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YAIAA football Week 8 power rankings


Man, this power rankings stuff keeps getting harder and harder. My first thought mapping these out was 'I wish I had 12 spots.' Unfortunately, I had to make room for a few surging teams (Dallastown, Spring Grove, York Catholic), and at least one potentially deserving school got left out.

You could argue the team's ranked 7-10 are pretty interchangeable. The good news? This Friday should hopefully make the picture at the bottom of the power rankings a lot clearer.

Previous week's ranking is in parentheses.

1. West York (1) -- Ho-Hum. Another week, another Bulldog victory. West York (8-0, 4-0 Div. II) is averaging 40.3 points per game this year, 45 in its last five games. All of which is bad news if you're a Susquehannock fan this week.

2. Central York (4) -- What's the old sports saying? Defense wins ... something or other? Anyway, Central (6-2, 5-0 Div. I) leapfrogs two spots after handing South Western its first loss of the year. The Panthers might have the best 'D in the YAIAA (9 ppg), and can clinch a share of their second-straight Div. I crown with a win Friday at Red Lion.

3. Delone Catholic (3) -- Steve Wiles' team was on the ropes at points Friday. But as good teams do, the Squires (7-1, 4-0 Div. III) prevailed, scoring the final 16 points in a 23-14 win against Bermudian. Delone gets another test Friday when it visits surging York Catholic.

4. South Western (2) -- The Mustangs (7-1, 4-1 Div. I) got their first loss last week at the hands of Central. But let's remember South Western lost thanks to a pair of missed extra points, and let's also remember it had a chance to win the game in its final drive. I'm betting we haven't heard the last of the Mustangs this year.

5. York Suburban (6) -- The Trojans' Div. II title hopes might have passed them by, but Suburban (6-2, 3-1 Div. II) is continuing to set itself up nicely for a potential District playoff run. Matchup I'd love to see in those Class AA playoffs? Suburban v. Delone.

6. Littlestown (7) -- This is just a rock-solid team: The Bolts' (6-2, 3-1 Div. II) only two losses were to Delone and York Suburban. There's a chance Littlestown could see at least one of those teams again in the District playoffs.

7. Spring Grove (NR) -- The Rockets (5-3, 2-3 Div. I) have looked so good at times this season, and so below average at others. Which is the real Spring Grove? I have no idea, but after a dominating win over a team like William Penn, the Rockets deserve some respect.

8. William Penn (5) -- Injuries have besieged the Bearcats (6-2, 3-2 Div. I), losers of two straight who have seen their hopes of a Division I title slip away. What's worse, William Penn's two toughest opponents of the season are up next: South Western and Central York.

9. Dallastown (T-10) -- You could argue they should be ranked with or ahead of Spring Grove, another inconsistent team with a big win against William Penn. If the Wildcats (4-4, 3-2 Div. I) beat the Rockets this week, you can be they will be in front of them.

T-10. York Catholic (T-10) -- If you haven't been paying attention to the Irish (5-3, 4-0 Div. III), perhaps you should start. They control their destiny in Div. II, even though Catholic finishes up with a pair of tough ones in Delone Catholic and Bermudian Springs.

T-10. Bermudian Springs (9) -- I know, this having two tenth-place teams feels a bit like cheating. But the Eagles (5-3, 3-1 Div. III) out-gained Delone in a 23-14 loss last week, and led in the fourth quarter before faltering. Seems harsh to drop them out of the Top 10 for that.

Just missed: Kennard-Dale.