One month into the season the cream is starting to rise to the top across the Tri-state area on the high school football gridiron as well as in the Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriSrtateFootball.com.
Anderson, Elder and Princeton are on the rise after all picking up key conference victories versus ranked opponents a week ago. Also, we have a new team cracking our poll this week as the Indian Hill Braves debut at No. 25 following a huge CHL win at Wyoming.
The week ahead is loaded with seven matchups pitting ranked teams, including a battle between the top two ranked teams in the poll, St Xavier versus Moeller, as the Blitz 5 tour heads to West Clermont High School for a showdown of GCL South foes.
Here’s the Blitz 5 Top 25 for Week 5:
1. St. Xavier (4-0) – LAST WEEK: beat WESTERVILLE NORTH, 28-0. With the win last week head coach Steve Specht is now the school’s all-time winningest coach, but the celebration won’t last long as he and the Bombers prepare for their showdown with Moeller. NEXT UP: 9/19 – vs. #2 Moeller (3-1) at West Clermont.
2. Moeller (3-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN), 49-28. Moeller is having no problem finding the end zone, scoring 40-plus points in three of their four contests which includes a season-best 49 points a week ago. NEXT UP: 9/19 – #1 ST. XAVIER (4-0).
3. Anderson (4-0, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat LEBANON, 36-10. The Raptors are firing on all cylinders through the first month of the season, especially through the air where they are averaging 442 passing yards per contest. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at #7 Kings (4-0, 3-0).
4. Elder (4-0, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at La Salle, 16-8. The Panthers start off GCL South play with a big win on the road in the first matchup of a brutal three-game road stretch. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at Louisville St. Xavier (3-0).
5. Princeton (3-1, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Lakota West, 27-10. The Vikings are moving up after knocking off the Firebirds for the third straight year in a regular season tilt. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at #16 Lakota East (3-1, 2-1).
6. Lakota West (2-2, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: lost vs. Princeton, 27-10. The Firebirds sputtered on offense, but the contest was closer than the scoreboard indicated a week ago and there shouldn’t be too much panic here. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at Fairfield (2-2, 2-1).
7. Kings (4-0, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at West Clermont, 31-0. The Knights have won nine straight regular season contests allowing 14 points or less each time out. NEXT UP: 9/19 – #3 ANDERSON (4-0, 3-0).
8. Highlands (3-1) – LAST WEEK: last at Boyle County 21-20. The Bluebirds drop down one spot after a tough road loss vs. a perennial Class 4A power, but playing in such a raucous environment will help make them better in the long run. NEXT UP: 9/19 –#12 RYLE (2-2).
9. La Salle (3-1, 0-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to Elder, 16-8. The Lancers put up a good fight, but Elder was a bit too much up front. It should help give La Salle confidence though as they matchup vs. more Division II foes as the season goes on. NEXT UP: 9/19 – #19 WITHROW (4-0).
10. Winton Woods (3-1, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: beat TURPIN, 13-6. Senior Zepahaniah Smith ran for 122 yards versus Milford. He had 16 career yards rushing coming into the contest. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at Walnut Hills (1-3, 0-3).
11. Taft (4-0) – LAST WEEK: beat MOUNT HEALTHY, 4-0. The Senators’ offense is firing on all cylinders through the first month of the year as they are averaging 48.75 points per contest. NEXT UP: 9/20 – THURGOOD MARSHALL (1-3)
12. Ryle (2-2) – LAST WEEK: lost to Christian-Academy Louisville, 34-27. The Raiders are 10-2 in their last 12 contests. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at #8 Highlands (3-1)
13. Covington Catholic (2-2) – LAST WEEK: won vs. Dixie Heights, 49-7. The Colonels have pulled back to .500 after starting 0-2 and have outscored their last two opponents by 111-22. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at #24 Beechwood (3-0).
14. Cooper (2-2) – LAST WEEK: beat CAMPBELL COUNTY, 35-7. After starting the season 0-2, the Jaguars have won back-to-back games vs. 6A opponents . NEXT UP: 9/19 – DUPONT MANUAL (3-1).
15. Mason (2-2, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Oak Hills, 24-14. The Comets’ offense is heating up, averaging 32 points per game during their recent two-game winning streak. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at #22 Hamilton (1-3, 1-2).
16. Lakota East (3-1, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: beat HAMILTON, 31-27. With their win last week the ThunderHawks have defeated the Big Blue in 9 of 10 regular-season meetings dating back to 2013.. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at #5 Princeton (3-1, 3-0).
17. Badin (4-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Columbus DeSales, 38-21. Senior quarterback Colt Emerson now has a 7 to 0 TD-to-interception ratio and has completed 67.4 percent of his passes through four games. NEXT UP: 9/19 – BISHOP HARTLEY (3-1).
18. Middletown (4-0, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat COLERAIN, 31-0. The Middies have now started 4-0 in back-to-back seasons after last week’s big home victory vs. the Cardinals. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at Sycamore (0-4, 0-3).
19. Withrow (4-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Dunbar, 49-12. The Tigers have outscored their opponents, 162-19 through four contests. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at #9 La Salle (3-1).
20. Lebanon (3-1, 2-1) – LAST WEEK: lost at Anderson, 36-10. The Warriors lost a tough one on the road last week and will now stay on the road for two of their next three. NEXT UP: 9/19 – at Little Miami (1-3, 1-2).
21. East Central (3-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Franklin County, 35-14. The Trojans responded in a big way to a lopsided loss a week earlier and did so behind their running game, including 256 yards rushing by junior Colton Bellman . NEXT UP: 9/19 – at Batesville (3-1).
22. Hamilton (1-3, 1-2) – LAST WEEK: lost at Lakota East, 31-27. The Big Blue defense has now ceded 31 or more points in three of four games this season. NEXT UP: 9/19 – #15 MASON (2-2, 2-1).
23. Harrison (3-1) – LAST WEEK: beat WESTERN HILLS, 48-8. Senior running back Preston Flick has now hit the century mark on the ground in three of four contests this season. NEXT UP: 9/19 – ROSS (2-2).
24. Beechwood (3-0) – LAST WEEK: beat SIMON KENTON, 45-6. Junior Emmett Queen threw for 237 yards and four touchdowns as the Tigers cruised in their home opener . NEXT UP: #13 COVINGTON CATHOLIC (2-2).
25. Indian Hill (4-0, 1-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Wyoming, 28-7. The Braves move into the rankings after a convincing road victory versus their CHL rivals. NEXT UP: 9/19 – MARIEMONT (2-2, 0-1).
DROPPED OUT: No. 23 West Clermont
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Clinton-Massie, Lloyd, McNicholas, Talawanda and Wilmington
