Deron Powell State Farm Power Rankings: Week 4


 

CS8

 
1) SHG (3-0) – We thought (read: we hoped) Jacksonville might pose an actual threat to the Cyclones last week, but an opportunistic SHG defense forced four first half turnovers, completely eliminating any real chance the Crimsons had. Last year, it was this Week 4 matchup against MacArthur that gave Griffin a legitimate scare. Don’t expect that kind of a ballgame on Friday.

2) Rochester (3-0) – The Rockets wide receiving corps dropped a number of passes early in their Week 3 contest with Lanphier and had they caught half of those, that game would have been even uglier than it ended up. This Friday’s matchup with Glenwood sure seemed to carry more weight before the Titans lost to Southeast in Week 3.

3) Jacksonville (2-1) – The Crimsons actually jump up a spot, despite a running clock loss to SHG. Honestly, that kind of a loss is all relative. It basically happens to everyone. It’s not that Jacksonville couldn’t move the ball against SHG, it’s that they didn’t value it. Expect Joe Brannan to correct some of the issues that led to three first half interceptions this Friday against Springfield High.

4) Southeast (2-1) – Eddie Gailes stated emphatically after last Friday’s upset over Glenwood, “We’re not seven!” The reference to these power rankings proved that the Spartans took offense to falling so far a week ago. Can they play with the same level of angst now that they’re up to No. 4? Their opponent is Lanphier. If they can’t get up for that, we’re not sure anything we can say would help them.

5) Glenwood (2-1) – “We’re still not exactly sure what Glenwood is,” we said a week ago. The Titans had posted wins over MacArthur and Lincoln, but they let Southeast come into Chatham and beat them on their home turf last Friday for the first time since 2002. Now, in true CS8 fashion, they have to compartmentalize that loss and prepare for a five time defending state champ in Rochester. If they upset the Rockets, it will be their first quality win of the year.

6) Eisenhower (1-2) – With the toughest part of their schedule behind them, the Panthers locked up win No. 1 in a drubbing of cross-town rival MacArthur. It was the first time Eisenhower had soaked up a win over the Generals in 10 years, and with Lincoln up on Friday, you’re looking at a 2-2 team with momentum on their side.

7) Lanphier (1-2) – We definitely didn’t think Lanphier was the 7th best team on this list at the beginning of the season, and the results of their games haven’t really changed that for us. But the injuries they’ve sustained have. First string quarterback Joe Varela has a broken finger. Second string quarterback Andrew Powell has a bad ankle. Reggie Dickerson looked to be dealing with a leg injury against Rochester last week. Attrition is a part of the game and it’s hitting the Lions particularly hard as they prepare for rival Southeast.

8) Springfield High (1-2) – The Senators picked up the first win of the Roy Gully era last Saturday against Lincoln. It’s a win. It just doesn’t mean a whole lot to us. Beat Jacksonville on Friday. That would mean a lot more. Freshman wide out Cameron Jones busted on to the scene with three touchdowns in Week 3. He’s a talent no doubt, but freshmen don’t tend to have sustained success in the Central State 8.

9) MacArthur (0-3) – The Generals have a lot of season left but the remainder may not present them with any moments as demoralizing as a loss to Eisenhower. Changing of the guard in Decatur. At least for this season.

10) Lincoln (0-3) – Heading to Week 4. Still looking for their first points of the season. Eisenhower HAS given up lots of points…
 


Sangamo

1) North Mac (3-0) – It’s been a long time since we’ve written a Sangamo Power Ranking that didn’t feature Williamsville in this spot. Our Sangamo template actually had Williamsville permanently slotted here. That provides a little context on the type of victory North Mac notched against the Bullets in Week 3. It’s a program changing win, but in a “what have you done for me lately” conference, that shine can disappear quickly. The Panthers meet the number 4, 3 and 5 teams on this list over the next three weeks. How they handle success will provide a clearer picture on who they really are.

2) Williamsville (2-1) – It had to happen at some point and the Bullets’ Week 3 loss to North Mac only shown a more prevalent light on some of the flaws that we already knew Williamsville had. The Bullets are young in the trenches and without sophomore lineman Kayden Wright, who didn’t play in Week 2, they’re even less talented there. The Bullets hadn’t lost a regular season game in 43 weeks, and if suddenly they lose two in a row, they’ll have lost to a North Mac and Pleasant Plains team that had never beaten them before.

3) Pleasant Plains (2-1) – Brody Walworth warned his team about the effects of over confidence after their Week 2 win against Auburn. Sometimes young people need to learn things the hard way. In Week 3, that’s exactly what the Cardinals did. The loss came against a non-conference opponent, so it merely means the Cardinals are in the same position Williamsville is heading into Friday’s matchup. Both are trying to prove that they are who they thought they were.

4) Auburn (1-2) – You could see the relief in Dave Bates’ face after the Trojans’ win over Athens last Friday. With a rising North Mac on the horizon in Week 4, the Week 3 win against Athens relieved massive amounts of pressure for an Auburn team that has aspirations of a deep post season run. Now the Trojans are the under dogs, at home, against a North Mac team who’s never beat them. 

5) Athens (2-1) – The Warriors had played with fire early in the season and in Week 3 they got burned in a home loss to Auburn. Athens travels to a winless Pittsfield for Week 4, before getting non-conference Leroy in Week 5. It’s a good chance for them tighten the screws on an offense that’s lacked some of the explosiveness we were expecting, especially with North Mac creeping towards them in Week 6. 

6) New Berlin (2-1) – Suddenly that Week 1 loss to North Mac doesn’t seem so bad does it? In the meantime, the Pretzels have handled their business with a pair of lopsided wins over PORTA and Pittsfield. If they beat Riverton this Friday, you’re looking at a 3-1 team that’s got a tough second half schedule, but the confidence to hit it head on.

7) Riverton (1-2) – The Hawks flirted with disaster against PORTA before pouring it on after the break. Go ahead and chalk up their Week 4 contest against New Berlin as a “must win,” if Riverton hopes to keep any realistic postseason chances alive.

8) Pittsfield (0-3) – No real way to describe what’s happened in Pittsfield other than to say it’s been disappointing through a third of a season. Lose to Athens, and it’s all but another lost season for the Saukees.

9) PORTA (0-3) – Give PORTA credit for the life they’ve shown, despite being overmatched so far this season. The Bluejays had Riverton down 14-6 at the half last week before the flood gates opened on offense for the Hawks. They’ll clip someone before the season is over at that rate.
 
 
 

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