Fitch continues to move up in Div. I football rankings

Staff report

Austintown Fitch continues to earn the respect of Associated Press football poll voters around the state.

The Falcons (6-0) moved up two spots, to No. 8, in the weekly Division I poll on Monday.

Fitch, which plays host to North Canton Hoover on Friday, is one of five area teams in the top 10 and 15 schools overall in this week’s poll by sports writers and broadcasters around the state.

Ursuline (6-0) remained No. 1 in Div. V by a comfortable margin over Kirtland after a 52-14 win over St. Thomas. The Fighting Irish are joined by No. 15 Crestview (5-1) and No. 18 South Range (5-1).

In Div. II, Howland (6-0), which defeated Beaver Local 26-0 last Friday, remained at No. 8 in the poll. The Tigers visit Poland this Friday night; the Bulldogs (4-2) are ranked No. 17 in Div. III.

Also, in Div. III, Cardinal Mooney (3-2) moved up one spot, to No. 9, after beating Buffalo St. Francis 42-0.

Hubbard (4-2) also moved up a spot, to No. 16, after a 27-24 win over Girard, and Salem (5-1) moved back into the poll, at No. 17, after a 43-21 win over Campbell Memorial.

In Div. IV, Campbell Memorial (5-1) is the highest-ranked team, at No. 18 (down one spot from last week), followed by Lakeview (4-2) at No. 19, Girard (4-2) at No. 20 and Champion (3-3) at No. 21.

Western Reserve (6-0), which defeated Southern 26-10 last Friday in a battle of unbeatens, moved up two spots, to No. 8, in Div. VI.

Southern actually moved up one spot in the poll, as well, to No. 16.

The first-place teams remained the same in all divisions except one.

Cleveland Glenville (I), Steubenville (III), Elyria Catholic (IV) and Delphos St. John’s (VI) all remained in first place, but in Div. II, Cincinnati Turpin was supplanted in the top spot by Columbus Marion-Franklin.