The halfway point of the high school football regular season is here with Week 4 in the books.
Following each week of the regular season, The Enquirer will provide itstop 10 high school football power rankings, regardless of division, class or state.
This week, there's not much work to be done in the power rankings. The top nine teams last week went 9-0, winning by an average of 38.2 points. However, there is a shakeup at the No. 10 spot after the Game of the Year went down in the Cincinnati Hills League.
In Week 5, there are two matchups between top 10 teams.
Here are the top 10 area teams heading into Week 5.
10. Wyoming
Previous ranking: NR
Week 4: Win over Indian Hill (48-47, 3OT)
In a see-saw affair against the two CHL heavyweights, Wyoming went on the road
and stopped a two-point conversion to beat Indian Hill, 48-47, in triple overtime. The Cowboys move into the No. 10 spot and now have the upper hand in the CHL title race. Quarterback David Dupee threw for 192 yards and had three total touchdowns. On the ground, Wyoming ran for 237 yards. Jonas Whalen led the Cowboys with 145 yards and a score while Tyler Johnson-Huff made big plays on both sides of the ball, including three rushing touchdowns, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a game-high 16 tackles. Wyoming hasn't lost a league game to any team except Indian Hill since a loss to Reading 11 years ago.
Week 5: Wyoming (4-0) at Taylor (1-3)
9. Covington Catholic
Previous ranking: No. 9
Week 4: Win over Dixie Heights (56-7)
Prior to a marquee Week 5 tilt, Covington Catholic extended its winning streak over Dixie Heights with a running-clock affair. The Colonels haven't lost to Dixie Heights in 19 years now after racking up 500-plus yards of offense in Week 4. Quarterback Dylan Courtney threw a pair of touchdowns and sophomore running back Kiyan Miller had a hat trick, running for three touchdowns. Covington Catholic will host Beechwood in Week 5. The Colonels cruised to a 42-14 win over the Tigers last season.
Week 5: Beechwood (3-0) at Covington Catholic (3-1)
8. Beechwood
Previous ranking: No. 8
Week 4: Win over Simon Kenton (41-0)
Speaking of Beechwood, the Tigers are now 3-0 and have yet to allow a touchdown after shutting out Simon Kenton in Week 4. Beechwood also shut out Indian Hill in the season opener and allowed only a field goal to Dixie Heights. Head coach Noel Rash now has 200 career winsand should get his 200th career win with Beechwood (currently at 196) later this season. The Tigers got four touchdowns from quarterback Emmett Queen against the Pioneers. Beechwood now prepares for its toughest test of the season as it visits Park Hills to face Covington Catholic. Beechwood led Covington Catholic, 14-7, last year before the Colonels scored 35 unanswered points.
Week 5: Beechwood (3-0) at Covington Catholic (3-1)
7. Winton Woods
Previous ranking: No. 7
Week 4: Win over Turpin (45-7)
After a one-point loss to begin the year, Winton Woods has won three straight in blowout fashion. The Warriors went on the road and forced three Turpin turnovers in a 45-7 victory over the Spartans. Quarterback Josiiah Jones threw four touchdowns to four different receivers (Greg Lawrence, Quinton Simms, Jayon Shelton and Nazsir Hinton) while Bo Diop ran for 119 yards and a score. Winton Woods hosts winless Walnut Hills in Week 5.
Week 5: Walnut Hills (0-4) at Winton Woods (3-1)
6. Badin
Previous ranking: No. 6
Week 4: Win over Columbus Bishop Hartley (46-13)
Make it four straight wins for Badin by at least 24 points to start the year after its business trip to Columbus ended with a 46-13 win. Badin's defense permitted just 148 total yards and forced a pair of turnovers. Offensively, running back Chase Even has run for 430 yards and five touchdowns this season after a 70-yard, two-score performance in Week 4. Before league play begins in the Greater Catholic League-Coed, Badin will host 2-2 La Salle in Week 5.
Week 5: La Salle (2-2) at Badin (4-0)
5. Lakota West
Previous ranking: No. 5
Week 4: Win over Hamilton (42-7)
Lakota West won its tune-up game against Hamilton before its showdown with Princeton in Week 5. The Firebirds led 28-0 at halftime after four touchdowns from Kenyon Norman, who needed just 14 carries to rack up 210 yards on the ground. Lakota West's defense allowed just one first down. Tom Bolden's bunch has handled its business in league play with three straight blowout wins. Now comes a big test as Lakota West visits Princeton in a game that will have Greater Miami Conference title implications.
Week 5: Lakota West (4-0) at Princeton (4-0)
4. Highlands
Previous ranking: No. 4
Week 4: Win over Boyle County (41-21)
In one of the most impressive Week 4 performances, Highlands raced out to a 28-0 halftime lead and cruised past Boyle County, the top-ranked team in Class 4A, by 20 points. The Bluebirds ran for over 250 yards behind Bryce Armstrong's 128 yards and two touchdowns. After its first win over Boyle County since 2012, Highlands will visit Ryle in Week 5.
Week 5: Highlands (3-1) at Ryle (1-3)
3. Anderson
Previous ranking: No. 3
Week 4: Win over Lebanon (57-13)
On paper, the Anderson vs. Lebanon matchup was big between a pair of teams off to 2-0 starts in league play. The Raptors had no trouble on the road, though, opening up a 45-0 lead at halftime before another blowout win. It was another explosive offensive night for Anderson as Owen Scalf completed 22 of 24 passes for 383 yards and two touchdowns. Tysin Weaver had six catches for 267 yards with touchdowns of 81, 43 and 63 yards. Anderson hosts Kings in Week 5.
Week 5: Kings (3-1) at Anderson (3-1)
2. Princeton
Previous ranking: No. 2
Week 4: Win over Sycamore (56-7)
Princeton and Lakota West have mirrored each other this season − a win over a Greater Catholic League-South in Week 1, then three straight blowout victories to start league play. Princeton could do no wrong against winless Sycamore, coasting to a 49-0 halftime lead. Monsanna Torbert threw two touchdowns, and Princeton got a pair of rushing scores from Jordan Hall. Princeton and Lakota West are the only undefeated teams left in the GMC. Princeton has won three straight regular-season games over Lakota West, but did fall to the Firebirds, 19-7, in the 2023 playoffs.
Week 5: Lakota West (4-0) at Princeton (4-0)
1. Elder
Previous ranking: No. 1
Week 4: Win over La Salle (35-0)
Elder's dominance continued into league play as the Panthers blanked the visiting La Salle Lancers, 35-0. Elder has held three of its first four opponents to seven points or less. Elder allowed just 123 yards to La Salle and forced two turnovers. Max Doogan and Major Kittles had 1.5 sacks each and Pete Fortkamp had 10 tackles. Offensively, the high-powered Panthers got three passing touchdowns (two to Jake Bier) from Kaden Estep, who also ran for 110 yards. Elder hosts Louisville St. Xavier in Week 5.
Week 5: Louisville St. Xavier (2-1) at Elder (4-0)
Missed the cut: Indian Hill (2-2), East Central (3-1), St. Xavier (2-2), Moeller (2-2), North College Hill (3-0), Lloyd (4-0), Harrison (4-0), La Salle (2-2), Deer Park (4-0), St. Bernard (4-0), Hughes (4-0), Holy Cross (4-0)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Greater Cincinnati high school football Week 5 power rankings
