The final Blitz 5 Top 25 presented by TriStateFootball.com is in, and Elder tops the last poll. The Panthers took over at No.1 after knocking off then No. 1 Moeller in Week 7. Elder started the preseason at No. 7. GCL South schools reigned supreme as the Panthers, Big Moe and St. Xavier where the only teams occupy the top spot in the rankings.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Blitz 5 Top 25 final rankings:
1. Elder (10-0) – LAST WEEK: beat DE LA SALLE (MI)(3-6), 35-7. A historic night saw the Panthers pick up their 400th career win at The Pit and finish the regular season 10-0 for the fourth time and first since 1991. NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #9 Mason (5-5) at #8 Fairfield (5-5), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 Playoffs.
2. Moeller (7-3) – LAST WEEK: beat MUSKEGON (MI)(6-3), 56-13. Since the beginning of 2024 quarterback Matt Ponatoski has thrown 80 touchdown passes and only four interceptions (26 games). NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #10 Hamilton (4-6) at #7 Lakota West (6-4), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 Playoffs.
3. Anderson (10-0, 9-0) – LAST WEEK: beat LOVELAND (4-6, 4-5), 42-7. The Raptors have 62 offensive touchdowns on the season (34 pass, 28 rush). NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #9 Piqua (6-4) at #8 Withrow (8-2), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division II, Region 8 Playoffs.
4. St. Xavier (7-2) – LAST WEEK: BYE. The Bombers are only averaging 90.1 yards per game rushing and only have four rushing touchdowns on the season. NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #11 Oak Hills (4-6) at #6 Lakota East (7-3), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 Playoffs.
5. Kings (8-2, 8-1) – LAST WEEK: beat WALNUT HILLS (2-8, 1-8), 42-14. The Knights have won at least nine games four times in the last five seasons. NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #10 Butler (6-4) at #7 Harrison (7-3), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division II, Region 8 Playoffs.
6. Winton Woods (8-2, 7-2) – LAST WEEK: won at then #19 Lebanon (7-3, 6-3), 31-10. The Warriors have held 9-10 foes to 17 points or less. NEXT UP: 10/31 – #12 LITTLE MIAMI (3-7), 1st Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 Playoffs.
7. Princeton (8-2, 8-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #18 MIDDLETOWN (8-2, 7-2), 14-6. The Vikings are averaging a combined 123.5 yards per game on kickoff and punt returns with five touchdowns (three KR, two PR). NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #12 Little Miami (3-7) at #5 Winton Woods (8-2), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 Playoffs.
8. Taft (10-0, 5-0) – LAST WEEK: WOODWARD (0-10, 0-5), 47-0. The Senators recorded the program’s first ever 10-0 regular season, Taft has seven straight shutouts for the Senators, who have outscored their opponents 350-0 in that span. NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #12 Taylor (6-4) at #5 Clinton-Massie (9-1), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division IV, Region 16 Playoffs.
9. Highlands (8-2) – LAST WEEK: beat SCOTT COUNTY (7-3), 42-28. Fourteen different Bluebirds have scored touchdowns. Only three have hit pay dirt three times or more. NEXT UP: 11/7 – GREENUP COUNTY (2-7).
10. La Salle (7-3) – LAST WEEK: won at Mount Healthy (0-10), 54-7. The Lancers have run for 686 yards and 12 touchdowns over the last two games. NEXT UP: 10/31 – #12 Turpin (5-5), 1st Round of the OHSAA Division II, Region 8 Playoffs.
11. Middletown (8-2, 7-2) – LAST WEEK: won at then #4 Princeton (8-2, 8-1), 14-6. The Middies are allowing just 9.1 points per game and just 6.3 points in their eight victories. NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #9 Fairmont (5-5) at #8 Lebanon (7-3), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 2 Playoffs.
12. Ryle (6-3, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: SIMON KENTON (5-4, 2-1), 41-13. The Raiders won three consecutive district titles for the first time in school history. NEXT UP: 10/30 – DIXIE HEIGHTS (4-5).
13. Covington Catholic (7-3) – LAST WEEK: won at Mason County (3-6), 52-0. Freshman Brandon Smith has 41 tackles and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. NEXT UP: 11/7 – BOYD COUNTY (6-3).
14. Lakota East (7-3, 6-3) – LAST WEEK: beat then #11 LAKOTA WEST (6-4, 6-3), 42-28. The Thunderhawks snap a six-game against rival week. NEXT UP: 10/31 – #11 OAK HILLS (4-6), 1st Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 Playoffs.
15. Lakota West (6-4, 6-3) – LAST WEEK: lost at then #15 Lakota East (7-3, 6-3), 42-28. The Firebirds loss to East ends a 20-game winning streak in the month of October. NEXT UP: 10/31 – #10 HAMILTON (4-6), 1st Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 Playoffs.
16. Badin (9-1, 4-1) – LAST WEEK: lost to McNICHOLAS (6-4, 3-2), 28-14. The loss to McNick ends a 31 game winning streak in the GCL Co-ed. NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #11 Bellbrook (6-4) at #6 Alter (7-3), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division III, Region 12 Playoffs.
17. Cooper (6-3, 4-0) – LAST WEEK: beat BOONE COUNTY (4-5, 1-3), 49-3. Seniors Keagan Maher (22) and Ryker Campbell (10) have combined to score 32 of the Jaguars 39 touchdowns on the year. NEXT UP: 10/30 – at Simon Kenton (5-4).
18. East Central (7-2) – LAST WEEK: lost at Roncalli (6-3), 28-16. Junior Colton Bellman has run for at least 185 yards four times in the Trojans last seven contests. NEXT UP: 10/31 – FRANKLIN (4-5), IHSAA Class 5S, Sectional 14 Playoffs (first round).
19. Mason (5-5, 5-4) – LAST WEEK: beat SYCAMORE (0-10, 0-9), 48-6. The Comets are in the playoffs for an 11th consecutive season. NEXT UP: 10/31 – at #8 Fairfield (5-5), 1st Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 Playoffs.
20. Withrow (8-2, 4-1) – LAST WEEK: won at Western Hills (3-7, 2-3), 48-0. The combined record of the teams that the Tigers have beaten is 14-49 (.222 winning %). NEXT UP: 10/31 – #9 PIQUA (6-4), 1st Round of the OHSAA Division II, Region 8 Playoffs.
21. Lebanon (7-3, 6-3) – LAST WEEK: lost to then #7 WINTON WOODS (8-2, 7-2), 31-10. The Warriors tie a school record with their sixth straight trip to the playoffs. NEXT UP: 10/31 – #9 FAIRMONT (5-5), 1st Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 2 Playoffs.
22. Fairfield (5-5, 4-5) – LAST WEEK: won at Oak Hills (4-6, 3-6), 17-0. Junior AJ Brown has his first 24 carries of the year for 109 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Highlanders. NEXT UP: 10/31 – #9 MASON (5-5), 1st Round of the OHSAA Division I, Region 4 Playoffs.
23. Beechwood (8-1, 5-0) – LAST WEEK: BRACKEN COUNTY (6-3, 4-1), 49-6. The Tigers have nine return touchdowns on the year (four IRs, three PRs, one FR, one KR). NEXT UP: 10/30 – CAMPBELL COUNTY (3-6).
24. Indian Hill (10-0, 7-0) – LAST WEEK: beat READING (1-9, 1-6), 37-0. The last time the Braves finished the regular season 10-0 was 2015. NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #9 New Richmond (4-6) at #8 Washington Court House Washington (5-5), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division IV, Region 16 Playoffs.
25. CHCA (9-1, 3-0) – LAST WEEK: won at Summit Country Day (5-5, 0-3), 36-7. The Eagles defense has forced 27 turnovers and converted five of them into touchdowns (three FRs, two IRs). NEXT UP: 11/7 – hosts the winner of #11 Bishop Fenwick (6-4) at #6 Brookville (9-1), 2nd Round of the OHSAA Division IV, Region 16 Playoffs.
DROPPED OUT: none
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Clinton-Massie, Lawrenceburg, Lloyd, Talawanda
