Impact Sports Cincy HS Top 10 – Playoff Edition

The regular season is done and over with in Ohio and Indiana, while the Bluegrass state has one week remaining until the playoffs start. The regular season in Ohio was one to remember. Four out of the ten teams in the ISC rankings finished the regular season unbeaten. Winton Woods and Lakota West have been the cream of the crop in Division 1 and 2 this season. While the Moeller Crusaders were number 1 almost all season, Lakota West took advantage of Moeller losing to Lakewood St. Edward two weeks ago. Moeller rebounded this past weekend with a huge win over Detroit Martin Luther King Jr. 30-14. That was the type of win that the Crusaders needed before they head into the playoffs. Staying in Division 1, Lakota West claimed the GMC title over the team that has been the class of the conference for many years, Colerain. Lakota West has a lot of momentum as they head into the their first round matchup against Lebanon.

Winton Woods stayed hot, this time finishing up the regular season with a 44-8 win over Lebanon. Winton Woods secured their first 10-0 season and one that helps their momentum as they look to defend their state championship. Kings finished the regular season on a high note as well, taking care of business against Anderson. The other two perfect teams in the rankings, the Badin Rams and Wyoming Cowboys showed why they are two of the top teams in the area. Badin knocked off McNicholas 42-7, while Wyoming captured the Cincinnati Hills Conference with a huge 23-7 win over Madeira.

For the second week in a row, the Mason Comets came away with a huge victory. Two weeks ago, the Comets pounded Fairfield and this week, it was the Princeton Vikings that were the victims. Defense was the name of the game in the Comets 10-7 victory on the road at Princeton. The Elder Panthers, who got back into the rankings, came away with another big win, this time it was a 31-7 win over GCL rival, LaSalle.

In Kentucky, the Beechwood Tigers thumped Newport 57-0 setting up a nice end of the season matchup with Newport Central Catholic. In the Hoosier state, the playoffs started and East Central got off on the right foot, a 53-0 victory over Edgewood in the first round of the playoffs.

Once again, Chris Asbrock ranks the top 10 teams in the tri-state. Here are the final High School Football top 10 rankings presented to you by Darkhawk Nutrition.

1. Winton Woods (10-0) (Last Week rank: 1)

Last Week: Beat Lebanon, 44-8
Next Game: Friday vs. LaSalle 7 p.m. (OHSAA Playoffs)

2. Lakota West (10-0) (Last Week rank: 2)

Last Week: Beat Colerain, 31-14
Next Game: Friday vs. Lebanon, 7 p.m. (OHSAA Playoffs)

3. Moeller (9-1) (Last Week rank: 3)

Last Week: Beat Detroit Martin Luther King Jr., 30-14
Next Game: Friday vs. Hamilton (at Norwood Shea Stadium), 7 p.m. (OHSAA Playoffs)

4. Kings (9-1) (Last Week rank: 5)

Last Week: Beat Anderson, 41-26
Next Game: Friday vs. Sidney, 7 p.m. (OHSAA Playoffs)

5. Badin (10-0) (Last Week rank: 6)

Last Week: Beat McNicholas, 42-7
Next Game: Friday vs. Woodward (at Hamilton High School), 7 p.m. (OHSAA Playoffs)

6. Wyoming (10-0) (Last Week rank: 7)

Last Week: Beat Madeira, 23-7
Next Game: Friday vs. Waverly, 7 p.m. (OHSAA Playoffs)

7. Mason (8-2) (Last Week rank: 9)

Last Week: Beat Princeton, 10-7
Next Game: Friday vs. Colerain, 7 p.m (OHSAA Playoffs)

8. Beechwood (KY) (8-1) (Last Week rank: 8)

Last Week: Beat Newport, 57-0
Next Game: Friday at Newport Central Catholic, 7 p.m

9. Elder (8-2) (Last Week rank: NR)

Last Week: Beat LaSalle, 31-7
Next Game: Friday vs. Middletown, 7 p.m (OHSAA Playoffs)

10. East Central (In.) (7-2) (Last Week rank: 6)

Last Week: Beat Edgewood, 53-0
Next Game: Friday at Silver Creek (Class 4A, Sectional 23 Semi-final playoff game), 7 p.m

On the outside looking in: Milford (8-2), Princeton (8-2), Highlands (7-2), Covington Catholic (7-2), Fairfield (7-3)

PLAYOFF PAIRINGS:

Division 1 (Region 4):

16 Hamilton (3-7) at 1 Moeller (9-1)
15 Middletown (3-7) at 2 Elder (8-2)
14 Lebanon (4-6) at 3 Lakota West (10-0)
13 Oak Hills (5-5) at 4 Springboro (7-3)
12 Colerain (4-6) at 5 Mason (8-2)
11 West Clermont (5-5) at 6 Princeton (8-2)
10 Western Hills (5-5) at 7 Milford (8-2)
9 St. Xavier (4-6) at 8 Fairfield (7-3)

Division 2 (Region 8):

16 La Salle (1-8) at 1 Winton Woods (10-0)
15 Little Miami (3-7) at 2 Xenia (10-0)
14 Lima Senior (3-7) at 3 Edgewood (9-1)
13 Sidney (4-6) at 4 Kings (9-1)
12 Loveland (4-6) at 5 Withrow (7-3)
11 Riverside Stebbins (4-5) at 6 Piqua (8-2)
10 Anderson (5-5) at 7 Troy (7-3)
9 Ross (5-5) at 8 Northwest (6-4)

Division 3 (Region 12):

16 Woodward (5-5) vs. 1 Badin (10-0) (at Hamilton High School)
15 Mount Healthy (5-5) at 2 Western Brown (9-1)
14 Hillsboro (4-6) at 3 Tipp City Tippecanoe (9-1)
13 Wilmington (5-5) at 4 Wapakoneta (9-1)
12 Celina (6-4) at 5 Bellbrook (8-2)
11 Trotwood-Madison (6-4) at 6 Dayton Chaminade Julienne (6-4)
10 Monroe (6-4) vs. 7 Hughes (6-3) (at Western Hills High School)
9 New Richmond (7-3) at 8 New Carlisle Tecumseh (6-4)

Division 4 (Region 16):

16 Waverly (5-5) at 1 Wyoming (10-0)
15 Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (5-5) at 2 Taft (8-2) (at Stargel Stadium)
14 Eaton (6-4) at 3 Fenwick (7-3)
13 Clinton-Massie (5-5) at 4 Chillicothe Unioto (9-1)
12 St. Paris Graham (5-5) at 5 Urbana (5-5)
11 Dayton Northridge (7-2) at 6 McNicholas (5-5)
10 Kettering Archbishop Alter (5-5) at 7 Reading (7-3)
9 Roger Bacon (6-4) at 8 Springfield Shawnee (6-4)

The playoffs are finally here in Ohio and there are some absolutely fantastic matchups. The top 16 teams in each region made the playoffs and has set up some intrigue in this first weekend of playoff football. In Division 1, the biggest matchup is St. Xavier traveling to Fairfield. The top teams in each division don’t seem to be tested heavily this week. The top ranked team in the city, the Moeller Crusaders will host GMC team, the Hamilton Big Blue in the first round. The big matchup in Division 2, sees GCL side, the LaSalle Lancers travel to Winton Woods to face the high-powered and defending state champion Warriors. Despite the 1-8 record, the Lancers will pose a threat to Winton Woods.

The Division 3 playoffs have a lot of intrigue as top seeded Badin will look to book a place in the state final. First they have to get past Woodward. A victory would set up a big matchup with the winner of New Richmond and New Carlisle Tecumseh. Other teams that will be looking to take Badin down are Drew Novak and Western Brown, along with Tipp City. Novak is one of the top quarterbacks in the state and is one to watch as the playoffs continue. Division 4 has some big games as well with Wyoming looking to keep up their momentum as they host Waverly. The two biggest games in the region are CHCA traveling to face Taft and Clinton Massie heading to face Chillicothe Unioto. Don’t expect to see too many upsets in this first round in the top two divisions but there could be some major shakeup in division 3 and 4 after Friday night.

This will once again be a great and exciting weekend of high school football in the tri-state area. Stay tuned as ISC will be live at the LaSalle and Winton Woods playoff tilt.

Chris Asbrock is a staff writer and analyst for Impact Sports Cincinnati and can be followed on Twitter Follow @iamchrisasbrock and Follow @ISCincy