CLEVELAND, Ohio — This past weekend was a tough one for Ohio’s top football teams, especially for those who were hoping to maintain their winning streaks. Two of the biggest defending state champions, Massillon and St. Edward, faced surprising losses at home against out-of-state opponents, while Kirtland managed to pull off a nail-biting win in a battle of defending champions.
Starting with St. Edward, the defending Division I champion, they went into Saturday’s game with high hopes, only to be stunned by Boyle County from Kentucky, who ended the game with a score of 38-21. The Eagles are now sitting at a 2-1 record and are set to face Cincinnati Elder this upcoming Saturday. They hope to bounce back from this disappointment and reclaim their standing.
Meanwhile, Massillon, the reigning Division II champs, played against Bergen Catholic from New Jersey and suffered been their first loss of the season, finishing the game 35-21. The Tigers, now 2-1, are gearing up to take on Canisius from New York on Friday. Coach Nate Moore’s team will be looking for a strong response to this setback.
On a more positive note, Kirtland managed to fight through adversity last Friday night against Perry, winning in an intense triple overtime match that ended 22-21. As the defending Division VI champions, they remain undefeated and will be eager to continue their momentum this Friday when they face Independence.
As the season progresses, there is a shifting landscape in the state rankings. Notably, St. Edward, despite the loss, remains a top contender, while teams like Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller and Mentor are looking to capitalize on their victories and move upward. As teams strategize for the week ahead, fans will be eagerly anticipating how the next games unfold.
This week’s rankings reflect the changes in performance and upcoming matchups that will be critical in determining the standings:
1. St. Edward (2-1) — Last week: lost to Boyle County, 38-21. This week: Saturday vs. Cincinnati Elder.
2. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (3-0) — Last week: defeated East Central (Ind.), 42-13. This week: Saturday vs. Benedictine Military School (Ga.).
3. Mentor (3-0) — Last week: beat Erie (Pa.) McDowell, 50-14. This week: Friday at Medina.
4. Cincinnati Winton Woods (3-0) — Last week: defeated Milford, 22-3. This week: Friday at Cincinnati Turpin.
5. Cincinnati Elder (2-0) — Last week: won against Springboro, 30-6. This week: Saturday at St. Edward.
6. Cincinnati Princeton (2-1) — Last week: not ranked, beat Lakota West, 14-6. This week: Friday at Lakota East.
7. Lakota West (2-1) — Last week: lost to Cincinnati Princeton, 14-6. This week: Friday vs. Fairfield.
8. Cincinnati St. Xavier (2-1) — Last week: beat Indianapolis Cathedral, 35-31. This week: Friday vs. Cincinnati Withrow.
9. Pickerington North (2-1) — Last week: ranked No. 10, won at Pickerington Central, 38-27. This week: Friday vs. Dublin Coffman.
10. Olentangy Liberty (3-0) — Last week: not ranked, defeated Gahanna Lincoln, 31-0. This week: Friday at Olentangy Berlin.
As the next round of games approaches, the stakes are high and every match will play a crucial role in the teams’ paths to the playoffs.
