It was an impressive first week of the season for Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com teams who went a combined 17-7 (Beechwood had a bye). Five of those losses were in head-to-head matchups between ranked squads.
The Blitz 5 Game of the Week heads out to Union, Kentucky where #11 Cooper plays host to #9 Highlands. It will be the fifth time that the two schools have faced off since the beginning of 2023. Cooper has won the last three in the series.
There are five other matchups between ranked teams in Week 2, as #3 Lakota West gets #23 Mason in its home opener, #21 West Clermont is at #4 Anderson, #5 Winton Woods travels to #18 Kings, #6 Elder welcomes in #10 Covington Catholic and #15 East Central is on the road to battle #24 Harrison in the annual “War on 74.”
Here’s the Blitz 5 Top 25 for Week 2:
1. Moeller (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #4 Princeton (0-1), 41-20. The Crusaders nab six interceptions against Princeton. They had 20 picks in 16 games a year ago. NEXT UP: 8/30 – vs. Mt. Carmel (IL) (0-0), at Ironton H.S.
2. St. Xavier (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat #3 LAKOTA WEST (0-1), 14-7. The Bombers defense made quite the statement holding Lakota West to just 138 yards. This could end up being one of the best units that head coach Steve Specht has had in his 22 years. NEXT UP: 8/29 – CENTERVILLE (0-1).
3. Lakota West (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at #2 St. Xavier (1-0), 14-7. The Firebirds defense looked in playoff form with eight tackles for losses and a pair of sacks against the Bombers. NEXT UP: 8/29 – #23 MASON (0-1).
4. Anderson (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat then #8 COOPER (1-0), 52-10. The Raptors are 29-3 in their last 32 games. NEXT UP: 8/29 – #21 WEST CLERMONT (1-0).
5. Winton Woods (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat SPRINGFIELD (1-0), 21-14. The Warriors have held 11 of their last 13 foes to 14 points or less. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at #18 Kings (1-0).
6. Elder (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat MT. ZION PREP (MD)(0-1), 34-0. The Panthers were fantastic on defense holding MZP to -4 yards (-27 rushing) on the night NEXT UP: 8/29 – #10 COVINGTON CATHOLIC (0-1).
7. Princeton (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at #1 Moeller (1-0), 41-20. One good thing that came out of Saturday’s loss was that the pass defense looked fantastic. The Vikings held Ohio Mr. Football Matt Ponatoski to just 79 yards and zero touchdowns passing. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at Colerain (0-1).
8. Ryle (1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at #10 Covington Catholic (0-1), 26-20. A huge road win showed that the Raiders are an experienced, veteran team that knows how to handle and conquer challenges. NEXT UP: 8/29 – CONNER (0-1).
9. Highlands (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat FREDERICK DOUGLASS (0-1), 21-20, 2 OT. The Bluebirds overcome kicking miscues on special teams and fight hard to take down a Class 6A final four finisher in 2024. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at #11 Cooper (0-1).
10. Covington Catholic (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #9 RYLE (1-0), 26-20. Quarterback Cash Harney runs and passes for 100-plus yards for a third straight game and the sixth time in 15 starts at the position for the Colonels. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at #6 Elder (1-0).
11. Cooper (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #5 Anderson (1-0), 52-10. Things don’t get any easier for the Jaguars with #9 Highlands and #8 Ryle up next. NEXT UP: 8/29 – #9 HIGHLANDS (1-0).
12. Lakota East (1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Centerville (0-1), 35-20. An eye-popping 564 yard offensive explosion against reigning Region 2 champion Centerville has put the Thunderhawks on everyone’s radar. NEXT UP: 8/29 – OAK HILLS (1-0).
13. Taft (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat JEFFERSONVILLE (IN)(6-4), 37-0. A stellar Senators defense recorded its seventh shutout since the start of last season (16 games). NEXT UP: 8/29 – at Alter (1-0).
14. Middletown (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat TROY (0-1), 28-20. Week 1 senior heroes for the Middies Joseph Ward and transfer Ace Cooper were outstanding. Ward went 16-16 for 238 yards passing, he ran for another 126 yards and accounted for four touchdowns (three rush, one pass) in his first varsity start under center. Cooper recorded his seventh 100-yard game receiving in his last 13 contests. NEXT UP: 8/29 – FAIRFIELD (0-1).
15. East Central (1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Lawrenceburg (0-1), 39-12. Junior Ryan Minges has rushing touchdowns in 13 consecutive games. NEXT UP: 8/29 – #24 HARRISON (1-0).
16. Badin (1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at then #12 Hamilton (0-1), 38-20. Banged up Badin, found ways to make and capitalize on opportunities down the stretch against the Big Blue. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at Dixie Heights (0-1).
17. Hamilton (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #23 BADIN (1-0), 38-20. Four turnovers doom the Big Blue in Week 1. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at Sycamore (0-1).
18. Kings (1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Sycamore (0-1), 44-0. The Knights top Sycamore for a fifth consecutive season. NEXT UP: 8/29 – #5 WINTON WOODS (1-0).
19. Lebanon (1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Northmont (0-1), 20-5. Two of the Warriors three Week 1 touchdowns were on an interception return and a kickoff return. NEXT UP: 8/29 – LOVELAND (0-1).
20. Withrow (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat MILFORD (0-1), 35-0. A balanced offensive attack that gained 490 yards and a stout defense that allowed less than 100 yards passing and just 43 on the ground propels the Tigers in their opener. NEXT UP: 8/29 – CHAMINADE JULIENNE (0-1).
21. Western Clermont (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat MOUNT HEALTHY (0-1), 42-7. Nine times in his last 12 games senior Landon Young has run for at least 119 yards. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at #4 Anderson (1-0).
22. La Salle (1-0) – LAST WEEK: beat COLERAIN (0-1), 42-0. Head coach Pat Mclaughlin became the Lancers all-time leader in wins (60) after last Friday’s victory over Colerain. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at Northmont (0-1).
23. Mason (0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to SPRINGBORO (7-5), 21-7. The Comets fall in a season opener for a fourth straight year. They have averaged just 7.25 points in those losses. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at #3 Lakota West (0-1).
24. Harrison (1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Loveland (0-1), 34-14. Since the beginning of 2024 Preston Flick has 15 touchdowns (nine rush, six rec) on 60 offensive touches. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at #15 East Central (1-0).
25. Beechwood (0-0) – LAST WEEK: BYE. The reigning KHSAA Class 2A state champion Tigers open their 2025 season on a 10-game winning streak. NEXT UP: 8/29 – at Newport Central Catholic (0-1) at Covington Catholic H.S.
DROPPED OUT: #24 Fairfield
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Batavia, Clinton-Massie, Fairfield, Indian Hill, McNicholas, Oak Hills, Wilmington and Wyoming
