Top 10 defenses in Cincinnati high school football

We're six games through the 2025 high school football season with just four weeks until playoff time. As teams start to look ahead toward playoff chances, it's worth remembering that defense wins championships.

At the season's midway point, the Enquirer broke down the top individual stat leaders from across the Tri-State. Now, let's take a look at the dominant units all over the city.

Here are the top defenses by points allowed in Cincinnati after six weeks of action.

10. Lawrenceburg

Points allowed: 71

The Tigers have been on a rampage, allowing just 34 points over five straight wins after a season opening loss to East Central. Lawrenceburg makes it tough to move the ball, demonstrated most clearly in a shutout against Speedway where the Tigers held their opponent to 45 yards of total offense. Senior linebacker Qain Foster leads the team with four sacks and eight tackles for loss, while senior cornerback Isaiah Williams leads the defensive backfield with three interceptions.

9. North College Hill

Points allowed: 68

North College Hill remains undefeated in large part thanks to their shutdown defensive play. The Trojans have yet to give up more than 20 points in a game, and they shut out both Dayton Ponitz and Dayton Meadowdale. Defensive end Kevonte Whitiker and linebacker Anthony Branch, both juniors, have made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks with 12 and 10.5 sacks, respectively. Both Whitiker and Branch have forced two fumbles, and senior safety Jai'Veon Allen's three interceptions have added to North College Hill's impressive 19 total turnovers on defense.

8. Winton Woods

Points allowed: 67

The Winton Woods defense keeps the team in winning position week in and week out, leading the way to a 5-1 record. No team has scored more than 17 against the Warriors, and in their last three games the defense has not allowed more than seven points. Senior Nate Dawson and junior Ka'Ronn Daugherty each have two interceptons on the year, with Dawson returning one for a pick six in a 21-14 win over Springfield. On the interior defensive line, junior Jayvion McKinney-Cooper has been a wrecking ball with four and a half sacks and five tackles for loss.

7. St. Bernard-Elmwood Place

Points allowed: 65

St. Bernard-Elmwood Place has won five straight, pitching two shutouts and allowing just six points in two matchups. No quarterback has thrown for more than 130 yards against the Titans, with a standout performance where Norwood passed for just 18 yards. James Hall, a senior defensive end, leads the entire city with 17 sacks and leads the Titans with 73 tackles. Senior linebacker Nathan Schulte has been all over the field with three interceptions and 40 tackles.

6. Williamsburg

Points allowed: 59

Williamsburg is off to a perfect 6-0 start with smothering defensive performances. The Wildcats find ways to get stops without relying on turnovers, holding each of their opponents to two touchdowns or less. Senior safety Luke Czarnecki leads the way with 62 tackles, adding five tackles for loss and three pass breakups. Jackson Kreimer, a junior defensive end, gets into the backfield with six tackles for loss, a sack and forced one fumble.

T-3. Summit Country Day

Points allowed: 58

In five of six games this season, Summit Country Day has held its opponent under eight points with staunch defense. Turnovers have been a critical piece of the Silver Knights' success, forcing seven fumbles, 10 interceptions, and scoring four defensive touchdowns. Senior linebacker Sam Reder has been putting up huge numbers, recording 91 tackles, forcing five fumbles and securing a pick six. Freshman Korde Williams has stepped up as a ball-hawking threat, snagging four interceptions with a pick six.

T-3. Anderson

Points allowed: 58

The Raptors have been perhaps the most dominant team in high school football in the entire state, outscoring opponents 299 to 58 as their defense holds all opponents in check. Anderson is fresh off a shutout against Milford, allowing just 118 yards while coming away with four interceptions. Senior linebacker Brady Kuhn seems to always be in the opposing backfield, leading the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and 52 tackles. Ke'Maury Tye, a senior corner, is third on the team with 30 tackles and has recorded two interceptions and a forced fumble.

T-3. Middletown

Points allowed: 58

The Middletown defense has held opposing offenses scoreless in three of their six games on their way to a 5-1 record. The Middies most recent shutout against Sycamore saw Middletown return two pick sixes, including a 100-yard return from senior Wyman Carr. That lockdown pass defense has been present all season, as the Middies have snatched 11 interceptions. Middletown's defense also has no problem blowing past defensive lines, combining for 61 tackles for loss. Senior C.J. Bryant leads the way with 9.5 tackles for loss and 52 tackles, while Virgil Coleman, another senior, has four interceptions.

2. Indian Hill

Points allowed: 35

Lights out defense has the Braves in first place in the Cincinnati Hills League at 6-0. Indian hill is fresh off shutouts in weeks 4 and 5, and have only allowed multiple scores once in a 51-14 win over New Richmond. Senior Dylan Hartman's four interceptions lead a defense that has 10 interceptions. Evan Riggs, Topher Watchel and Jaxson Frye have combined for nine sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss.

1. Taft

Points allowed: 34

The Senators' defense has been virtually impenetrable through six games, shutting out their opponents four times and giving up just one score against Chaminade Julienne. A pair of senior linebackers, Adam Kirtley and JoJo Pouncy, have wrecked opposing backfields with 15 and 14 tackles for loss, respectively. As a complete unit, Taft has tallied six sacks and 63 tackles for loss. Sophomore Key’Sean Torbert has three interceptions, including two pick sixes and two forced fumbles.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 defenses in Cincinnati high school football so far in 2025