Princeton is the top-ranked high school football team in the tri-state area.

The Vikings climbed from #2 to #1 in the Blitz 5 Top 25 released Aug. 24, after their 31-24 upset of then-#1 Moeller on Aug. 20 at Paycor Stadium. The win snapped a 19-game losing streak against the Crusaders that stretched back to 1991 and brought the King of the Block Trophy back to Princeton for the first time in 35 years.

It was a brutal opening week across the poll. Six of the preseason top-10 teams lost their openers, reshuffling the rankings heading into Week 2. Moeller dropped to #4.

Princeton head coach Andre Parker, whose teams have averaged 10 wins per season during his tenure, called the early-season roster a work in progress after the Moeller win.

"We're an adventure every day. … A lot of new faces, a lot of young faces. So every day as coaches you've got to bring your hard hat," Parker said.

Senior quarterback Monsanna Torbert, a Michigan verbal commit as a defensive back, transferred from Taft after earning Division IV first-team all-state honors in 2025. He ran the offense that produced the program-changing result against a Moeller team that holds a 41-8 all-time record against Princeton dating to 1965. Before the opener, Parker described Torbert in an Aug. 17 WCPO feature as "a phenomenal leader" who "wants to do everything and play every position."

The atmosphere at Paycor matched the moment. Princeton alum Kevin Hill told WLWT the stadium was "absolutely electric" with the entire lower bowl packed.

The #1 ranking sets up a marquee Greater Miami Conference opener Friday, Aug. 28, when Princeton (1-0) travels to Barnitz Stadium to face #7 Middletown (0-1). The Middies fell 35-3 to then-#4 Elder in Week 1, surrendering four passing touchdowns after allowing only six all of last season.

The GMC conference slate features three other ranked matchups in Week 2: #3 Lakota West hosts #6 Lakota East, #11 Fairfield faces #19 Oak Hills, and #24 Hamilton visits #16 Colerain.

Princeton won't play a true home game until Friday, Oct. 2, because of ongoing renovations at Jake Sweeney Automotive Stadium at Pat Mancuso Field. September home games will be played at Roettger Stadium in Lockland, starting with Colerain on Sept. 4.