After week 7, we have a new No. 1 in the Chillicothe Gazette power rankings

Here's a look at this week's football power rankings from The Chillicothe Gazette.

After Week 7, with Paint Valley losing, Unioto moves to the top. But what happens to the team that beat the Bearcats?

Here's a look at our rankings, with records, insights and last week's spot in the poll.

1 Unioto (6-1, 4-0 Scioto Valley Conference)

With their 35-0 win against Adena, coupled with Paint Valley's loss to Piketon, the Shermans take the No. 1 spot this week.

Here is the thing about Unioto — you just never seem to know who is going to be the standout player from week to week.

A couple of weeks ago it was Isaac Coy throwing five touchdown passes against Huntington. This week, it was Cody Braden scoring three rushing touchdowns.

But we want to talk about that defense. The Shermans haven't given up a point to the Warriors in 14 straight quarters. Coach Matt Hoops pointed out that they had 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks on the night. The Shermans were led by David Long and Bryce Jarvis who had 10 tackles each.

So this week, Unioto is on top.

Last week's rank: 2

2 Paint Valley (6-1, 3-1 SVC)

The question since the Bearcats fell to Piketon 13-12 on Friday night has been where to rank them now?

Should they tumble down the rankings? Should Piketon be ranked ahead of them because they beat them? Or should Zane Trace which has more losses overall but is perfect in the SVC jump ahead of them?

The answer is no.

Paint Valley is still a very good team. They have one loss on the season, and it wasn't like it was a blowout loss.

Last week's rank: 1

More: Vote now for the Chillicothe Gazette's football player of the week for Week 7

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3 Waverly (5-2, 3-1 Southern Ohio Conference II)

When you go up on a team 20-0 in the first quarter, it might be easy to take your foot off the gas and cruise into victory lane.

On Friday night, the Tigers went up 20-0 and while they didn't exactly light up the scoreboard after that, they did finish the shutout at 36-0.

Like we did with Unioto, let's talk about that defense.

Sebastian Billas led the defense with nine total tackles, seven of which were unassisted. He also recorded a sack for a loss of 11 yards. Hunter Hauck had nine total tackles with six being solo. He also had one sack for 14 yards and an interception. Mason Sparks and Dylan Leeth had an interception each as well.

The defense also had a safety in the third quarter.

Last week's rank: 3

4 Zane Trace (4-3, 4-0 SVC)

The Pioneers have won four in a row and remain unbeaten in the SVC.

This week again seems to be about defense.

Zane Trace shut out Westfall 35-0.

In their four wins, they have given up only an average of eight points.

Sophomore Hudson Williams seems to top the defense in terms of tackles each week — with 12 total against the Mustangs and six of those were solo tackles. Mason Hartley, another sophomore, had 10 total tackles including one tackle for loss.

Last week's rank: 4

5 Piketon (4-3, 2-2 SVC)

What do you mean Piketon takes down the No. 1 team and doesn't move in the rankings?

There are a lot of ways to argue this. Yes, they took down previously unbeaten Paint Valley who held the No. 1 spot last week, but that doesn't mean they jump to the top. They still have two losses in the SVC and those two losses come from teams above them in the list — Unioto and Zane Trace.

Ranking them has been the hardest this week because they do deserve all the credit for taking down Paint Valley.

And how did they do it? With their defense.

Treven Shanks had 14 total tackles to lead the defense, but right behind him was Wyatt Savage with 13, Noah Ross with 12 and Cohner Daniels added 10.

How do you stop a high-powered offense like Paint Valley? You make it uncomfortable for them by being in their backfield.

Six players — Savage, Daniels, Drake Beekman, Nathan Shrum, Zack Hannah and Braden Scott — all had sacks. Hannah recorded two of them. Quarterback hurries — Scott had four of them.

And then there was Bo Henry who jumped on a loose ball after a punt that would have given Paint Valley the ball with a chance to score near the end of the game.

Last week's rank: 5

6 Adena (3-4, 1-3 SVC)

The Warriors haven't scored in two straight games.

When facing good teams they haven't been able to get their offense going. In their four losses this year they have scored a total of 13 points.

Yet if the season had ended after Friday, Adena would get in the playoffs. They are currently sitting at No. 16 in Division VI, Region 24 and the top 16 teams of each region make it in.

Last week's rank: 6

7 Westfall (2-5, 1-3 SVC)

Whereas Adena would make it into the playoffs if the season had ended Friday, the Mustangs would be one of those teams left out.

They are currently sitting at 17 in Division IV, Region 15.

In their two wins this year, Westfall has scored a total of 40 points. In their losses, they have given up 203 points.

Last week's rank: 7

8 Huntington (2-5, 1-3 SVC)

The Huntsmen got their first win since the opener on Friday as they defeated Southeastern 28-12.

Like those other teams to score wins this week, it was about the defense (and in Huntington's case special teams).

Jackson McNeal had eight tackles for Huntington.

Carson McNeal had one interception.

But the star of the show — Landon Neff, who not only had an interception, he has a punt return for a touchdown.

Last week's rank: 9

9 Southeastern (1-6, 0-3 SVC)

The Panthers couldn't get their running game going against the Huntsmen.

They netted only 62 yards rushing. Lane Williams scored the lone rushing touchdown.

Their passing was better with Joey Pfiefer going 13-of-24 for 181 yards and a touchdown but it wasn't enough.

Last week's rank: 8

10 Chillicothe (0-7, 0-2 Frontier Athletic Conference)

The Cavaliers dropped their second straight FAC contest in a 21-14 loss to Hillsboro.

Hillsboro recorded a pick-six against the Cavaliers and had 12.5 tackles for loss.

Cartae Ligon scored both touchdowns for the Cavaliers gaining 211 yards on 24 carries.

Last week's rank: 10

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: After week 7, we have a new No. 1 in the Chillicothe Gazette power rankings