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Ohio high school football rankings | Final 2023 Stark County-area top 5 power poll

Josh Weir, Canton Repository
·5 min read

At the top, the 2023 Stark County-Area High School Football Power Poll ends where it started.

Massillon and Canton South never gave up the No. 1 spots in the big- and small-school divisions, finishing with 10-0 regular season records. They enter the playoffs as the two county teams looking most capable of long runs.

Here's how the top five teams in the big-school and small-school divisions stack up in this snapshot of the Greater Canton/Massillon football scene at the end of the regular season.

Big Schools (Divisions I and II)

Massillon’s Dorian Pringle beats McKinley’s Jordan McElroy to the end zone for a touchdown Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.
Massillon’s Dorian Pringle beats McKinley’s Jordan McElroy to the end zone for a touchdown Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.

1, Massillon Tigers (10-0)

The Tigers are going to be a handful for whatever team crosses their path in the OHSAA Division II playoffs. They polished off a perfect regular season with a 35-0 rout of Canton McKinley in a rivalry game turned ugly on Saturday. Senior DaOne Owens is a dynamic weapon at quarterback and Massillon's power and physicality on both sides of the football are difficult to overcome. The Tigers look to get back to the state title game for the first time since 2020, and maybe win that elusive state championship in the playoff era. The Region 7 tournament road starts this week with No. 16 seed Grove City Central Crossing (4-6) coming to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Last week's power poll: Stark County-Area High School Football Top 5 Power Poll after nine weeks of 2023 season

Green receiver Zachary Baglia ,13, celebrates a touchdown against Lake in the second half at Green Friday, October 20, 2023.
Green receiver Zachary Baglia ,13, celebrates a touchdown against Lake in the second half at Green Friday, October 20, 2023.

2, Green Bulldogs (7-3)

The Bulldogs are a story in overcoming adversity. Despite key injuries, including starting quarterback Samino Manson, Green kept its season afloat and enters the playoffs with a lot of momentum. The Bulldogs produced probably their best performance of the season in Week 10, beating Lake 28-0. Green ran the ball well against Lake's rugged defense, got sharp play from sophomore QB Tyson Hunka and looked very good defensively on all three levels. Green, the No. 3 seed in Division II, Region 7, hosts No. 14 Columbus St. Charles (5-5) in a first-round playoff game this week.

McKinley’s defensive players Braylon Minor (25), Shaukeer Hatcher (6), and Dante McClellan (9) swarm Massillon’s Ja’Meir Gamble on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.
McKinley’s defensive players Braylon Minor (25), Shaukeer Hatcher (6), and Dante McClellan (9) swarm Massillon’s Ja’Meir Gamble on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.

3, Canton McKinley Bulldogs (7-3)

McKinley must pick itself up off the mat after losing 7-3 to GlenOak and 35-0 to Massillon (which ended in an ugly melee during the postgame handshake line). The Bulldogs had a combined 248 yards of offense in the two games. The Federal League's outright champs really haven't played a complete game in more than a month and are coming off being shut out for the first time since a 42-0 playoff loss to St. Edward in 2021. Ranked No. 4 in Division I, Region 1, they host No. 13 Strongsville (3-7) this week.

Lake's Kam'ron Fouty-Koonce reels in a pass as Green's Matt Galemmo defends in the second half at Green Friday, October 20, 2023.
Lake's Kam'ron Fouty-Koonce reels in a pass as Green's Matt Galemmo defends in the second half at Green Friday, October 20, 2023.

4, Lake Blue Streaks (7-3)

The Blue Streaks look to bounce back after being shut out for the first time since a 35-0 Week 8 loss to Perry in 2016. The humbling 28-0 loss at Green last week cost Lake a share of the Federal League title. It finished with 77 yards of offense and five first downs. A regional finalist last year, Lake's Region 7 playoff path begins at home this week with a familiar foe: No. 13 seed Perry (4-6) pays a visit to No. 4 Lake.

GlenOak’s Adrion Burt breaks away from Jackson’s Foster Stanley, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.
GlenOak’s Adrion Burt breaks away from Jackson’s Foster Stanley, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

5, GlenOak Golden Eagles (6-4)

The good times are rolling in Plain Township. So is the defense. The Golden Eagles are allowing 10.5 points on average during their four-game winning streak. They've clinched their first winning season since 2016. Now GlenOak will try for its first postseason win since 2014. Seeded No. 8 in Division I, Region 1, it hosts No. 9 Lorain (8-2) this week.

Small Schools (Divisions III, IV, V, VI and VII)

Northwest's Chase Badger is wrapped up by Canton South defensive back Ma'Taeaun Frazier in the second quarter at Northwest football. Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
Northwest's Chase Badger is wrapped up by Canton South defensive back Ma'Taeaun Frazier in the second quarter at Northwest football. Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

1, Canton South Wildcats (10-0)

Fresh off their first 10-0 regular season in program history and an outright PAC-7 championship, the Wildcats will see if their high-scoring ways can continue in the postseason. They start with the team they just played in Week 10: Northwest (5-5) comes to Brechbuhler Stadium this week after losing at home to South 48-28. South, ranked No. 1 in Division IV, Region 13, is averaging 42.1 points a game. Senior quarterback Poochie Snyder just went over 10,000 career passing yards.

Malvern's Drake Hutchison gets his jersey held on a run play against Newcomerstown during week 8 high school football action, Friday, Oct. 6 at Lee Stadium in Newcomerstown, Ohio.
Malvern's Drake Hutchison gets his jersey held on a run play against Newcomerstown during week 8 high school football action, Friday, Oct. 6 at Lee Stadium in Newcomerstown, Ohio.

2, Malvern Hornets (9-1)

The Hornets roll into the Division VII, Region 25 playoffs on the strength of five straight wins, during which they outscored their opponents 210-20, allowed 139.4 yards on average and forced a total of 18 turnovers. They also earned the outright IVC North championship along the way. Malvern QB Jared Witherow has thrown for 25 TDs on the season. The No. 5 Hornets host No. 12 Salineville Southern (8-2) this week in the first round.

Central Catholic's Daniel Boron fights for yardage in the second half against Mogadore at Central Catholic Friday September 29, 2023.
Central Catholic's Daniel Boron fights for yardage in the second half against Mogadore at Central Catholic Friday September 29, 2023.

3, Canton Central Catholic Crusaders (6-4)

After finishing the regular season with a 42-6 win against rival St. Thomas Aquinas, the battle-tested Crusaders have the skill to be factors in the Division VI, Region 21 playoffs. Senior Dan Boron has 1,103 yards rushing/receiving and 19 total touchdowns scored. Central is ranked eighth in the region and hosts No. 9 Middlefield Cardinal (6-4) in the first round this week.

Sandy Valley quarterback Nick Petro fights off the tackle of Malvern's Ryan Runyon in the first half, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.
Sandy Valley quarterback Nick Petro fights off the tackle of Malvern's Ryan Runyon in the first half, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

4, Sandy Valley Cardinals (6-4)

The Cardinals, who won 26-20 in overtime at Tusky Valley last week, just missed on a Round 1 home game in Division V, Region 17. They will go to No. 8 Cortland Lakeview (5-5) this week looking for their first playoff win since 2020.

Alliance quarterback Brendan Zurbrugg takes off with the ball pursued by Marlington's Bryson McCord, center, and Carter Difloure, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
Alliance quarterback Brendan Zurbrugg takes off with the ball pursued by Marlington's Bryson McCord, center, and Carter Difloure, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

5, Alliance Aviators (6-4)

An up-and-down regular season for the Aviators ended on an up with a 36-0 shutout of backyard rival Marlington. Led by Oklahoma recruit Brendan Zurbrugg, who accounted for 390 yards and five touchdowns running and throwing last week, Alliance is a talented No. 14 seed in Division III, Region 9. The Aviators play at No. 3 seed Aurora (9-1) this week seeking their first playoff win in 19 years.

Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com 

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: High school football rankings: Final 2023 Greater Canton Power Poll