MVP Fab 5 Football Rankings: Week 10
There’s one week left before the regular season ends and we crown poll champions. Here’s how things stand down the home stretch.
Week 10 Rankings:
Division I
1. Wayne (6-3): The Warriors won for the sixth time in their last seven games with a 24-7 victory at Northmont and take over the top spot for the first time this year. This is the team most of us thought we’d see at the beginning of the year when the Warriors opened with back-to-back losses to Moeller and Canton McKinley. In the last seven games, senior QB Braxton Miller has thrown for 1,139 yards and eight TDs, while senior RB Anthone Taylor has rushed for 903 yards and eight TDs. A win this week over Fairmont (2-7) and the Warriors are likely in the playoffs – and rightfully so. Previous: 2
4. Centerville (7-2): Before last week’s game at Springfield, everyone was ready to write the Elks off. Now what? Centerville dominated host Springfield and handed the Wildcats their second shutout 14-0. The Elks have already secured a playoff berth and are still in contention for a home game. This week they cap the regular season at Beavercreek (1-9). Previous: 4
3. Northmont (6-3): The T-Bolts had their five-game win streak snapped with a 24-7 loss to Wayne. This week things don’t get any easier with Springfield (7-2) coming to town. The T-Bolts need to win to maintain any playoff hopes. The winner also earns a at least a share of the GWOC Central title. Previous: 3
4. Springfield (7-2): See Northmont. Only the Wildcats win streak (snapped by Centerville 14-0) was at seven games. Springfield is more than likely a playoff team in D-I, Region 3 no matter what. But a win would lock it up. Previous: 1
5. Troy (7-2): The Trojans look like they are going to fall one game shy of several big goals this year. They’ll likely finish second in the GWOC North and although they are currently seventh in computer points in Region 3, a win this week may get them no better than No. 9 in the final seedings. The top eight teams make it. Still – an eight-win season is a huge achievement in its own right. Winless Sidney is the only thing standing between Troy and that goal. Previous: 5
Division II
1. Trotwood-Madison (7-2): Since losing back-to-back games to Wayne and Springfield, the Rams have ripped off four straight wins and are starting to play their best ball as the postseason approaches. Last week Trotwood beat Sidney 57-14. This week the Rams host Butler (4-5) and will secure their third straight GWOC North title with a win. Previous: 1
2. Wapakoneta (7-2): The Redskins lost to Kenton 46-15 but played well. Wapak trailed 22-15 in the third quarter before Kenton scored three TDs in seven minutes to blow it open. This week things don’t get any easier with a road test at Elida (7-2). Win and the Redskins are in the playoffs. Previous: 2
3. Carroll (6-3): After a 4-0 start, the Patriots dropped their third game in the last five, losing 38-7 to Cincinnati McNicholas. A win this week against visiting Fenwick (7-2) is a must f Carroll wants to entertain any hopes of the postseason. And even that may not be enough. Previous: 3
4. Tecumseh (6-3): The Arrows dropped their second straight game 28-21 to Tippecanoe and now find themselves on the playoff bubble. Two weeks ago they lost 35-21 to Springfield Shawnee. Tecumseh has a tough test this week in visiting Bellefontaine (4-5). Previous: 4
5. Wilmington (6-3): The Hurricane lost their second game in three weeks, but there’s no shame in that. After losing to undefeated Turpin 27-20 three weeks ago, Wilmington lost 23-0 to Kings (8-1) this past weekend. Mathematically the Hurricane are still involved in the postseason chase, but a win over visiting West Carrollton (1-8) this week likely doesn’t get it done. Previous: 5
Division III
1. Eaton (9-0): The Eagles rolled into Germantown last week and rocked to the tune of a 56-28 win over host Valley View. Junior QB Cole French had another spectacular game (threw for two TDs, ran for a TD and returned an interception for a TD). This week Eaton goes for 10-0 against visiting Preble County rival Preble Shawnee (3-6). Previous: 1
2. Springfield Shawnee (8-1): The Braves won their eighth straight and survived Bellefontaine 34-31. QB Brad Jarzab carried the ball 23 times for 124 yards and two TDs and also threw for 80 yards and another score. Female place kicker Carly Gregory connected on two 32-yard FGs. This week the Braves host Stebbins (1-8). Previous: 3
3. Tippecanoe (8-1): The Red Devils won their third straight last week with an impressive 28-21 win over Tecumseh. Tipp has already earned a playoff berth and could clinch a home game with a win over visiting Kenton Ridge (6-3). Previous: 4
4. Elida (7-2): The Bulldogs are closing in on the program’s first playoff appearance since 1982. Last week they beat Defiance 35-13 and this week can lock up a postseason berth with a win over visiting Wapakoneta (7-2). Previous: 5
5. Dunbar (6-3): Hmm. Hard to figure out what happened in last week’s 28-20 loss to Thurgood Marshall that cost the Wolverines the City League title and may have cost them the playoffs. Dunbar is still in the hunt but even a win over Meadowdale (1-8) may not get the Wolverines in the postseason. I think it does though. Previous: 2
Division IV
1. Alter (8-1): The Knights jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter and produced an impressive 28-10 win over Roger Bacon. Alter racked up 408 yards of offense while allowing just 139. This week the Knights face archrival Chaminade Julienne (3-6). Previous: 1
2. Clinton-Massie (9-0): The Falcons won their 31st straight regular season game and set a school single-game scoring record with a 76-7 win over Madison Plains. Massie had 610 yards of total offense, including 523 on the ground. This week the rivalry game with East Clinton (8-1) is all that separates the Falcons from 10-0. Previous: 2
3. Carlisle (9-0): For the first time in history, the Indians locked up back-to-back playoff berths with a 65-32 win over Preble Shawnee last week. This week Carlisle will try to win the SWBL Buckeye Division title outright with a victory over host Dixie (7-2). Previous: 4
4. Fenwick (7-2): The Falcons dropped their second straight with a 38-31 OT loss to Hamilton Badin. Not the direction a team wants to be headed come Week 11. As for the playoffs, Fenwick should be in win or lose against host Carroll (6-3) but a victory would right the ship. Previous: 3
5. Waynesville (7-2): The Spartans entered this season with a new coach, new QB and a lot of questions. Now only one remains – will the Spartans make their fourth straight postseason appearance? The answer is “more than likely.” Although there’s a shot they could be left out, a win over Madison (4-5) this week should lock up seed No. 8 in Region 16. Previous: 5
Division V
1. Lima Central Catholic (8-1): Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…Since an opening loss to Delphos St. John’s the T-Birds have dominated and outscored their opposition 373-33. In their latest win, a 42-0 shutout of Allen East, junior QB Ty O’Connor threw for 202 yards and three TDs. This week the T-Birds travel to fellow unbeaten Ada in a game that will decide the Northwest Conference championship. Ada is ranked No. 2 in D-VI. Previous: 1
2. Anna (7-2): The Rockets won their third straight with a 40-16 decision over Versailles. This week Anna is at Parkway (2-7). Win and the Rockets are in the playoffs for the third straight year. Previous: 2
3. Coldwater (6-3): Some didn’t give the Cavaliers much of a chance to extend their playoff string to 14 straight appearances this year, but under new head coach Chip Otten, Coldwater is right in the playoff picture. A win over visiting Minster (5-4) likely lands the program another Week 11 game. Previous: 3
4. East Clinton (8-1): The Astros “control their own destiny” in regards to the playoffs, but that destiny leads through Clarksville and undefeated Clinton-Massie. The Clinton Country rivals meet this week with a lot on the line – including a No. 1 seed for Massie and any seed for East Clinton. Previous: 4
5. Dixie (7-2): The Greyhounds are a long shot for the playoffs but a win over undefeated Carlisle could lock that up along with a share of the SWBL Buckeye Division title. Regardless of what happens against the Indians, Dixie has already had a monumental season. It’s the program’s first winning record since 1982. Previous: 5
Division VI
1. Delphos St. John’s (9-0): The Blue Jays wrapped up their second straight Midwest Athletic Conference title and won their 17th straight MAC game by coming from behind to beat Marion Local 17-13. DSJ scored on its first and last possession – via TD passes from QB Jordan Leininger nonetheless – to beat the host Flyers. ML still had a chance to win but threw an incompletion into the DSJ end zone with 11 seconds left. This week the Flyers host New Bremen (2-7). Previous: 1
2. Marion Local (7-2): See Delphos St. John’s. The Flyers staged an epic with the Blue Jays. This week Marion Local is at Fort Recovery (2-7) in the final tune-up before the playoffs. Previous: 2
3. Lehman Catholic (8-1): Senior RB Kaleb Goins set the school’s career rushing mark with a 200-yard performance against Dayton Christian that pushed him to 4,577 total. Goins scored four TDs in the 53-7 win. This week the Cavaliers face a huge hurdle in rival Fort Loramie (8-1). Previous: 3
4. Covington (9-0): The Buccs jumped on Arcanum early and didn’t let up in a 48-7 win. RB Tyler Noffsinger ran for 98 yards and two TDs on just four carries, while QB Isaiah Winston added 103 yards and two TDs on six carries. This week Covington is at Mississinawa Valley (1-8). Previous: 4
5. Fort Loramie (8-1): The Redskins have won six straight by the combined score of 229-41. Loramie put up 40 points for the second consecutive week in a 40-7 victory over Cincinnati Summit Country Day. The Redskins, who have already secured the school’s second straight and second ever playoff appearance, close with rival Lehman (8-1) who it they will try to beat for the first time ever. Previous: 5
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