Route 30 Rankings: West Holmes Knights, Crestview Cougars positioned well
After Week 1, there were only a couple of things on which the voters in the Routh 30 Rankings could agree.
One, West Holmes is the No. 1 team in the big school division. Two, Crestview proved it is the No. 1 team in the small school division.
The rest is just a jumbled mess as the big school division features ties all over the place and the small school division saw some of the biggest jumps and falls in Route 30 Rankings history.
Let's take a look at this week's rankings.
Big School (Divisions I-IV)
Rank. Team (Record): Score (First-place votes)
1. West Holmes (1-0): 13 (7)
It's always a good sign when a team doesn't play its best and still ends up with a 41-7 win over a quality opponent. That was the case for the Knights in Week 1 against Triway. West Holmes brings a 13-game regular-season win streak into Orrville in their Week 2 matchup. Last Week: No. 1.
2. Mansfield Senior (1-0): 16 (2)
The Tygers went on the road and knocked off some rust and the Norwalk Truckers 41-19 in Week 1. They did enough to earn two first-place votes in this week's voting and crept closer to catching West Holmes at No. 1. They host North Canton Hoover in Week 2 with a chance to really make up some ground. Last week: No. 2.
3. Clear Fork (1-0): 30
The Colts were locked in a tight one with Lucas last week, prevailing 21-20 to start off the year with a W. But a huge test awaits in Week 2 with a trip to Granville, a traditional Division III powerhouse. A win there should get the Colts a first-place vote or two. Last Week: No. 3.
4. Wooster (1-0): 31
The Generals dominated their annual rivalry game with Orrville 40-13 and get into the meat of their schedule quickly. A Week 2 home game against Wadsworth will be a better test to see where a young Wooster team is. Last Week: No. 4.
T5. Ontario (1-0): 50
The Warriors leap-frogged a few teams to move up to No. 5 after a 21-17 win over Lexington last week. Bodpegn Miller accounted for all three touchdowns and is sure to have his fingerprints all over their Week 2 game at home against St. Paul. Last Week: No. 9.
T5. Shelby (1-0): 50
The Whippets closed WW Skiles Field with a dramatic 10-7 win over Madison on Casey Lantz's last-second field goal. Now, Shelby can get back to just playing football when it takes a trip to Lexington in Week 2. Last Week: No. 5.
T7. Madison (0-1): 76
The Rams earned the respect of most voters by taking Shelby to the brink Friday night before falling 10-7, but everyone could tell this isn't your normal Madison football team. It hosts River Valley — a team it lost to only 14-7 last year — on Friday. Last Week: No. 11.
T7. Lexington (0-1): 76
The Minutemen just couldn't close out the game in a 21-17 loss to Ontario in Week 1, but they have a golden opportunity to bounce back with Shelby coming to town for Lex's home opener. Last Week: No. 10.
T7. Ashland (0-1): 76
The Arrows were demolished 61-28 by Division VI Norwayne in Week 1 for a rough start to the 2022 season. They travel to Marion Harding on Friday night. Last Week: No. 7.
10. Galion (0-1): 77
The Tigers took a surprising 54-28 loss to Division VII McComb in Week 1 and dropped down to No. 10 this week. Now they need to rebound at defending state champion Carey this week or it could be a long season. Last Week: No. 8.
Small School (Divisions V-VII)
1. Crestview (1-0): 12 (6)
The Cougars ran out to a 35-0 lead on Loudonville in Week 1 before cruising to a 49-14 victory in impressive fashion. They earned six first-place votes this week and could earn more next week if they can go on the road and knock off East Knox. Last Week: No. 1.
2. Norwayne (1-0): 18 (3)
Talk about a statement to open the season: The Bobcats dominated Div. II Ashland in a 61-28 victory, making it clear they have as much firepower as any small school in the rankings. A matchup with Canton Central Catholic is another good test. Last Week: No. 5.
3. Dalton (1-0): 30
Some inexperienced varsity playmakers like Greyson Siders and Sammy Tomlinson burst onto the scene in a 42-14 win over East Canton. The Bulldogs have a golden opportunity for a 2-0 start with Tuslaw on the schedule in Week 2. Last Week: No. 3.
4. Lucas (0-1): 38
The Cubs took on a challenge in Week 1, hosting big school division No. 3 Clear Fork in their opener and fell 21-20. The Cubs had a 20-7 lead in the second half, and when the playoff points are added up this loss won't hurt them. Now they host Hillsdale in Week 2 in yet another insanely tough test. Last Week: No. 2.
5. Colonel Crawford (1-0): 42
The Eagles made a statement in their Week 1 54-22 win over Riverdale. They host Lakota in the first home game since the passing of beloved coach Ryan Teglovic. It will be emotional and could lead to a jump in next week's standings. Last Week: No. 4.
6. Hillsdale (1-0): 50
The Falcons expected big things heading into the season and backed up those expectations with a 34-6 rout of Black River. A huge nonconference matchup with Lucas awaits in a rare Saturday game this week. Last Week: No. 6.
7. Plymouth (1-0): 76
The Big Red traveled to Oberlin and dominated 42-14. Now they travel to backyard rival Willard, where one of the biggest military appreciation celebrations in the state will be taking place. Last Week: No. 9.
8. Triway (0-1): 85
A 41-7 loss doesn't look good on the resume, but the Titans played with a state-contending West Holmes team for a half, trailing 14-7 at the break in Week 1. Last Week: No. 6 (Big School Division).
9. Waynedale (1-0): 88
A missed extra point was the difference as Waynedale picked up a 21-20 win over Tusky Valley in Week 1. There will be a much smaller margin for error during a trip to Garaway this week. Last Week: No. 7.
10. Northwestern (1-0): 93
The Huskies got off to the start they wanted with a 44-33 win over Keystone. A game with Black River awaits as Northwestern pushes for a 2-0 start. Last Week: No. 14.
11. South Central (1-0): 95
The Trojans pulled off a dramatic 44-43 win over Willard last week thanks to a game-ending missed field goal by the Flashes. SC will host a very good Northmor team in Week 2. Last Week: No. 10.
12. Mapleton (1-0): 118
The Mounties had one of the most impressive Week 1 wins of any team in the Route 30 rankings, knocking off Chippewa 32-10 in dominating fashion. They host Wellington this week. Last Week: No. 16.
13. Smithville (1-0): 130
The Smithies took advantage of nine Cleveland Central Catholic turnovers to win 49-6 in Week 1. A matchup with a St. Thomas Aquinas program that's struggled recently gives the Smithies an excellent chance to match their win total from 2021. Last Week: No. 17.
14. Bucyrus (1-0): 131
Bucyrus brought in Mississinawa Valley and sent it home with a 48-20 season-opening loss. It travels to Danville in Week 2 for a true test. Last Week: No. 15.
15. Black River (0-1): 138
The Pirates suffered a 34-6 loss to Hillsdale in Week 1 and will try to get their first win of the 2022 season at No. 10 Northwestern on Friday night. Last Week: No. 8.
16. Wynford (0-1): 143
The Royals kept it close against Otsego in Week 1 but fell 18-12. They will try to rebound on Friday night at Pleasant. Last Week: No. 12.
17. Buckeye Central (1-0): 145
The Bucks kicked off the season with a dominant 53-8 win over Crestline, giving them two consecutive years of starting the season 1-0. They next travel to Fremont St. Joseph's to try to open the year 2-0 for the first time since 2014. Last Week: No. 20.
18. Rittman (1-0): 160
A game with Strasburg in Week 1 made for a good start, as it emerged with a 32-6 win. A matchup with Windham will be a tougher test in Week 2. Last Week: No. 19.
19. Tuslaw (1-0): 162
The Mustangs showed they can put up points in a 49-48 double-OT win over Conotton Valley in Week 1. Those points promise to be tougher to come by in a matchup with Dalton this week. Last Week: No. 21.
20. Chippewa (0-1): 167
A 32-10 loss to Mapleton wasn't how the Chipps envisioned their season starting. Facing Hawken in Week 2 presents Chippewa with an opportunity to shake off the opening loss. Last Week: No. 11.
21. Orrville (0-1): 171
A tough start is putting it lightly. After traveling to Wooster (a 40-13 loss) in Week 1, the Red Riders host West Holmes Friday before the schedule lets up a little bit. Last Week: No. 13.
22. Loudonville (0-1): 189
The Redbirds got a taste of how good the No. 1 team in the small-school Route 30 Rankings is in a 49-14 loss to Crestview. A Week 2 matchup with Utica should be a much different story. Last Week: No. 18.
23. Crestline (0-1): 207
The Bulldogs' regular-season losing streak hit 10 games last week with a 53-8 loss to Buckeye Central. It doesn't get any easier with North Baltimore coming to town Friday night. Last Week: No. 22.
The Route 30 Rankings are voted on by media members from Wooster, Ashland, Mansfield and Bucyrus areas. The teams are ranked 1-10 in the big school division and 1-23 in the small school division. Teams are placed in order by lowest to highest score.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Route 30 Rankings: West Holmes, Crestview still No. 1
