Home Team Friday Week 8 “Power 10”

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Each week, the Tri-State shows off some of the most talented high school football teams in their respective states. But how do fans know who is the best of the best when the lights turn on Friday night? That’s where the Home Team Friday “Power 10” comes into play.

Our expert sports team is constantly studying dozens of teams each week to create a top-10. Wins, losses, injuries, strength of schedule and margin of victory/defeat are all factors in the decision-making process.

Here are the Week 8 “Power 10” rankings

1. Owensboro Catholic (Owensboro, Ky.)

(6-1)
Week 7 ranking: 1↔️

This team is flat out impressive, and getting better and better by the week, which is bad news for the rest of Kentucky. At this point it wouldn’t be a stretch to say this team hasn’t been tested by a single team outside of their week one loss at Boyle Co. During their six-game winning streak since that loss, this Aces team has yet to win a game by less than three touchdowns. The final from Lewisport last Friday was 61-0 as O Cath took down Hancock Co. with ease. Like we have grown accustomed to seeing, it was the Dre’Mail Carothers talent show once again as the senior went for 416 passing yards and 7 passing TDs. The performance marks his 2nd straight game with seven scores. Hard to think he could grow this much more after a legendary junior season, but this Aces team is better, because they have one of the best QB’s in all of Kentucky. That Owensboro Catholic defense continues to improve as well, pitching back-to-back shutouts in consecutive weeks. Those two areas of growth could be the difference that helps the Aces finally break down the state championship wall in 2026. O Cath welcomes Fort Knox to Steele in week eight.

2. Memorial (Evansville, Ind.)

(7-0)
Week 7 ranking: 2↔️

The unbeaten streak (this season and the last two regular seasons) stayed alive as Memorial snuck out of Enlow Field with a 30-27 win over a then 6-0 Reitz Panthers team. The quick 14-0 start was huge for the Tigers because when the Panthers turned it on… Memorial found themselves only up 17-14 at the half, with momentum trending Reitz way. But like great teams do, adjustments were made at half, and Memorial found a way to match the 13 points put up by Reitz in the 4th and hang on by a field goal. As always, seniors were the story of Friday night for the Tigers as many stepped up when it mattered most. Senior QB Luke Brown stats didn’t jump off the stat sheet but his 234 yards passing and 2 TD passes helped out in a big way. RB Gene Aimone was a force on the ground rushing for 109 yards and adding on 59 receiving yards and a TD score. 16 total tackles for the Tigers best defender in Grayson Carter was the main story, but the linebacker also added on a rushing and receiving TD. The three-headed monster at the senior level leads this team, and they only get more dangerous when underclassmen like WR De’andre Fellows and RB Dru Ellis have their frequent great performances. Like always, these Tigers are a real threat in Southern Indy and the victory over Reitz proved it once again. No time to rest for the best though, they have a huge matchup vs a perfect 7-0 Floyd Central team on Friday in another battle of the unbeatens.

3. Gibson Southern (Fort Branch, Ind.)

(6-1)
Week 7 ranking: 3 ↔️

Gibson Southern’s gridiron battle vs Washington last Friday was one where the team had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Everyone expected a blowout from the superior Titans, and that is exactly what happened. But they do get bonus points for the lopsided win because of the players they did with. Gibson Southern opted to rest star QB Caden Rochleau and it didn’t really matter because backup junior QB Gabe Foster led his guys to a 70-0 win. Foster finished the night with 191 passing yards 5 total TDs. Of course, the majority of those pass yards were gobbled up by senior WR Peyton Johnson (127 rec yards, 2 TDs) who has only gone under 100 yards receiving in one game this year. Gibson Southern travels to Boonville Friday and are the favorites yet again in week eight.

4. Owensboro (Owensboro, Ky.)

(5-2)
Week 7 ranking: 4↔️

Owensboro is heating up at perfect time as they scored 50 yet again this week vs Marshall Co. It was the best start to a game this season for QB Tyson Biggs and co. as they scored 42 of their 57 points in the first quarter, making the game a non-contest by the half. The Red Devils have yet to give up more than 7 points in a win this year. The defense remains one of the top tier units in all over Kentucky and barring injury, that will be the thing that carries them in the postseason. Muhlenberg Co. is next on the chopping blocks for this Owensboro team. Also in other good news, based on the original timeline, this could be the week many fans have waited for as star QB Damarcus Ganaway Jr. returns from his collarbone injury suffered in week one. The Red Devils are still very much a threat in the commonwealth and are getting hotter and healthier as the playoffs draw ever closer.

5. Reitz (Evansville, Ind)

(6-1)
Week 7 ranking: 5 ↔️

Yes, Reitz fell to Memorial once again this season, but the loss was a sign of improvement and how far this program has come this year. This is definitely not the same Reitz team of a year ago and could be the best team they have had in recent memory. After losing to the Tigers by 21 points at home in 2025, coach Brunson’s team lost by only three points on the road this time around. Outside of a bad first quarter where they gave up 14 unanswered points, Reitz hung in this game neck and neck with the SIAC defending champs and had a chance to still win this game late in the 4th. A lot of that credit can be given to the underclassmen stars on this team. Hunter Moers looked like a seasoned vet passing for 290 yards and 2 TDs, and as always RB Amyr Wilford went for 200+ scrimmage yards. The sophomores were great, but the seniors were the ones that kept this team in the game when they needed others to step up. Memorial shut down the run game early and senior WR Elijah Darrett responded with 125 receiving yards and 2 TDs. On defense linebackers Ethan Rowe and Kade Voegel combined 17 total tackles and got stops against a great Tigers offense. In the end, the Panthers would go down but this team is far from out and remain one of the best teams in the “Power 10”. Reitz has a great chance of getting back to their winning ways in a favorable matchup at Bosse week eight.

6. North Posey (Poseyville, Ind.)

(7-0)
Week 7 ranking: 6 ↔️

Safe to say the Vikings were frustrated with a close game against a South Spencer team they are much better than in week seven… because North Posey got back to dominating in week eight. Like it is every week at this point, it was the Cade Mauck show as the senior ran for 217 yards and 4 TDs. That is a game most running backs in the area can only dream of, but for Mauck it is becoming a weekly sight as he has topped 1,000 rushing yards on the season through just seven weeks. Senior QB Carter Schickel added to the 52-13 victory over Forest Park with 255 passing yards and 2 TD passes. The Vikings offense remains at the top of the PAC and it will need to stay hot in week eight for their biggest game yet in Lincoln City. The matchup vs Heritage Hills could be one of the best in the conference this year and go a long way in proving who is ready to make noise in the postseason.

7. Heritage Hills (Lincoln City, Ind.)

(5-2)
Week 7 ranking: 7 ↔️

The Pats ability to bounce back from close losses is second to none in our area and proves just how mature this team is. Heritage Hills easily took home a road win against Mt. Vernon in week seven by a score of 35-7. No one was stopping senior QB Tyce Winchell in this one has he went for 225 total yards and 5 TDs. That means he was a part of every score for the Pats last week. And if Tyce is playing well, his partner Micah Toler is too (7 rec, 112 receiving yards, TD). Outside their two losses, the team’s defense has given up 13 points or less in every game this season and remains a very solid unit. Despite some setbacks with injuries and losses, the Pats are still in the playoff picture and are a big-time force in the PAC. They have another huge game in week eight as they welcome North Posey to The Jungle.

8. Mater Dei (Evansville, Ind)

(6-1)
Week 7 ranking: 8 ↔️

The 2026 Mater Dei Wildcats are the exact opposite team they were from a year ago. Through seven weeks in 2025, the Wildcats held a record of 3-4… they have flipped that to 6-1 this season and they have done it with a younger team. Now in year two, it is clear to see that head coach Cody Hess is settling in as the team’s signal caller and has built a clear identity for this team. What is that identity? from my perspective it is one of doing your job and playing as hard till the final whistle. Whether it was the Castle, Jasper, or North game, this team has overcome deficits and proven that they are truly never out of a game. Now their week seven dominant 35-0 win over Bosse didn’t exemplify that, but the point still stands. Dating back to last season, the Wildcats are now 8-2 in their last 10 games, and it seems like the postseason momentum they found in 2025 is carrying over. Whatever they found then, is working now, and has them in contention at the top of the SIAC with the regular season winding down.

9. Mt. Carmel (Mount Carmel, Ill)

(7-0)
Week 7 ranking: 9 ↔️

If you don’t lose, you can’t move and the Golden Aces are staying put in the “Power 10.” The road crowd didn’t factor into Mt. Carmel’s game at all as they steam rolled Casey-Westfield 42-0. The team remains perfect through seven weeks and that a feat that very few still hold in the tri-state. With a home game vs an under .500 Marshall team next week and a road game vs a winless Lawrenceville to end the year, 2026 is shaping up to be a special one for Mt. Carmel. It would be a shock to no one if these Aces stay Golden in the regular season and hit the playoffs unbeaten.

10. Madisonville-North Hopkins (Madisonville, Ky)

(6-1)
Week 7 ranking: 10 ↔️

The Maroons got off to a very slow start in week seven, but it didn’t matter in the end as they rolled to a 48-14 win over Muhlenberg Co. Madisonville scored twice in the 2nd quarter of play and that got the offense going for the rest of the night. The great start to this point is huge for MNH as they now hit the hardest part of their season with games at Apollo and Owensboro. If they can pull out a win in one of those two games, the Maroons can almost guarantee themselves yet another 8-win season. They close the season heavily favored over Warren Central at home, a game they should win easily.

Just missed the cut: Boonville (Boonville, Ind.) Jasper (Jasper, Ind.)Castle (Newburgh, Ind.)

A new ranking will be released at the beginning of each week throughout football season until the playoffs begin

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