Ohio High School Football Games of the Week: September 19-21

There was just one game between ranked squads last weekend, and it was a good one. No. 1 St. Edward downed then-No. 7 Elder 24-17.

This week, the schedule is far busier inside the top 25. No. 3 Massillon Washington takes on the top-ranked Eagles, while Archbishop Moeller and St. Xavier square off in a Greater Catholic League rivalry game.

Below are the Ohio high school football games of the week.

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

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Top high school football games in Ohio

#3 Massillon Washington at #1 St. Edward — Friday, Sept. 20
St. Edward had the game of the week in the Buckeye State last Saturday when then-No. 7 Elder came to town. St. Edward took care of business, downing the Panthers 24-17. The Eagles have won three consecutive Division I state championships and are well on their way to defending those titles again this year. But first, the Eagles will have to face Massillon. The Tigers upset St. Edward last season, 15-13 at home. The Tigers are defending state champs and have a top-5 offense and defense in Ohio. The On3 Massey Ratings project a 28-21 St. Edward win.

#5 Archbishop Moeller at #4 St. Xavier — Friday, Sept. 20
Another year, another edition of this storied Greater Catholic League rivalry. Moeller beat St. X 20-10 last season and are 9-point favorites over the Bombers again this year. Moeller fell in overtime 21-14 to Mallard Creek (N.C.) last Saturday — the Crusaders’ first loss of the 2024 campaign. Two Crusaders are already committed to Power 4 schools: Louisville defensive back commit Micah Rice and Northwestern EDGE pledge Jonah Hayes. They lead a defense that ranks No. 7 in the state of Ohio. St. Xavier beat Withrow 31-7, moving up one spot in the top 25 this week. The Bombers are 3-1, their only loss coming to No. 10 Lakota West to start the year.

#11 Toledo Central Catholic at De La Salle Collegiate (Mich.) — Friday, Sept. 20
Toledo Central Catholic is 3-1 this season, its only loss coming two weeks ago to Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.) The Irish bounced back against Brother Rice (Mich.) last week with a 37-0 win, and will look to continue that momentum against De La Salle Collegiate. De La Salle is the No. 3 team in the state of Michigan and is 3-0 on the year. Central Catholic won this game 28-23 a year ago and again is a 7-point favorite on the road, per the On3 Massey Ratings.

St. Xavier (Ky.) at #13 Elder — Friday, Sept. 20
Elder lost a heartbreaker to No. 1 St. Edward last Saturday and will look to bounce back against Louisville St. Xavier this weekend. Elder has beaten Withrow, West Catholic (Mich.) and Springboro en route to a 3-1 record. Senior linebacker Maddox Arnold (Toledo commit) has been dominant this season for the Panthers. St. Xavier is the No. 4 team in Kentucky with a 2-1 record — its loss coming by just one point to Louisville Male last week. The Tigers feature two ranked recruits: three-star receiver Marlon Harbin and Central Michigan defensive line commit Mason Mudd. Elder beat Louisville St. Xavier 31-21 last season. The Panthers are 14-point favorites this year, per the On3 Massey Ratings.

#17 Bishop Watterson at #14 Chardon — Friday, Sept. 20
Bishop Watterson remained undefeated on the season with a 51-7 win over Columbian last week. The Eagles have also beaten Big Walnut, Dublin Scioto and Westerville North. Chardon is similarly undefeated with wins over Timber Creek (Fla.), Columbian and Avon Lake. Watterson beat Chardon last season, but this year, the On3 Massey Ratings project a 28-14 win for the Hilltoppers.