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High school football rankings | Greater Akron power poll - top 4 plays each other Friday

brad bournival, akron beacon journal
·4 min read

After six weeks of upheaval in the Greater Akron high school football power poll, things have settled down.

Well, at least for a week with the top four teams in the big school divisions playing each other. That means next week’s power poll should be shuffled once again. There’s also another team in the small school divisions making its way back to the rankings. Here’s what we’ve got:

Divisions I-II

1. Hoban (5-0)

Previous ranking: 1

Eli Lee and Hoban are four weeks away from going wire to wire in the Greater Akron high school football power poll.
Eli Lee and Hoban are four weeks away from going wire to wire in the Greater Akron high school football power poll.

The Knights had a week off and got a chance to scout Walsh Jesuit before its Week 7 home game with the Warriors. The game everyone circled before the season started is upon us and it has a ton of backstories. Walsh is ranked first in the Division II, Region 2 standings. Hoban is third. The Knights beat Walsh 32-20 last year.

Up next: Walsh Jesuit (6-0), 7 p.m. Friday

2. Walsh Jesuit (6-0)

Previous ranking: 2

Walsh Jesuit's Lucas Weaver filled in admirably for the Warriors in a 43-13 win over St. Vincent-St. Mary
Walsh Jesuit's Lucas Weaver filled in admirably for the Warriors in a 43-13 win over St. Vincent-St. Mary

The Warriors took a big hit when two-way standout and All-Ohio linebacker Brock Sherman left the game with an injury against St. Vincent-St. Mary. Lucas Weaver stepped in admirably with a 176-yard, two-TD performance in a 43-13 win over St. Vincent-St. Mary. They’ll need more of the same this week.

Up next: at Hoban (5-0), 7 p.m. Friday

3. Nordonia (6-0, 3-0)

Previous ranking: 3

Brendan Hermensky has the Nordonia Knights rolling into a Week 7 matchup with Wadsworth undefeated.
Brendan Hermensky has the Nordonia Knights rolling into a Week 7 matchup with Wadsworth undefeated.

The Knights fell behind twice in a Suburban League National Conference game against Twinsburg but scored 24 of the final 31 points to beat the Tigers 38-31. Things don’t get any easier with Hudson (4-2, 2-1) coming to town after a six-point loss to Wadsworth. The Grizzlies won 41-14 last season.

Up next: vs. Wadsworth (5-1, 3-0), 7 p.m. Friday

4. Wadsworth (5-1, 3-0)

Previous ranking: 4

Quarterback Will Stack has been a big part of Wadsworth's success this season.
Quarterback Will Stack has been a big part of Wadsworth's success this season.

The Grizzlies spotted Hudson a 13-0 lead last week before scoring 19 second-half points to remain undefeated in the Suburban League National Conference. Wadsworth snapped a four-game losing streak against the Explorers and made the Week 7 matchup with Nordonia that much bigger.

Up next: at Nordonia (6-0, 3-0), 7 p.m. Friday

5. Hudson (4-2, 2-1)

Previous ranking: 5

Peyton Neher and the Hudson Explorers have a big game with Brecksville on Friday.
Peyton Neher and the Hudson Explorers have a big game with Brecksville on Friday.

The Explorers don’t lose many Suburban League National Conference games. They’re 14-3 over the last two and half seasons in league play and had won nine conference games in a row before Wadsworth snapped the streak last week. A win this week keeps Hudson in the hunt with Nordonia on the horizon in Week 8.

Up next: Brecksville (4-2, 2-1), 7 p.m. Friday

Norton coach Glen Kruger has his Panthers thinking big things in 2023.
Norton coach Glen Kruger has his Panthers thinking big things in 2023.

Divisions III-VI

1. Norton (5-0, 2-0)

Previous ranking: 1

There’s no stopping the Panthers, who have scored 35 points or more in five of their six games. They’re coming off a 56-15 win over Coventry in which the Comets didn’t score until the starters left. If Norton is on its game like it has been the last six weeks, it could be more of the same in Week 7.

Next up: Springfield, 7 p.m. Friday

Jaden Bell and the East Dragons are thinking about a City Series championship with four weeks left in the regular season.
Jaden Bell and the East Dragons are thinking about a City Series championship with four weeks left in the regular season.

2. East (5-1, 1-0)

Previous ranking: 2

The Dragons opened City Series play with a 42-6 win over North and have been outstanding defensively in every game other than their 39-0 loss to Hoban. In the five weeks that don’t include Hoban, East has allowed 7.8 points per game in its wins. The next two weeks should determine if the Dragons can win the league.

Up next: vs. Firestone (3-3, 1-0) noon Saturday, at Ellet

Corey Lehner and Mogadore have another Portage Trail Conference title in mind.
Corey Lehner and Mogadore have another Portage Trail Conference title in mind.

3. Mogadore (5-1, 1-0)

Previous ranking: 3

After a Week 3 loss to Dalton, the Wildcats have bounced back with conviction. They’ve scored 101 points in wins over Newark Catholic, the Columbus Crusaders and Warren JFK. Mogadore should be weary of this being a trap game this week with Southeast (5-1, 1-0) on the horizon in Week 8.

Up next: at Canton Central Catholic (3-3), 7 p.m. Friday

CVCA coach Nick Cook has the Royals headed in the right direction with the postseason looming.
CVCA coach Nick Cook has the Royals headed in the right direction with the postseason looming.

4. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (4-2, 2-1)

Previous ranking: 4

Triway became the unfortunate team to play the Royals after they got doubled up in a 56-28 loss to Canton South in Principals Athletic Conference play. The good news for CVCA is that it is favored the rest of the season, with Fantastic50.net predicting the Royals to win by a combined 91 points to close out the season.

Up next: at Fairless (2-4, 1-2), 7 p.m. Friday

Taysear Williams-Clay and Woodridge fought their way back into the Greater Akron power poll with a shutout in Week 6.
Taysear Williams-Clay and Woodridge fought their way back into the Greater Akron power poll with a shutout in Week 6.

5. Woodridge (3-3, 2-1)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

The fifth spot continues to be a merry-go-round, with no team holding it for very long this season. Revere held it last week and has a 28-0 win over the Bulldogs in Week 1. That said, Woodridge is coming off a 58-0 win over Springfield, while the Minutemen fell 21-7 to Tallmadge.

Up next: vs. Cloverleaf (3-3, 1-2), 7 p.m. Friday

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: High school football rankings: Week 7 Greater Akron power poll