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2023 Blitz 5 Top 25: Final Rankings

Princeton WR Antonio Hunter (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateootball.com)

They started the season ranked #6 in the preseason Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com and after six weeks of the regular season Princeton had climbed to the top of the poll and never relinquished the position. The Vikings finished the regular season undefeated for the first time in more than 30 years. 

There were six teams in the rankings that finished unbeaten in the rankings.

Here is a look at the 2023 Blitz 5 Top 25 final rankings:

1. Princeton (10-0) – LAST WEEK: beat #19 SYCAMORE (5-5), 42-14. The Vikings didn’t have a shutout this season, but held every opponent to 16 points or less. NEXT UP: 10/27 – MIDDLETOWN (3-7), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.

2. East Central (10-0) – LAST WEEK: beat SHELBYVILLE (3-6), 62-7, The Trojans have only given up more than seven points once all season.  UP NEXT: 10/27 – at Martinsville (7-3), IHSAA Playoffs, Second Round, Class 4A, Sectional 23.

3. Lakota West (8-2) – LAST WEEK: won at #14 Hamilton (7-3), 42-14. The Firebirds had seven victories of 20 points or more during their current eight-game winning streak. NEXT UP: 10/27 – WESTERN HILLS (4-6), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.

4. Milford (10-0) – LAST WEEK: beat TURPIN (3-7), 42-21. The Eagles have scored 40-points or more six times. NEXT UP: 10/27 – FAIRFIELD (3-7), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.

5. Moeller (6-4) – LAST WEEK: won at Detroit Martin Luther King (MI)(4-4), 38-6. The Crusaders won six of their final contests after starting 0-3. NEXT UP: 10/27 – WEST CLERMONT (4-6). OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.

6. Anderson (9-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Kings (5-5), 41-21. The Raptors are averaging 459.2 yards of total offense and 5.7 touchdowns per game. NEXT UP: 10/27 – TURPIN (3-7), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division II, Region 8.

7. Elder (6-4) – LAST WEEK: won at #17 La Salle (4-6), 29-23. The last time the Panthers lost a first-round playoff game was 2016. NEXT UP: 10/27 – OAK HILLS (5-5), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.z

8. St. Xavier (6-4) – LAST WEEK: beat TRINITY CATHOLIC (FL)(1-7), 21-8. The Bombers are in the playoffs for the 13th straight season. NEXT UP: 10/27 – SPRINGBORO (2-8). OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.

9. Withrow (9-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Western Hills (4-5), 61-0. The Tigers are allowing just 5.0 points per game and haven’t given up more than 14 points in a contest all season. NEXT UP: 10/27 – EDGEWOOD (4-6), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division II, Region 8.

10. Covington Catholic (9-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Mason County (6-3). 50-14. The Colonels have scored 50-plus points in five consecutive tilts. NEXT UP: 10/27 – CAMPBELL COUNTY (3-6).

11. Badin (10-0) – LAST WEEK: won at McNicholas (5-5), 38-35. The Rams upped their regular-season winning streak to 38 games. NEXT UP: 10/27 – GOSHEN (3-7), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division III, Region 12.

12. Highlands (9-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Scott (2-7), 57-6. The Bluebirds have scored 51 points or more in five straight contests and seven times in the last eight games. UP NEXT: 11/03 – TBA, KHSAA Playoffs First Round, Class 5A.

13. Winton Woods (7-3) – LAST WEEK: lost at #22 Lebanon, 19-14. The Warriors didn’t give up more than 20 points in a game, all season. UP NEXT: 10/27 – #17 LA SALLE (4-6), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division II, Region 8.

14. Hamilton (7-3) – LAST WEEK: lost to #3 LAKOTA WEST (8-2), 42-14. The Big Blue have not beaten a team with a record above .500. NEXT UP: 10/27 – #19 SYCAMORE (5-5), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.

15.Taft (8-2) – LAST WEEK: beat WOODWARD (1-9), 23-6. The Senators have made it out of the first round of the playoffs in each of the past four years. NEXT UP: 10/27 – GREENFIELD McCLAIN (6-4).

16. Beechwood (9-1) – LAST WEEK: beat BRACKEN COUNTY (5-4), 41-0. Since losing to Covington Catholic, the Tigers are 5-0 having outscored their foes 273-3 in that span. NEXT UP: 11/03 – TBA, KHSAA Playoffs First Round, Class 2A.

17. La Salle (4-6) – LAST WEEK: lost to #7 ELDER (6-4), 29-23. The Lancers are 0-6 against teams with winning records. NEXT UP: 10/27 – at #13 Winton Woods (7-3), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division II, Region 8.

18. Cooper (8-2) – LAST WEEK: beat DIXIE HEIGHTS (4-5), 21-14. Junior receiver Isaiah Johnson has 58 receptions for 1,149 yards and 18 touchdown catches. NEXT UP: 11/03 – TBA, KHSAA Playoffs First Round, Class 5A.

19. Sycamore (5-5) – LAST WEEK: lost at #1 Princeton (10-0), 42-7. The Aviators have not beaten a team with a record above .500. NEXT UP: 10/27 – at #14 Hamilton (7-3), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.

20. Clinton-Massie (10-0) – LAST WEEK: beat NEW RICHMOND, (5-5), 49-0. The Falcons’ defense has pitched shutouts in three of their last four games with a 49.0 point average margin of victory in that span. NEXT UP: 10/27 – DUNBAR (6-3), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division IV, Region 16.

21. Mason (5-5) – LAST WEEK: beat LAKOTA EAST (1-9), 24-0. The Comets are in the playoffs for a ninth straight year. NEXT UP: 10/27 – at #22 Lebanon (7-3), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.

22. Lebanon (7-3) – LAST WEEK: beat then #10 WINTON WOODS (7-3), 19-14. The Warriors end the regular season with five consecutive victories. NEXT UP: 10/27 – #21 MASON (5-5), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division I, Region 4.

23. Harrison (7-3) – LAST WEEK: won at Northwest (1-9), 55-0. Senior receiver Luke Rogers has 12 touchdowns on 45 receptions. NEXT UP: 10/27 – SIDNEY (5-5), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division II, Region 8.

24. Mount Healthy (8-2) – LAST WEEK: beat WAVERLY (6-4), 42-6. The Owls have scored 42 points or more four times in their last five tilts. NEXT UP: 10/27 – CHAMINADE JULIENNE (6-4), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division III, Region 12.

25. Wilmington (8-2) – LAST WEEK: beat WESTERN BROWN (3-7), 35-21. NEXT UP: 10/27 – BELLBROOK (7-3), OHSAA Playoffs First Round, Division III, Region 12.

DROPPED OUT:
#25 Simon Kenton

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR:
Batesville, Cincinnati Country Day, Indian Hill, Lawrenceburg, Lloyd, Purcell Marian, Ryle, Wyoming

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