The top two stayed the same in this week’s Greater Akron high school football power rankings.
After that, well, it’s all over the place.
Six teams were on the move and two teams made their debuts. Here’s what things look like heading into Week 2:
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit Mason Rodgers (42) runs for a gain against Highland during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit Mason Rodgers (42) runs for a gain against Highland during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit quarterback David Ternosky (12) looks for a receiver against Highland during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit Dom Courtad (32) dives into the end zone for a touchdown against Highland during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit’s Xavier Steele (7) dives to stop Highland’s Ben Radigan (1) after a catch during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit’s Xavier Steele (7) gets a hand to the face as Highland’s Ben Radigan (1) fends him off during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit’s Xavier Steele (7) returns a Highland punt during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland’s Ben Radigan (1) looks to pick up yardage after a catch as Walsh Jesuit’s Ben Biel (15) dives at him during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit’s Oliver Nonno (30) watches his field goal as it goes through the uprights to score against Highland during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit Cameron Brunson (80) runs after a catch against Highland during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit Dom Courtad (32) jumps through a hole for a gain against Highland during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
A Highland defender pressures Walsh Jesuit’s quarterback David Ternosky (12) during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland’s quarterback Jonathan Prucha (2) looks for room to run during the game against Walsh Jesuit at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland’s quarterback Jonathan Prucha (2) fires off a pass against Walsh Jesuit during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland’s Ben Radigan (1) closes in on Walsh Jesuit’s Cameron Brunson (80) during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit Mason Rodgers (42) runs for 33 yard gain against Highland during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland’s Colton Winston (29) look to pick up yardage during the game against Walt Jesuit at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Walsh Jesuit’s Will Montalto (33) grabs on to Highland’s quartback Jonathan Prucha (2) during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland’s quarterback Jonathan Prucha (2) is sacked by Walsh Jesuit’s Will Montalto (33) Emmett Tobin (0) and Caleb Buckner (90) during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
A Highland defender knock the ball away from Walsh Jesuit’s Dom Courtad (32) during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026. Walsh recovered the ball on the play.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland’s Athony DePompei (3) looks to run against Walsh Jesuit during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland’s head coach Mike Gibbons talks to his players during the game Walsh Jesuit at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland’s head coach Mike Gibbons leads his team pomada the field for the game against Walsh Jesuit at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland cheerleaders pose for a videographer before the the game against Walsh Jesuit at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Members of the Highland marching band perform the pre game show at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
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Week 1 High School football Walsh Jesuit vs Highland
Highland fans watch their team take on Walsh Jesuit at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
(Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
1. Walsh Jesuit Warriors (1-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Why Walsh: The Warriors rolled into Granger Twp. last week and opened the season with a no-doubt-about-it win over Highland in which every facet was running on all cylinders. It was the first time in 69 games the Hornets had been shut out and it set the tone early in what looks to be a very difficult Division II, Region 5.
Last week: 34-0 win at Highland
This week: vs. Clark County Springfield (1-0)
Walsh Jesuit Dom Courtad (32) dives into the end zone for a touchdown against Highland during the game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland High School on August 21, 2026.
2. Wadsworth Grizzlies (1-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Why Wadsworth: Brysen Vestíbulo showed why the tremendous optimism with the Grizzlies was warranted when he went 21-for-28 passing for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Jay’len King caught seven passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns, and Wadsworth rolled Cleveland Heights on the road.
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Last week: 28-6 win at Cleveland Heights
This week: at Hilliard Davidson (1-0)
Nordonia wide receiver Dominick Jackson scores a touchdown ahead of two St. Vincent-St. Mary defenders on Aug. 22, 2025.
3. Nordonia Knights (1-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Why Nordonia: Man, what a 2026 comienzo for Knights quarterback Steven Fakult. The senior went 13-for-16 passing for 306 yards and five touchdowns in an easy win over St. Vincent-St. Mary. Collin Atha caught four passes for 147 yards (36.5 media) and scored twice.
Last week: 49-7 win at STVM
This week: vs. No. 6 East (1-0)
Hudson’s Hayden Lipinski runs a quarterback keeper around left end for a touchdown during a first-round Division II playoff game against Willoughby South on Oct. 31, 2025, in Hudson.
4. Hudson Explorers (1-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Why Hudson: The Explorers went to Austintown and came home with a very impressive win over Fitch. Hudson took an 18-point halftime lead and held on to beat the Falcons by five. Reno Ferri finished with 93 yards rushing on 21 carries and quarterback Hayden Lipinski went 10-of-15 passing for 73 yards and a TD.
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Last week: 24-19 win at Fitch
This week: at Jackson (1-0)
5. Hoban Knights (0-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Why Hoban: The Knights were done in by Toledo commit Yuto Kawamura-Johnson of West Orange, Fla., when the senior hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from AJ Chung with 1:57 left to lift the Warriors over Hoban. It’s only the second time in nine seasons the Knights have lost a season opener. It last happened in 2024, when Hoban went on to reach a state semifinal.
Last week: 28-24 loss at West Orange
This week: vs. NFL Academy, United Kingdom (1-0)
Garfield’s Sheldon Corley (5) wraps up Norton’s quarterback Trey Kersten (3) during the game at Norton Community Stadium at Norton High School on August 20, 2026.
6. Norton Panthers (1-0)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
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Why Norton: Quarterback Trey Kersten made the most of his senior comienzo when he went 9-for-14 passing for 173 yards and three touchdowns — all to Alex Meinen (104 yards receiving) — in a tidy win over Garfield. The Panthers haven’t lost a regular-season game on the field since Sept. 27, 2024.
Last week: 49-7 win vs. Garfield
This week: vs. Sandy Valley (1-0)
CVCA’s Taylor Willison (55) looks to tackles Akron East’s Emmanuel Jefferson (1) in an OHSAA DIII region 9 semifinal football game Nov. 14, 2025, at Royals Stadium in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
7. East Dragons (1-0)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Why East: The Dragons flexed on defense when they rallied to beat Bedford last week. Streetsboro transfer Marcus Council scored the game-winner against the Bearcats and Emmanuel Jefferson caught a touchdown pass to help East make its 2026 comienzo in the power rankings.
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Last week: 12-7 win vs. Bedford.
This week: at No. 3 Nordonia (1-0)
8. Cuyahoga Valley Academy Royals (0-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Why CVCA: The Royals cut its deficit to seven points with 8:33 left last week at Brecksville but couldn’t find enough to pull out a win. Still, heading to a school much bigger than it and hanging with the Bees was enough to keep CVCA in the top eight. A win this week at home should right the ship for the Royals.
Last week: 16-7 loss at Brecksville
This week: vs. Canton South (0-1)
Out: Highland (0-1), Twinsburg (0-1)
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.comand is on X at @bbournival.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio high school football 2026 | Greater Akron rankings heading into Week 2
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