Houseworth’s Ohio High School Football Rankings Heading Into Week 7

(9-30-21) Samuel Houseworth’s OHSAA HS Football Rankings heading into Week 7.

D–I

The top 4 in D-I stay the same as St X, St Eds, Medina, and Lakota West pick up convincing wins this past week. Springfield climbs into the top 5 following back-to-back shutout wins against Beavercreek and Kettering Fairmont. Ohio high school football will be nationally televised this Friday as Mentor squares off against Penn State recruit Drew Allar and undefeated Medina.

D-II

It appears things are starting to stablize at the top of D-II with Avon and TCC holding the top spots in back-to-back wins despite their 4-2 records. Hoban has fallen on hard times, tumbling down to 8th in the Projection Index with no eye-popping wins to their name. One game to keep an eye on is #3 La Salle as they host nationally ranked Indianapolis Cathedral this Friday night.

D-III

No doubt about it now: the Hilltoppers of Chardon are the odds-on favorite to win D-III this year. Following their 49-0 beatdown of previously undefeated Kenston, even the tough path through Region 9 isn’t going to prevent them from being the favorites. Their closest competition will be #2 Aurora, who heads to 5-1 Cleveland Heights for a huge measuring stick contest this Friday.

D-IV

After an opening week loss to Anderson, Clinton-Massie’s defense has been impenetrable, allowing 7.8 points per game in their last 4 games. Things continue to be crowded at the top of D-IV with Ursuline, Bloom-Carroll, West Branch, and Bellevue all within striking distance of that #1 spot. There should be more clarity as nearly all the top D-IV teams have stiff competition this week in Western Brown at Clinton-Massie, Ursuline at SVSM, and Bellevue at Perkins.

D-V

Oh, and I forgot to mention Perry. They have a tough contest this week: Against the top-ranked team in D-V: Kirtland, the team with the active 46-game winning streak. The next tier of teams in D-V, like Eastwood, Versailles, and South Range, should be competitve, but Kirtland is the clear favorite to take home another state title.

D-VI

While we’ve only talked about Archbold and Coldwater in D-VI, there are several teams that could give them fits come playoff time. Archbold will have to go through #5 Carey if they want to get to the state semis, a team that just beat Bucyrus 65-0. As for Coldwater, #11 Mechanicsburg always finds a way to pair up with MAC schools in the state playoffs. The Indians have been eliminated by a MAC school in the 6 of the last 7 playoffs.

D-VII

Another week and the same trio own the top 3 in Marion Local, New Bremen, and LCC. St. Henry jumped to #4 after owning Mercer County rival Fort Recovery, 41-7, while McComb drops one spot to #5. The Redskins will have their hands full with Coldwater at home this Friday night.

Midwest Athletic Conference

Maybe, just maybe, Delphos St. John’s will make the postseason! They should have no issues with Parkway this week. Then in two weeks, they head to Fort Recovery, a game that could be a play-in game for the expanded state playoffs. But more eyes will be on Coldwater at Marion Local that week, I’m sure.

Western Buckeye League

At 4-2, Elida is in good position to make the postseason despite earlier doubts by this contributor. All of the other .500 or better teams in the WBL should be locks. The only real question mark is Defiance, who could go 3-7 if they beat Celina next week. The bigger question is if wins over Napeleon, Kenton, and Celina will be enough to make the playoffs in D-III.

Northwest Conference

Aside from Leipsic replacing Allen East at the #2 team in the Projection Index, nothing much as changed in the NWC. Columbus Grove is looking unbeatable, while Crestview hits the meat of their schedule this week.