A brand new team stormed into the Greater Cincinnati high school football top 10 rankings this week, completely shaking things up as the calendar hit October. Moeller’s outright Greater Catholic League-South title win is the big reason why, causing a major ripple effect across the board as one team rises and another gets bounced.
The Big Shakeup and a New Contender Arrives
The biggest news has to be the shakeup at the top, or rather, the drop from the top. Elder, after five straight dominant performances, saw their bid for back-to-back GCL-South championships end. They took close losses to St. Xavier in Week 6 and then Moeller in Week 7 at Welcome Stadium. That brutal two-game skid sent them tumbling from No. 3 all the way down to No. 8. You have to feel for Elder quarterback Kaden Estep, who threw for almost 400 yards and three touchdowns in the Moeller loss alone. They drove for the game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion, but Moeller notched the game-winner in the final minute. Elder still holds a strong No. 3 spot in Division I, Region 8 and controls their own destiny for a first-round bye, but man, those were tough losses.
The team bursting into the top 10 this week is East Central, now sitting at No. 10. They’ve been on an absolute tear, winning four straight since their Week 3 loss to Elder. Three of those wins? By a combined 131 points! The other was a gritty 24-21 road win over previously unbeaten Harrison. In Week 7 against Connersville, they dropped 49 first-half points, with Ryan Minges absolutely exploding for 191 yards and six touchdowns. That insane performance pushed him past 3,000 career rushing yards. Noah Long and Colton Bellman also chipped in with three combined rushing touchdowns, helping East Central secure their 34th Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference title. This team is legit, already ranked No. 10 in the latest Indiana high school football poll.
Wyoming and Winton Woods Keep Rolling
It’s not all about the shakeups, though. Some teams are just straight-up dominating. Wyoming, holding steady at No. 9, has now won back-to-back games in blowout fashion. They put up 35 unanswered points in Week 7 against Madeira, showcasing their offensive firepower. Jonas Whalen had himself a day, running 17 times for 133 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback David Dupee also tossed touchdowns to Brylan Miltenberger and Cooper Metz. Wyoming is sitting pretty at 7-0, tied with Deer Park, and those two are set to clash in the regular season finale on October 23. That’s going to be a battle!
Then you’ve got Winton Woods, also holding strong at No. 7. This team’s defense is just ridiculous. They’ve allowed only 42 points over six conference games and just notched their third shutout of the season in Week 7 against Loveland, where they met little resistance. On the ground, Isaiah Garrett and Bo Diop both rushed for over 100 yards, combining for five touchdowns. Quarterback Tariq Coleman was surgical, completing all seven pass attempts for 127 yards and a pair of scores. They’re looking locked in for a potential ECC championship game against Anderson in Week 9.
Looking ahead to Week 8, it’s crunch time. East Central (6-1) gets a home game against Columbus North (4-3). Wyoming (7-0) hosts Finneytown (0-6), which feels like another chance to rack up big numbers. Elder (5-2) faces a tough road test against Highlands (6-1), trying to snap that two-game skid. And Winton Woods hosts West Clermont as they march toward the playoffs. Every game matters right now!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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