(9-15-26) Well played, Blue Streaks. Well played.

Now, onto the divisions.

DIVISION I

For the second week in a row, we have a new number one in Division I. Upper Arlington rallied late against previously unranked New Albany but could not close the gap. The Golden Bears fell at home, 28-21.

Meanwhile, Elder leapfrogged three teams to claim the top spot in this week’s ranking. The Panthers hold résumé-boosting wins over Covington Catholic (Ky.) and East Central (Ind.). Elder’s two in-state wins were simply dominant, opening with a 35-3 win over Middletown and earning their first GCL win last week against La Salle, 35-0.

The Panthers welcome St. Xavier (Ky.) in Week 5.

DIVISION II

We have already mentioned New Albany’s 28-21 road win against No. 1 (D-I) Upper Arlington. But let’s dig deeper, because this is just another point backing the idea that Division II is the best division in the state.

Further north, Walsh Jesuit defeated St. Ignatius, 31-24. They are the second D-II team to beat the Wildcats after Avon defeated St. Ignatius in the season opener, 22-21. 

Trotwood-Madison suffocated Springfield a week ago, 25-9. At this point, the Rams’ defense looks like one of the best in the state, regardless of division.

And there are not many examples going the other way. Hoban lost at St. Edward, 17-14. That is the only case of a top 15 team in Division II losing to a D-I opponent in 2026.

DIVISION III

Are my columns like the Madden curse?

Bellbrook beats Chaminade-Julienne

Alter earned well-deserved praise for how they started the season, then laid an egg at No. 11 (D-II) Trotwood-Madison, 34-0.

Meanwhile, Tippecanoe jumps three spots to take the top spot away from Ursuline. Since their opening loss, the Red Devils have outscored their opponents, 146-14. This includes handing Fairborn their only loss of the season so far. 

Then you have Celina entering the top 15 following a start that nobody saw coming. The Bulldogs took down defending D-VI state champion St. Henry to open the season. They followed that up by snapping Wapakoneta’s 26-game WBL winning streak. Since then, Celina has taken down two more of the top teams in the WBL: St. Marys and Van Wert. If both teams keep winning, Celina’s Oct. 16 trip to Ottawa-Glandorf could decide the conference.

DIVISION IV

The state’s middle division has started to settle as Shelby, Indian Valley, and Perkins have created separation from the pack. Glenville could appear in Division III next week once the OHSAA comes out with official enrollment numbers.

Looking at teams who could make a Cinderella run in the postseason, Bellevue stands out in a crowded field. The Redmen have pitched two shutouts in four games with their only loss coming to top-ranked Shelby in Week 3, 27-7.

To see if Bellevue really belongs in this conversation, the Redmen host No. 4 Perkins this coming Friday.

DIVISION V

Don’t look now, but Fort Frye is 4-0 and playing the role of heart breaker nearing the halfway point of the season. Ridgewood, West Muskingum, and Waterford are all 3-1 with that lone loss coming to the Cadets.

The secret weapon for Fort Frye is sophomore wide receiver Clayton Tullius, who leads the team with 13 catches, 266 yards, and four touchdowns on the season. 

With Ironton, Wheelersburg and Columbus Academy also lurking, Region 19 suddenly looks much deeper than it did in the preseason.

DIVISION VI

Despite starting 4-0, South Range has been flying under the radar throughout the first half of the season. The Raiders’ offense has been unstoppable, averaging 49.8 points per game in the early going.

Their biggest win to date came in Week 2 at Jeannette (Pa.), a team viewed as one of the contenders in WPIAL Class 1A. The final score? 49-21.

The Raiders will be tested over the next six weeks with No. 11 (D-IV) Poland Seminary, No. 6 (D-V) Girard, and crosstown rival Canfield still on the schedule.

DIVISION VII

Danville took exception

to my idea that there were no state title contenders outside of Marion Local and Hopewell-Loudon.

The Blue Devils jumped two spots after their 52-7 clinic against Fredericktown in their Knox Morrow Conference opener. Danville is now closer to Hopewell-Loudon than they are to the next tier of Division VII teams in Leipsic, Minster, and New Bremen.

The biggest question facing the Blue Devils is simple: Who is going to challenge them? Danville will be, at minimum, a three-touchdown favorite in each of their remaining games. If Mount Gilead cannot keep them honest in Week 5, it’s hard to see anybody else on the schedule doing so in the second half of the season.