A reader wished the Beacon Journal good luck in ranking this week’s Greater Akron high school football power rankings on X.com and he couldn’t be more right.
Only two spots stayed the same after last week’s bedlam and one school entered the rankings for the first time.
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Here’s what the top eight look like heading into Week 10:
1 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Emmett Tobin (0) leads the the team on the the field before the start of the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
1 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Emmett Tobin (0) leads the the team on the the field before the start of the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
2 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Members of the Walsh Jesuit Warrior Corps Marching Band & Colorguard perform before the start of the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
3 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
The Walsh Jesuit Warrior Corps Marching Band & Colorguard perform before the start of the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
4 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s quarterback Kinzy Shea (14) fires off a pass as Walsh Jesuit’s Dom Courtad (32) blocks Bishop Watterson’s Kaden Jones (0) during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
5 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Xavier Steele (7) runs after a catching a pass as Bishop Watterson’s Rocco Purcell (3) closes in during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
6 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Dom Courtad (32) runs behind blocker Walsh Jesuit’s Logan Gibson (51) during the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
7 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s quarterback Kinzy Shea (14) looks for a open receiver during the during the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
8 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Bishop Watterson’s Nate Henderson (7) intecepts a pass during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
9 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Emmett Tobin (0) reaches for the ball as Bishop Watterson’s Caden Mangini (5) scores a touchdown during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
10 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Bishop Watterson’s Kaden Jones (0) chases after Walsh Jesuit’s Dom Courtad (32) during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
11 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Dom Courtad (32) gets set to take the handoff from Walsh Jesuit’s quarterback Kinzy Shea (14) during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
12 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Bishop Watterson’s Jack Schuler (87) closes in on Walsh Jesuit’s Dom Courtad (32) during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
13 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Cayden Levert (8) is tackle by Bishop Watterson’s Rocco Purcell (3) and Bishop Watterson’s Nate Henderson (7) after Levert caught a pass during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
14 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Ben Biel (15) runs for a short gain as Walsh Jesuit’s Logan Gibson (51) blocks Bishop Watterson’s Kaden Jones (0) during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
15 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Bishop Watterson’s Michael Boyle (40) pulls down Walsh Jesuit’s quarterback Kinzy Shea (14) during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
16 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Drew Wollschleger (3) watches as Bishop Watterson’s Caden Mangini (5) is tackled by Walsh Jesuit’s Emmett Tobin (0) during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
17 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Bishop Watterson’s Carter Bellisari (11) rolls on the field as Walsh Jesuit’s Drew Wollschleger (3) celebrates breaking up a pass during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
18 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Bishop Watterson’s Nate Henderson (7) get set to catch the ball as Walsh Jesuit’s Xavier Steele (7) covers the play during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026. Walsh Jesuit’s Xavier Steele (7) was called for pass interference but the penalty was declined by Bishop Watterson.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
19 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Dom Courtad (32) runs the ball during the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
20 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Bishop Watterson’s Caden Mangini (5) takes the handoff from Bishop Watterson’s quarterback Dash Hoy (4) during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
21 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Dom Courtad (32) takes the handoff from Walsh Jesuit’s quarterback Kinzy Shea (14) during the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
22 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s Kinzy Shea (14) readies a pass during the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
23 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Walsh Jesuit’s head coach Nick Alexander watches the action as he walks the sideline during the game against Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
24 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
Bishop Watterson’s Ben Uhlenhake (10) looks to stop Walsh Jesuit’s Dom Courtad (32) during the game at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
25 / 25
High School Football Walsh Jesuit vs Bishop Watterson at Walsh
A Walsh Jesuit warrior watches his team take on Bishop Watterson at Walsh Jesuit High School on October 16, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
1. Highland Hornets (8-1, 6-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Why Highland: The Hornets took all 48 minutes, but knocked off previous No. 1 Wadsworth by a point on the last play of the game. Highland is a drastically different team from its Week 1 loss to Walsh Jesuit and can win the Suburban League National Conference outright on Friday.
Last week: 29-28 win over Wadsworth
This week: at No. 6 Hudson (6-2, 4-2)
Highland’s Evan Foust is brought down by several Hudson defenders Aug. 29, 2025.
2. Wadsworth Grizzlies (8-1, 5-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Why Wadsworth: Because a one-point loss to No. 1 Highland kept the Grizzlies from being undefeated and holding onto the top spot. A win this week pushes the Grizzlies into a top three spot in Division II, Region 5 and gives them a first round bye.
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Last week: 29-28 loss at No. 1 Highland
This week: vs. No. 3 Nordonia (8-1, 5-1)
Wadsworth running back Jude Haller (21) cuts upfield against Hudson on Oct. 9, 2026, in Wadsworth.
3. Nordonia Knights (8-1, 5-1)
Previous ranking: 5
Why Nordonia: The Knights’ only loss of the season came by two to No. 1 Highland. Nordonia has quality wins over East and Hudson, who both appear in this week’s rankings. A win this week pushes the Knights into a top three spot in Division II, Region 5 and gives them a first round bye.
Last week: 38-13 win over Medina
This week: at No. 2 Wadsworth (8-1, 5-1)
4. Hoban Knights (3-6)
Previous ranking: 2
Why Hoban: The Knights continue to be a hard team to read. That said, they shut out No. 5 Walsh Jesuit this season. When Hoban is on, its a tough team to beat. Although the Knights don’t have a Week 10 game, they look like they’re locked into the No. 11 spot. Hoban, which is the No. 11 seed in Division II, Region 5 right now, can go as high as nine.
Archbishop Hoban’s Jaiden Daniels (1) picks up yardage on a run during a week 8 football game against Cleveland Glenville, Oct. 9, 2026, in Akron, Ohio.
5. Walsh Jesuit Warriors (6-2)
Previous ranking: 3
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Why Walsh Jesuit: The Warriors gave Super 25 No. 1 Bishop Watterson its best game of the season and have quality wins over No. 1 Highland and Division III runner-up Toledo Central Catholic. A win this week gives Walsh a top three spot in Division II, Region 5 and gives the Warriors a first round bye.
Last week: 21-0 loss to Columbus Bishop Watterson
This week: at Trotwood-Madison (7-1)
Hudson wide receiver Anthony Paolucci breaks a tackle and scores a touchdown against Stow on Oct. 16, 2026, in Hudson.
6. Hudson Explorers (6-2, 4-2)
Previous ranking: 6
Why Hudson: The Explorers lost by two points to No. 2 Wadsworth two weeks ago and fell to No. 3 Nordonia before that without their starting quarterback. They bring in No. 1 Highland this week. Hudson can go as high as No. 2 in Division I, Region 1 with a win and as low as No. 7 with a loss.
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Last week: 48-12 win over Stow
This week: vs. Wadsworth (8-1, 5-1)
Norton’s Jason Beverly celebrates with teammates during a game against Woodridge on Sept. 25, 2026, in Peninsula.
7. Norton Panthers (8-1, 5-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Why Norton: The Panthers’ only loss came in Week 4 to two-loss Streetsboro by a touchdown. A win Friday gives Norton a Patrón Athletic Conference with Cloverleaf. It can go as high as the top seed with a Week 10 win and as low as No. 8 in Division IV, Region 13.
East wide receiver Elijah Grice looks for a hole in the Nordonia defense Aug. 28, 2026, in Macedonia.
8. East Dragons (8-1, 4-0)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Why East: Since a Week 2 loss to No. 3 Nordonia, the Dragons have won seven straight, including a 21-20 victory over six-win Hunting Valley University School. East is currently ninth in Division IV, Region 13 and can go as high as No. 7 and as low as No. 10.
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Out: Woodridge (7-2, 4-2)
Also considered: Woodridge (7-2, 4-2), Mogadore (7-2), Copley (6-3, 3-3)
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.comand is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio high school football 2026 | Greater Akron rankings heading into Week 10
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