Top 25 Ohio high school football rankings (9/28/2024)

We have a new No. 1 in Archbishop Hoban, while Glenville and Mentor are the highest risers
 Elbert "Rock" Hill IV (11) and the Archbishop Knights are the new No. 1 in Ohio high school football.
Elbert "Rock" Hill IV (11) and the Archbishop Knights are the new No. 1 in Ohio high school football. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sport s

Massillon and St. Edward's back-and-forth dance at No. 1 is over in Ohio high school football.

For one week, at least.

Glenville upset St. Edward on Thursday night, and then Massillon lost its homecoming game Friday night to DeMatha Catholic (Maryland).

Northeast Ohio still reigns supreme, but a new team has taken over the top spot ...

HIGH SCHOOL ON SI OHIO TOP 25

1. Archbishop Hoban (5-1)

Last week: 2
After throttling Mount Vernon (Illinois) on Friday, Archbishop Hoban has five straight wins since its opening-week loss to Archbishop Spalding (Maryland), which is undefeated and beat the team that just knocked off Massillon. Next up: Walsh Jesuit, Oct. 4

2. Massillon (4-2)

Massillon quarterback Jalen Slaughter.
Massillon quarterback Jalen Slaughter. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports

Last week: 1
Yes, Massillon has two losses, but both were to national out-of-state powers (Bergen Catholic in New Jersey and now a 20-14 loss to Maryland's DeMatha Catholic on Friday). Next up: Clarkson North (Canada), Oct. 4

3. Archbishop Moeller (5-1)

Archbishop Moeller students cheer on the Crusaders.
Archbishop Moeller students cheer on the Crusaders. / Ben Jackson, SBLive Sports

Last week: 3
Any thought of Moeller being challenged by previously unbeaten La Salle evaporated quickly Friday night. Matt Ponatoski completed 20 of 24 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns as the Crusaders cruised to a 38-0 win. Next up: Roncalli (Indiana), Oct. 4

4. Avon (6-0)

The Avon Eagles take the field.
The Avon Eagles take the field. / Mike Cook

Last week: 6
Avon played its first true road game of the season on Friday at Olmsted Falls and passed the test with flying colors, winning 35-14. The Eagles have won easily in every game this season except one narrow victory over the highest riser in this week's poll, Glenville. Next up: Berea-Midpark, Oct. 4

5. Toledo Central Catholic (5-1)

Toledo Central Catholic's Preston Fryzel (front) celebrates with a teammate during the 2023 OHSAA Division I state title game
Preston Fryzel (front) of Toledo Central Catholic celebrates with a teammate during the 2023 OHSAA Division I state championship game. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports

Last week: 5
A win's a win, and Toledo Central Catholic toughed one out Friday in a 27-26 win at St. Ignatius, which fell to 1-5. Next up: St. John's Jesuit, Oct. 4

6. Marion Local (6-0)

Marion Local players pour water over head. coach Tim Goodwin after winning the 2023 Division VII state championship game.
Marion Local players pour water over head. coach Tim Goodwin after winning the 2023 OHSAA Division VII state championship game. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports

Last week: 7
The blowout wins kept coming for Marion Local, which shut out last year's Division VI runner-up, previously unbeaten Versailles, 48-0. The Flyers led 41-0 at halftime. Next up: Fort Recovery, Oct. 4

7. Bishop Watterson (6-0)

Drew Bellisari prepares to take a snap for Bishop Watterson against Westerville North on September 6, 2024.
Drew Bellisari prepares to take a snap for Bishop Watterson against Westerville North on September 6, 2024. / Aaron Blankenship, SBLive Sports

Last week: 8
Bishop Watterson followed up last week's impressive win over Chardon with a rainy 28-13 win at rival Bishop Hartley. Next up: KIPP Columbus, Oct. 4

8. Anderson (5-0)

Last week: 9
Anderson's wins have all been by at least 30 points, and Friday was no different, as the Raptors routed Milford 57-6. Next up: Turpin, Oct. 4

9. Glenville (4-2)

Glenville vs. Dinwiddie (Kentucky) in a 2023 regular-season game.
Glenville vs. Dinwiddie (Kentucky) in a 2023 regular-season game. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports

Last week: NR
Glenville played St. Edward in a scrimmage before Week 1 and got dominated. On Friday when it counted, the Tarblooders sprung the upset with a 28-27 win. Glenville is clearly a different team from the one that lost to Olentangy Liberty in Week 2. Next up: Rhodes, Oct. 4

10. St. Edward (3-3)

St. Edward players run onto the field prior to a game against Elder on September 14, 2024.
St. Edward players run onto the field prior to a game this season against Elder. / Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports

Last week: 4
St. Edward drops from 1 to 4 to 10 as the Eagles hit a rare losing streak after that shocking loss to Glenville. But there's no way this is not a Top 10 team in the state. Next up: St. Ignatius, Oct. 4

11. Lakota West (4-1)

Lakota West High School football players take the field.
Lakota West High School football players take the field. / Michael Noyes

Last week: 11
Another running-clock win for Lakota West, which beat Colerain behind four touchdown passes by Sam Wiles, who added 129 rushing yards and a TD on the ground. Next up: Sycamore, Oct. 4

12. Wadsworth (6-0)

Last week: 12
Wadsworth duked it out with Hudson on Friday and prevailed 21-14 in overtime. Next up: Nordonia, Oct. 4

13. Walsh Jesuit (6-0)

Walsh Jesuit players celebrate a win over St. Vincent-St. Mary.
Walsh Jesuit players celebrate a win over St. Vincent-St. Mary. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports

Last week: 13
Marty Tobin was the bell cow for Walsh Jesuit on Friday, carrying 30 times for 201 yards and the game-winning touchdown in a tough 20-12 win over Benedictine. Next up: Archbishop Hoban, Oct. 4

14. St. Xavier (4-2)

Quarterback Chase Herbstreit led St. Xavier past Elder on Friday.
Quarterback Chase Herbstreit led St. Xavier past Elder on Friday. / Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last week: 16
Chase Herbstreit's 58-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Vollmer with 57 seconds lifted St. Xavier to a thrilling 22-17 road win over previous No. 14, Elder. Next up: Trinity (Kentucky), Oct. 4

15. Perkins (6-0)

Last week: 15
Perkins beat Clyde 28-7 on Friday, and the Pirates have given up double-digit points just once all season. Next up: Edison, Oct. 4

16. Elder (4-2)

Elder quarterback Kaden Estep throws against Withrow in August.
Elder quarterback Kaden Estep throws against Withrow in August. / Tony Tribble for The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Last week: 14
Elder lost a heartbreaker to St. Xavier, giving up a TD in the final minute after taking a one-point lead. The Panthers' only two losses have been to St. X and St. Edward, and another big test is coming. Next week: Archbishop Moeller, Oct. 4

17. Mentor (6-0)

The Mentor Cardinals take the field.
The Mentor Cardinals take the field. / Mike Cook

Last week: NR
Mentor followed up a tough win over Cleveland Heights by taking on out-of-state foe River Rouge (Michigan). The Cardinals dominated from start to finish Saturday, coming out with a 47-21 win to remain undefeated. Next up: Shaker Heights, Oct. 4

18. Ursuline (5-1)

Last week: 18
That's two impressive shutouts in a row for Ursuline, which followed up its 35-0 win over Harding with another 35-0 win, this time over previously undefeated Austintown-Fitch. Next up: St. Vincent-St. Mary, Oct. 4

19. Wapakoneta (6-0)

Last week: 19
Wapakoneta kept cruising through its season with a 28-0 win over Lima Shawnee. Next up: Kenton, Oct. 4

20. Olentangy Liberty (5-1)

Olentangy Liberty's Grayson Davis (39) celebrates with teammate Ed Nichols (74) in a win this season over Gahanna Lincoln.
Olentangy Liberty's Grayson Davis (39) celebrates with teammate Ed Nichols (74) in a win this season over Gahanna Lincoln. / Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Last week: 21
The best win on Olentangy Liberty's resume is now that Week 2 triumph at Glenville. The Patriots eked out a 19-15 win Friday over Dublin Coffman. Next up: Upper Arlington, Oct. 4

21. Ironton (5-1)

Last week: 17
Ironton falls four spots after rising seven the previous week. The Fighting Tigers battled international squad Clarkson North (Canada) hard but fell 28-27. Next up: Pikeville, Oct. 4

22. Anthony Wayne (6-0)

Last week: NR
Anthony Wayne takes the spot former occupied by Whitmer after the Generals cruised past the Panthers 27-3 to remain undefeated. Next up: Perrysburg, Oct. 4

23. Winton Woods (6-0)

Winton Woods rose a spot to No. 23 this week.
Winton Woods rose a spot to No. 23 this week. / Mike Cook

Last week: 24
Winton Woods gave up double-digit points for the first time this season but still cruised to a 41-14 win over Little Miami. Next up: Loveland, Oct. 4

24. Coldwater (6-0)

Last week: 23
Coldwater bounced back from a close call against Minster with a convincing 48-0 win over Parkway. Next up: Delphos St. John's, Oct. 4

25. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (5-1)

Villa Angela-St. Joseph played without injured running back Bo Jackson on Friday.
Villa Angela-St. Joseph played without injured running back Bo Jackson on Friday. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports

Last week: 20
Playing without injured Ohio State commit Bo Jackson, Villa Angela-St. Joseph's undefeated season ended in Pennsylvania with a 38-35 loss to McDowell, a team Mentor and Walsh Jesuit both beat easily. Next up: Ursuline, Oct. 11

-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive | @sblivesports

SBLIVE SPORTS LAUNCHES HIGH SCHOOL ON SI

High School On SI will serve as the premier destination for high school sports fans, delivering unparalleled coverage of high school athletics nationwide through in-depth stories, recruiting coverage, rankings, highlights and much more. The launch of a dedicated high school experience expands Sports Illustrated’s reach to even more local communities as fans can now truly follow athletes from “preps to the pros” on a single platform, bringing them closer to the action than ever before.

For more information, visit si.com/high-school.


Published |Modified
Mike Swanson, SBLive Sports
MIKE SWANSON

Mike Swanson is the VP of Content for High School On SI. He's been in journalism since 2003, having worked as a reporter, city editor, copy editor and high school sports editor in California, Connecticut and Oregon.