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, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Also listed are the Top 20 teams in each state according to the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.
Illinois and New York will play football in 2021.
National acclaim and big-time talent. North Coast football is a force.
Muskego (Wis.) opened the season with a 32-24 win over Arrowhead (Wis.).
Photo by Robert George
@EFrantzMP's High School Football Great Lakes Regional Rankings
1. Pickerington Central (Ohio) – 5-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 2/64.6
Last Week (1): The Tigers beat Lancaster 35-0. Have allowed 12 points in five games.
Next Up: 10/1, 7 p.m. at Reynoldsburg – 3-2
2. Cathedral (Indianapolis) – 6-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 1/64.6
Last Week (3): The Irish gained 403 yards of offense and outrushed La Salle 234-42 en route to beating the Lancers 37-28. Quarterback
Nathan McCahill threw for three touchdowns.
Next Up: 10/2, 7 p.m. vs Elder (Cincinnati) – 3-2
3. Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) – 6-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 2/60.4
Last Week (2): The Trojans recorded five first half turnovers and led 49-0 after the first quarter in a 66-0 win over Lawrence Central.
Next Up: 10/2, 7 p.m. at Pike (Ind.) – 3-3
4. Archbishop Hoban (Akron) – 4-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 1/65.7
Last Week (5): The Knights beat rival St. Vincent-St. Mary (37-9) for the sixth straight time. Hoban held the Irish to 84 total yards.
Next Up: 10/2, 7 p.m. vs Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) – 4-0
5. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) – 4-1MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 4/56.4
Last Week (7): Ahead 35-0 at halftime, the Eagles beat Bishop Sycamore 35-8.
Next Up: 10/3, 7 p.m. at Benedictine – 2-3
6. Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.) – 2-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 2/51.2
Last Week (8): DNP. Highly-anticipated game against Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.) was cancelled after Gateway shut down its high school due to two students testing positive for covid-19.
Next Up: 10/2, 7 p.m. at Penn Hills (Pa.) – 1-2
7. Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio) – 5-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 3/53.6
Last Week (9): The Shamrocks rallied from a 14-0 third quarter deficit to beat Upper Arlington 24-14.
Casey Magyar's 31-yard field goal with 1:42 to go gave Coffman its first lead.
Next Up: 10/2, 7 p.m. vs Hilliard Bradley (Ohio) – 1-4
8. Washington (Massillon, Ohio) – 4-1MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 9/51.1
Last Week (10): The Tigers used two key fourth quarter turnovers to record a 21-14 win over St. Ignatius.
Next Up: 10/3, 2 p.m. vs McKinley (Canton) – 4-1
9. St. Xavier (Cincinnati) – 3-2/55.8MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 5/55.8
Last Week (NR): The Bombers racked up 459 yards of offense and forced five turnovers in a 43-14 win over Moeller that clinched the Greater Catholic League South Division title.
Next Up: 10/3, 1 p.m. vs St. Ignatius – 1-2
10. Mentor (Ohio) – 4-1/54.5MaxPreps Computer State Ranking: 7/54.5
Last Week (NR): Tailback
Brenden Panhorst ran for three touchdowns as the Cardinals built a 38-0 halftime lead en route to beating Elyria 45-21.
Next Up: 10/2, 7 p.m. vs Strongsville (Ohio) – 2-2
Dropped Out:No. 4 Brownsburg (Ind.) – lost 43-42 to Westfield (Ind.)
No. 6 LaSalle (Cincinnati) – lost 37-28 to Cathedral (Indianapolis)
The Next Five* Brownsburg (Ind.) – 5-1/48.2
* LaSalle (Cincinnati) – 3-2/50.7
* Central Catholic (Toledo) – 3-0/55.1
* Muskego (Wis.) – 1-0/39.3
* Davison (Mich.) – 2-0/50.5
Keep An Eye On* Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) – 4-0/49.2
* Northmont (Clayton, Ohio) – 5-0/46.7
* Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (Indianapolis) – 5-1/44
* Westfield (Ind,) – 5-1/44.7
* Peters Township (McMurray, Pa.) – 2-0/42.6
* Mona Shores (Mich.) – 2-0/42
* Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) – 3-0/38.7
* Cass Tech (Detroit) – 2-0/41.3
* Elder (Cincinnati) – 3-2/43
* Carmel (Ind.) – 4-2/45.1
* Chardon (Ohio) – 5-0/53.5
* Merrillville (Ind.) – 5-0/35.3
* Mt. Vernon (Fortville, Ind.) – 6-0/36.3
* Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.) – 1-0/36.7
* North Central (Indianapolis) – 4-2/37.7
* Belleville (Mich.) – 2-0/40.9
* Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.) – 1-0/42.9
* Catholic Central (Grand Rapids, Mich.) – 2-0/41.3
* Warwick (Lititz, Pa.) – 2-0/37.1
* West Bloomfield (Mich.) – 2-0/36.2
* Valparaiso (Ind.) – 3-0/27.6
* Bay Port (Green Bay, Wis.) – 0-0/32.5
* Fond du Lac (Wis.) – 0-0/29.2
* Central Valley (Monaca, Pa.) – 3-0/34.5
* New Palestine (Ind.) – 4-1/26.9
* Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.) – 2-0/37.9
* Waunakee (Wis.) – 0-0/28.9
* Chaska (Minn.) – 0-0/39.2
* Hutchinson (Minn.) – 0-0/34.3
* Mooresville (Ind.) – 6-0/35.8
* East Lansing 9Mich.) – 2-0/36.8
STATE TOP 20s
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin