Ohio high school football rankings: No. 1 La Salle opens with double OT thriller

No. 5 St. Edward also goes down to the wire with No. 8 Washington.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Steve Montoya
Ohio high school football started the 2020 season with a bang. In what could end up being the game of the year, preseason No. 1 La Salle (Cincinnati) pulled off a 53-52 double overtime win over No. 4 Elder (Cincinnati) on Friday.

In the second overtime, Scott Nieman scored for Elder to go up 52-45. La Salle answered when Gi'Bran Payne took a screen pass and rambled 19 yards into the end zone to pull the Lancers with 52-51. Coach Pat McLaughlin made the gutsy call to go for two and the win and senior quarterback Zach Branam proved to be the hero as he plunged into the end zone to give La Salle the thrilling victory.

Ohio high school football fans can only hope that this opener was a sign of things to come.

Three new teams joined the MaxPreps Top 25 computer rankings this week: No. 16 Lakota West (West Chester), No. 19 Kirtland and No. 21 Northmont (Clayton). Lakota West jumped up a whopping 27 spots after a 10-0 win over preseason No. 9 Colerain (Cincinnati).

How the Top 5 Fared

* No. 1 La Salle defeated No. 4 Elder, 53-52 (2 OT).

* No. 2 Mentor defeated Medina, 37-19


* No. 4 Elder lost to No. 1 La Salle, 53-52 (2 OT).

* No. 5 St. Edward (Lakewood) defeated No. 8 Washington (Massillon), 24-23

Stat stars

Cayden Dougherty, Worthington Kilbourne (Columbus): Hauled in five passes for 154 yards (30.8 average) and two touchdowns during a 26-14 win over Canal Winchester.

Austin Francis, Miami East (Casstown): The junior linebacker and running back had 18 tackles, four for losses, and added 18 carries for 116 yards and his team's only touchdown in a 7-6 win over Twin Valley South. 

Levi Gullion, Piketon: The junior quarterback threw for 312 yards, rushed for 83 more and accounted for six touchdowns in a 44-38 loss to Unioto.

Doug Rakes, Fairview (Sherwood): Completed 19 of 39 passes for 271 yards and six touchdowns in a 47-0 win over Wayne Trace. Rakes also rushed for 58 yards and a score.

Jacob Ray, National Trail (New Paris): Rushed 13 times for 207 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-0 win over Mississinawa Valley.

Game of The Week

As great as La Salle's double-overtime thriller was, people were speaking with equal conviction about St. Edward's wild 24-23 win over Washington that was decided on a double-pass that went from quarterback Christian Ramos to punter Justin Slattery (behind Ramos) to Joshua Kerekes with about four minutes to go.

Games to watch this week

* No. 7 St. Xavier (0-1) at No. 1 La Salle (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday

* No. 2 Mentor (1-0) at No. 15 Euclid (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday

* No. 5 St. Edward (1-0) at No. 9 Archbishop Hoban (Akron) (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday

Ohio Top 25

# School Rec. Str. +/-
1La Salle (Cincinnati)1-058.1--
2Mentor1-034.7--
3PCHS (Pickerington)0-00.0--
4Elder (Cincinnati)0-168.2+2
5St. Edward (Lakewood)1-053.2+3
6Dublin Coffman (Dublin)1-035.3+1
7St. Xavier (Cincinnati)0-158.6-3
8Washington (Massillon)0-156.9-3
9Archbishop Hoban (Akron)1-0-26.6+1
10Central Catholic (Toledo)1-04.5+2
11St. Ignatius (Cleveland)0-00.0--
12Winton Woods (Cincinnati)1-06.5+1
13McKinley (Canton)1-027.7+5
14Avon1-037.2+6
15Euclid1-029.5--
16LWHS (West Chester)1-040.0+27
17Springfield1-028.0-1
18SJJHS (Toledo)1-024.9+5
19Kirtland1-016.9+18
20Colerain (Cincinnati)0-141.5-11
21Northmont (Clayton)1-032.7+8
22WCHS (Westerville)1-028.9-3
23GMHS (Groveport)1-0-1.5+1
24OLHS (Powell)1-015.4+1
25Avon Lake0-142.5-8