Top 25 Ohio high school football rankings (10/17/2023)

Massillon remains No. 1, while four new tams make their way into the SBLive Ohio Power 25

This could be one of the most exciting Week 10s in Ohio high school football in recent memory as there are plenty of games that have conference championships and home field advantage on the line. 

These include an SBLive Power 25 matchup between No. 8 Gahanna Lincoln and No. 17 Pickerington North, No. 10 Marion Local against Coldwater, No. 9 Sandusky Perkins at Tiffin Columbian and No. 24 Wapakoneta facing Celina. 

Of course, we can't forget about the showdown at Dowed Field between No. 3 Archbishop Hoban and No. 4 St. Edward, a battle of two teams who have made the top 5 of the SBLive Ohio Power 25 their home all season long.

SBLive Ohio Power 25

1. Massillon (9-0)

Last Week: 1

It was another day at the office for Massillon on Friday in their 48-14 win over Warren G. Harding. The Tiger defense was constantly in the Harding backfield, holding their offense to minus-26 rushing yards on the night. DaOne Owens went 16-of-22 for 277 yards passing and three touchdowns. Now, the Tigers can look ahead to Canton McKinley in another episode of one of the best high school rivalries in America.

2. Toledo Central Catholic (9-0)

A total of seven different players on Toledo Central Catholic found the end zone in their 69-0 win over rival Toledo St. Francis. This was the most lop-sided contest in the 64-year history of the Glass Bowl rivalry. The Irish racked up 406 yards of offenses while pitching their third shutout in four games. TCC heads to Ford Field to face Cass Tech (Michigan) in the Prep Bowl on Saturday.

3. Archbishop Hoban (9-0)

Last Week: 2

It appeared there may be an upset brewing in upstate New York. However, Archbishop Hoban found their legs and came away with a 28-13 win at St. Francis (New York) on Saturday. Going into halftime, the Knights trailed 13-9. St. Francis was driving to open the third, but a 90-yard pick-six put the Knights up, giving them a lead they would never surrender. Hoban ends the regular season with a top 5 contest against St. Edward on Friday.

4. St. Edward (8-1)

Last Week: 5

Running back Brandon White had a career day as St. Edward took down Archbishop Moeller, 28-21. The sophomore led the Eagles with 32 carries for 262 yards and two touchdowns. White opened the scoring in the first as the Eagles built a 21-0 lead. White would seal the win with a 25-yard touchdown run in the fourth. St. Edward heads on the road to wrap up the regular season against No. 3 Hoban.

5. Avon (9-0)

Last Week: 4

Avon clinched an outright Southwestern Conference championship with a 63-28 win over Amherst. The Eagles scored five touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 35-21 lead going into halftime. Despite allowing four touchdowns, the Eagles defense created numerous opportunities, forcing three turnovers, two blocked punts, and forcing Amherst to go 0-for-2 on fourth downs. Avon hosts rival Avon Lake on Friday.

6. Youngstown Ursuline (9-0)

Last Week: 6

No team has had an answer for the offense of Ursuline so far this season as they stayed undefeated with a 32-16 win over Chaney. Chaney opened the game with a failed onside kick attempt that gave the Irish the ball at midfield. Jack Ericson would open the scoring with a 35-yard touchdown strike. Ericson would be responsible for two more scores as the Cowboys kept giving the Irish excellent field position. The Irish hit cruise control after building a 26-0 lead at halftime. Ursuline hosts Cardinal Mooney this Friday.

7. Princeton (9-0)

Last Week: 7

Princeton clinched a share of the Greater Miami Conference championship with a 44-7 win at Colerain. This is the Vikings’ first conference title since 2003 with an opportunity for the first outright GMC championship since 1993. This is also the first time that a team that isn’t Lakota West nor Colerain has won the GMC since Middletown won a share in 2010. Princeton ends the regular season at home against Sycamore on Friday.

8. Gahanna Lincoln (9-0)

Last Week: 8

Gahanna Lincoln proved their offense was more than just Diore Hubbard in their 56-28 win over Grove City on Friday. Hubbard had another great performance with 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns. However, the offensive catalyst was Brennen Ward, throwing for 382 yards and four touchdowns on the night. Cam Frazier got into the scoring on special teams with a 98 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Lions host Pickerington North on Friday in a game that will decide the Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division.

9. Sandusky Perkins (9-0)

Last Week: 9

Perkins made it four straight wins against crosstown rival Sandusky with a 31-14 win on Friday night. Two Logan Lesch touchdowns passes saw the Pirates take a 14-14 tie into halftime. Issac Bunts opened the second half scoring with a 45-yard touchdown run, then sealed the win with a 7-yard touchdown run late in the fourth. The Pirates head to Tiffin Columbian in a game that will decide the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division championship.

10. Marion Local (9-0)

Last Week: 10

Marion Local continued their ownership of the Battle of Route 119 rivalry with a 41-7 win over St. Henry. Now, all eyes are on Maria Stein for their Week 10 contest against 9-0 Coldwater that will decide the Midwest Athletic Conference. Historically, the Flyers and Cavaliers have combined for 35 MAC championships in 47 seasons. The two schools are the only two with 200+ wins in conference play, Coldwater with 258 and Marion Local with 235. This is the best small school rivalry in Ohio, if not the country. 

11. Lakota West (7-2)

Last Week: 11

The defense was impenetrable as Lakota West won its seventh straight, 10-7, over Mason. The Firebirds held the Comets to only six first downs. Vaughn Johnson finally opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown catch from Quinn Brown late in the third. The Firebirds responded with a Sam Wiles to Luka Gilbert touchdown, then earned the win with a 20-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining. Lakota West wraps up the regular season at 7-2 Hamilton on Friday.

12. Milford (9-0)

Last Week: 15

Milford clinched a share of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference with a 27-0 win over West Clermont. The win marks their third shutout in their last four contests. Nathan Webster was a workhorse for the Eagles, carrying the ball 28 times for 141 yards and three touchdowns. Tofa Luani registered 10 tackles, three for loss, and two sacks. Milford will look for their first ever ECC outright title when they host Turpin on Friday.

13. Anderson (8-1)

Last Week: 16

The Anderson offense was motoring in a 31-7 win over Turpin. Justice Burnam was 23-of-33 for 292 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Brodey Berg ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns. The Raptors head to Kings on Friday to wrap up the regular season.

14. Archbishop Moeller (5-4)

Last Week: 12

Moeller fell to their first in-state opponent this season, a 28-21 loss at St. Edward. The Greater Catholic League South Champions head to Detroit King (Michigan) to wrap up the regular season.

15. Medina Highland (8-1)

Last Week: 17

Highland summoned the running clock in the second half, defeating Cuyahoga Falls, 58-7. Highland wraps up the season hosting Aurora for the Suburban League American outright championship on Friday. Both teams will enter the contest a perfect 6-0 in conference play. 

16. Cleveland Heights (8-1)

Last Week: 14

Cleveland Heights improved to 7-0 in the Greater Cleveland Conference with a 28-12 win over Euclid.  The Tigers wrap up their regular season with a trip to 7-2 Shaker Heights on Friday.

17. Pickerington North (9-0)

Last Week: 13

It took a second half comeback for Pickerington North to stay undefeated, stealing a 21-17 victory from New Albany. The Panthers trailed 14-7 coming out of halftime. Landon O’Connell came to life, throwing a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter to bring the Panthers back. He would finish the night with 153 passing yards and three touchdowns. Pickerington North will head to Gahanna in the Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division de facto championship game on Friday.

18. Walsh Jesuit (8-1)

Last Week: 19

Walsh Jesuit found itself in another back-and-forth battle, coming out on top with a 62-38 win over Mentor Lake Catholic. The two teams compiled over 1,000 yards of offense with seven touchdowns scored in the third quarter alone. The Warriors finish the regular season at Padua Franciscan this Friday.

19. Badin (9-0)

Last Week: 18

The Greater Catholic League Co-Ed is all but decided after Badin defeated Chaminade Julienne, 27-13. In the second quarter, CJ was up 3-0 when Aidan Brown returned a punt 55 yards for six to break open the scoring for the Rams. Badin would never look back, clinching at least a share of the GCL Co-Ed. The Rams finish up the season at Archbishop McNicholas on Friday.

20. Liberty Center (9-0)

Last Week: 20

Liberty Center has clinched a share of the Northwest Ohio Athletic League after a 51-0 win over Delta. Colton Kruse scored a pair of touchdowns before the starters were taken out for the second half. The Tigers host Wauseon to finish off the regular season.

21. Perry (9-0)

Last Week: 24

Perry left no doubt in this contest, beating West Geauga, 34-0. The Pirates jumped out to a 27-0 lead in the first quarter as the defense forced turnovers when they could and suffocated any Wolverine drive when they couldn’t. The Pirates head to Hawken this Friday before hosting a first round playoff game.

22. Hilliard Bradley (9-0)

Last Week: Unranked

With a 28-7 win over Olentangy Orange, Hilliard Bradley clinched an outright Ohio Capital Conference Central Division championship to make its SBLive Ohio Power 25 debut. Bradley keeps finding ways to win as four of the Jaguars’ nine wins have come by one score. Hilliard Bradley hosts Dublin Coffman on senior night this Friday.

23. Mentor (6-3)

Last Week: Unranked

Mentor returns to the SBLive Ohio Power 25 after a string of dominant performances in the Greater Cleveland Conference. The Cardinals are riding a four-game winning streak since their overtime loss to Cleveland Heights. Since then, Mentor has earned wins against Solon, Shaker Heights, Brunswick, and Strongsville by an average margin of 35.0 points per game. Mentor finishes the season at home against Euclid.

24. Wapakoneta (7-2)

Last Week: Unranked

After beginning the season 0-2, Wapakoneta has won seven straight, giving up only 22 points in that span. The Redskins’ two losses featured a 3-point loss to No. 10 Marion Local and a 3-points road loss to Defiance. Wapakoneta will play for a share of the Western Buckeye League title on Friday when they host 8-1 Celina.

25. Bishop Watterson (9-0)

Last Week: Unranked

Bishop Watterson remained undefeated with a 48-13 win over Harrison this past Friday. The Eagles have been one of the hottest teams in Greater Columbus, winning their last four games by an average margin of 37.0. Watterson will look to clinch an outright Central Catholic League title at Columbus St. Francis on Friday.