Half way through the season and only six teams in the Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com remain unbeaten. One of those schools is #14 Beechwood who moved up eight spots in the rankings after a thrilling victory at then #11 Covington Catholic. Withrow falls out of the poll and is replaced by McNicholas who beat the Tigers last week.
This Friday a pair of top 10 matchups has #1 Princeton hoping it doesn’t have a let down at #7 Lakota East and #2 Elder looks to avenge last seasons playoff loss to #8 St. Xavier in front of a home sell out crowd at The Pit. There are five more battles between Blitz 5 Top 25 teams with #3 Lakota West hosting #20 Fairfield, #4 Moeller hits the road to take on #12 La Salle, #19 Kings hosts #18 Lebanon, #21 Colerain is at #17 Oak Hills and #11 Harrison welcomes in #13 East Central in the annual “War on 74” battle.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Blitz 5 Top 25 rankings for Week 6:
- Princeton (5-0, 4-0)
LAST WEEK: beat #3 LAKOTA WEST (4-1, 3-1), 27-24. Even though they are unbeaten, the Vikings have been penalized 51 times for 478 yards and have a -5 turnover ratio over the last four games.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at #7 Lakota East (4-1, 3-1) - Elder (5-0, 1-0)
LAST WEEK: beat LOUISVILLE ST. XAVIER (KY) (2-2), 31-0. The Panthers’ defense is allowing just 6.0 points per game and hasn’t been scored upon in its last 10 quarters of play.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – #8 ST. XAVIER (2-3, 0-1) - Lakota West (4-1, 3-1)
LAST WEEK: lost at #1 PRINCETON (5-0, 4-0), 27-24. The Firebirds have just 4.0 sacks on the season.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – #20 FAIRFIELD (2-3, 1-3) - Moeller (3-2, 1-0)
LAST WEEK: won at then-#5 ST. XAVIER (2-3, 0-1), 30-15. Sophomore Hunter McLaughlin threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns in his first varsity start, on the road at St. Xavier in front of 7,500 hostile fans.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at #12 La Salle (3-2, 0-1) - Anderson (4-1, 4-0)
LAST WEEK: beat then-#20 KINGS (3-2, 2-2), 49-33. The Raptors are averaging 55.5 points per game in ECC play.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at Milford (1-4, 1-3) - Winton Woods (4-1, 4-0)
LAST WEEK: beat WALNUT HILLS (0-5, 0-4), 54-0. The Warriors have an average margin of victory of 37.2 points in ECC play.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at Little Miami (3-2, 2-2) - Lakota East (4-1, 3-1)
LAST WEEK: won at HAMILTON (1-4, 1-3), 37-13. Seniors Braxton Thurman (674) and Carter Jones (662) have combined for 1,336 all-purpose yards.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – #1 PRINCETON (5-0, 4-0) - St. Xavier (2-3, 0-1)
LAST WEEK: lost to #4 MOELLER (3-2, 1-0), 30-15. Only three Bombers have scored offensive touchdowns: Adian Newdigate (8), Logan Von Holle (5) and Aiden Graham (1).
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at #2 Elder (5-0, 1-0) - Middletown (3-2, 3-1)
LAST WEEK: won at then-#18 COLERAIN (2-3, 2-2), 28-7. Sophomore Memphis Driscol became the first Middie to run for more than 100 yards in the last 12 games.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – SYCAMORE (0-5, 0-4) - Highlands (4-1)
LAST WEEK: won at RYLE (1-4), 28-0. The Bluebirds have only four takeaways, but two have resulted in defensive touchdowns.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – HARRISON COUNTY (0-5) - East Central (4-1, 2-0)
LAST WEEK: beat BATESVILLE (4-1, 0-1), 38-6. The Trojans have handed three schools their only loss of the season. The combined record of the teams East Central has already played is 20-5.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at #13 Harrison (5-0) - La Salle (3-2, 0-1)
LAST WEEK: won at then-#14 BADIN (4-1), 27-14. Kicker Grayson Bedacht has made all six of his field goal attempts, with the last five coming from longer than 30 yards.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – #4 MOELLER (3-2, 1-0) - Harrison (5-0)
LAST WEEK: won at ROSS (1-4), 28-7. Since the beginning of the 2025 season, seniors Ben Markarian (11) and Jack Denier (10) have combined to snare 21 interceptions.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – #11 EAST CENTRAL (4-1, 2-0) - Beechwood (4-0)
LAST WEEK: won at then-#11 COVINGTON CATHOLIC (3-2), 42-35. Nathan Pabst (562) and Tyler Fryman (538) have combined for 1,100 yards from scrimmage.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at Owen County (2-2) - Badin (4-1)
LAST WEEK: lost to then-#13 LA SALLE (3-2), 27-14. The Rams have lost two of their last four home games.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – CHAMINADE JULIENNE (1-4) - Covington Catholic (3-2)
LAST WEEK: lost to then-#22 BEECHWOOD (4-0), 42-35. Sophomore Kiyan Miller is averaging 101.8 rushing yards per game with 11 touchdowns on the ground.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – CENTRAL (2-2) - Oak Hills (3-2, 2-2)
LAST WEEK: won at #21 MASON (1-4, 1-3), 28-21. The Highlanders are 10 points away from being unbeaten.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – #21 COLERAIN (2-3, 2-2) - Lebanon (4-1, 3-1)
LAST WEEK: beat LITTLE MIAMI (3-2, 2-2), 36-35, OT. The Warriors have yet to come up with an interception this season.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at #19 Kings (3-2, 2-2) - Kings (3-2, 2-2)
LAST WEEK: lost at #5 ANDERSON (4-1, 4-0), 49-33. Sophomore Oliver Young has three games with more than 130 rushing yards.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – #18 LEBANON (4-1, 3-1) - Fairfield (2-3, 1-3)
LAST WEEK: won at SYCAMORE (0-5, 0-4), 42-19. Sophomore Corrious Booker has three games with more than 120 rushing yards.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at #3 Lakota West (4-1, 3-1) - Colerain (2-3, 2-2)
LAST WEEK: lost to #9 MIDDLETOWN (3-2, 3-1), 28-7. The Cardinals are averaging just 55.8 rushing yards per game.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at #17 Oak Hills (3-2, 2-2) - Mason (1-4, 1-3)
LAST WEEK: lost to #17 OAK HILLS (3-2, 2-2), 28-21. The Comets are converting just 32% of their third-down opportunities.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – HAMILTON (1-4, 1-3) - Talawanda (5-0)
LAST WEEK: beat CARROLL (2-3), 42-0. The Brave defense has recorded three shutouts and allowed just 12 points this season.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at Ross (1-4) - Wyoming (5-0, 2-0)
LAST WEEK: won at TAYLOR (1-4, 0-2), 21-13. Donovan Brown has caught a touchdown pass in six consecutive games and has 10 touchdown receptions overall during that span.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – MARIEMONT (3-2, 1-1) - McNicholas (3-2)
LAST WEEK: beat then-#16 WITHROW (2-3), 24-21. Senior Max Hamilton had 4.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss against Withrow.
NEXT UP: 9/25 – at Carroll (2-3)
DROPPED OUT: #16 Withrow
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Batesville, Deer Park, Goshen, Holy Cross, Hughes, Lawrenceburg, Lloyd Memorial, North College Hill & Northwest
