MVP Fab 5 Rankings: Week 9
There’s two weeks left and a lot of football to be played, but the final rankings are taking shape.
A couple HUGE games this weekend however will cause some shuffling yet again next week.
Want to see a good game this week? There are plenty of options – consider:
D-VI No. 1 Delphos St. John’s at D-VI No. 2 Marion Local
D-I No. 1 Springfield vs D-I No. 4 Centerville
D-I No. 2 Wayne vs D-I No. 3 Northmont
D-II No. 4 Tecumseh vs D-III No. 4 Tippecanoe
Here are the Week 9 Rankings:
Division I
1. Springfield (7-1): The Wildcats held Beavercreek to 152 total yards in a 34-10 win. Sophomore QB JC Wallace threw for 263 yards and a TD and junior HB George Walker ran for 153 yards and three TDs and caught three passes for 103 yards. This week Springfield hosts Centerville (6-2) in a huge game with GWOC Central Division title and playoff implications. Previous: 1
2. Wayne (5-3): The Warriors continued their upswing with a 34-10 win over Centerville on ESPNU. A fumble return for a TD and a kickoff return for a TD helped put the game away early. Senior QB Braxton Miller also threw for a season-high 225 yards and two TDs. Wayne is 5-1 in its last five games. This week the Warriors hit the road again for a pivotal game at Northmont (6-2). Previous: 5
3. Northmont (6-2): The T-Bolts won their fifth straight with a solid 39-7 win at Fairmont. Sophomore Cameron Belton had a huge game, completing 16-of-25 passes for 292 yards and three TDs. Gaven Kenerly also rushed for 111 yards and two TDs. This week the T-Bolts host Wayne (5-3) in the area’s top big school game. Previous: 4
4. Centerville (6-2): The Elks lost their second straight with a 34-10 setback to Wayne. Centerville managed just eight first downs and 159 total yards. Things don’t get any easier this week with a trip to Springfield (7-1) looming. Previous: 2
5. Troy (6-2): The Trojans playoff hopes and GWOC North title aspirations took a big hit last week with an 18-0 loss to Trotwood. Troy managed just five first downs and 74 yards rushing. This week the Trojans are at Miamisburg (1-7). Previous: 3
Division II
1. Trotwood-Madison (6-2): No one saw this coming: Trotwood 18, Troy 0. The Rams still didn’t explode offensively, but they managed to dominate Troy with their defense. The Trojans mustered just five first downs and 74 yards rushing. LB Nicholas Grigsby also returned an interception 70 yards for a TD. Trotwood can wrap up its third straight GWOC North title with wins over Sidney (0-8) and Butler (3-5) in Weeks 9and 10. Previous: 2
2. Wapakoneta (7-1): The Redskins beat Lima Shawnee 17-0 last week and now get their shot at Kenton (7-1) in what amounts to a Western Buckeye League championship game Friday. Previous: 1
3. Carroll (6-2): The Patriots bounced back from a loss to Alter to beat CJ 18-14. Carroll trailed 14-3 in the third quarter before mounting a comeback. Thomas Milord’s 9-yard TD pass to Michael Nwankwo with eight minutes left was the game-winner. This week the Patriots host a stiff test in McNicholas (6-2). Previous: 4
4. Tecumseh (6-2): The Arrows built a 21-13 third quarter lead but allowed Springfield Shawnee to score 22 unanswered points in a 35-21 loss. The defeat snapped Tecumseh’s six-game winning streak. This week the Arrows have another big test with a road game at Tippecanoe (6-2). Previous: 3
5. Wilmington (6-2): The Hurricane won for the sixth time in their last seven games with a 13-6 decision over Little Miami. Junior RB Damien Tomlinson led the way by rushing for 107 yards and a TD. He also recovered a fumble. This week Wilmington is at Kings (7-1). Buckle up. Previous: 5
Division III
1. Eaton (8-0): The Eagles continue to run rampant. Eaton has allowed just 40 points all season and no team has scored more than seven points on them. Their latest victory was a 35-0 shutout of Franklin. This week Eaton gets a test with a trip to valley View (5-3). Previous: 1
2. Springfield Shawnee (7-1): Winners of seven straight, Shawnee’s latest conquest was an impressive 35-21 win over Tecumseh. Junior QB Brad Jarzab rebounded from fumbles on the Braves first two drives to rush for 176 yards and two TDs. Shawnee has beaten Tippecanoe, Kenton Ridge and Tecumseh the last three weeks. This week the Braves travel to Bellefontaine (4-4). Previous: 3
3. Dunbar (6-2): I forgot to talk about the Wolverines on the Prep Insider. Not sure how I did that, especially since few teams are as a hot as Dunbar right now. The Wolverines won their sixth straight with an impressive 36-28 victory at Cincinnati Taft. This week Dunbar faces Thurgood Marshall (6-2) for the City League title. Previous: 2
4. Tippecanoe (7-1): The Red Devils beat Stebbins 41-9 after leading just 13-9 at half. In the second half Tipp wore out the Indians with its running game. This week a big test looms in visiting Tecumseh (6-2). Previous: 5
5. Elida (6-2): The Bulldogs make their Fab 5 debut after blasting Celina 65-21. Since losing to Kenton in Week 5, Elida has won three straight. This week the Bulldogs travel to Defiance (1-7). Previous: NR
Division IV
1. Alter (7-1): The Knights showed they are still the team to beat with a solid 31-28 come-from-behind win over Fenwick. Alter, which trailed 21-17 in the third quarter, got a lift from its defense, which forced three turnovers. This week the Knights host Roger Bacon (6-2). Previous: 1
2. Clinton-Massie (8-0): The Falcons won their 30th straight regular season game with a 49-0 shutout win over Washington Court House. The score could have been worse, but two C-M first quarter drives ended on downs inside WCH’s 10-yardline. The Falcons tallied 618 yards of offense with senior RB Jordan Scanlon tallying 184 yards and two TDs on 31 carries. This week C-M hosts Madison Plains (1-7). Previous: 2
3. Fenwick (7-1): The Falcons, who tied the program’s best start ever with seven straight wins, suffered their first defeat 31-28 to Alter. Fenwick led 21-17 in the third quarter but couldn’t close the deal. Three turnovers hurt. Still, Fenwick showed it belongs among D-IV’s best. This week the Falcons host Badin (4-4). Previous: 3
4. Carlisle (8-0): The Indians pulled off one of the biggest wins in their history by overcoming a 24-7 third quarter deficit and beating Valley View for the first time in 23 years 34-31. Carlisle scored the winning TD with 13 seconds left. This week the Indians host Preble Shawnee (3-5). Previous: 4
5. Waynesville (6-2): The Spartans enter the Fab 5 on fire. Waynesville has won four straight since a narrow loss to Carlisle and looks to be playoff bound. Junior QB Luke Credit has been extremely strong lately, throwing for 919 yards and 13 TDs in the last three games. This week Waynesville travels to Milton-Union (3-5). Previous: NR
Division V
1. Lima Central Catholic (7-1): Same old story. Since an opening loss to Delphos St. John’s the T-Birds have dominated and outscored their opposition 331-33. In their latest win, an impressive 47-7 dismantling of Bluffton, junior QB Ty O’Connor accounted for 32 first half points. He threw two TDs, ran for a TD, returned an interception for a TD, kicked a FG and booted five PATs. This week LCC hosts Allen East (3-5). Previous: 1
2. Anna (6-2): Since back-to-back losses to Delphos St. John’s and Marion Local, the Rockets have won three straight and have averaged 51 points in those victories. Their latest win was a 35-7 decision over St. Henry. This week Anna hosts Versailles (5-3). Previous: 2
3. Coldwater (4-3): The Cavaliers trailed Marion Local 21-14 at halftime before outscoring the Flyers 28-0 in the second half for a shocking 42-21 win. That is impressive. Sophomore QB Austin Bruns continues to get better with each outing and senior WR Reese Klenke is having arguably the best season of any receiver in the state. This week Coldwater is at New Bremen (2-6). Previous: 3
4. East Clinton (7-1): The Astros won their seventh straight with a 42-12 win over Blanchester. This week EC hosts Clermont Northeastern (3-5). Next week the huge rivalry game with undefeated Clinton-Massie looms. Previous: 5
5. Dixie (6-2): The Greyhounds make their Fab 5 debut after beating Milton-Union 30-6 to secure the program’s first winning season since 1983. Yeah, that’s right…1983. This week Dixie hosts Madison (4-4). Previous: NR
Division VI
1. Delphos St. John’s (8-0): The Blue Jays are one win away from defending their Midwest Athletic Conference title. All that stands between them and another championship is Marion Local (7-1). The two state powers will meet this week in Maria Stein with all the marbles on the table. In DSJ’s most recent win, a 49-0 shutout of Fort Recovery, RB Evan Burgei ran for 121 yards and four TDs on 13 carries. Previous: 1
2. Marion Local (7-1): So did Marion Local get caught looking ahead? Or did it get beat by a better team? Chalk it up to a mixture of both. That’s the only way to describe the Flyers unexpected 42-21 loss to Coldwater. ML led 21-14 at halftime, but the wheels fell off in the second half and Coldwater – playing better ball the final 24 minutes – struck for four TDs. This week we all know what awaits the Flyers – a trip from undefeated Delphos St. John’s. Previous: 2
3. Lehman Catholic (7-1): The Cavaliers won their seventh straight with a 36-15 decision over Delphos Jefferson. Lehman led 28-0 at halftime. Senior RB Kaleb Goins ran for 128 yards and three TDs. This week the Cavs travel to Dayton Christian (5-3). Previous: 3
4. Covington (8-0): The Buccs answered the bell and beat Cross County Conference rival and previously unbeaten Ansonia 28-21. Covington led 21-0 after the first quarter and then used a seven-minute fourth quarter drive that resulted in a 2-yard TD run by Cory Ely to ice the game. This week the Buccs host Arcanum (3-5). Previous: 4
5. Fort Loramie (7-1): The Redskins enter the Fab 5 having won five straight by the combined score of 189-34. Loramie put up 40 points and rolled up 498 yards of offense in a 40-14 win over Dayton Christian last week. Junior RB Cory Brandewie has proven to be a serious threat both on the ground (over 800 yards) and in the passing game. This week the Redskins face a tough test in visiting Cincinnati Summit Country Day (6-2). Previous: NR
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