Eight weeks of regular-season action has seen a lot go down on football fields around the area.
But something that hasn’t changed? Carroll being atop Blitz’s Power Poll all year long.
Once again, not much has changed towards the top, but the last two weeks has seen plenty in the way of victories and defeats that have shaken up where Blitz has certain teams ranked.
With Week 9 here, Blitz is back with a new Top 10.
1. CARROLL (7-1)
WHY #1?
Carroll’s six victories in the SAC have come by an average of 35 points per game.
No one is touching the Chargers in the city, that much is obvious. A road game at Bishop Luers this Friday is merely about staying healthy for the playoffs, and that goes for both teams.
The Class 6A postseason will be different for Coach Doug Dinan’s team. Is this group good enough to represent the north in the 6A state title game? We will find out soon enough.
2. WARSAW (8-0)
WHY #2?
While some teams are eyeing the playoffs with inferior opponents on tap for this Friday, the Tigers are prepping for an undefeated showdown in Middlebury against former East Noble coach Luke Amstutz and his Northridge Raiders.
Sophomore Jake Scholl has been tremendous for Northridge and will be keyed upon by the Tigers. He has amassed over 2,500 yards of total offense and thrown or passed for 38 touchdowns.
We all know what Warsaw wants to do – control the game with its rushing attack and keep the ball away from Northridge.
Sectional 11 and a (probably) inevitable rematch with Snider looms, but Northridge is the focus this week.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Might a convincing victory over Northridge boost Warsaw above Carroll? Hmmm.
3. BISHOP DWENGER (7-1)
WHY #3?
It hasn’t always been dominant, but the Saints’ four-game winning streak since losing to Carroll has cemented them as the second-best squad in the SAC.
As for the area? Warsaw gets the nod at No. 2, but Bishop Dwenger has taken care of business of late. It will need to continue to do so away from home, as the next two games – Week 9 at South Side and the sectional opener at North Side – are both away from Shields Field.
The Saints want to make another run at a Class 4A state crown. Provided they can stay relatively healthy, they have a great shot.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Bishop Dwenger lost 49-29 to Carroll back in Week 4. Don’t you remember? Well, Saints fans have probably tried to forget.
4. EAST NOBLE (8-0)
WHY #4?
Coach Alex Stewart’s message to his team the next few weeks is to not be complacent.
East Noble is in the midst of three-straight road games, last week at New Haven, Friday at Bellmont and at Wawasee to open the playoffs. Combined, the trio of teams have three victories.
So while the level of opponent isn’t the best, Sectional 19 dictates that you better be ready to play with the amount of good teams in the field.
Remember, the Knights won their first 11 games of the year in 2025 before being blasted 32-0 by Bishop Dwenger in the sectional final.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Chances are East Noble is going to get a shot at Bishop Dwenger in Sectional 19. If it can avenge last year’s loss, Blitz will eat some crow on this ranking being below the Saints all season long.
5. SNIDER (4-4)
WHY #5?
A four-loss team in the Top 5? This just shows how weird 2026 has been.
Snider has lost to each of the four teams above them in Blitz’s Power Poll. One was a blowout (Carroll), the other three could have gone either way.
So yes, heading into Week 9, the Panthers have a good case for being the No. 5 team in the area with North Side coming to ‘The Ike’ on Friday.
This is by no means a perfect team, and neither the offense or defense are particularly dominant, but Snider has yet to lose to a team below them in these rankings.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Four losses, all to teams above them in the power poll. Come on, sometimes it is that easy.
6. COLUMBIA CITY (6-2)
WHY #6?
Not sure if Columbia City received the love it should have from last week’s 21-point win over Leo. The 49 points were the most the Eagles have ever scored in 14 games all-time against the Lions.
Basically, Leo was the perfect release of all the angst from the week prior when Columbia City let East Noble score the final 21 points to win.
But tricky matchups are on the horizon. Norwell just beat Huntington North and will host the Eagles on Friday in the regular-season finale. Coach Brett Fox’s team will then go to Leo in a rematch to open sectional play.
Both of Columbia City’s losses this season have come away from home.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Columbia City has shown, so far at least, it is the second-best team in the NE8. Is it better than Snider at No. 5? You can definitely make a case for that, but Blitz wouldn’t agree.
7. NORTHROP (3-4)
WHY #7?
It hasn’t been a kind three weeks for the Bruins – three straight losses. But all three came to teams above them in Blitz’s Power Poll.
Add in the Warsaw loss in Week 1, and Northrop has lost to four of the top five teams in the area, per Blitz.
So don’t lose faith, Bruins fans. You get Wayne this Friday, then a rematch with Homestead to open the playoffs, a team you beat by a dozen points in Week 3.
But if there is any team in the area that needs a dub in the worst way in Week 9, it is definitely the Bruins.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Could Northrop beat Columbia City? Yes, it could. But if the teams played 10 times, do the Bruins win 4? 5? 7? Not sure.
We will see what the Bruins do at quarterback this week and beyond. It is too late in the season to be playing musical quarterbacks. Both Braydon Peppler and Jaelin Jackson do some good things, but it’s that time of year where you need to have one QB and ride or die with him.
8. LEO (5-3)
WHY #8?
It is not that Leo lost to Columbia City last Friday that is concerning, it is the way in which it did so, surrendering 49 points. Not even Chatard in Week 2 put up that many on the Lions, who hadn’t allowed more than 13 points to any other opponent prior to last week.
Now, Coach Jason Doerffler’s team gets a high-scoring DeKalb team to cap the regular season, followed by a rematch with Columbia City in Week 10. Blitz hasn’t lost faith that Leo can make some noise in Sectional 19, but it wouldn’t hurt to get a victory over a good opponent this Friday to get the good vibes flowing again.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Leo has not beaten a team this season that currently has a winning record.
9. HOMESTEAD (3-5)
WHY #9?
Welcome to the show, Sparty!
Despite a four-game losing streak that was ended last week, Homestead makes its debut in the Top 10 for the first time in awhile.
Even during its losing skid, the Spartans were putting up a fight against everyone not named Carroll. And, as documented above, no one has been able to hang with the Chargers.
Beating North Side on the road last week was a big boost for Sparty with the sectionals looming. And while a Week 9 trip to undefeated Warren Central isn’t the best way to cap the regular season, a rematch with Northrop isn’t a bad draw to open the postseason, and the Spartans would get a rematch with Carroll at home in Round 2.
And how about some love for John Bair? The junior leads the Spartans in tackles (69), tackles for loss (11) and sacks (three), and also has one of Homestead’s five interceptions on the season.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
Homestead is one of just two teams under-.500 in the Top 10, and the other one, Northrop, beat it in Week 4.
10. EASTSIDE (8-0)
WHY #10?
Whether it was needed or not, it was nice to see Job Richman go vertical with the passing game a bit last week in a rout of Prairie Heights, because it is going to be needed at some point for Eastside to achieve its goal of reaching the Class 2A state championship.
The Blazers’ one game this season so far that has been decided by less than 18 points was Week 2 at Adams Central, although the regular-season finale at Angola this week could be close and be a challenge for Eastside.
The more you win by lopsided margins, the more likely a team becomes complacent. That isn’t to say that Eastside is complacent, but merely the possibility is dangerous.
A hard-fought game to end the regular-season would be a good thing for the Blazers entering the postseason.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
No opponents on the schedule from the SAC and NE8, as well as Adams Central’s three losses.
NEXT FIVE
11. North Side
12. Bluffton
13. DeKalb
14. South Adams
15. Adams Central
These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH
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