Mentor climbs three spots in the new High School Football America Ohio Top 25 after upsetting former No. 2 St. Edward 21-13 in the second round of the Division I playoffs. The victory moves the Cardinals from No. 11 to No. 8 and gives them a shot at redemption this week in the state quarterfinals against No. 1 St. Ignatius, which handed Mentor its only loss (41-31) on September 1.
Mentor is still ranked behind St. Edward based on a weaker strength of schedule in our proprietary algorithm, but that can all change if Mentor can reverse its Week 2 result against the top-ranked Wildcats.
The winner of the St. Ignatius/Mentor game will face the winner of the game between No. 11 Whitmer and No. 22 Olentangy Liberty, which re-enters the statewide rankings this week.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 5 Pickerington Central plays No. 12 Pickerington North. During the regular season, Central won 24-21 on October 13. In the other quarterfinal, defending state champ St. Xavier, No. 2 in the new rankings, plays No. 10 Colerain.
In the Division II quarters, No. 6 Archbishop Hoban faces No. 23 Barberton and No. 7 Winton Woods, which moved into our Top 100 on Sunday at No. 98 plays three-time defending state champ La Salle.
Related: Top 100
Aside from Olentangy Liberty re-entering the rankings, St. Vincent-St. Mary also comes back in at No. 25. Both were ranked earlier this year.
High School Football America Ohio Top 25
No. 1 St. Ignatius (11-1), LW: #1
No. 2 St. Xavier (11-1), LW: #3
No. 3 St. Edward (10-2), LW: #2
No. 4 Trotwood-Madison (12-0), LW: #4
No. 5 Pickerington Central (11-1), LW: #5
No. 6 Archbishop Hoban (11-1), LW: #6
No. 7 Winton Woods (11-1), LW: #7
No. 8 Mentor (11-1), LW: #11
No. 9 La Salle (10-2), LW: #8
No. 10 Colerain (10-2), LW: #9
No. 11 Whitmer (12-0), LW: #10
No. 12 Pickerington North (9-2), LW: #13
No. 13 Centerville (10-2), LW: #12
No. 14 Hilliard Bradley (11-1), LW: #14
No. 15 Elder (6-4), LW: #15
No. 16 Northmont (8-3), LW: #16
No. 17 Toledo Central Catholic (10-2), LW: #17
No. 18 Steubenville (12-0), LW: #18
No. 19 Avon (12-0), LW: #19
No. 20 Archbishop Moeller (4-7), LW: #20
No. 21 Wayne (Hubert Heights) (7-4), LW: #21
No. 22 Olentangy Liberty (10-2), LW: NR
No. 23 Barberton (12-0), LW: #22
No. 24 Marion Local (12-0), LW: #24
No. 25 St. Vincent-St. Mary (9-3), LW: NR
Dropped-out: No. 23 Euclid, No. 25 Anderson
Editor’s Note: The High School Football America national, regional and state rankings are developed using our proprietary algorithm.