Eight weeks are in the books, and the contenders have firmly established themselves in the Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com. With just two weeks remaining in the regular season for most teams, the rankings are taking shape. No teams dropped out of this week’s poll, and the top 13 spots remain unchanged.
The spotlight shines on the Eastern Cincinnati Conference this Friday as #4 Anderson hosts #5 Winton Woods in a showdown between two unbeaten conference rivals. Both teams enter at 7-1 overall and 7-0 in ECC play, setting the stage for one of the season’s biggest matchups.
Four other Top 25 battles highlight the Week 9 schedule. Top-ranked Princeton welcomes #21 Oak Hills, #11 Lakota East visits #16 Colerain, #22 Mason travels to #10 Middletown and #12 Harrison hits the road to face #18 La Salle.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Blitz 5 Top 25 rankings for Week 9:
- Princeton (8-0, 7-0)
LAST WEEK: won at HAMILTON (1-7, 1-6), 60-6. The Vikings have scored 47 points or more in five of their last six victories. NEXT UP: 10/16 – #21 OAK HILLS (4-4, 3-4) - Lakota West (7-1, 6-1)
LAST WEEK: beat #16 COLERAIN (4-4, 4-3), 48-0. The Firebirds have posted back-to-back shutouts and outscored opponents 121-7 during their current three-game winning streak. NEXT UP: 10/16 – at SYCAMORE (1-7, 1-6) - Moeller (6-2, 3-0)
LAST WEEK: won at ST. IGNATIUS (4-4), 43-21. The Crusaders have won five straight and will close the regular season against two opponents with a combined 13-3 record. NEXT UP: 10/17 – ST. EDWARD (7-1) at West Clermont H.S. - Anderson (7-1, 7-0)
LAST WEEK: won at WALNUT HILLS (0-8, 0-7), 78-19. The Raptors are averaging 60.6 points per game with an average margin of victory of 41.6 points in ECC play. NEXT UP: 10/16 – #5 WINTON WOODS (7-1, 7-0) - Winton Woods (7-1, 7-0)
LAST WEEK: beat WEST CLERMONT (3-5, 2-5), 57-0. The Warriors are allowing just 6.0 points per game with an average margin of victory of 38.4 points in ECC play. NEXT UP: 10/16 – at #4 ANDERSON (7-1, 7-0) - St. Xavier (4-4, 2-1)
LAST WEEK: won at then-#20 LA SALLE (3-5, 0-3), 38-14. Aidan Newdigate (11 rushing) and Logan Von Holle (nine receiving) have combined for 20 of the Bombers’ 23 offensive touchdowns. NEXT UP: 10/16 – ST. IGNATIUS (4-4) - Elder (6-2, 1-2)
LAST WEEK: won at #8 HIGHLANDS (6-2, 2-0), 30-27. Quarterback Kaden Estep has thrown for 398 and 390 yards over his last two games, combining for five touchdown passes and just one interception. NEXT UP: 10/16 – BISHOP CHATARD (IN) (7-1) - Highlands (6-2, 2-0)
LAST WEEK: lost to #7 ELDER (6-2, 1-2), 30-27. The Bluebirds’ defense is allowing just 72.9 rushing yards per game. NEXT UP: 10/16 – MASON COUNTY (5-3) - East Central (7-1, 3-0)
LAST WEEK: beat COLUMBUS NORTH (3-5), 31-13. Running back Ryan Minges became the sixth player in Trojans history to rush for 50 career touchdowns. NEXT UP: 10/16 – RONCALLI (6-2) - Middletown (5-3, 5-2)
LAST WEEK: beat #11 LAKOTA EAST (4-4, 3-4), 22-11. The Middies have scored more than 28 points just once this season but have won five of their last six contests. NEXT UP: 10/16 – #22 MASON (2-6, 2-5) - Lakota East (4-4, 3-4)
LAST WEEK: lost at #10 MIDDLETOWN (5-3, 5-2), 22-11. The Thunderhawks have dropped three straight while allowing an average of 35.0 points per game during that stretch. NEXT UP: 10/16 – at #16 COLERAIN (4-4, 4-3) - Harrison (7-1, 2-0)
LAST WEEK: beat TALAWANDA (6-2, 1-1), 20-7. The Wildcats’ defense continues to impress, allowing just 11.8 points per contest. NEXT UP: 10/16 – at #18 LA SALLE (3-5, 0-3) - Beechwood (7-0, 3-0)
LAST WEEK: won at ST. HENRY (4-3, 2-1), 62-0. The Tigers have dominated district play, winning their three contests by a combined score of 188-7. NEXT UP: 10/16 – GALLATIN COUNTY (0-7, 0-2) - Fairfield (4-4, 3-4)
LAST WEEK: won at #22 MASON (2-6, 2-5), 21-10. Senior defensive back Eric Ruther has recorded five interceptions over the last two games. NEXT UP: 10/16 – HAMILTON (1-7, 1-6) - Covington Catholic (4-4, 0-1)
LAST WEEK: lost at CATHEDRAL (IN) (5-3), 28-20. Just three Colonels have scored rushing touchdowns this season, while eight different players have caught touchdown passes. NEXT UP: 10/16 – at HARRISON COUNTY (0-7, 0-2) - Colerain (4-4, 4-3)
LAST WEEK: lost at #2 LAKOTA WEST (7-1, 6-1), 48-0. The Cardinals have struggled to establish the ground game, averaging just 68 rushing yards per contest. NEXT UP: 10/16 – #11 LAKOTA EAST (4-4, 3-4) - Withrow (5-3, 2-0)
LAST WEEK: beat AIKEN (2-6, 1-1), 33-0. The Tigers have won five games, while their three losses have come by an average margin of just 7.3 points. NEXT UP: 10/16 – HUGHES (8-0, 2-0) - La Salle (3-5, 0-3)
LAST WEEK: lost to #6 ST. XAVIER (4-4, 2-1), 38-14. The Lancers have dropped three straight and are allowing 38.7 points per game during the skid. NEXT UP: 10/16 – #12 HARRISON (7-1, 2-0) - Badin (6-2, 2-1)
LAST WEEK: beat CARROLL (2-6, 0-2), 49-20. The Rams have surrendered 60 points over their last two contests after allowing just 74 in their first six games combined. NEXT UP: 10/16 – at ALTER (5-3, 2-1) - Lebanon (6-2, 5-2)
LAST WEEK: lost at TURPIN (4-4, 3-4), 63-60. The Warriors are allowing 32.9 points per game in ECC play after surrendering a season-high 63 points last Friday. NEXT UP: 10/16 – WALNUT HILLS (0-8, 0-7) - Oak Hills (4-4, 3-4)
LAST WEEK: lost to SYCAMORE (1-7, 1-6), 36-35. Anquan Evans rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns, but the Highlanders saw a late lead slip away in the final minute. NEXT UP: 10/16 – at #1 PRINCETON (8-0, 7-0) - Mason (2-6, 2-5)
LAST WEEK: lost to then-#18 FAIRFIELD (4-4, 3-4), 21-10. The Comets have dropped four of their last five contests and face another tough GMC test on the road this Friday. NEXT UP: 10/16 – at #10 MIDDLETOWN (5-3, 5-2) - Wyoming (8-0, 5-0)
LAST WEEK: beat FINNEYTOWN (0-7, 0-5), 51-0. The Cowboys remain unbeaten and have held six of their eight opponents to 10 points or fewer. NEXT UP: 10/16 – READING (3-5, 2-3) - McNicholas (6-2, 3-0)
LAST WEEK: beat ALTER (5-3, 2-1), 20-7. The red-hot Rockets have won five straight while allowing just 8.1 points per game during the streak. NEXT UP: 10/16 – BISHOP FENWICK (4-4, 1-2) - Goshen (8-0, 3-0)
LAST WEEK: beat CLINTON-MASSIE (2-6, 1-2), 27-23. The Warriors surrendered more than 14 points for the first time this season but kept their perfect record intact. NEXT UP: 10/16 – WILMINGTON (4-4, 2-1)
DROPPED OUT: None
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Deer Park, Hughes, Indian Hill, Lawrenceburg, North College Hill & Northwest
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