Blitz 5 Top 25: Week 8

It’s time to flip the calendar as the October stretch run and playoff jostling begins. The Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com is starting to see some teams starting to separate themselves from the pack, in what has been a topsy-turvy, rollercoaster ride of a season. With so many surprises and upsets already all the signs point to these rankings being far from settled.

There are only four games that have Blitz 5 Top 25 teams taking on each other,
#1 Princeton hosts #24 Middletown, #5 Milford heads to hostile #8 Winton Woods, #9 St. Xavier welcomes in #15 La Salle, and #18 Mason faces #20 Sycamore in the Battle of the Skies Cup.

Seven teams in this week’s rankings are still unbeaten.

Here is a look at the latest Blitz 5 Top 25:

1. Princeton (7-0, 6-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Fairfield (1-6, 1-5), 35-14. The Vikings’ defense is averaging 10 tackles for losses per game. NEXT UP: 10/6 – #24 MIDDLETOWN (3-4, 3-3). 
2. East Central (7-0, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat CONNERSVILLE (2-5, 0-2), 64-0. It has been a school record four straight shutouts for the Trojans. East Central has outscored its last four foes, 214-0. UP NEXT: GREENSBURG (0-7, 0-2). 
3. Moeller (4-3, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at then #3 Elder (4-3, 1-1), 31-7. BOOM! And just like that, the Crusaders are the outright GCL South champions seven weeks into the season. NEXT UP: 10/7 – ST. IGNATIUS (1-6). 
4. Lakota West (5-2, 5-1) – LAST WEEK: beat OAK HILLS (2-5, 2-4), 59-7. The Firebirds have won five straight and scored 30-plus points in all of those victories after scoring three total points in their two losses to open up 2023. NEXT UP: 10/6 – at Lakota East (1-6, 1-5). 
5. Milford (7-0, 6-0) – LAST WEEK: beat WALNUT HILLS (0-7, 0-6), 41-7. The Eagles have scored 40 points or more on five occasions. NEXT UP: 9/1 – at #8 Winton Woods (6-1, 5-1). 
6. Anderson (6-1, 5-1) – LAST WEEK: beat LITTLE MIAMI (0-7, 0-6), 46-20. Senior Brodey Berg has three touchdowns or more three times in the last six games. NEXT UP: 10/6 – at West Clermont (3-4, 3-3). 
7. Elder (4-3, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #4 MOELLER (4-3, 3-0), 31-7. The Panthers were held to a season-low seven points versus rival Moeller. They had scored 28 points or more in every other game this season. NEXT UP: 10/6 – LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (VA)(0-3). 
8. Winton Woods (6-1, 5-1) – LAST WEEK: beat then #18 KINGS (4-3, 3-3), 13-12. The Warriors are giving up just 7.4 points per game. UP NEXT: 10/6 – #5 MILFORD (7-0, 6-0). 
9. St. Xavier (3-4, 0-2) – LAST WEEK: lost to LOUISVILLE TRINITY (KY) (3-3, 0-2), 17-3.
   The Bombers’ offense has scored 14 points or less on five occasions. NEXT UP: 10/6 – #15 La Salle (4-3, 0-1). 
10. Withrow (6-1, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: beat WOODWARD (1-6, 0-2), 56-0. It’s back-to-back shutouts for a very good Tigers’ defense that is allowing just 5.4 points per game. NEXT UP: 10/6 – AIKEN (2-5, 1-1). 
11. Covington Catholic (7-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Grant County (2-4, 0-2), 56-6. Nine different Colonels have found the end zone three times or more. NEXT UP: 10/6 – HARRISON COUNTY (4-2, 1-0).
    
    12. Badin (7-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Carroll (2-5, 0-2), 42-14. The Rams are 16-0 in CGL Co-ed games dating back to 2020. NEXT UP: 10/6 – ALTER (4-3, 1-1).
    
    13. Highlands (6-1, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won Dixie Heights (2-4, 1-1), 51-21. Senior Brody Benke has accounted for 70 career touchdowns (44 pass, 21 rush, five pass). NEXT UP: 10/6 – BOONE COUNTY (1-5, 0-2).
    
    14. Hamilton (5-2, 5-1) – LAST WEEK: won at then #21 Middletown (3-4, 2-4), 18-14. The Big Blue has won five of their last six affairs. NEXT UP: 10/6 – COLERAIN (0-7, 0-6).
    
    15. La Salle (4-3, 0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (IN)(5-2), 39-26. The October portion of the schedule does the Lancers no favors with St. X, Toledo Central Catholic and Elder still on the slate. NEXT UP: 10/6 – at #9 St. Xavier (3-4, 0-2).
    
    16.Taft (5-2, 1-1) LAST WEEK: beat HUGHES (1-6, 0-2), 45-7. The Senators top the 40-point mark for the fourth time this season. NEXT UP: 10/6 – WESTERN HILLS (3-4, 2-0).
    
    17. Beechwood (6-1, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: beat WALTON-VERONA (2-4, 0-2),
    54-3. Dating back to last season Tigers’ quarterback Clay Hayden has 47 touchdown passes and only four interceptions in 17 games. NEXT UP: 10/6 – OWEN COUNTY (4-3, 1-1).
    
    18. Mason (4-3, 4-2) – LAST WEEK: won at Colerain (0-7, 0-6), 45-13. The Comets pick up their third straight win. NEXT UP: 10/6 – #20 SYCAMORE (4-3, 4-2).
    
    19. Kings (4-3, 3-3) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #9 Winton Woods (6-1, 5-1),13-12. The Knights scored less than 20 points for the first time in 14 games. UP NEXT: 10/6 – at Lebanon (4-3, 3-3).
    
    20. Sycamore (4-3, 4-2) – LAST WEEK: beat LAKOTA EAST (1-6, 1-5), 38-30. The Aviators have scored 35 points or more in three of their last five tilts. UP: 10/6 – at #18 Mason (4-3, 4-2).
    
    21. Clinton-Massie (7-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Goshen (1-6, 0-2), 50-0. The Falcons have run 371 plays on offense, 358 rushing and just 13 passing. NEXT UP: 10/6 – WESTERN BROWN (3-4, 2-0).
    
    22. Wyoming (7-0, 4-0) – LAST WEEK: beat DEER PARK (2-5, 0-4), 42-6. The Cowboys are allowing just 8.4 points per game and have held seven foes to 14 points or less. NEXT UP: 10/6 – at Mariemont (4-3, 2-2).
    
    23. Cooper (5-2, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Conner (4-3, 1-1), 41-7. The Jaguars have three players with at least 10 touchdowns scored, Isaiah Johnson (12), Austin Alexander (10) and Keagan Maher (10). NEXT UP: 10/6 – at Scott (2-4, 1-1).
    
    24. Middletown (3-4, 3-3) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #14 HAMILTON (5-2, 5-1), 18-14. The skidding Middies have dropped four of their last five tilts including the last two by three and four points. NEXT UP: 10/6 – at #1 Princeton (7-0, 6-0).
    
    25. Harrison (5-2, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at then #23 Mount Healthy (5-2, 1-1), 42-6. It’s a well-deserved welcome to the party for Wildcats! Harrison’s only two losses are at the hands of unbeaten, #2 East Central and #21 Clinton-Massie. UP NEXT: at Talawanda (2-5, 1-0).
    
    DROPPED OUT:
    #23 Mount Healthy

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR:
Cincinnati Country Day, Harrison, Lloyd, Mount Healthy, Simon Kenton, Wilmington

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