Ohio high school football rankings: Pickerington Central is the new No. 1

After tough opening loss, St. Xavier beats previous No. 1 La Salle to pave way for Pickerington Central.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Steve Montoya
There's a No. 1 team in this week's Ohio Top 25 high school football rankings. Pickerington Central moved up two places to the top spot following a resounding 49-0 victory over Newark, which also vaulted the Tigers to No. 23 in the country.

St. Xavier (Cincinnati) is a always a team to watch in Ohio. Following a tough 30-24 loss on national television in Week 1, the Bombers bounced back to beat prevous No. 1 La Salle (Cincinnati) 24-10 to move up to No. 4.

New teams to enter the Top 25 were No. 25 Benedictine (Cleveland), No. 22 Olentangy (Lewis Center) (22) and 16th-ranked Pickerington North, which bounced back from a season-opening loss to defeat Westerville Central, 34-20 behind 359 team rushing yards. Sophomore Dawaun Green carried the ball 13 times for 140 yards and three scores in the win.

Stat stars

Josiah Cooper, Harding (Fairport Harbor): Rushed 14 times for 138 yards and four touchdowns, added a 38-yard kickoff return and averaged 24.7 yards on three punt returns in a 41-0 win over Chalker (Southington).

Billy Levak, Nordonia (Macedonia): Completed 29 of 46 for 499 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for a score in a 41-40 win over Barberton.

Kale Long, Riverside (De Graff): Rushed 12 times for 294 yards and four touchdowns in a 39-7 win over Lehman Catholic (Sidney).

Tyler Oberle, West Jefferson: Had eight catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns, and added nine tackles and two pass deflections in a 37-29 loss to Mechanicsburg.

Jack Shultz, Calvert (Tiffin): Completed 15 of 21 for 278 yards and accounted for five touchdowns in a 54-0 win over St. Joseph Central Catholic (Fremont).

Ohio Top 25

# School Rec. Str. +/-
1PCHS (Pickerington)2-014.2+2
2La Salle (Cincinnati)1-156.0-1
3Mentor2-035.7-1
4St. Xavier (Cincinnati)1-160.1+3
5Archbishop Hoban (Akron)2-010.3+4
6Dublin Coffman (Dublin)2-034.4--
7Elder (Cincinnati)1-135.4-3
8Central Catholic (Toledo)2-025.0+2
9St. Edward (Lakewood)1-151.8-4
10Washington (Massillon)1-126.4-2
11St. Ignatius (Cleveland)0-00.0--
12Euclid1-146.0+3
13Avon2-025.9+1
14LWHS (West Chester)2-024.3+2
15McKinley (Canton)2-016.4-2
16PNHS (Pickerington)1-149.0+11
17SJJHS (Toledo)1-137.7+1
18Springfield2-027.2-1
19Winton Woods (Cincinnati)2-012.5-7
20GMHS (Groveport)2-05.4+3
21Northmont (Clayton)2-023.4--
22Olentangy (Lewis Center)2-024.5+4
23Kirtland2-012.2-4
24Colerain (Cincinnati)1-118.2-4
25Benedictine (Cleveland)2-023.0+5