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.
Mt. Vernon and New Palestine are ranked among Indiana's Top 25 teams.
Photo by Brenda Adams-Turk
1. Pickerington Central (Ohio) – 6-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 2/57.7
Last Week (1): Senior
Nick Mosley ran for
four first half touchdowns as the Tigers built a 38-0 lead en route to beating
Reynoldsburg (Ohio) 38-13. Start
OHSAA D-I, Region 3 postseason play this week.
Next Up: 10/9, 7 p.m. vs
Grove City (Ohio) – 2-4
2. Cathedral (Indianapolis) – 7-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 1/64.6
Last Week (2): The Irish beat Elder (Cincinnati) 36-14 for the
first time since 1930 to complete an impressive three-week sweep of Greater Catholic League South Division squads (also beat La Salle and St. Xavier). Cathedral has held its last five opponents to under 100 yards rushing.
Next Up: 10/9, 7 p.m. vs
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory (Indianapolis) – 3-2
3. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) – 0-0 MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 1/74.3
Last Week (NR): The Hawks make their
much-anticipated debut this week after originally having their season scratched. One of the nation’s top teams, SJP is looking to win its third straight PIAA 6A state title and sixth in eight years.
Next Up: 10/9, 7 p.m. vs Life Christian Academy – 1-2
4. Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) – 7-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 2/60.4
Last Week (3): Down 14-7, the Trojans
scored 50 unanswered points to claim a 57-14 victory over
Pike (Indianapolis).
Next Up: 10/9, 7 p.m. at Lawrence North (Indianapolis) – 5-2
5. Archbishop Hoban (Akron) – 5-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 1/61.1
Last Week (4): The Knights
forced three turnovers in the final 15 minutes (and five overall) to rally from a second-half deficit to beat
Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) 27-14. Hoban has a bye week before playing the winner of
Roosevelt (Kent, Ohio)-
University School (Hunting Valley, Ohio) in the second round of the
OHSAA D-II, Region 5 playoffs.
Next Up: 10/16, 7 p.m. vs TBA
6. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) – 5-1MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 4/53.4
Last Week (5): Eagles beat
Benedictine (Cleveland) 31-10 thanks in part to
two interceptions and a blocked kick by the defense. Start
OHSAA D-I, Region 1 postseason play this week.
Next Up: 10/9, 7 p.m. vs
GlenOak (Canton, Ohio) – 0-6
7. Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.) – 3-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 2/51.2
Last Week (6): Senior quarterback
Cole Spencer threw for three touchdowns and ran for another while the Rams defense registered
15 tackles-for-loss in a 43-0 win over
Penn Hills (Pittsburgh).
Next Up: 10/9, 7 p.m. vs
Shaler Area (Pittsburgh) – 0-4
8. Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio) – 6-0MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 7/51.7
Last Week (7): The Shamrocks built a 14-0 halftime lea en route to beating
Hilliard Bradley (Ohio) 28-14. Start
OHSAA D-I, Region 2 postseason play this week.
Next Up: 10/9, 7 p.m. vs
Beavercreek (Ohio) – 0-6
9. Washington (Massillon, Ohio) – 5-1MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 9/50.2
Last Week (8): The Tigers beat archrival
McKinley (Canton, Ohio) 35-7 for their
fifth straight victory in the series. After allowing 81 yards on the first play from scrimmage, the Tigers defense allowed 103 the remainder of the game. Massillon has a bye week before playing the winner of
Walnut Ridge (Columbus)-
Independence (Columbus) in the second round of the
OHSAA D-II, Region 7 playoffs.
Next Up: 10/16, 7 p.m. vs TBA
10. St. Xavier (Cincinnati) – 4-2MaxPreps Computer State Ranking/Rating: 3/54.7
Last Week (9): Junior quarterback
Brogan McCaughey set one record (39 completions), tied another (five touchdown passes) and threw for 556 yards in a 62-37 win over
St. Ignatius (Cleveland). Senior receiver and Penn State recruit
Liam Clifford caught 12 passes for a
school record 300 yards (and two touchdowns) receiving. Start
OHSAA D-I, Region 4 postseason play.
Next Up: 10/9, 7 p.m. vs
Walnut Hills (Cincinnati) – 1-2
Dropped Out:No. 10 Mentor (Ohio) – Beat
Strongsville (Ohio) 41-7
The Next Five* Mentor – 5-1/54.5
* Davison (Mich.) – 3-0/51.4
* Brownsburg (Ind.) – 6-1/48.8
* Central Catholic (Toledo) – 4-0/52.6
* LaSalle (Cincinnati) – 4-2/47.8
Keep An Eye On* Muskego (Wis.) – 2-0/39.4
* Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) – 5-0/47.2
* Northmont (Clayton, Ohio) – 6-0/45
* Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (Indianapolis) – 6-1/48.2
* Westfield (Ind,) – 6-1/48.7
* Peters Township (McMurray, Pa.) – 3-0/43.7
* Cass Tech (Detroit) – 3-0/42.2
* Chardon (Ohio) – 6-0/50.3
* Mona Shores (Mich.) – 3-0/42.1
* Carmel (Ind.) – 5-2/48
* Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.) – 2-0/45.7
* Catholic Central (Grand Rapids, Mich.) – 3-0/39.6
* Belleville (Mich.) – 3-0/40.1
* Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) – 3-0/37.7
* Mt. Vernon (Fortville, Ind.) – 7-0/37.7
* Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.) – 2-0/32.8
* North Central (Indianapolis) – 5-2/38.7
* Warwick (Lititz, Pa.) – 3-0/36.5
* Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.) – 3-0/37.3
* East Lansing (Mich.) – 3-0/37.1
* North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.) – 3-0/38.0
* Bay Port (Green Bay, Wis.) – 0-0/32.3
* Fond du Lac (Wis.) – 0-0/29.8
* Waunakee (Wis.) – 0-0/29.5
* Chaska (Minn.) – 0-0/39.4
* Hutchinson (Minn.) – 0-0/34.9
STATE TOP 20s
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin
