@EFrantzMP’s High School Football Great Lakes Region Rankings

The Great Lakes states are defined - in large - by silos, steeples and Friday night stadium lights. With competition thriving, here's our weekly take on the top high school programs in that region playing football in the fall of 2020: Indiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota have moved football to 2021.

National acclaim and big-time talent. North Coast football is a force.

Brownsburg (Ind.) and receiver Luke Lacey outlasted St. Xavier (Cincinnati) 30-24 in overtime.

Photo by Tyler Hart

@EFrantzMP's High School Football Great Lakes Regional Rankings

1. La Salle (Cincinnati) – 1-0
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Points Ratings: 1/68.2
Last Week (1): The Lancers survived Elder (Cincinnati) 53-52 in double overtime. Quarterback Zach Branam hit Gi'Bran Payne for a 19-yard touchdown and then scored the winning two-point conversion. Branam threw three touchdowns and ran for two more, while Payne scored four touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving).
Next Up: 9/4, 7 p.m. vs No. 7 St. Xavier (Cincinnati) – 0-1

2. Pickerington Central (Ohio) – 1-0
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Points Ratings: 3/61.4
Last Week (2): Beat rival Pickerington North (Ohio) 35-9. Running back Nick Mosley scored three touchdowns and Northwestern recruit Garner Wallace, who was making his first start at quarterback, ran for 98 yards and a touchdown. Defensive back Alex Styles had an interception and a blocked punt, which he recovered for a touchdown.
Next Up: 9/4, 7 p.m. at Newark (Ohio) – 0-1

3. Mentor (Ohio) – 1-0
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Points Ratings: 2/62.7
Last Week (3): Scored 23 unanswered points to rally from a 19-14 deficit and beat Medina (Ohio) 37-19 in head coach Brad Gray’s first game. Running back Riley Coughlin had 115 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while quarterback Ian Kipp threw two touchdowns.
Next Up: 9/4, 7 p.m. at Euclid (Ohio) – 1-0

4. Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) – 2-0
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Points Ratings: 4/52
Last Week (4): The Trojans shut out Warren Central (Indianapolis) 20-0 for their first regular season win over the Warriors since 2015. Running back Carson Steele ran for a touchdown and quarterback Tayven Jackson threw a touchdown pass to tight end Garrett Keith.
Next Up: 9/4, 7 p.m. vs Carmel (Ind.) – 1-1 

5. Brownsburg (Ind.) – 2-0
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 1/58.6
Last Week (6): The Bulldogs converted timely turnovers and stormed back from a 24-10 fourth quarter deficit to defeat St. Xavier (Cincinnati) 30-24 in overtime. Quarterback Ben Easters threw two fourth quarter touchdown passes to receiver Luke Lacey, including one with 32 seconds left to force OT. Defensive back Rashon Myles led the Bulldog defense (forced four turnovers) with 11 tackles.
Next Up: 9/4, 7 p.m. vs Franklin Central (Indianapolis) – 1-1

6. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) – 1-0
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 8/56.9
Last Week (9): The Eagles rallied from a 17-7 halftime deficit to beat host Washington (Massillon, Ohio) 24-23. The go ahead touchdown was a 72-yard double pass from receiver Justin Slattery to Joshua Kerekes with 4:01 to play.  
Next Up: 9/5, 7:00 p.m. vs Archbishop Hoban (Akron) – 1-0

7. Cathedral (Indianapolis) – 2-0
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 2/52.5
Last Week (NR): The Irish outscored host Carmel 21-0 in the third-quarter to build a 41-13 lead before beating the Greyhounds 44-28. Quarterback Nathan McCahill tossed three touchdowns.
Next Up: 9/4, 7 p.m. at Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) – 1-1

8. Washington (Massillon, Ohio) – 0-1
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Points Ratings: 5/53.2
Last Week (5): Ohio State recruit and receiver Jayden Ballard caught two touchdown passes and had an interception, but the Tigers fell 24-23 to St. Edward. Massillon led 17-7 at halftime.
Next Up: 9/4, 7:00 p.m. vs Bishop Sycamore (Columbus) – 0-0

9. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) – 0-0
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 3/47
Last Week (8): DNP. But suffered a blow when defensive tackle and Pitt commit Elliot Donald (first team preseason All-Great Lakes) elected to sit out his senior season.
Next Up: 9/11, 7 p.m. vs Canon-McMillan (Canonsburg, Pa.) – 0-0 

10. Muskego (Wis.) – 0-0
MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 1/46
Last Week (10): DNP.
Next Up: 9/4, 7 p.m. vs Waukesha South (Wis.) – 0-0

Dropped Out:
No. 7 St. Xavier (Cincinnati) - lost 30-24 in OT to Brownsburg (Ind.)

* St. Xavier (Cincinnati) – 0-1/ 53.5

* Elder (Cincinnati) – 0-1/58.1
* Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.) – 0-0/50.8
* Dublin Coffman (Ohio) – 1-0/53.9
* New Palestine (Ind.) – 1-0/52.5

Keep An Eye On

* Lawrence North (Indianapolis) – 2-0/40.8
* Peters Township (McMurray, Pa.) – 0-0/43.3
* Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.) – 0-0/43.4
* Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (Indianapolis) – 2-0/42.4
* Archbishop Hoban (Akron) – 1-0/48.2
* Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.) – 0-0/42.9
* Warwick (Lititz, Pa.) – 0-0/37.6
* Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) – 1-0/41.5
* St. Ignatius (Cleveland) – 0-0/47.4
* Carmel (Ind.) – 1-1/40.6
* Bay Port (Green Bay, Wis.) – 0-0/33
* Valparaiso (Ind.) – 1-0/29.5
* Fond du Lac (Wis.) – 0-0/33.3
* Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) – 0-0/38.9
* Central Valley (Monaca, Pa.) – 0-0/39
* Warren Central (Indianapolis) – 0-1/32.3