SBLive Ohio Top 25: Top four remain unchanged, Massillon jumps into Top 5

Last week, we had a Division VI team enter the conversation with Marion Local. This week, we introduce a Division IV team in our updated SBLive Ohio Top 25 as West Holmes makes its debut. 

With questions surrounding the level of football around Columbus, there are openings for some of the middle and small schools to make a name for themselves in the weekly rankings. These two are not the only ones in the top 25 conversation. Van Wert, South Range, Wyoming, and Glenville have all stirred up chatter across the Buckeye State. 

There are still four weeks left to get in before the postseason starts. Which teams will make a move?

1. Lakota West, West Chester (6-0) Last Week: 1

The Firebirds rolled over Hamilton, 38-0 on Friday. Mitch Bolden threw for three touchdowns while the Lakota West defense held Hamilton to 91 yards of offense. The Firebirds' schedule gets toughest with 5-1 Mason at home in Week 7, followed by 5-1 Fairfield in Week 8.

2. Archbishop Hoban, Akron (6-0) Last Week: 2

It took all four quarters, but the Knights remained perfect with a 32-20 win over rival Walsh Jesuit. Mr. Football front runner Lamar Sperling led the Hoban offense with 158 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Knights host St. Francis (New York) this Friday in Akron.

3. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (6-0) Last Week: 3

La Salle had no answers for the Moeller offense. 432 total yards for the Crusaders as they cruised to a 47-14 win over La Salle. Luke Dunn threw for 212 yards while Alex Weeder ran the ball in for two touchdowns. The Crusaders are only one win away from clinching their first Greater Catholic League South championship since 2018. Standing in their way is top 10 rival No. 9 Elder, who is looking for their first GCL South title since 2014.

4. Princeton, Cincinnati (5-1) Last Week: 4

The Vikings split their back-to-back games against top 10 opponents with a 28-14 road win against Fairfield on Saturday. Any hopes of a Fairfield comeback were dashed when RJ West hit Jordan Houston for a 75-yard touchdown strike late in the third quarter. Princeton hosts Oak Hills in Greater Miami Conference action this Friday.

5. Massillon (5-1) Last Week: 8

The Tigers have back-to-back wins over top 25 opponents as they head into the final stretch of their schedule. Friday night, Massillon shredded the Fitch defense, posting a 49-28 win over the previously undefeated Falcons. Massillon hosts Middletown (Delaware) this coming Friday.

6. St. Edward, Lakewood (5-1) Last Week: 9

Marvin Bell was the star for St. Edward on Saturday with 79 yards on the ground, complemented by three touchdowns. The Eagles shutdown Rock Creek Christian (Maryland), 37-6. St. Edward heads up the road on Saturday to face No. 11 St. Ignatius in a top 25 showdown.

7. Toledo Central Catholic (5-1) Last Week: 5

It was all Fighting Irish from kickoff to the final horn as TCC shut out Lima Senior, 56-0. This marks the 22nd straight win for the Irish in Three Rivers Athletic Conference play. Chris Edmonds ran for 113 yards and four touchdowns. The Irish host 5-1 Clay this Friday.

8. Elder, Cincinnati (5-1) Last Week: 11

Up until this week, the Panthers have been winning, but haven't embarrassed any of their opponents. That was being saved for conference rival St. X this past Friday. Elder pulled away in the second quarter on the shoulders of three Ben Schoster touchdown runs. The senior quarterback threw for another score as the Panthers won 42-10. Elder heads to Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati to face No. 3 Moeller on Friday.

9. Avon (5-1) Last Week: 13

It wasn't long ago that North Ridgeville was auditioning for a starring role in the SBLive Top 25. It turns out it was only a guest appearance after Avon blew them out them 63-7 this past week. Sam DeTillio threw for 321 yards and four touchdowns in only two quarters of action before resting up in the second half. Avon heads on the road Friday to face 5-1 Olmsted Falls.

10. Medina (5-1) Last Week: 14

For the first time all season, the Bees didn't break any of their own records in offensive production. Instead, they held Euclid to only one score in a 48-7 blowout on the road. Medina hosts No. 12 Mentor in one of the most anticipated games in the Greater Cleveland area this week.

11. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (4-1) Last Week: 15

In the most pivotal moments, Eugene Gibbons shined for the Wildcats' defense. A Gibbons sack forced a 4th down in Wildcats territory in the first half. He recorded three more sacks on the River Rouge first two drives of the third quarter. The senior defensive end finished the night with a program record five sacks as St. Ignatius took down River Rouge, 21-14. The Wildcats host No. 6 St. Edward on Friday night at Byers Field.

12. Mentor (3-2) Last Week 17

Last season, a loss to Brunswick was the beginning of the end for the Cardinals. From there, Mentor would lose three in a row, go on the road for the first round of the playoffs and fall to St. Ignatius. This year's meeting was a different story as the Cardinals earned revenge, 35-14 at Brunswick. The Cardinals are a game above .500 after a rare bye week. They head into Week 7, facing one of the best offenses in the state in No. 10 Medina.

13. Riverside, Painesville (5-1) Last Week: 18

The Beavers have found another level in the past couple of weeks. This week, that level resulted in a 58-14 win at Mayfield. Mikey Maloney threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns while also running for another score. Riverside will host winless Eastlake North on Friday.

14. Highland, Medina (6-0) Last Week: 21

The Hornets have been brutalizing opponents all season long and Friday was no exception. 69-0 was the final against Kent Roosevelt only a week after the Rough Riders put up 59 points in a win over Copley. Highland's only test the rest of the way will be at 5-1 Aurora in Week 9. Until then, they host Revere and head to Cuyahoga Falls.

15. Winton Woods, Cincinnati (6-0) Last Week: 16

The Warriors got a scare in what should have been an easy win over Anderson. Winton Woods was trailing Anderson 24-21 going into halftime but three Trey Cornist touchdowns to open the second half righted the ship. The Warriors would tally five touchdowns in the third en route to a 62-31 destruction of Anderson. Trey Cornist finished with 343 rushing yards on 18 carries and six touchdowns. Winton Woods heads to No. 17 Kings on Friday for the de facto Eastern Cincinnati Conference title on the line.

16. Fairfield (5-1) Last Week: 7

The Indians used their rushing offense to get to 5-0. However, throughout the night, Princeton had answers for everything Fairfield threw at them and defeated the Indians 28-14. Jordon Jackson led the Indians in rushing with 51 yards on 15 carries and no touchdowns. There was no room to run as the Princeton linebacking corps suffocated a strong running attack. The Indians will look to rebound at Hamilton on Friday.

17. Kings, Kings Mills (6-0) Last Week: 12

The Knights just kept pounding the ball into the West Clermont defense, tallying 214 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns in a 34-14 win over the Wolves. Will Kocher was a superb game manager, completing 19-for-24 with 194 yards and two touchdowns. The Knights have their biggest game in years this Friday when they host No. 15 Winton Woods in what should decide the ECC championship.

18. Walsh Jesuit, Cuyahoga Falls (4-2) Last Week: 19

The Warriors opened up the game vs. rival Hoban with a 7-0 lead, but it was all Knights afterward. The 32-20 loss marks the Warriors' ninth straight loss to Hoban in their ongoing rivalry. Walsh Jesuit will look to get another tally mark in the win column when they head to Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on Friday.

19. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (2-4) Last Week: 6

Any excuses made for the Bombers' early season struggles have gone out the window. With three losses to three of the best teams in the Midwest, forgiveness was easy to find. But a 32-point loss at the hands of Elder must have the Bomber faithful wondering if the postseason will be one-and-done come October. The Bombers head to Louisville to face Trinity (Kentucky) on Friday.

20. Centerville (5-1) Last Week: 20

Five turnovers doomed the Elks as they fell to Greater Western Ohio Conference rival Springboro this past Friday. Centerville was up 17-7 after a Jackson Courville field goal midway through the fourth quarter. Springboro came back with two touchdowns, the latter scored with only 14 seconds left on the clock. The Elks head on the road to face Beavercreek in GWOC action.

21. Springfield (4-1) Last Week: 10

When a team plays Fairmont, they know exactly what they are getting - a team that will run the ball down your throat for 48 minutes and force you to stop them. Fairmont did just that to Springfield, compiling 193 yards on the ground in a 24-21 win over the previously undefeated Wildcats. Senior Daylen Bradley had a big day for the Wildcats, hauling in eight catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Springfield will look to bounce back when they host Springboro on Friday.

22. Avon Lake (5-1) Last Week: 24

The Shoremen took care of business against Midview on Friday, summoning the running clock in a 56-7 win in Southwestern Conference play. The Shoremen tallied 510 yards of offense, led by Jeremy Dzik, who threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Wade Nelson ran for 91 yards and three touchdowns himself. The Shoremen head to winless Amherst on Friday.

23. West Holmes, Millersburg (6-0) Last Week: NR

After a perfect start, the Division IV school from the middle of Amish country has cracked the SBLive Ohio Top 25. The Knights came off a 48-6 win over Wooster, which was on par for their wins throughout the season. Their closest game to date was a 37-7 win against Mansfield Senior in Week 4. This team has no reason not to go 10-0 in the regular season. The postseason could be interesting with teams like Van Wert and Glenville waiting for them in Region 14.

24. Marion Local, Maria Stein (6-0) Last Week: 25

Versailles scored on their opening possession, but it was all Flyers all night after that. Marion Local punched in touchdown after touchdown before eating 10 minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter to secure a 27-7 win over the defending Division V state champion. The Flyers host Fort Recovery on Friday

25. Hudson (6-0) Last Week: NR

The Explorers fell out of favor early after a 14-13 win over Solon, followed by an easy slate through early September. However, after a win over a strong Wadsworth team and a blowout of Brecksville, the Explorers are back on the map. They will be tested once again when they head to 5-1 Nordonia on Friday.