CLEVELAND, Ohio — This past weekend was a tough one for two of Ohio’s top high school football teams as both defending state champions faced unexpected setbacks. The Massillon Tigers, fresh off their title in the OHSAA Division II, suffered a home loss to the Bergen Catholic Crusaders from New Jersey, with a final score of 35-21 on Friday night. Meanwhile, the St. Edward Eagles, who claimed the Division I championship last season, were stunned by Boyle County from Kentucky, who pulled off a 38-21 victory on Saturday.
In other news, the defending Division VI state champions, Kirtland, managed to secure a thrilling 22-21 win against Perry in a rain-soaked triple overtime match. This hard-fought victory kept Kirtland’s record clean at 3-0 and reflected their toughness as a defending champion.
How did these results affect the state rankings? The rankings have been updated, reflecting the latest games and upcoming matchups.
Starting with the top teams:
1. **St. Edward** (2-1) — Lost to Boyle County (Ky.) 38-21; next game Saturday against Cincinnati Elder.
2. **Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller** (3-0) — Beat East Central (Ind.) 42-13; they will face Benedictine Military School (Ga.) on Saturday.
3. **Mentor** (3-0) — Triumphed over Erie (Pa.) McDowell 50-14; they play at Medina this Friday.
4. **Cincinnati Winton Woods** (3-0) — Won against Milford 22-3 and is set to play at Cincinnati Turpin this Friday.
5. **Cincinnati Elder** (2-0) — Beat Springboro 30-6; will go against St. Edward on Saturday.
Also on the list are several rising teams. For instance, Olentangy Liberty is now 3-0 after defeating Gahanna Lincoln 31-0, and they’ll compete this Friday at Olentangy Berlin.
As the season continues, fans and teams alike will closely follow how these performances influence future rankings and playoff prospects. With many top teams set to clash in the coming weeks, it looks to be an exciting season ahead for high school football in Ohio.
Stay tuned for more results and updates throughout the week.
