YAIAA football power rankings, 9/18
Week 3 of a football season can be a statement week, of sorts. The first two games are typically ones of discovery. It's usually tough to tell what teams are actually for real based on that initial pair of games.
By Week 3, though, the picture starts to come into focus. We start to get a better idea of who the contenders and pretenders are. That was the case this week, when a handful of teams -- Littlestown, Dallastown and Red Lion come to mind -- had statement performances.
It's still early, of course, and a lot can change. For now, here's this week's Top 10 (previous week's rank in parentheses).
1. Littlestown (2) -- No disrespect to Dallastown here, but the Bolts (3-0) were startlingly dominant in a throttling of rival Delone Catholic on Friday. Littlestown was up 38-7 late before finally calling off the dogs. This is a team to be reckoned with, complete with speed, size and weapons all over the place. I'm not sure I see them losing the rest of the regular season.
2. Dallastown (1) -- The Wildcats drop a spot through no fault of their own. In fact, Dallastown (3-0) had its most impressive outing of the season in a convincing win against Penn Manor. A big visit to West York looms, but more and more this Wildcats team is looking like the real deal.
3. West York (4) -- All you can say is, "Wow." In a game coach Ron Miller felt would define the rest of the Bulldogs' season, West York (2-1) rallied from a 14-point hole in the fourth-quarter to outlast Spring Grove in overtime. Say this much about West York's teams under Miller: You can never question their character.
4. Red Lion (7) -- The Lions (2-1) make the biggest leap on this list, courtesy of a 48-10 thrashing of Carlisle at Horn Field. With games against Kennard-Dale and New Oxford coming up, there's no reason Red Lion shouldn't be 4-1 and well-positioned for for the start of divisional play.
5. South Western (5) -- The Mustangs (2-1) finished with 453 total yards in a 12-point win against Lower Dauphin ... not to shabby. It wasn't quite a vintage performance from South Western against one of the Mid-Penn's less-established teams, but a win is a win.
6. Dover (8) -- Yes, the Eagles haven't exactly played state caliber competition so far. Their three opponents have a combined record of 2-7. But give Dover (3-0) credit for beating who's in front of them ... and looking darn good doing it. At what point do you start believing in this team?
7. Delone Catholic (3) -- It was ugly for Delone on Friday. As good as Littlestown was, the Squires (2-1) didn't help their own cause. Was this just an off night for a young team? Or was it an indication that this particular Delone squad isn't ready for primetime?
8. Spring Grove (6) -- Once again, Spring Grove plays well against a quality team. And once again, they fall short. Now you have to wonder what kind of effect two last-gasp losses will have on the Rockets' psyche. Spring Grove (1-2) will need all the leadership its 24 seniors can muster in the coming days.
9. York Catholic (10) -- That's more like what we expected to see from York Catholic coming into this season. The Irish (2-1) demolished Fairfield on Friday, and seem to be fully recovered from that opening-night shocker against Kennard-Dale. A home game against Hanover is up next, followed by a huge trip to Littlestown on Oct. 1.
10. Bermudian Springs (NR) -- The Eagles earned a nice bounce-back win, toppling Eastern York in its home opener. Bermudian (2-1) may not challenge for a Division III title, but this is the sort of team that could rise up and challenge one of those two big boys -- Delone Catholic or Littlestown -- on the right night.