Princeton tops the Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com this week after knocking off previous #1 Moeller. It was a brutal week for teams ranked in the top 10 as six of them lost their openers.
The GMC will be in the spotlight this week as they start conference play with #1 Princeton at #7 Middletown, #3 Lakota West hosting #6 Lakota East, #11 Fairfield welcoming in #19 Oak Hills and #24 Hamilton on the road at #16 Colerain. Other top 25 matchups include #2 Elder at #14 Covington Catholic, #18 Kings at #9 Winton Woods and #25 Indian Hill travels to #22 Beechwood
Here’s a look at the 2026 Blitz 5 Top 25 rankings:
1. Princeton (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #1 MOELLER (0-1), 31-24. The Vikings ended a 19-game losing streak to Moeller (over a 35 year period). NEXT UP: 8/28 – at #7 Middletown (0-1)
2. Elder (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat #7 MIDDLETOWN (0-1), 35-3. Quarterback Kaden Estep has run and thrown for more than 100 yards four times in his last nine games. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at #14 Covington Catholic (1-0)
3. Lakota West (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #6 ST. XAVIER (0-1), 20-7. Kenyon Norman ran for 116 yards versus St. x. The rest of the team had -5 yards rushing. NEXT UP: 8/28 – #6 LAKOTA EAST (1-0)
4. Moeller (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #2 Princeton (1-0), 31-24. Big Moe hasn’t started a season 0-2 since 2019. NEXT UP: 8/28 – GROVEPORT MADISON (1-0)
5. St. Xavier (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #5 Lakota West (1-0), 20-7. The Bombers haven’t scored more than 14 points in an opener since 2021. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at Wayne (0-1)
6. Lakota East (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat CENTERVILLE (0-1), 41-14. The Thunderhawks are on a quest for a third consecutive season. They haven’t accomplished that feat since doint it four years in a row from 2002-05. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at #3 Lakota West (1-0)
7. Middletown (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #4 Elder (1-0), 35-3. The Middies defense gave up four passing touchdowns to the Panthers. They only allowed six last season and just three in the regular season. NEXT UP: 8/28 – #1 PRINCETON (1-0)
8. Anderson (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to LOUISVILLE TRINITY (KY)(1-0), 59-13. The Raptors ran for just 27 yards on 15 carries versus the Shamrocks. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at West Clermont (1-0)
9. Winton Woods (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at Springfield (1-0). 14-13. The Warriors last four losses have been by a grand total of 11 points. NEXT UP: 8/28 – #18 KINGS (1-0)
10. Withrow (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat WALNUT HILLS (0-1), 50-13. The Tigers have won their last five regular season games by an average marginn of 42.4 points. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at Chaminade Julienne ( 0-1)
11. Fairfield (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat WAYNE (0-1), 35-25. The Indians created six turnovers against the Warriors. They had just 20 takeaways in 12 games a year ago. NEXT UP: 8/28 – #19 OAK HILLS (1-0)
12. La Salle (1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at then at #18 Colerain (0-1), 30-21. The Lancers have noew won eight straight openers. NEXT UP: 8/28 – NORTHMONT (0-1)
13. East Central (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat LAWRENCEBURG (10-2), 21-0. The Trojans defense has posted five shutouts in their last nine contests. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at New Palestine (0-1)
14. Covington Catholic (1-0) – LAST WEEK: The Colenels have scored 48 points or more six times in their last 12 games. NEXT UP: 8/28 – #2 ELDER (1-0)
15. Highlands (0-1) – LAST WEEK: at Frederick Douglass (1-0), 41-20. The Bluebirds fell in their opener for the first time since 2022. NEXT UP: 8/28 – COOPER (1-0)
16. Colerain (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #13 LA SALLE (9-4), 30-21. The Cardinals have lost 32 of their last 33 games. NEXT UP: 8/28 – #24 HAMILTON (0-1)
17. Lebanon (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat NORTHMONT (0-1), 38-17. Denior Logan Schmenk ran for a career high 178 yards against the Thunderbolts. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at Loveland (0-1)
18. Kings (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat SYCAMORE (0-1), 34-6. The Knights won their 13th consecutive opener. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at #9 Winton Woods (0-1)
19. Oak Hills (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat EDGEWOOD (0-1), 49-20. The Highlanders haven’t started 2-0 since 2022. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at #11 Fairfield (1-0)
20. Badin (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #17 HAMILTON (0-1), 33-7. The Rams have topped the 30-point mark 10 times in their last 13 contests. NEXT UP: 8/28 – DIXIE HEIGHTS (KY)(0-1)
21. Mason (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at Springboro (1-0), 33-0. The Comets offensive line gave up 14 tackles for losses against the Panthers. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at Sycamore (0-1)
22. Beechwood (0-1) – LAST WEEK: on a bye. Seniors Tyler Fryman (53) and Nate Pabst (32) have combined to score 85 touchdowns in their careers.. NEXT UP: 8/28 – #25 INDIAN HILL (1-0)
23. Ryle (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #15 COVINGTON CATHOLIC (1-0), 50-6. The Raiders gave up 50 points for the first time since Sptember 29, 2023 (Louisville St. Xavier). NEXT UP: 8/28 – at Conner (0-1)
24. Hamilton (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #24 Badin, 33-7. The Big Blue fell to Badin in the opener for the third time in the last four years.
NEXT UP: 8/28 – at #16 Colerain (0-1)
25. Indian Hill (1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Roger Bacon (0-1), 35-14. Junior Jacob Alexander had a career high 156 yards rushing versus Roger Bacon. It was the third time that he has run for more than 100 yards as a Brave. NEXT UP: 8/28 – at #23 Beechwood (0-0)
DROPPED OUT: None
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Knocking on the Door: Goshen, Harrison, Holy Cross, Lawrenceburg, Lloyd Memorial, McNicholas, North College Hill, Talawanda & Wyoming
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