Princeton football rank No. 1 in the current Region 4 computer ratings in the Associated Press Ohio Division I poll released Tuesday, Oct. 13. The Vikings collected nine first-place votes and 116 total points at 8-0.
Lakewood St. Edward (7-1) sat second with two first-place votes and 100 points. Gahanna Lincoln (8-0) took third with one first-place vote and 82 points, followed by Perrysburg (8-0) at 67 points, according to the Journal-News. Princeton also held the top spot in the previous poll at 7-0.
The ranking came after the Vikings routed Hamilton 60-6 in Week 8. Princeton has averaged 51.7 points per game over its last three contests. The Vikings are the last undefeated team in the Greater Miami Conference, according to cleveland.com's Southwest Ohio rankings.
The defense has matched the offensive firepower. Princeton's run defense has allowed just 50.5 yards per game through eight weeks, according to Stateline Sports Network analyst Sam Houseworth. Terrance Jones Jr., who holds three FBS offers, has anchored the defensive front with 10½ tackles for loss and 6½ sacks.
The Vikings opened the season by beating Moeller and added a signature win over then-No. 3 Lakota West in Week 5, a 27-24 victory in which Princeton survived six turnovers.
"We won ugly," head coach Andre Parker told Tri-State Football after the Sept. 18 Lakota West game. "You don't have six turnovers and win a game. You have to be a special team to do that."
That resilience has carried into the second half of the season. Princeton also sits atop the Division I, Region 4 playoff rankings, according to Joe Eitel's projections cited by cleveland.com. As we reported Oct. 14, the Vikings hold the No. 1 seed with a first-round bye in reach.
Two games stand between Princeton and a perfect regular season. The Vikings face Oak Hills (4-4, 3-4 GMC) on Friday, Oct. 16, then hosts Fairfield (4-4, 3-4). A win in either game would give Princeton at least a share of its fourth consecutive Greater Miami Conference championship.
