SBLive Indiana Power 25 Week 9 High School Football Rankings: Hamilton Southeastern takes over at No. 1

By Kevin Messenger

The regular season is over and sectional tournaments begin with first-round games in 1A to 4A classifications. 5A and 6A schools all are idle this week, prior to sectional semis to be played Oct. 28.

• Previous rankings: PRESEASON | WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7 | WEEK 8

Here is our breakdown of this week's SBLive Indiana Power 25 high school football rankings:

SBLIVE INDIANA POWER 25 FOOTBALL RANKINGS

October 18, 2022

1. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers) (9-0)

Last week: 4

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Homestead (5-4)

Ranking rationale: You beat No. 1, you earn No. 1. HSE capped off an unbeaten regular season by downing top-ranked Brownsburg and staking its claim not only to the Hoosier Crossroads title but the No. 1 spot in this week’s Power 25.

2. Brownsburg (8-1)

Last week: 1

Next game: Oct. 28 at No. 9 Ben Davis (6-3)

Ranking rationale: The Bulldogs were held scoreless in last week’s second half against Hamilton Southeastern, largely due to the loss of starting QB Jayden Whitaker to injury just before halftime when the Bulldogs still had a lead. Credit the Royals with the top spot but rather than slot the Bulldogs lower, they check in at No. 2 this week based on their Week 2 victory over No. 3 Cathedral.

3. Cathedral (Indianapolis) (7-1)

Last week: 3

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Lawrence North (4-5)

Ranking rationale: Cathedral’s miracle comeback last week against Center Grove was indeed classic. The 40-29 final does not reflect the fact Center Grove led 29-26 until the game’s last four minutes.

4. Center Grove (Greenwood) (7-2)

Last week: 2

Next game: Oct. 28 at Franklin Central (3-6)

Ranking rationale: The Trojans led 29-19 before allowing Cathedral a 99-yard scoring drive to get back into a one-possession game. A blocked punt and an interception gave the Irish two additional scoring chances in the final minutes, and Cathedral took advantage of both. Center Grove clings to the No. 4 spot ahead of 4A New Palestine and 6A Fort Wayne Carroll.

5. New Palestine (9-0)

Last week: 5

Next game: Oct. 21 at Mt. Vernon (6-3)

Ranking rationale: The Dragons are thus far the class of 4A, winning eight straight games by at least four touchdowns. Their closest margin was a 42-28 win over No. 8-ranked 6A Westfield in Week 1.

6. Carroll (Fort Wayne) (9-0)

Last week: 6

Next game: Oct. 28 at No. 19 Penn (7-2)

Ranking rationale: The unblemished Chargers own the state’s largest 6A margin of victory and have won their last six games by a count of 275 to 24. Traditional 6A power Penn awaits in an Oct. 28 sectional bout pitting two of Northern Indiana’s top teams.

7. Carmel (6-3)

Last week: 7

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. No. 8 Westfield (6-3)

Ranking rationale: But for a Week 8 stumble against Warren Central, the Greyhounds would be looking at a 7-game win streak.

8. Westfield (6-3)

Last week: 8

Next game: Oct. 28 at No. 7 Carmel (6-3)

Ranking rationale: Since back-to-back losses to No. 1 HSE and No. 2 Brownsburg, the Shamrocks have won three straight to right the ship. A 28-17 win over No. 14 Fishers helped keep Westfield in the Top 10. A 5-mile trip to No. 7 Carmel is all that separates them from advancing in an Oct. 28 sectional.

9. Ben Davis (6-3)

Last week: 9

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. No. 2 Brownsburg (8-1)

Ranking rationale: The Giants are right where they want to be. After a 4-5 start last season, Ben Davis advanced to within a game of another appearance in the state finals. At 6-3 this year their only losses have come to Brownsburg, Center Grove and Carmel. Next week’s sectional pairing with Bulldogs will send a Top-10 team home.

10. Crown Point (9-0)

Last week: 10

Next game: Oct. 28 at Portage (2-7)

Ranking rationale: These high-scoring Bulldogs are untarnished, with a 40-point scoring average that rivals the state’s best teams. They coast into their Oct. 28 sectional semi after a 38-3 win over Michigan City last week.

Vote now: Who should be SBLive's Indiana High School Athlete of the Week (Oct. 10-15)?

Photos: Hamilton Southeastern football upsets Brownsburg in battle of unbeatens

Cathedral comeback stuns Center Grove

11. Roncalli (7-2)

Last week: 11

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Indianapolis Shortridge (4-4)

Ranking rationale: The Royals earned a dramatic win last week, 21-19 over 4A rival and 13th-ranked East Central. The Royals, Trojans and New Palestine – three of the top 4A schools in the Power 25 – all reside on the same side of the state tournament bracket.

12. NorthWood (9-0)

Last week: 15

Next game: Oct. 21 at South Bend Washington (2-7)

Ranking rationale: But for a 14-6 win over No. 21 Mishawaka, the Panthers have run the table in explosive fashion with at least 40 points weekly since Week 3. Aside from the narrow win over the Cavemen, NorthWood’s closest margin was a three-touchdown win over 6A Warsaw.

13. East Central (St. Leon) (7-2)

Last week: 12

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Edgewood (2-7)

Ranking rationale: The Trojans slip one spot in this week’s rankings only because of NorthWood’s impressive string of victories, not because of their slim defeat to No. 11 Roncalli last week.

14. Fishers (6-3)

Last week: 19

Next game: Oct. 28 at Fort Wayne Northrop (1-8)

Ranking rationale: The Tigers dropped all the way from 7 to 19 in last week’s Power 25, but a decisive win at Zionsville helps Fishers rise to No. 14 this week. Fishers led the Eagles 37-0 at one point behind 327 combined rushing yards by Khobe Martin and Carson Dunn.

15. Fort Wayne Snider (8-1)

Last week: 18

Next game: Oct. 28 at Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (6-3)

Ranking rationale: Snider has won seven consecutive games with four by shutout and none decided by fewer than four touchdowns. Included in their streak was a 28-0 win at Bishop Dwenger in Week 8. Snider travels to battle the Saints again in a sectional semi in two weeks.

16. Evansville Reitz (9-0)

Last week: 14

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Evansville Central (0-9)

Ranking rationale: Unbeaten Reitz actually slips two spots this week, thanks to the rise of 6A Fishers and 5A Snider. The Panthers jump into this week’s sectional pairings against the winless Bears of Evansville Central.

17. West Lafayette (9-0)

Last week: 13

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Twin Lakes (1-8)

Ranking rationale: The Red Devils slip in this week’s Power 25, also, through no fault of their own. West Lafayette ripped through the Hoosier Conference and draws a Twins Lake team this week that hasn’t reached double digits in points since Week 3.

18. Whiteland (8-1)

Last week: 20

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Terre Haute North (2-7)

Ranking rationale: The Warriors have regrouped since a 35-21 stumble at Martinsville in Week 6. Impressive wins over Mooresville, Plainfield and Greenwood secured their outright claim to the Mid-State Conference crown.

19. Penn (7-2)

Last week: 24

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. No. 6 Fort Wayne Carroll (9-0)

Ranking rationale: The 6A Kingsmen were 2-2 after losses to Indianapolis Cathedral and Cincinnati St. Xavier (Ohio), but since a 21-20 win over Elkhart, Penn has won four straight by a combined score of 138-10. Penn is a traditional power in the northern half of the state and they’ll begin sectional play on Oct. 28 with a tough draw against No. 6 Fort Wayne Carroll.

20. Merrillville (7-2)

Last week: 16

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Munster (3-6)

Ranking rationale: Last week’s biggest Power 25 upset saw the Pirates fall 35-10 against Chesterton (4-5). Merrillville scored a touchdown just before halftime but not again, snapping a five-game win streak.

21. Mishawaka (8-1)

Last week: 22

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. South Bend Adams (1-8)

Ranking rationale: The Cavemen stayed steady in this week’s Power 25, rising one spot after tallying 54 points in their regular season finale.

22. Gibson Southern (9-0)

Last week: 22

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Vincennes Lincoln (4-5)

Ranking rationale: The traditional 3A powerhouse in Southern Indiana is hopeful of making a run in the upcoming state tournament. The Titans used 551 yards in total offense to get past 4A Boonville and lead into this week’s sectional.

23. Bishop Chatard (5-4)

Last week: 17

Next game: Oct. 21 at Northwestern (2-7)

Ranking rationale: This week’s biggest rankings tumble comes largely from the rise of 6A and 5A schools whose wins have weighed heavier. 3A Chatard has run a gauntlet of top-ranked foes ranging from 4A Roncalli to 6A Cathedral, not to mention a top-ranked Christian Brothers team from Missouri. The 3A state tournament begins this week with the Trojans certainly a top contender.

24. Lafayette Jeff (7-2)

Last week: NR

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Lake Central (4-5)

Ranking rationale: The Bronchos have won 7 of 8 since a season-opening loss to No. 3 Cathedral, and a 32-30 win over No. 25 Kokomo last week vaults Lafayette Jeff into the Power 25.

25. Kokomo (8-1)

Last week: 23

Next game: Oct. 21 at Frankfort (1-8)

Ranking rationale: The WildKats earned their bid in the Power 25 two weeks ago and last week’s 32-30 defeat to 6A Lafayette Jeff did nothing to diminish their belonging in this week’s rankings. Sectional play begins in the 4A ranks this week as Kokomo visits Frankfort.

Other schools considered: Lutheran (Indianapolis), Warren Central, Martinsville, Mooresville, Brebeuf Jesuit, Bloomington South, Lawrence Central

For live updates and complete statewide results, bookmark our Indiana high school football scoreboard: STATEWIDE INDIANA FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

You can also watch dozens of Indiana high school football games live on the NFHS Network: WATCH LIVE ON NFHS NETWORK

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App