We have a shakeup in the central Ohio high school football Top 10 poll heading into Week 5.
Not at the top, where Watterson remains No. 1, but three new teams have joined the rankings in New Albany, Hilliard Bradley and St. Charles. DeSales, Olentangy Berlin and Jonathan Alder were knocked out.
That is especially tough for Jonathan Alder, because unlike DeSales and Berlin, the Pioneers won in Week 4 to stay unbeaten. Jonathan Alder defeated North Union 26-14, while DeSales lost 20-17 to Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Berlin fell 27-17 to Olentangy Liberty.
Upper Arlington dropped from No. 2 to No. 6 after its 28-21 loss to New Albany, which is now right behind UA at No. 7. With UA slipping, Big Walnut moved up one spot to No. 2.
Our Top 10
ranks teams regardless of division. Each voter submits a Top 10 with a first-place vote worth 10 points, a second-place vote worth nine and so on down to one point for 10th.
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Central Ohio high school football Top 10 poll for Week 5
Below is the poll as selected by USA Today Network Ohio staff and contributors. A unanimous selection is 90 points:
1. Watterson (4-0), 89 points, eight first-place votes. Last game: Def. Cleveland Glenville 35-13. Next game: Sept. 18 vs. Harvest Prep. Last week: No. 1
2. Big Walnut (4-0), 80 points, one first-place vote. Last game: Def. Delaware Hayes 46-0. Next game: Sept. 18 at Westerville South. Last week: No. 3
3. Gahanna Lincoln (4-0), 74 points. Last game: Def. Olentangy Orange 34-9. Next game: Sept. 18 at Hilliard Darby. Last week: No. 4
4. Pickerington North (3-1), 54 points. Last game: Def. Dublin Coffman 35-0. Next game: Sept. 18 at Olentangy Orange. Last week: No. 7
5. Worthington Kilbourne (4-0), 47 points. Last game: Def. Westland 49-20. Next game: Sept. 18 vs. Dublin Scioto. Last week: No. 6
6. Upper Arlington (3-1), 44 points. Last game: Lost to New Albany 28-21. Next game: Sept. 18 at Marysville. Last week: No. 2
7. New Albany (3-1), 25 points. Last game: Def. Upper Arlington 28-21. Next game: Sept. 18 vs. Dublin Jerome. Last week: Not ranked
8. Licking Valley (4-0), 19 points. Last game: Def. Lakewood 54-7. Next game: Sept. 18 vs. Johnstown. Last week: No. 8
9. Hilliard Bradley (3-1), 18 points. Last game: Def. Marysville 41-7. Next game: Sept. 18 at Thomas Worthington. Last week: Not ranked
10. St. Charles (4-0), 14 points. Last game: Def. Ready 44-2. Next game: Sept. 18 vs. Franklin Heights. Last week: Not ranked
Dropped out: No. 5 DeSales, No. 9 Olentangy Berlin, No. 10 Jonathan Alder
Others receiving votes: Jonathan Alder 11; DeSales 9; Olentangy Liberty 7; Grove City 4.
High school sports editor Andy Resnik can be reached at aresnik@dispatch.com and at @DispatchPreps on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio high school football Top 10 poll entering Week 5
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