The TriStateFootball.com Blitz 5 Top 25 poll for week 4 was released today, confirming Princeton as the top‑ranked high‑school football program in the Greater Cincinnati area. The Vikings remain unbeaten at 3‑0, with dominant wins by 21 and 43 points, and will travel to face Sycamore on September 11.
Top of the list
1. Princeton (3‑0, 2‑0) – After a 49‑6 victory over former No. 16 Colerain, the Vikings have been penalized 24 times for 237 yards but still win comfortably. Their next test is a road game against Sycamore.
2. Elder (3‑0) – The Panthers beat No. 12 East Central 42‑7, marking three straight wins over top‑15 opponents, each by at least 32 points. Elder hosts La Salle on September 11.
3. Lakota West (3‑0, 2‑0) – A 35‑10 win at No. 21 Mason highlighted senior running back Kenyon Norman’s 474 yards and seven touchdowns in two games. Lakota West travels to Hamilton next.
Mid‑tier powerhouses
4. Moeller (1‑2) – After a loss to Louisville Trinity, the Crusaders have allowed 31 points in each defeat. They host Christ Presbyterian Academy on September 11.
5. St. Xavier (1‑2) – The Bombers fell 30‑21 to Indianapolis Cathedral and have turned the ball over five times via interceptions. Their next game is at Westerville North.
6. Anderson (2‑1, 2‑0) – A 51‑14 win over Little Miami followed a 59‑point opening‑game loss, but Anderson now enjoys a 14‑point average margin of victory. They travel to #16 Lebanon.
7. Winton Woods (2‑1, 2‑0) – Senior safety Christian Coston leads with three interceptions, five in his last six starts. The Warriors head to Turpin.
8. Lakota East (2‑1, 1‑1) – A narrow 31‑28 win at #13 Oak Hills shows a defense allowing 30 points per game. Lakota East visits #21 Mason.
Local matchups this week
Six week‑4 games feature Blitz 5 teams facing each other:
- #2 Elder hosts #12 La Salle
- #6 Anderson at #16 Lebanon
- #8 Lakota East welcomes #21 Mason
- #15 Oak Hills at #9 Middletown
- #18 Colerain hosts #19 Fairfield
- #12 Withrow travels to #23 Harrison
These contests give coaches a chance to test their squads against familiar opponents before the playoff push begins.
Newcomer Talawanda makes splash
Talawanda bursts onto the scene at No. 25 with a 38‑6 victory over Eaton. The Brave have allowed just 12 points and boast a 36‑point average margin of victory in three weeks. Their next challenge is at Franklin.
Other notable teams
Highland, Covington Catholic, Withrow, La Salle, East Central, Oak Hills, Lebanon, Badin, Colerain, Fairfield, Kings, Mason, Beechwood, Harrison, Wyoming and more round out the top 25. Each program brings unique strengths, from Badin’s stingy 9‑point‑per‑game defense to Wyoming’s +7 turnover ratio.
Teams that fell out of the poll this week include Ryle, while schools such as Goshen, Holy Cross, Indian Hill, Lawrenceburg, Lloyd Memorial, North College Hill and Northwest are knocking on the door for future inclusion.
The Blitz 5 Top 25 remains a valuable barometer of high‑school football talent across the Cincinnati‑area tri‑state region, highlighting programs that excel on the field and in the classroom.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.