coming Saturday.

7. Walsh Jesuit (3-0)

Last week: 13

The Walsh Jesuit defense was impenetrable and only broke once the game was out of reach in a 41-14 win over Columbus DeSales. Brock Sherman began the scoring with a touchdown from 5 yards out and would add another TD to begin the second half. The Warriors head to Canisius (New York) this coming Saturday.

8. St. Xavier (2-1)

Last week: 5

St. Xavier took a step back against The McCallie School, one of the top programs in Tennessee. Chase Herbstreit had 134 passing yards and a touchdown in the Bombers’ first loss of the season, 34-11. St. Xavier returns to in-state competition at undefeated Withrow on Friday.

9. Olmsted Falls (3-0)

Last week: 14

Olmsted Falls owned the line of scrimmage all 48 minutes of their contest against defending Division III champion Canfield and came away with a 42-14 win. This week will be huge as Olmsted Fall hosts undefeated North Ridgeville.

10. Winton Woods (3-0)

Last week: 15

Winton Woods suffered an early scare, trailing West Clermont at the half this past Friday. But Isaiah Garrett took over, powering in two touchdown runs in the second half as the Warriors took home the win, 21-13. The Warriors head on the road to Turpin on Friday.

11. Pickerington North (3-0)

Last week: Unranked

After barely missing out on the SB Live Ohio Power 25, Pickerington North defeated Upper Arlington, 28-8. The Panthers had four touchdowns, all scored by different players with J.J. Sebert sealing the victory with an interception return for a touchdown in the third. Pickerington North hosts Pickerington Central on Friday night.

12. Hudson (2-1)

Last week: 10

Hudson got 164 yards rushing and a touchdown from running back Ian Ludewig, but that wasn't enough as the Explorers fell for the first time in the regular season wince 2021, 34-31 to Cleveland Heights. Hudson heads to Stow-Munroe Falls on Friday.

13. Upper Arlington (2-1)

Last week: 6

Upper Arlington fell to Pickerington North 28-8 and will host Westerville Central on Friday.

14. Medina (2-1)

Last week: 17

The Medina offense is back, handing Wadsworth its first loss of the season, 40-28, as quarterback Danny Stoddard and wide receiver Austin Knowles hooked up for four touchdowns on Friday. The Bees head to Mentor on Friday.

15. Kings (3-0)

Last week: 18

Kings took a 35-0 lead into the half against Walnuts Hills and came out with a 35-12 win. Grant Nurre passed for 199 yards and three touchdowns. Paul Kelly was his favorite target, pulling in five catches for 91 yards and two scores. The Knights head to Loveland on Friday.

16. Badin (3-0)

Last week: 19

Badin appears to enjoy scoring all their points (and allowing all their points) in the one half. Last week, it was scoreless at halftime. This week, nobody scored in the second half as the Rams took a 42-14 lead over Edgewood into the locker room and nothing more came of it. Badin hosts undefeated Roger Bacon on Friday.

17. Tiffin Columbian (3-0)

Last week: 20

In another high-scoring affair, Tiffin Columbian outlasted River Valley, 56-45. The Tornadoes have averaged 49.0 points per game and have given up 45 and 49 in the last two weeks, both wins. The Tornadoes head to undefeated Bishop Watterson on Friday.

18. Chardon (2-1)

Last week: 22

After numerous critical stops, Will Francis put the game away for Chardon with a 70-yard touchdown run in the fourth ads the Hilltoppers defeated Avon Lake 28-10. Chardon hosts St. Francis (New York) on Friday.

19. Marion Local (3-0)

Last week: 21

Marion Local allowed a touchdown to Minster on the opening drive and then the Flyers scored 42 unanswered points en route to a 42-7 win in the Midwest Athletic Conference opener. Marion Local hosts St. John’s this Friday.

20. Anderson (3-0)

Last week: 25

Anderson picked up a 44-14 win over Lebanon this past Friday as Justice Burnam passed for 244 yards and two touchdowns and running back Brodey Berg ran for 161 yards and four touchdowns. Anderson continue Eastern Cincinnati Conference play at Milford on Friday.

21. Ursuline (3-0)

Last week: Unranked

Ursuline makes its debut in the SBLive Ohio Power 25 with a 50-0 win over Lakeside. Christian Lynch has led the Ursuline offense this season, rushing for 330 yards and five touchdowns after rushing for 1,857 yards in 2022. The Fighting Irish look to continue their winning ways at Youngstown East on Friday.

22. Lakota West (1-2)

Last week: 24

Lakota West earned their first win of the season on Friday night, 33-0, at Fairfield in Greater Miami Conference play. Sam Wiles was efficient under center, going 9-of-10 for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Six different receivers hauled in catches, led by Brennah Remy with 56 yards on three receptions. The Firebirds host Middletown on Friday.

23. Highland, Medina (2-1)

Last week: 23

Highland had 404 yards of total offense in a 35-14 win over Brunswick this pas week, led by Casey Myser, who had 179 yards on the ground. Highland heads to Copley in Week 4.

24. Cleveland Heights (2-1)

Last week: Unranked

Cleveland Heights pulled off a road win at then No. 10 Hudson and still has games against Mentor, Medina, and Shaker Heights on its schedule. But next up for the Tigers is a trip to Brunswick Friday night.

25. Archbishop Moeller (1-2)

Last week: 9

Archbishop Moeller fell to undefeated East Central (Indiana), 38-28. This was East Central's closest game of the season, after winning their first two contests by a combined score of 84-14. Moeller faces Center Grove (Indiana) on Friday.