MVP’s Fab 5 Football Rankings: week 4
Well, last week’s HUGE game between Centerville and Alter has come and gone. We can all take a collective sigh of relief. But…now it’s time to tune up for another meeting of unbeatens and No. 1s. That’s right there’s another.
This Saturday, D-V No. 1 Anna travels to D-VI No. 1 Delphos St. John’s in a clash of small school titans. Midwest Athletic Conference title implications are on the line as are a boatload of playoff points. Interestingly enough, both these teams are excelling after replacing two of the best QBs in school history (Ann’s Wes Hunsucker and DSJ’s Wes Ulm). Their replacements – Jay Meyer (Anna) and Jordan Leininger (DSJ) – have shined.
Here are a couple other key games this weekend:
St. Henry at Coldwater
Trotwood-Madison at Wayne
Cleveland St. Ignatius at Centerville
Carroll at Badin
Here are the Week 4 Rankings:
Division I
1. Centerville (3-0): The Elks dominated Alter in the highly-anticipated meeting between the schools, winning 24-7 and limiting the Knights to minus-2 yards rushing. This week things get even more difficult with 10-time state champion Cleveland St. Ignatius (2-1) heading south for a Saturday game. The last time these two played was in the 1991 D-I state championship game, which the Wildcats won 24-21. Previous: 1
2. Springfield (2-1): The Wildcats move into the No. 2 spot after winning on the road (18-7) at previously unbeaten Sycamore. Don’t expect Springfield to stumble this weekend with Miamisburg (1-2) on tap. Next week though a big game with Trotwood-Madison looms. Previous: 3
3. Wayne (1-2): The Warriors finally got in the win column with a 31-7 win over Seneca (Ky.). Senior QB Braxton Miller returned to the line-up, and the Wayne offense offered some help in the form of Anthone Taylor (131 yards rushing) and Seth Stuart (100 yards). The win sets up a big meeting this week with D-II No. 1 Trotwood-Madison. Previous: 4
4. Northmont (1-2): The T-Bolts held a 14-13 halftime advantage over visiting Cincinnati Moeller before the wheels fell off in the second half of a 51-14 loss. Northmont has been Jekyll and Hyde this season, but ups and downs are something you anticipate with a sophomore QB facing one of the state’s toughest non-league schedules. This week the T-Bolts get a “breather” against winless Sidney. Previous: 2
5. Troy (2-1): The Trojans used a 36-point second quarter – yeah that’s a lot of points – to overwhelm visiting and previously unbeaten Fairborn 49-6. This week an intriguing match-up with Springboro (2-1) awaits. Previous: 5
Division II
1. Trotwood-Madison (3-0): The Rams have yet to look as talented as their roster suggests. That being said, they are still undefeated thanks to last week’s 24-16 win over Beavercreek. This week things get decidedly tougher with a trip to Wayne (1-2). Previous: 1
2. Carroll (3-0): The Patriots might be the area’s top D-II program. They are certainly it’s largest. Behind a huge offensive line, Carroll continues to roll (beat Bellbrook 37-7). This weekend the Patriots get their first taste of the GCL slate with a road game at Badin (2-1). Previous: 2
3. Piqua (2-1): After Trotwood and Carroll, the Miami Valley’s D-II talent pool isn’t very deep right now. Piqua earns the nod at No. 3 this week after beating Xenia 27-21. A home game with Lebanon (1-2) awaits this week. Previous: 4
4. Tecumseh (2-1): The Arrows have won two in a row after losing to Fairborn in the opener. This week a solid test arrives in New Carlisle in the form of Urbana (2-1). Previous: 5
5. Wapakoneta (2-1): The Redskins had a two-game win streak snapped with a 22-13 loss to Celina. This week winless Defiance comes to town. Previous: 3
Division III
1. Tippecanoe (3-0): The Red Devils remain No. 1 with their 21-7 win over Milton-Union, but the verdict is still out. Tipp’s first three opponents are a combined 1-8. Their next foe – visiting Indian Lake – is 1-2. Previous: 1
2. Eaton (3-0): The Eagles beat host Greenon 41-7 in a game that was over by half. Junior QB Cole French threw three TD passes, ran for another score and kicked four PATs – in the first quarter. This week Brookville (2-1) comes to town as the Eagles open SWBL Southwest Division play. Previous: 2
3. Chaminade-Julienne (2-1): The Eagles took out some frustration on Ponitz, winning 71-6. CJ returned four interceptions for TDs in the game. This week things get decidedly more difficult with a trip to undefeated Roger Bacon. Previous: 3
4. Kenton Ridge (3-0): The Cougars haven’t scored less than 37 points in a game yet and that trend shouldn’t stop this week with Greenon (1-2) coming to town. Kenton Ridge’s latest triumph was a 41-7 rout of Graham. Previous: 4
5. Dunbar (1-2): The Wolverines notched their first win with 39-14 decision over visiting Columbus Whetstone. This week winless Belmont awaits. Next week a tough road game at D-I Findlay is on the docket. Previous: 5
Division IV
1. Alter (2-1): The Knights had their 32-game (on field) winning streak snapped and didn’t have a favorable performance against D-I No. 1 Centerville, losing 24-7. Time to move on. The Knights schedule doesn’t get any easier with six of their remaining opponents currently undefeated or with winning records. That lone foe with a losing record though arrives this week in the form of Purcell-Marian (1-2). Previous: 1
2. Clinton-Massie (3-0): The Falcons survived a trip to Plain City by edging host Jonathan Alder 28-27. Senior DE Charles Harpen blocked a PAT with less than two minutes to go to preserve the win. This week the Falcons, who had 304 yards rushing against the Pioneers, welcome Hillsboro (1-2) to Clarksville. Previous: 2
3. Ottawa-Glandorf (3-0): The Titans have won their three games 104-13, but their first three opponents are a combined 0-9. Things change in a big way this week with No. 2 and undefeated Kenton coming to Ottawa. The Wildcats have scored 174 points. Previous: 4
4. Carlisle (3-0): The Indians have allowed just 14 points this season in wins over Franklin, Brookville and most recently Oakwood. A trip to Waynesville (2-1) looms this weekend. Previous: 5
5. Fenwick (3-0): The Falcons replace Valley View, which they beat 43-34, in the rankings. Fenwick will get a chance to add to their credentials this weekend with a trip to undefeated Cincinnati McNicholas on tap. Previous: NR
Division V
1. Anna (3-0): The Rockets posted yet another impressive win, this one their first victory ever over Coldwater, 38-28. Anna led 35-14 in the second half. Things don’t get any easier this week with a trip to D-VI No. 1 and undefeated Delphos St. John’s. Expect that one to be packed – it’s Saturday night in Delphos. Oh yeah, next week, Anna gets Marion Local. Previous: 1
2. Lima Central Catholic (2-1): The T-Birds rolled to a 55-7 win over Paulding with junior QB Tyler O’Connor accounting for 28 points. O’Connor threw three TD passes, ran for another score and kicked four PATs. This week LCC gets a good road test at Columbus Gove (2-1). Previous: 2
3. St. Henry (2-1): The Redskins opened up MAC play by throttling Parkway 42-6. Now things get tough. This week St. Henry will try to snap a 14-game losing streak to archrival Coldwater (which dates back to 1996). And the game is AT Coldwater. Previous: 4
4. Versailles (3-0): The Tigers got a ton of love from AP voters who put them No. 2 in the state in the AP D-V poll. They enter the Fab 5 poll at No. 4 after convincing wins over Celina, Graham and Fort Recovery. Parkway (1-2) is on twp this week, but Coldwater looms in Week 5. Previous: NR
5. West Liberty-Salem (3-0): The Tigers blasted winless Riverside 66-18 last week. This week they welcome Triad (2-1) to West Lib. Previous: 5
Division VI
1. Delphos St. John’s (3-0): The Blue Jays face their third 2009 playoff team in four games and this one is the stiffest test to date – undefeated and D-V No. 1 Anna. The Rockets come to Delphos Saturday night for an early season showdown that has Midwest Athletic Conference title implications all over it. Previous: 1
2. Marion Local (3-0): The Flyers slapped a 27-0 shutout on winless New Bremen and this week tangle with rival and winless Minster. In Week 5 a trip to D-V No. 1 Anna awaits. Previous: 2
3. Covington (3-0): Led by Tyler Noffsinger (four TDs, one on a kickoff return) and Cory Ely (24 carries, 224 yards and two TDs), the Buccs beat previously unbeaten Bradford 56-22 in the 66th meeting between the schools. A trip to Tri-County North (1-2) is on the docket this week. Previous: 3
4. Lehman Catholic (2-1): Senior RB Kaleb Goins posted his third straight game with over 180 yards rushing and the Cavaliers beat Indian Lake 34-6. This week a long road trip awaits with a game at Bloomdale Elmwood (2-1). Previous: 4
5. Ansonia (3-0): The Tigers most recent blowout win was a 41-14 decision over National Trail. Through three weeks, Ansonia is outscoring the opposition 46-9. This week Bradford (2-1) is on tap. Previous: 5
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