Listen to the CS8 Power Rankings Below:
CS8
1. Rochester – The Rockets have allowed the least amount of points of any team in the Central State Eight. Rochester will host Jacksonville on Friday.
2. SHG – Who witnessed the Tre-MAYNE event on Friday? In fact, every week is becoming the Tre-MAYNE event. 270 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 11 carries against Glenwood. The Cyclones’ junior tailback has 14 scores on the year to go along with nearly 700 yards on the ground.
3. Eisenhower – The Panthers’ defense was swarming against Lanphier in week four and that offense continues to display explosiveness. Eisenhower hosts an athletic Southeast team on Friday night. It will be interesting to see how the Panthers athletes fare against the Spartans athletes.
4. Glenwood – The Titans sit at 2-2, with wins against Southeast and Lanphier and blowout losses to Rochester and SHG. Every team has been getting blown out by Rochester and SHG, though, so the Titans stay at No. 4, because no team has done anything to knock them out of the four-hole.
5. Jacksonville – The Crimsons needed a dominant performance against MacArthur and they got it, pasting the Generals, 48-0. Klay Wood and Marquel White combined for 250 yards and six touchdowns on the ground alone in that victory. Those two will need to do that and more to upset Rochester.
6. Springfield – We are awake. Springfield went on a 24-0 run to end the game against Southeast on the road last week and looked very impressive doing so. The Senators are now 3-1, with another “prove it” game this Friday against Glenwood. Lets see what this Springfield team is all about.
7. Southeast – The Spartans were heavily penalized against Springfield and it didn’t help that Gavin Webb couldn’t play quarterback in the second half against the Senators. It’s must-win territory now for Southeast. The Spartans need an upset against Eisenhower.
8. MacArthur – The Brummett brothers will be reunited this week just in time for the Generals’ matchup against Lincoln. Both teams are winless up to this juncture.
9. Lanphier – Emotions ran high for the Lions against testy rival Eisenhower last Friday. That didn’t lead to much success and it gets even tougher in week four vs. SHG.
10. Lincoln – The Railers will need to key in on Amir and Armon Brummett, in addition to the handful of other weapons that MacArthur has. That will be difficult.
Listen to the Sangamo Power Rankings Below:
Sangamo
1. North Mac – North Mac is back in the No. 1 spot. But did the Panthers ever really leave? What a performance in week four on the road at Williamsville, defeating the previously unbeaten Bullets, 28-21. North Mac rushed for nearly 500 yards. Griffin Hatalla, Asa Donaldson and Kendall Bearden each eclipsed the 100-yard plateau. The Panthers host Auburn on Friday.
2. Athens – Maybe the biggest surprise through the first month of the season has been Athens. The Warriors are 4-0 after holding on to beat Auburn on the road last Friday. Prior to the year, we outlined Athens getting to five wins and making a deep run in the 1A bracket. Well, now Athens is aiming for a top seed in that 1A bracket. Five weeks to get one win? Etch it in stone.
3. Williamsville – The Bullets looked like a top five team in the state in the second half against Maroa-Forsyth in week three. The Bullets returned home and got pounded on the ground by North Mac, allowing over 480 yards of rushing against North Mac. That’s back-to-back years that the Bullets have fallen to the boys in Virden. The Bullets travel to take on a desperate Pleasant Plains team in week five.
4. Maroa-Forsyth – The Trojans played pissed off last Friday and it showed. After leading 14-7 late in the second quarter, Maroa scored three touchdowns in the last 2:33 of the half and finished the game on a 37-0 run. That’s why many think the Trojans are a 2A power.
5. Auburn – Does this year identical to last year, or what? Auburn currently sits at 2-2. The Trojans have showed flashes of really good football, but have also struggled at times. Last year, Auburn started 1-3 before going on a nine-game winning streak en route to the state title. The talent is there, but Auburn hasn’t played its best football yet. The Trojans can make a statement with a win at North Mac for the Panthers’ homecoming.
6. Pleasant Plains – Tough week for Pleasant Plains in week four. Coming off an emotional loss to Auburn, then going on the road to match up with Maroa on the turf after the Trojans got beat bad by Williamsville in the previous week. The Cardinals are facing near desperation mode if Plains wants to make the playoffs. The Birds host Williamsville on Friday.
7. New Berlin – The Pretzels’ turnaround has been impressive given almost all of New Berlin’s starters from a year ago graduated. After an ugly loss to Maroa to start the Trevor Compardo era and a blown lead at North Mac, Pretzel Nation has reeled off two straight dubs.
8. PORTA – The Jays shutout Riverton for their first win since 2014 in week three! Well done.
9. Pittsfield – The Saukees had to cancel their junior varsity season due to injuries and low numbers, so depth is a serious issue.
10. Riverton – The Hawks haven’t scored since last season.
