The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Columbia remains as No. 5 team in D-VI poll
After staying perfect at 6-0 with a win over Clearview on Sept. 24, Columbia kept its No. 5 ranking in the latest Division VI Associated Press football state poll.
Led by receiver Owen Menge’s five touchdowns, the Raiders beat Clearview, 52-16, making it six straight games with over 40 points to open the season. Columbia’s offense boasts a deep stable of offensive playmakers, including Menge and the area’s leading rusher through five weeks, Marco Cirigliano.
The Raiders jumped from the No. 7 spot to a top-five ranking after their Week 5 win over Brookside.
Columbia travels to 3-3 Wellington in Week 7 and has three games against teams that are .500 or above .500 left on their schedule. That includes a Week 9 game against Keystone that could decide who wins the Lorain County League championship.
Avon Lake — previously ranked as the No. 10 team in Division II — dropped completely from the poll this week. The Shoremen dropped their second straight game in Week 6, losing to 2-4 Midview, 24-21.
After debuting as the No. 3 team in the state in the Week 5 poll, Avon Lake dropped to No. 10 following a loss to Berea-Midpark. Since their win over Avon in Week 4, the Shoremen have scored 38 points in two games against conference opponents.
Avon again was left on the outside looking in of the top 10. The Eagles received 18 points from votes but still rank behind Massillon (22 points) and Teays Valley (19 points), putting them unofficially as the No. 13 team in D-II.
The No. 10 team in the rankings, Toledo Central Catholic, has 28 points.
In Week 6, Avon dismantled North Ridgeville, 51-13, earning its fourth win of the year and vaulting itself back into the Southwestern Conference championship race.
The Eagles will have a shot to jump into the top 10 as they host unbeaten Olmsted Falls in Week 7 in a game with major SWC championship consequences. If Avon loses to the Bulldogs, they will essentially be knocked out of the running for their sixth straight league title.
Three Northeast Ohio teams earned No. 1 rankings in the Sept. 27 poll. Kirtland (D-V), Chardon (D-III) and Benedictine (D-II) took home the top spots in their respective divisions.
The AP Poll is released every Monday and is voted on by sportswriters across Ohio.