Brock Netter

Brock is SOSA's primary writer and has worked for the Coshocton Tribune, the Kankakee Daily Journal (Ill.), the Vinton-Jackson Courier and the Jackson Telegram. He's a six-time award-winning journalist, a lifelong WWE fan, a suffering Bengals fan and calls the sidelines his home.

HSFB Power Rankings: Introducing the area’s top 10 teams after Week 5

Take a look at our HSFB power rankings after Week 5.

Brock Netter, Editor

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

We have officially turned the page on the first half of the high school football season, and now we begin the most important stretch.

These next five weeks will define each respective team’s destiny, whether that’s playing in Week 11 or buying a ticket to watch someone else play in Week 11.

It’s especially important now that the OHSAA thankfully reduced the playoff format from 16 teams per region to 12.

Let’s jump into Week 6. Here are this week’s Power Rankings.

10. Amanda-Clearcreek (2-3)

Week 5 Result: 31-14 win over Circleville

Previous Ranking: NR … —

Welcome to the show, Amanda-Clearcreek. There was some debate among three or four teams about who to put right here, but given what all the Aces have endured this season, they have earned this spot. Handing Circleville its first loss and hanging tough against Bloom-Carroll, Licking Valley AND West Jefferson? This team is battle-tested.

9. Jackson (3-2)

Week 5 Result: 49-10 loss to Ironton

Previous Ranking: 8 … -1

Was it ugly? Yes. However, one thing I won’t do is fault any program for taking on challenges that make them better. It’s strange to say that any team has good losses, and Jackson surely is not in the ‘any loss is a good loss’ business. But losing to two undefeated teams isn’t anything to look past. Now onto conference play with hopes to win a fifth straight FAC title.

8. Chillicothe (3-2)

Week 5 Result: 18-13 win over Western Brown

Previous Ranking: NR … —

It’s tough to ignore what the Cavaliers have done in the last three weeks. For those who haven’t seen Cartae Ligon play, do yourself a favor and go to Miami Trace — more on the Panthers later — tonight to watch. They also eclipsed last season’s win total last week, and more wins will be coming. This team’s stock, as a whole, is rising.

7. Eastern (5-0)

Week 5 Result: 41-6 win over Southern

Previous Ranking: 9 … +2

Expect scores like last Friday to continue piling up for the Eagles. There’s just way too much firepower and experience for some opponents to truly compete with a team that could be back in a regional final. But there’s a long way to go between now and then, including a couple of potential undefeated showdowns.

6. Nelsonville-York (5-0)

Week 5 Result: 29-28 win over Waterford

Previous Ranking: 6 … —

Halloween isn’t here yet, but last Friday got really spooky for the Buckeyes. They were down 21-7 at one point, and 21-14 entering the fourth quarter. But they somehow managed to climb back and escape Waterford. Maybe they got caught looking ahead, who knows. I’m sure it was a tough film session, but they remain undefeated.

Wheelersburg’s Kenyon Evans has the Pirates sitting at 5-0 entering Week 6.
CREDIT: *Derrick Webb/SOSA*

5. Athens (5-0)

Week 5 Result: 52-0 win over Vinton County

Previous Ranking: 7 … +2

Can we just take a moment to give Athens’ defense some credit? They’ve pitched four shutouts this season, which some teams haven’t done over the course of the last five seasons. Also, Briar Thomas throwing a touchdown on every other pass is downright silly, in the most respectful way possible. The train keeps on moving.

4. Unioto (5-0)

Week 5 Result: 47-0 win over Piketon

Previous Ranking: 4 … —

Two conference games down, five more to go. Not much is going to change with this capsule on a weekly basis. But speaking of defensive credit, we’ve got to show some love to the Shermans who have yet to surrender 10 points in a game. The machine continues to roll right along. Now for a trip to Frankfort.

3. Miami Trace (5-0)

Week 5 Result: 35-27 win over Western Brown

Previous Ranking: 3 … —

The Panthers appeared to be on track for a running clock after a 21-7 first quarter lead, and then took their feet completely off the gas for the next two quarters. Another possible case of looking ahead before completing the task at hand? It’s possible. But nonetheless, there’s still a zero in that loss column heading into a showdown with Chillicothe.

2. Wheelersburg (5-0)

Week 5 Result: 52-7 win over Valley

Previous Ranking: 2 … —

Some teams don’t score 52 points in a span of three games, yet the Pirates did it in just two quarters. That’s just wild. Needless to say, the Pirates were a fine-tuned machine last week as they rolled Valley to stay unblemished on the season. Now for the biggest test of the season as their Division V rival Ironton pays a visit. Get to Wheelersburg early, parking will be limited.

1. Ironton (5-0)

Week 5 Result: 49-10 win over Jackson

Previous Ranking: 1 … —

Arrive. Dominate. Win. Repeat. Put that on a t-shirt because it’s Ironton’s motto. The Fighting Tigers have too much firepower, and Jackson was just the latest victim. It’ll be a sea of orange and black in Wheelersburg, where the Tigers will take the 25-mile drive to. What fans will witness is what will most likely be a small glimpse of a regional final weeks from now.