[1. Archbishop Moeller (4-1)]

Difficult week to rank teams as Ohio's best continue to square off with one another during the regular season. Team A will beat team B, then lose to team C, who will then beat team A. Good luck sorting it out.  I'm trying to take into account overall bodies of work and the potential for teams that maybe underperformed on a given Friday/Saturday. In the end, it will sort itself out.

1. Archbishop Moeller (4-1) (previously #2, beat St. Xavier 30-13): Extremely impressive win for Moeller against what was regarded as one of the best (if not the best) defenses in the state. As good as the Moeller offense has been, it was their defense that stepped up in the second half, shutting out the Bombers and pulling away after holding a narrow 14-13 lead at the half. Looking like most complete team at the moment. 9/26 vs. La Salle

2. Walsh Jesuit (5-0) (previously #4, beat Canisius (NY) 38-0): Another team that is looking good in all aspects, but hasn't been tested since their narrow 17-14 win over TCC in week one. I'll either look like a genius or an idiot having them here as they are set to square off against their rival and my preseason #1 team Archbishop Hoban. 9/26 @ Hoban.

3. St. Edward (4-1) (previously #1, lost to Massillon 21-14): Some will probably question me only dropping the Eagles a few spots and being ahead of a Massillon team they just lost to. Death, taxes, and Ed's losing to Massillon when they probably shouldn't. Three things you can rely on. Lombardo and his staff just can't seem to put together a good gameplan against the Tigers. Ed's body of work is still better than the teams I have below them, and this annual loss to Massillon has proven in the past to be a catalyst to a deep run in the postseason. That being said, Ed's has to right the ship these next few weeks against lesser opponents if they hope to beat Moeller and Hoban. If their offense continues to be as sluggish as the past two weeks, they will get jumped in the rankings. 9/27 vs. Bishop McNamara (MD).

4. Olentangy Orange (5-0) (previously #6, beat Olentangy Berlin 31-7): Orange continues to dominate their competition, but they really only have one impressive win to date against Olentangy. That changes this week as they go on the road to face 4-1 Hilliard Davidson, a team that is known for slowing things down and playing in tight games. If Orange can thump them that will be a good sign. 9/26 @ Hilliard Davidson.

5. Anderson (5-0) (previously #5, beat Kings 49-24): Nice statement win for Anderson against a good Kings team. I'd like to have them higher but the competition has just been too weak overall. There is only one more interesting game on their schedule, against Winton Woods in week 9. 9/26 v. Milford.

6. Archbishop Hoban (4-1) (previously #7, beat Brush 45-7): This week is their chance to show the drubbing on the road against Spalding was just their annual out-of-state road clunker. Beat a red-hot Walsh team and they are back in the driver's seat in D2.

7. Avon (4-1) (previously #9, beat Olmsted Falls 28-0): Impressive shoutout over a solid Olmsted Falls team that gave undefeated Mentor all they could handle in week one. The road loss to Spruce Creek (FL) looks less perplexing as Spruce Creek continues to win down in Florida, and Avon was certainly positioned to win that game down the stretch. If this team has hit their stride a repeat is not out of the question, but Region 6 looks to be quite competitive this year with Wadsworth and Highland. 9/26 @ Berea-Midpark.

8. Bishop Watterson (5-0) (previously #8, beat Harvest Prep 36-6): Big week for Watterson as they will go on the road to rival Columbus De Sales (4-1). They crushed De Sales last year in week 10 and went on a tear through the playoffs. Let's see if they can repeat that performance. 9/26 @ De Sales.

9. Massillon (3-2) (previously others, beat St. Edward 21-14): A young, but talented Tiger team got their statement win of the season by bullying the Eagles for the better part of 4 quarters aside from giving up a first play TD and last minute TD pass. They didn't do anything special, just put the ball in the hands of their talented and powerful junior runner Savior Owens and mixed in some short passes to continually move the sticks all game. The narrow loss to Glenville and a talented Rabun-Gap team are not bad, and clearly prepared them well for Ed's. If they get better each week from here on out they will shoot up the rankings. 9/26 vs. Football North (ON).

10. St. Xavier (4-1) (previously #3, loss to Moeller 30-13): X takes a big tumble this week, but holds onto the last spot. Their offense continues to be a big problem and the week one win over Lakota West has lost its shine. No time to lick their wounds as they will host a 5-0 Elder team that is coming off a nice win against Kentucky St. X and is knocking on the door for a top 10 spot. 9/26 vs. Elder.

Others: Glenville, Elder, Pick North, Pick Central, Mentor, Upper Arlington, Princeton, Highland, Wadsworth, TCC, La Salle, Canton McKinley, Trotwood-Madison, Olentangy, Wayne

Top games Week 6:

Hoban v. Walsh
St. X v. Elder
Moeller v. La Salle
St. Edward v. Bishop McNamara (MD)
Olentangy Orange @ Hilliard Davidson
Avon @ Berea-Midpark
Bishop Watterson @ Columbus St. Francis De Sales
Lakota West v. Middletown
Massillon v. Football North (ON)
Trotwood-Madison v. Cathedral (IN)

Does Massillion really have a player named Savior?  What a great name.

Does Massillion really have a player named Savior?  What a great name.

Yes, and his older brother who quarterbacked them to a title back in 2023 was named DaOne. Good athletes. Savior just picked up a Wisconsin offer.

Why are we just now finding about these names? 😄

Scoring updates:

Walsh 14, Hoban 10 3rd
Moeller 35, La Salle 7 3rd
Lakota West 20, Middletown 13, 13 3rd
Football North 13, Massillon 2 Half 
Elder 16, St. X 0 3rd

Finals
Hoban 19 Walsh 14
Benny 19 Iggy 17
Football North 34 Massillon 2- not a misprint & yes a running clock

Football North 34 Massillon 2- not a misprint & yes a running clock

Wow. Running clock is 30+ in OH? It's 35+ in 4th in CA (both teams can agree to it at any time in 2nd half with 35+).

Wow. Running clock is 30+ in OH? It's 35+ in 4th in CA (both teams can agree to it at any time in 2nd half with 35+).

Yes, running clock 30 points in Ohio starting the second half.
Massillon turned the ball over 7 times- 6 fumbles. You can't win doing that.

Friday Finals:

#1 Moeller 42, La Salle 7
#6 Hoban 19, #2 Walsh 14
#4 Orange 47, Hilliard Davidson 7
#5 Anderson 63, Milford 0
#7 Avon 55, Berea-Midpark 27
#8 Watterson 42, DeSales 7
Football North (ON), #9 Massillon 2
Elder 23, #10 St. X 13
Princeton 35, Mason 21
Mentor 35, Cleveland Heights 0
Lakota West 27, Middletown 13
Upper Arlington 31, Hilliard Bradley 14
Wayne 45, Northmont 6
Pick North 32, Westerville Central 0
Pick Central 63, Lancaster 27
Olentangy 54, Thomas Worthington 7
Highland 62, Tallmadge 0
Wadsworth 49, Brecksville 12
TCC 35, River Rouge (MI) 13
Canton McKinley 21, Green 3
Cathedral (IN) 32, Trotwood-Madison 28

Finals
Hoban 19 Walsh 14
Benny 19 Iggy 17
Football North 34 Massillon 2- not a misprint & yes a running clock

Apparently beating Ed's sucked the life out of them. Hard to imagine you go from knocking off the #1 team in the state one week to getting smoked by Canada the next.

St. Edward 35, Bishop McNamara (MD) 6 Half

St. Edward 57, Bishop McNamara (MD) 19 Final

Apparently beating Ed's sucked the life out of them. Hard to imagine you go from knocking off the #1 team in the state one week to getting smoked by Canada the next.

Only Canada N second victory.

As our faith says or not even god cannot beat 7 turnovers.

Mass did not over welm me more than Eds laying a brick both coaching adjustments & play calling