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Stark County-Area High School Football Top 5 Power Poll after eight weeks of 2023 season

josh weir, canton repository
·4 min read

Only two weeks remain in the 2023 regular season, and teams still are rising and falling in the Stark County-Area High School Football Power Poll.

In fact, one team rose all the way to its poll debut this week.

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 after eight weeks.

Big Schools (Divisions I and II)

Massillon quarterback DaOne Owens takes the field with his teammates before playing St. John's (D.C.), Friday Sept. 29, 2023..
Massillon quarterback DaOne Owens takes the field with his teammates before playing St. John's (D.C.), Friday Sept. 29, 2023..

1, Massillon Tigers (8-0)

The Tigers' game certainly does travel. Ja'Meir Gamble ran for 233 yards and DaOne Owens added 134 in Friday's 42-7 win at Fitch, the Tigers' first road game of the season. Massillon continues to bludgeon opponents on the ground. The Tigers rushed for a season-high 439 as a team against the Falcons. Meanwhile, Massillon hasn't allowed more than 17 points in a game all season. The Tigers will go for 9-0 this week as Warren Harding (4-4) comes to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

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

McKinley celebrates a first quarter touchdown by running back DJ Britt, center, at Jackson football. Friday, Oct. 6, 2023
McKinley celebrates a first quarter touchdown by running back DJ Britt, center, at Jackson football. Friday, Oct. 6, 2023

2, Canton McKinley Bulldogs (7-1)

McKinley registered 10 sacks in Friday's 27-7 win at Jackson, which clinched at least a share of the Federal League championship for the Bulldogs. They can win it outright by beating GlenOak (4-4) at home this week in their league finale. McKinley has won six straight and owns the kind of firepower to make a long playoff run realistic. But it must clean up the sloppiness, most notably penalties and snap issues on offense, to reach its potential.

Lake's Hunter Patterson (59) celebrates a sack of Jackson quarterback Lucas Ecrement in the first quarter, Friday, Sept 22, 2023.
Lake's Hunter Patterson (59) celebrates a sack of Jackson quarterback Lucas Ecrement in the first quarter, Friday, Sept 22, 2023.

3, Lake Blue Streaks (6-2)

Lake bounced back nicely from its first league loss a week ago against McKinley to beat Hoover 21-7 on Friday. Nate Baker was everywhere for the Blue Streaks, rushing for 187 yards on 31 carries, scoring three touchdowns overall and picking off two passes on defense. Lake, at 3-1 in the league, needs to win out along with GlenOak knocking off McKinley to earn a piece of its second straight Federal League championship.

Green's Antonio Martin tries to break away from Tallmadge's Santino Cuva and Cooper Jones in the second half, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
Green's Antonio Martin tries to break away from Tallmadge's Santino Cuva and Cooper Jones in the second half, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

4, Green Bulldogs (5-3)

The Bulldogs stumbled on the road against Perry on Friday, losing 20-14. Green's defense continues to be a major positive. And it still finds itself in great shape in the Division II, Region 7 playoff standings, trailing only Massillon, Canal Winchester and Lake. Green hosts Hoover (4-4) this week and Lake next week to finish the regular season.

5, GlenOak Golden Eagles (4-4)

Let's welcome the Golden Eagles to the top five for the first time this season. It's been an uphill climb for GlenOak, which lost three straight to Massillon, Fitch and Lake in Weeks 2-4. Since then it has won three of four games, led by a potent run game featuring Jamar Johnson, Adrion "Milk" Burt and Avantae Burt. GlenOak heads to Benson Stadium this week to face Federal League-leading McKinley.

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

1, Canton South Wildcats (8-0)

The Wildcats survived a major scare from Fairless last week in a 41-35 win and moved into sole possession of first place in the PAC-7. Even with an injured finger, Poochie Snyder is pretty good. He scored three touchdowns on the ground and threw for one against the Falcons. South goes to Tuslaw (2-6) this week.

Malvern's Rodney Smith runs the ball vs. Sandy Valley, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.
Malvern's Rodney Smith runs the ball vs. Sandy Valley, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

2, Malvern Hornets (7-1)

The Hornets went on the road Friday and won a pivotal game in the IVC North, beating Newcomerstown 21-7. Jared Witherow accounted for all three Malvern TDs and the Hornets defense allowed only 160 yards. Malvern, which leads the Division VII, Region 25 playoff standings, hosts winless Tusc. Central Catholic this week before finishing the regular season at East Canton (2-6).

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 (5-3)

The Crusaders had no issues with Collinwood on Friday, earning their fifth win in the last six games. The challenge jumps up a bit this week. Division I Jackson (4-4) comes to Lowell Klinefelter Field, and it likely will arrive in a bad mood after losing its last three games. D6 Central has lost six straight to the Polar Bears.

Northwest's Chase Badger runs in for a fourth-quarter touchdown against Tuslaw, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
Northwest's Chase Badger runs in for a fourth-quarter touchdown against Tuslaw, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.

4, Northwest (5-3)

Northwest's five-game winning streak ended with a 39-16 loss at CVCA on Friday. It led 9-7 late in the first half before the Royals reeled off 32 straight points and knocked Northwest out of a first-place tie in the PAC-7 with Canton South. Connor Satterfield continued his great season with 163 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries for Northwest, which hosts Triway (3-5) 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.

5, Sandy Valley Cardinals (5-3)

After a brutal two weeks suffering losses to Indian Valley and Ridgewood, the Cardinals got back on the winning track with a 48-19 home win against Claymont on Friday. QB Nick Petro accounted for five TDs and 317 yards running and throwing; Lukas Gilland caught three passes for 114 yards and two TDs; and Chad Davis rushed for 111 yards and a TD. Things are about to get very difficult again for Sandy Valley, which goes to 8-0 Garaway this week.

Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com 

On X: @jweirREP 

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio high school football rankings: Greater Canton Top 5 Power Poll