Top 25 Ohio high school football rankings (9/19/2023)

Massillon is the new No. 1, while Toledo Central Catholic jumps to No. 2 and Archbishop Hoban is No. 3

There's a new top team in the state of Ohio in this week's SBLive Ohio Power 25 after St. Edward, who had been the top team since the initial rankings in the preseason, fell this past week to Massillon, who was No. 4 last week.

There were four teams in the discussion, with each of them having a valid claim to the top spot. 

Would it be last week’s No. 2 (Avon), the defense who shut out St. Ignatius (Archbishop Hoban), the Toledo school that is steamrolling their new conference (Toledo Central Catholic), or the team that took down the previous top team (Massillon)?

In the end, it was the Tigers who roared loudest.

SBLive Ohio Power 25

1. Massillon (5-0)

Last week: 4

The hype surrounding Massillon and St. Edward did not disappoint as the Tigers took down then-No. 1 St. Edward, 15-13 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium on Friday night. Senior quarterback DaOne Owens ran for 176 yards on 26 carries and scored both touchdowns and a 2-point conversion for Massillon, as well as recovering an onside kick with just over a minute to play to seal the win. No rest for the Tigers as they host undefeated Middletown (Delaware) on Friday.

2. Toledo Central Catholic (5-0)

Last week: 2

It was a tough decision to see who would claim the new No. 1 spot after St. Edward fell this weekend. Toledo Central Catholic was in for a fight with Warren De La Salle on Friday, coming out on top 28-23. Marquan Braswell and Tyler Morgan both powered their way to a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Fighting Irish and Braswell led the way with 146 rushing yards on 27 carries. The Fighting Irish head out of conference to host St. Ignatius on Friday.

3. Archbishop Hoban (5-0)

Last week: 6

Hoban showcase one of the best defenses in the state and it showed again on Friday in their 35-0 shutout of St. Ignatius. The Hoban defense came up with seven sacks and two interceptions returned for touchdowns against St. Ignatius. The offense spread the ball around with touchdowns scored by three different Knights. Hoban is off this coming week before hosting Walsh Jesuit on September 29.

4. Avon (5-0)

Last week: 2

Another team in the conversation with the new No. 1 position was Avon, as the Eagles defeated North Ridgeville 38-7. Jakorion Caffey rushed for 111 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns. Avon hosts 4-1 Olmsted Falls on Friday.

5. St. Edward (4-1)

Last week: 1

St. Edward fell on the road to new No. 1 Massillon, 15-13. Junior linebacker Nate Gregory was a menace on defense, leading everyone with 12 tackles on the night. The Eagles host River Rouge (Michigan) on Saturday.

6. Princeton (5-0)

Last week: 5

Princeton needed a last-minute touchdown to remain undefeated, knocking off Hamilton, 22-16. Antonio Mathis’s 5-yard touchdown pass to R.J. Shephard-Ruffin midway through the fourth put the Big Blue up, 16-14. With 12 seconds left, Deangelo Birch floated a pass to Daelyn Jarman in the corner of the end zone, giving the Vikings the win and their first 5-0 start in twelve years. Princeton is at Oak Hills on Friday.

7. Walsh Jesuit (5-0)

Last week: 7

Make that five 40+ point games in a row for Walsh Jesuit as the Warriors defeated Firestone 49-0 in their first shutout of the season. The schedule goes from tough to brutal in the coming weeks. The Warriors head to St. Vincent-St. Mary to face the 4-1 Irish, followed by another road trip to top-5 mainstay Hoban.

8. Marion Local 5-0)

Last week: 12

In a battle of 2022 state champions, Marion Local defeated New Bremen 42-7. Justin Knouff was 13-of-20 for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Victor Hoelscher hauled in seven catches for 102 yards, as well as punt returns of 50 and 62 yards. The win streak extends to 37 as Marion Local prepares for undefeated Versailles in an SBLive Ohio Power 25 showdown this week.

9. Gahanna Lincoln (5-0)

Last week: 16

It was the Diore Hubbard Show in central Ohio as Gahanna Lincoln beat Pickerington Central 49-14. The WVU commit tallied 16 carries, gaining 182 yards on the ground and three touchdowns on the night. This was the Lions’ third straight win over Central, a first in program history. Gahanna Lincoln hosts Westland in division play this Friday.

10. Pickerington North (5-0)

Last week: 10

Pickerington North found success on the ground and never let up in their 42-21 win over Reynoldsburg on Friday. Michael Taylor led all rushers with 10 carries for 77 yards. OSU commit Sam Williams-Dixon ran 9 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. Landon O’Connell hit Preston Bowman and Derick Ross, Jr. for a touchdown each. The Panthers host Westerville Central on Friday.

11. Youngstown Ursuline (5-0)

Last week: 14

Another week, another Ursuline offensive showcase as the Fighting Irish took down Warren G. Harding 56-20 on Friday. Jack Ericson was the catalyst, completing 17-of-21 for 203 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Ericson also added two touchdowns on the ground. The upcoming schedule will truly test the Fighting Irish with Austintown-Fitch, St. Vincent-St. Mary, and Villa Angela-St. Joseph all on the horizon.

12. Hudson (4-1)

Last week: 9

Welcome back, Ian Ludewig. The senior running back returned from injury in style, scoring Hudson's first touchdown en route to a 30-21 win at Twinsburg. Ludewig finished the game with 116 yards on 32 carries with three touchdowns. Peyron Neher was solid, completing 12-of-15 passing for 159 yards and a touchdown. Hudson returns home on Friday to face 4-1 Wadsworth.

13. Badin, Hamilton (5-0)

Last week: 11

Badin put together their best offensive output of the season in a 49-12 win over Hughes. Alex Ritzie was solid under center, going 11-of-17 for 137 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Aidan Brown, who hauled in 6 catches for 100 yards and a pair of scores. The Rams host 4-1 Bishop Fenwick on Friday.

14. Upper Arlington (5-0)

Last week: 15

It took nearly 24 minutes of football, but Upper Arlington finally got their feet under them late in the second quarter of a 21-7 win over Groveport Madison with a Kyle Cox touchdown strike to end the half. Connor McClellan gave the Golden Bears their first lead with a 19-yard touchdown run up the middle late in the fourth and then Cox hit Wally Swiney for an insurance score. The Golden Bears host Hilliard Bradley on Friday.

15. Lakota West (3-2)

Last week: 19

That's three wins in a row for Lakota West after an 0-2 start. In a 38-7 win over Colerain, the defense was the story of the night, holding Colerain to 56 yards of total offense and forcing three turnovers. This doesn’t include Drew Minich’s blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown late in the first. Colerain’s only points came off a pick-six midway through the second. Lakota West heads to Sycamore on Friday.

16. Milford (5-0)

Last week: 21

Luke Brand had himself a day against Kings in Milford's 40-21 win on Friday night. The junior quarterback was 22-of-28 passing for 356 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He hit JP Naylor for a 55-yard score to put the Eagles up 20-14 at halftime. Naylor would finish the game with 8 catches for 133 yards and two touchdown catches. Milford plays host to Little Miami on Friday.

17. Sandusky Perkins (4-0)

Last week: Unranked

Last week, the only division that was missing from the SBLive Ohio Power 25 was Division IV. This week, we would like to welcome the Perkins Pirates to the show after a 49-0 shutout of Bellevue. This was the lowest scoring game the Pirates’ offense this season after averaging 62.8 points per game in their first four games. The Pirates head to Clyde on Friday to open Lake Division play in the Sandusky Bay Conference.

18. Archbishop Moeller (2-3)

Last week: Unranked

After playing four straight teams from Indiana to start the season, Moeller returns to Ohio to knock off St. Xavier, 20-10. Michigan commit Jordan Marshall was finished with 146 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown. The defense was lights out, forcing five turnovers and holding St. X to only 35 rushing yards. The Crusaders continue conference play when they host La Salle on Friday.

19. Winton Woods, Cincinnati (5-0)

Last week: 18

Winton Woods outmatched Little Miami in every aspect of the game on Friday, taking home the win, 51-0. Winton Woods had a pair of 100-yard rushers with Tyler Gooding (135 yards and three touchdowns) and Isaiah Garrett (130 yards and two touchdowns). The Warriors head to Anderson in one of the marquee games in Cincinnati in Week 6.

20. St. Xavier (3-2)

Last week: 8

St. Xavier fell to Moeller, 20-10, in the Greater Catholic League South opener. Brady Bennett hauled in a career-high 12 catches for 109 yards on the night for the Bombers, who host Elder in GCL South action on Friday.

21. Medina Highland (4-1)

Last week: 17

It’s no 88-point performance, but Highland took down Tallmadge, 28-7. Highland was unstoppable on the ground, racking up 293 rushing yards on 41 carries. Casey Myser was the leading rusher for the Hornets, totaling 113 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns. The Hornets host Barberton on Friday.

22. Elder (3-2)

Last week: 22

If you haven’t heard of Ryan Brass yet, this week should be a wake-up call. The two-sport star can do it all for Elder and did so in their 31-21 win over St. Xavier (Kentucky). The senior quarterback was 8-of-12 passing for 73 yards, but also led the team with 149 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. The quarterback is currently second in the conference in rushing yards, only trailing future Michigan running back Jordan Marshall of Moeller. Elder heads to St. Xavier (Ohio) for their GCL South opener on Friday.

23. Liberty Center (5-0)

Last week: 20

Liberty Center got two Landon Bockelman interceptions and three Landen Kruse touchdown catches to take a 35-0 after the first quarter over Swanton. Challenges could await Liberty Center as they host Bryan and undefeated Patrick Henry in the coming weeks.

24. Versailles (5-0)

Last week: 25

Versailles remains undefeated heading into the game of the year in west central Ohio, beating Parkway 41-7. Blake Henry opened the game with a pair of touchdowns, one receiving from Michael Osborne and one on the ground. Ross Francis added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second half as the Tigers outgained Parkway, 403-189 on the night. Versailles heads to Marion Local in a battle of unbeatens in the Midwest Athletic Conference.

25. Anderson (4-1)

Last week: Unranked

Anderson makes a quick return to the SB Live Ohio Power 25 after a 51-0 shutout of Walnut Hills. Justice Burnam had a great first half, going 17-of-23 for 207 yards and four touchdowns as he sat the entire second half. The Raptors defense held Walnut Hills to only 99 yards of total offense. Anderson gets a big test this Friday when they host Winton Woods in the must-see game in Cincinnati.