There was lots of movement in the Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com this week as several teams dropped pivotal battles last Friday.
La Salle surged up the rankings putting all four of the the GCL South schools in the Top 9 spots of the poll. Highlands remains unbeaten and shoots up to No.7 this week.
Week 4 features five games between Top 25 teams in our rankings – No. 6 Princeton at No. 3 Lakota West; No. 20 Lebanon at No. 4 Anderson; No. 8 Kings at No. 24 West Clermont; No. 16 Lakota East at No. 22 Hamilton and this week’s Blitz 5 Game of the Week, No. 5 Elder at No.9 La Salle.
Here’s the Blitz 5 Top 25 for Week 4:
1. St. Xavier (3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Cathedral (IN) (1-2), 24-5. The Bombers are 9-1 in their last 10 games with the only loss to Moeller in last season’s regional championship. NEXT UP: 9/12 – WESTERVILLE NORTH (1-2).
2. Moeller (2-1) – LAST WEEK: beat Louisville Trinity (KY) (2-1), 24-21. Back-to-back contests decided by three points or less, the Crusaders did not have a game last season closer than five points. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN) (1-2).
3. Lakota West (2-1, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at #18 Hamilton (1-2), 38-6. Senior Tyson Davis set the school single game record with 180 yards receiving versus Hamilton. NEXT UP: 9/12 – #6 PRINCETON (2-1, 2-0).
4. Anderson (3-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Little Miami (0-3, 0-2), 50-7. Junior Mark Madden has 379 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns on 11 touches . NEXT UP: 9/12 – #20 LEBANON (3-0, 2-0).
5. Elder (3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Springboro (2-1), 21-7. The Panthers are 3-0 for the third time in the last four years. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at #9 La Salle (3-0).
6. Princeton (2-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Sycamore (0-2), 47-0. The Vikings have outscored their last two opponents 79-2. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at #3 Lakota West (2-1, 2-0).
7. Highlands (3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat CAMPBELL COUNTY (2-1), 55-13. Eight different players had offensive touchdowns in last Friday’s victory. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at Boyle County (2-1).
8. Kings (3-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: beat LOVELAND (0-3, 0-2), 21-14. The Knights have won eight consecutive regular season games. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at #24 West Clermont (1-2, 0-2).
9. La Salle (3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat FAIRMONT(1-2), 24-23. The Lancers look to go 4-0 for a second straight season. The last time that happened they won state titles in 2014 and 2015. NEXT UP: 9/12 – #5 ELDER (3-0.
10. Winton Woods (2-1, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Milford (1-2, 1-1), 38-17. Senior Zepahaniah Smith ran for 122 yards versus Milford. He had 16 career yards rushing coming into the contest. NEXT UP: 9/12 – TURPIN (2-1, 2-0).
11. Taft (3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Chaminade Julienne (0-3), 56-7. Adam Kirtley and JoJo Pouncy have combined for 17.0 tackles for losses. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at Mount Healthy (0-3).
12. Ryle (2-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #16 Cooper (1-2), 20-13. The Raiders are 10-2 in their last 12 contests. NEXT UP: 9/12 – CHRISTIAN ACADEMY-LOUISVILLE (3-0).
13. Covington Catholic (1-2) – LAST WEEK: won at Simon Kenton (2-1), 62-15. Senior Cash Harney has run and thrown for more than 100 yards four times in his last five starts. NEXT UP: 9/12 – DIXIE HEIGHTS (0-3).
14. Cooper (1-2) – LAST WEEK: beat then #7 Ryle (2-1), 20-13. Quarterback Cam O’Hara came into the season with 120 career passing touchdowns, he has just one in three games. NEXT UP: 9/12 – CAMPBELL COUNTY (2-1).
15. Mason (1-2, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: beat then #9 LAKOTA EAST (2-1, 1-1), 40-35. The Comets snap a four game losing streak with a big victory over Lakota East. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at Oak Hills (1-2, 0-2).
16. Lakota East (2-1, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #23 Mason (1-2, 1-2), 40-35. Ryder Hooks is now the Thunderhawks all-time leading rusher with 2,806 yards and counting. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at #22 HAMILTON (1-2, 1-1).
17. Badin (3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat EDGEWOOD (0-3), 32-18. Running backs Lem Grayso and Chase Even have combined for 611 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at Columbus DeSales (3-0).
18. Middletown (3-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Oak Hills (1-2, 0-2), 14-9. The Middies defense is allowing just 10.3 points per game. NEXT UP: 9/12 – COLERAIN (0-3, 0-2).
19. Withrow (3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat NORTHMONT (0-3), 42-0. The Tigers have outscored their opponents, 113-7 . NEXT UP: 9/12 – at Dunbar (1-2).
20. Lebanon (3-0, 2-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #22 WEST CLERMONT (1-2, 0-2), 49-14. The Warriors are 3-0 for the first time since 2012. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at #4 Anderson (3-0, 2-0).
21. East Central (2-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at Lawrence North (2-1), 32-7. The Trojans have scored seven points or less twice in their last six games. They had scored at least 10 points in 70 straight contests before that. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at Franklin County (3-0).
22. Hamilton (1-2, 1-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to LAKOTA WEST (2-1, 2-0), 38-6. The Big Blue falls to Lakota West for a seventh straight time. NEXT UP: 9/12 – at #16 Lakota East (2-1, 1-1).
23. Harrison (2-1) – LAST WEEK: beat BEAVERCREEK (1-2), 28-21. Junior Brady Lawhon has accounted for 10 touchdowns (six pass, four rush). NEXT UP: 9/12 – WESTERN HILLS (1-2).
24. West Clermont (1-2, 0-2) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #21 Lebanon (3-0, 2-0), 49-14. The Wolves have given up 49 points in each of their last two games. NEXT UP: 9/12 – #8 KINGS (3-0, 2-0).
25. Beechwood (2-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Dixie Heights (0-3), 48-7. Juniors Tyler Fryman (273) and Nathan Pabst (325) have accounted for 598 yards from scrimmage in the Tigers two victories. NEXT UP: 9/12 – SIMON KENTON (2-1).
DROPPED OUT: None
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Batavia, Clinton-Massie, Indian Hill, McNicholas, Talawanda, and Wyoming
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