By Samuel Houseworth

(8-27-21) The 2021 OHSAA Football season heads into week 2 action.

COMPLETE Houseworth Ratings

D-I

Nothing earth shattering took place in D-I this past weekend. St. X cemented their claim to the top spot in the Projection Index with a 31-14 win against Lakota West. Just up I-75, Moeller climbed into the top 10 with a road win against Lakota East. The game of the night is in the central part of the state, as Pick Central plays host to Elder in a battle of top 10 teams.

D-II

Maybe Hoban will have some competition at the top of D-II. The Eagles of Avon made a statement in a 38-0 road win against Brunswick last Friday, jumping up to #2 in the Projection Index. Meanwhile, just down the road, Olmsted Falls jumped 16 spots to #14 with a 50-6 thrashing of Lorain. Both teams will be tested further by D-I teams in Week 2 as Avon travels to Medina and Olmsted Falls hosts Brunswick.

D-III

Raise your hand if you saw Aurora beating Euclid by 6 touchdowns in Week 1. This early in the season, it’s tough to know if Euclid is down or Aurora is way up. The PRojection Index has both with the Greenman climbing 13 spots all the way to #3. They will head to SVSM on Friday in the Irish’s home opener.

D-IV

That’s what I get for putting Indian Hill as the preseason #1 in D-IV. The Braves suffered their largest defeat since the end of the 2019 season, falling to McNicholas, 28-13 at home. With that, Van Wert takes over as the new #1 after their 47-28 win at Bryan. Though, it will be worth keeping an eye on Region 14 in the northwest part of the state as 3 of the top 4 teams in D-IV come from that region.

D-V

Very little movement at the top of D-V as the top 10 teams went a combined 8-2 in Week 1. The biggest mover of note were the Wildcats of North Union who shutout Pleasant on the road 36-0. If there’s a team to keep an eye on, it will be Eastwood, who just knocked off O-G, a team that went 7-2 last season. The Eagles face D-III Bowling Green on the road this Friday.

D-VI

Coldwater is head and shoulders above the rest of D-VI going into Week 2. Don’t except D-I Oak Hills to give the Cavs any trouble this Friday night. Though, let’s keep an eye on Archbold after their 27-0 shutout win at Genoa this past week. The Blue Streaks will face Liberty-Benton in their home opener, a team ranked in the top 10 of D-V.

D-VII

The top 6 in D-VII all shuffled around with the exception of Marion Local, who held the top spot after dominating Wapak, 31-6 on the road. Fort Loramie looked very impressive in their 40-7 win at Minster. They will get another MAC foe in Week 2 as they play host to Versailles.

MAC

Going 7-3 in non-conference play may seem like a down week for the MAC, but there were no major shockers. The closest was Fort Recovery beating Wayne Trace by -only- 18. But even that is nit picking. Coldwater, Marion Local, and New Bremen are still the teams to beat when the MAC enters conference play in Week 3.

WBL

Celina at Van Wert could be the blowout of the week as the Projection Index has the defending state champs favored by 40 at home. The most interesting game though has to be Shawnee at Bath as both teams are coming off of morale-boosting wins in non-conference play. Shawnee is favored, but if there’s any justice, this contest should come down to the wire.

NWC

So I goofed last week and omitted Leipsic in my analysis. The Vikings fit very well in the competitiveness of the NWC and will be in the middle of the pack, fighting with teams like Spencerville for a playoff spot in D-VII. But this week, they have a great measuring stick contest against Fairview in their home opener.

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