SBLive Ohio Top 25: Lakota West remains on top, Winton Woods keeps climbing

The big question going into Week 8 is where does St. Xavier fall in the SBLive Ohio Top 25?

With that joke out of the way, there was not much juggling at the top of the rankings this week. However, Division, I, Region 4 teams in Cincinnati and Division II, Region 5 teams in northeast Ohio continue to overpopulate the Top 25 as the playoff picture starts to take shape across the state.

1. Lakota West, West Chester (7-0) Last Week: 1

The Firebirds continued their dominance on Friday with a 37-7 win over Mason. Before Week 7, Mason was a perfect 5-0 in Greater Miami Conference play with a defense that rivaled the Firebirds' for the best in the conference. However, Mitch Bolden tore it apart with 258 yards in the air and four touchdowns on the night. The Firebirds head to Fairfield this Friday.

2. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (7-0) Last Week: 3

With three weeks left in the season, the Crusaders have already clinched their first conference championship since 2018. Jordan Marshall was unstoppable in Moeller's 42-14 win over Elder on Friday night. The junior carried the ball 10 times for 138 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half. Luke Dunn was solid under center, going 12-for-14 with 133 yards and a touchdown. Moeller heads up to St. Ignatius this Saturday.

3. Archbishop Hoban, Akron (7-0) Last Week: 2

For a half, the Knights looked human. Going into halftime, Hoban was tied with St. Francis (New York) at 7-7. Then Lamar Sperling happened. The University at Buffalo commit and Ohio Mr. Football favorite ran for three touchdowns en route to 237 total rushing yards as the Knights ran away from St. Francis, 42-15. Hoban heads on the road for three straight to round out the regular season with their first stop at St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday.

4. Princeton, Cincinnati (6-1) Last Week: 4

For the fourth time this season, the Vikings defense pitched a shutout with a 42-0 win against Oak Hills this past Friday. Oak Hills converted just one of nine third down conversions throughout the game, unable to gain any traction. RJ West had another great performance, going 10-of-11 with 199 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and another on the ground. The Vikings host Middletown on Friday.

5. Massillon (6-1) Last Week: 5

Middletown (Delaware) was actually up 12-0 at one point in the second quarter. Then Massillon broke off five straight touchdowns, never looking back en route to a 42-24 win over the team from Delaware. Willtrell Hartson carried the ball 28 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns. The Tigers host Canisius (New York) on Friday.

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

The Eagles have now won five straight against St. Ignatius, but none as lopsided as this. Literally. St. Edward steamrolled its rivals, 48-6, in the most one-sided episode of this rivalry in over 40 years. Casey Bullock led the St. Edward offense with three touchdowns including two to Kyan Mason in the second half. The Eagles will host Football North (Ontario, Canada) in their final regular season home game on Friday.

7. Toledo Central Catholic (6-1) Last Week: 7

Clay looked to be the biggest threat to another Central Catholic conference championship. So much for that. The Irish made quick work of the Eagles in a 45-7 blowout. Central Catholic will head to Whitmer on Friday in a battle between the only two teams that are still undefeated in Three Rivers Athletic Conference play.

8. Avon (6-1) Last Week: 9

Back-to-back 60-point games for the Eagles as they took down Olmsted Falls, 63-42. The win gives Avon sole possession of first place in the Southwestern Conference. Sam DeTillio was unstoppable, finishing with 370 passing yards and six touchdowns. Ethan Holbrook caught five of those TD passes. Avon will host Berea-Midpark this Friday.

9. Medina (6-1) Last Week: 10

It was like arena football in northeast Ohio. Over 1,000 yards of offense. Over 900 yards passing. 11 touchdowns through the air. Five players with over 100 yards receiving. But, at the end of the night, Medina came away with the win, 52-38 over Mentor, taking first place of the Greater Cleveland Conference. The Bees head to Brunswick on Friday for another GCC showdown.

10. Riverside, Painesville (6-1) Last Week: 13

The potential clash between Riverside and Hoban in the Division II, Region 5 playoffs is the stuff that movies are made of. The Beavers finished last season 7-5 and were a postseason afterthought. Hoban has been the best team in northeast Ohio all season long. After the Beavers summoned the running clock in their blowout of Eastlake North, it seems as if a postseason crash course is inevitable.

11. Highland, Medina (7-0) Last Week: 14

In Week One, the Hornets allowed 20 points to Berea-Midpark in an opening week win. They have allowed 13 points in the six weeks since COMBINED. This week was the third straight shutout for Highland as they stomped Revere, 49-0. It could be much of the same as the Hornets head to Cuyahoga Falls on Friday.

12. Elder, Cincinnati (5-2) Last Week: 8

The Panthers' run defense had no answer for Jordan Marshall on Friday night in their 42-14 loss to Moeller. The game was competitive at 7-7 in the first until Alec Weeder broke off a 67-yard touchdown run in the final seconds of the quarter. After that, Moeller put up 28 unanswered points in the second to take an insurmountable lead into the locker rooms. Elder will look to bounce back at Roncalli (Indiana) on Friday.

13. Winton Woods, Cincinnati (7-0) Last Week: 15

It took all 48 minutes of football, but the defending Division II state champions kept their perfect season alive with a 28-23 win over Kings on Friday. The Warriors were playing catch-up throughout the first half until Vance George found Trey Cornist in the endzone to end the first half, 14-10. Trey Cornist would carry one in midway through the fourth quarter to put the Warriors up for good. Cornist hit the century mark for his fifth straight game with 134 rushing yards. Winton Woods heads to Milford this Friday.

14. Fairfield (6-1) Last Week: 16

That was the rebound the Indians needed. Talon Fisher had a hand in all four of the Fairfield touchdowns on Friday, passing for three and rushing for one in the Indians' 34-13 win at Hamilton. Fisher will need to bring his A game as Fairfield hosts top-ranked Lakota West on Friday.

15. Springfield (5-1) Last Week: 21

After being the victims of a shocking upset, the Wildcats responded with their best offensive output on the season, routing Springboro, 54-14. The Wildcats compiled 615 yards of total offense including Bryce Schondelmyer with a career day under center. The senior passed for 492 yards and five touchdowns on the night with both Daylen Bradley and Anthony Brown passing the century mark in receiving yards. Springfield heads to Centerville in a game that could decide the Greater Western Ohio Conference.

16. Walsh Jesuit, Cuyahoga Falls (5-2) Last Week: 18

It was all Ryan Kerscher all night for the Warriors. Kerscher was 20-of-29 passing with a school-record 385 yards and five touchdowns as Walsh Jesuit won their final home game of the regular season, 52-23 over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin. The Warriors host Lake Catholic in Week 8.

17. Centerville (6-1) Last Week: 20

The Elks bounced back on Friday with a 37-6 win at Beavercreek. The Beavers' rushing offense went nowhere, gaining only 24 yards on 38 carries for a rushing average of 0.6 yards on the night. Emable Wakilongo led the Elks offense with 76 yards on 10 carries. The Elks host Springfield in a top 25 showdown on Friday night.

18. Hudson (7-0) Last Week: 25

With a 28-14 win at Nordonia, the Explorers have a trio of wins against teams with a .700 win percentage or better this season. The first came on opening night against Solon with their second just two weeks ago at Wadsworth. If the Explorers can take down North Royalton at home on Friday, a 10-0 regular season is almost inevitable.

19. Avon Lake (6-1) Last Week: 22

No surprises this week as the Shoremen took down a winless Amherst squad, 55-14. That makes it 18 straight wins for the Shoremen over the Comets. The Shoremen head to Elyria on Friday.

20. West Holmes, Millersburg (7-0) Last Week: 23

West Holmes made quick work of Lexington in a 48-14 blowout of the Minutemen. The Knights have won 22 of their last 23 games dating back to last season. West Holmes will host Ashland on Friday.

21. Kings, Kings Mills (6-1) Last Week: 17

The Knights suffered their first loss of the season in a back-and-forth contest against defending Division II state champion Winton Woods, 28-23. Will Kocher kept the Knights close with 177 passing yards, 82 rushing yards, and a trio of touchdowns on the night. The Knights host Lebanon this Friday.

22. Marion Local, Maria Stein (7-0) Last Week: 24

The Flyers continue to climb the rankings with the big schools after notching their 23rd straight win. This one came at the hands of cross-county rival Fort Recovery, a 47-0 shutout. The Flyers head to Anna this Friday.

23. Wayne, Huber Heights (5-2) Last Week: NR

Three wins in a row for the Warriors as their offense has rediscovered their spark. Wayne racked up over 500 yards of total offense in a 49-14 win at Northmont on Friday. Tyrell Lewis passed for 215 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 102 yards and two more scores. The Warriors host Fairmont this coming Friday.

24. Austintown-Fitch (6-1) Last Week: NR

Fitch wasn't gone long from the top 25. A 35-3 shutdown of Strongsville along with some key big school losses sees the Falcons return to the top 25 with several Division II, Region 5 brethren. Fitch will head to Wadsworth on Friday. Speaking of...

25. Wadsworth (5-2) Last Week: NR

The Grizzlies have feasted on some subpar opposition throughout their schedule. That trend continued with a 49-3 win at Stow-Munroe Falls this past Friday. Things become more challenging as they host Fitch in a non-conference top 25 showdown this Friday.