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Stark County-area high school football Top 5 power poll for 2023 preseason

josh weir, canton repository
·4 min read

High School football practice gets underway today in Ohio, and that means it's as good a time as any to start guessing how Stark County-area teams will stack up with each other in 2023.

The Greater Canton-Massillon Preseason Power Poll takes an early snapshot of what the area football scene might look like.

We'll give our top five in the big schools (Divisions I-II) and small schools (Divisions III-VII) here as July turns to August. Check back every Monday during the regular season for the latest power poll.

Last season's Canton, Massillon poll: Final Stark County-area high school football power poll for 2022 season

Big-School Poll: Divisions I and II

Massillon's Dorian Pringle runs for a gain in the second half with pressure from Canal Winchester's Mason Sickels at Massillon Friday, November 4, 2022.
Massillon's Dorian Pringle runs for a gain in the second half with pressure from Canal Winchester's Mason Sickels at Massillon Friday, November 4, 2022.

1, Massillon

Considering the Tigers haven't lost to a fellow Stark County opponent since 2015, it would be silly to put anyone else in this spot. Massillon, with 20 straight wins vs. county foes, is dealing with a controversy revolving around alleged player misconduct that left head coach Nate Moore on administrative leave. That being said, it is difficult to doubt the Tigers, who return a stacked defense led by All-Ohio linebackers Dorian Pringle and Cody Fair. Massillon is 71-13 combined the previous six seasons, with five regional championships and three state runners-up.

McKinley's Nino Hill (12) is tackled by Massillon's Zach Liebler during the 133rd meeting in their high school football rivalry on Saturday October 22, 2022 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium
McKinley's Nino Hill (12) is tackled by Massillon's Zach Liebler during the 133rd meeting in their high school football rivalry on Saturday October 22, 2022 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

2, Canton McKinley

The Bulldogs recovered from an 0-4 start last year to win a share of the Federal League championship and advance to the second round of the Division I playoffs. They bring back a team with some dangerous weapons, including the heavily recruited Dante McClellan, 1,067-yard back Nino Hill and third-year starting QB Keaton Rode.

Lake football's Nate Baker (2) picks up yardage against Alliance at Kehres Stadium on Friday, August 19, 2022.
Lake football's Nate Baker (2) picks up yardage against Alliance at Kehres Stadium on Friday, August 19, 2022.

3, Lake

The Blue Streaks enjoyed a breakthrough 12-2 season last year, with those two losses coming to the two teams above them in this poll (McKinley in Week 7, Massillon in a regional final). Lake, which won a share of its first Federal League title in 24 years, brings back a rugged defense led by versatile athlete Nate Baker and the linebacking corps of Evan Brady, Charlie Christopher and Joey Garro.

Hoover’s Zach Braucher runs past Louisville’s Kolton Loy for a touchdown Friday, Sept. 9, 2022.
Hoover’s Zach Braucher runs past Louisville’s Kolton Loy for a touchdown Friday, Sept. 9, 2022.

4, North Canton Hoover

The Vikings were one of the surprise teams of 2022, winning eight games despite injuries and an inexperienced roster. They return a team with some serious skill, led by third-year starting QB Carson Drylund and play-making receivers Zach Braucher and Mason Ashby. They add Northwest transfer Kyler Miraglia, who ran for 1,601 yards and 22 touchdowns last year.

Green wide receiver Antonio Martin, left, stiff arms Marquis Sims as he runs for yards after a catch during the first half of a high school football game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Green, Ohio.
Green wide receiver Antonio Martin, left, stiff arms Marquis Sims as he runs for yards after a catch during the first half of a high school football game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Green, Ohio.

5, Green

After the program's remarkable run to a state semifinal in 2021, a young Green team competed hard last year before losing the battle of attrition and fading late in the season. The Bulldogs should be a factor this season, with Antonio Martin back from an ACL injury suffered in Week 9. He joins 1,430-yard receiver Zach Baglia in Green's five-wide spread offense, which will be directed by first-year starting QB Samino Manson.

Small-School Poll: Divisions III, IV, V, VI and VII

Canton South's Tavon Castle is brought down in the second half by Sandy Valley's Troy Snyder, 11, Lukas Gilland ,17, and Jack Murphy, 30, at Canton South, Friday, September 2, 2022.
Canton South's Tavon Castle is brought down in the second half by Sandy Valley's Troy Snyder, 11, Lukas Gilland ,17, and Jack Murphy, 30, at Canton South, Friday, September 2, 2022.

1, Canton South

Led by fourth-year starting QB Poochie Snyder and WR Tavon Castle, the Wildcats are capable of some offensive fireworks (averaging 40.3 points last year). But there is substance in this show. South went 9-4 last year, winning a share of the program's first league title in 59 years and advancing to the third round of the Division IV playoffs.

Alliance's Ramhir Hawkins (3) takes off down the sideline during a high school football game vs. Lake at Kehres Stadium on Friday, August 19, 2022.
Alliance's Ramhir Hawkins (3) takes off down the sideline during a high school football game vs. Lake at Kehres Stadium on Friday, August 19, 2022.

2, Alliance

Speaking of explosive offenses, the Aviators aren't too shabby either (averaging 39.9 points last year). Northwestern QB commit Brendan Zurbrugg and WR Ramhir Hawkins lead an Alliance team that looks to compete for an EBC championship and gain its first playoff win in almost 20 years.

Fairless running back Peter Killy runs through a hole in Week 1 at Sandy Valley, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022.
Fairless running back Peter Killy runs through a hole in Week 1 at Sandy Valley, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022.

3, Fairless

Head coach AJ Sarbaugh has the Falcons rolling, with nine wins in each of the past two seasons and shares of the last two PAC-7 championships after a 41-year league title drought. Senior Carson Colucci is back at quarterback after throwing for 2,536 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2022.

4, Canton Central Catholic

The Crusaders have averaged just 4.5 wins a season since their 2016 state championship squad. Of course, Central doesn't typically play the kind of schedule to accumulate easy regular season wins. Once again it lurks as a dangerous team under head coach Jeff Lindesmith in Division VI.

Connor Satterfield, 25, of Northwest prepares to bring down Stevie Diamond, 11, of Buchtel during their DIV regional quarterfinal at Northwest on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.
Connor Satterfield, 25, of Northwest prepares to bring down Stevie Diamond, 11, of Buchtel during their DIV regional quarterfinal at Northwest on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.

5, Northwest

Northwest has put together a solid three-year run under head coach John DeMarco, with 22 combined wins, one outright PAC-7 championship and a share of another. Junior quarterback Chase Badger returns to lead the Northwest offense.

Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @jweirREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton Massillon area 2023 preseason high school football power poll