Impact Sports Cincy HS Top 10 – 2023 Season Preview

The high school football season is back and once again looking to be a fantastic year. There looks to be a battle at the top all season between the Moeller Crusaders and the Lakota West Firebirds. It was a battle for the top spot all last season as well. The tri-state area and the state of Ohio has proved to be one of the hotbeds for high school football and this season will be no different. Each and every Friday night here during football season is one that is a can’t miss, especially when there is the abundance of top Division 1 talent on display.

Chris Asbrock has once again ranked the top 10 teams in the tri-state, this time for the 2023 season. Without further ado, here are the ISC High School Football Top 10 rankings presented to you by Darkhawk Nutrition.

1. Moeller (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Game: N/A
Next Game: Friday vs. Ben Davis (IN), 7 p.m.

2. Lakota West (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Game: N/A
Next Game: Friday at #3 St. Xavier, 7 p.m.

3. St. Xavier (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Game: N/A
Next Game: Friday vs. #2 Lakota West, 7 p.m.

4. Princeton (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Game: N/A
Next Game: Friday at Elyria, 7 p.m.

5. Elder (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Game: N/A
Next Game: Friday vs. Pickerington North, 7 p.m.

6. Winton Woods (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Game: N/A
Next Game: Friday at Trotwood Madison, 7 p.m.

7. Fairfield (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Game: N/A
Next Game: Friday at Huber Heights Wayne, 7 p.m.

8. East Central (IN) (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Game: N/A
Next Game: Friday at Lawrenceburg, 7 p.m.

9. Beechwood (KY) (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Game: N/A
Next Game: Friday at McNicholas, 7 p.m.

10. Anderson (0-0) (Last Week rank: N/A)

Last Week: N/A
Next Game: Friday at South Oldham (KY), 7 p.m.

On the outside looking in: Withrow, Covington Catholic

The Crusaders boast one of, if not the top running back in the country, Jordan Marshall. Moeller has won back to back regional championships and look to capture a third, all while pushing for another OHSAA State Championship. Lakota West went undefeated in the regular season before falling to the Moeller Crusaders in the regional final last season. This season, the Firebirds are looking to get right back into the regional championship game and into the state final. The St. X Bombers are a perennial power in the area and will once again be a force to be reckoned with. The combination of the GCL schedule and mixed with a tough non-conference slate, the Bombers will be battle-tested as they head into the state playoffs. The last few seasons have been really nice for the Princeton Vikings, that is until they get to the playoffs. The Vikings can’t seem to get over the hump when it matters most, the playoffs. If Princeton can get the job done, this athletic and talented team will be very dangerous moving forward. The Elder Panthers are well, the Elder Panthers. You know what you are going to get from them each year, a team that is very good and continues to get better as the season progresses. Winton Woods continues to be a disgustingly talented team each and every year. This year will be no different. Despite the fact they lost some top talent to college, they bring back some great players who will be helping them march towards the state championship. The Fairfield Indians are a team that seems to get lost in the shuffle in the Greater Miami Conference. Battling the likes of Lakota West and Princeton in the GMC, the Indians are one team to not overlook. While Lakota West is the cream of the crop in the conference, the Indians are primed to capitalize should there be any slipup from the top two. The defending Class 4A State Champions in Indiana, East Central Trojans look to remain the top dog in the state of Indiana. An early season battle against Lawrenceburg will be a tough test for this great team. As Ric Flair once said, “to be the man, you have to beat the man.” That saying holds true when it comes to the Beechwood Tigers. Beechwood has won two straight Class 2A Kentucky state championships and are pushing for another championship. The Tigers will be there until someone can knock them off. The Anderson Raptors are one of the top offensive teams in the tri-state. They throw the ball all around and will do that again this season. Their top two offensive players, quarterback Griffin Scalf and receiver Santos Alvarez graduated so the Raptors have to replace those weapons. Head Coach Evan Dreyer has a riverboat gambler mentality and that will pay benefits for the Raptors heading into the playoffs.

Chris Asbrock is the owner, writer and analyst for Impact Sports Cincinnati and can be followed on Twitter Follow @iamchrisasbrock and Follow @ISCincy