YAIAA football power rankings, Sept. 29
I hate to be boring. I really do. But for this edition of the power rankings, I have to be. I can't penalize teams that win -- and win big. So if these look a bit stagnant for a second straight week, well, I'm sorry. There will be plenty of time to shake up the Top 10 as the games get bigger.
For now, enjoy our new -- if not terribly adventurous -- Week 5 power rankings.
1. Delone Catholic (1) -- Another week, another convincing win. This one came against some quality opposition. York Suburban just couldn't get much going against the Squires. Meanwhile, Delone's offense was its typical, efficient self. It rolled up an incredible 367 rushing yards, en route to 448 overall. Hard not to get excited over the Week 6 matchup that looms: Bermudian at Delone.
2. Dover (2) -- Through four weeks, the formula has remained the same: A brutal running game, a formidable offensive line and an improving defense combine to make the Eagles (4-0) a tough team to beat. Their schedule shapes up pretty well, too. Outside of that Week 7 clash with West York -- which at this point looks like a toss up -- there's not another game on the schedule in which Dover could be considered an underdog.
3. Bermudian Springs (3) -- The Eagles eventually kicked their ground game into gear and sped past York County Tech on Monday. Now comes the two games that very well could define Bermudian's regular season: back-t0-back visits to York Suburban and Delone Catholic. We know the Eagles can score, but their defense will be tested by both these teams. Bermudian is allowing 11 points per game so far.
4. Central York (4) -- Finally, the Panthers' offense seemed to snap out of its funk. Granted, the opponent was an overmatched New Oxford side. But the confidence from a 54-point performance should help Central (3-1), which will need that offense to perform as the games begin to get bigger.
5. West York (5) -- A 21-13 win at Dallastown wasn't pretty. Not by a long shot. But a road victory against a quad-A team with a very strong defense is nothing to sneeze at. Senior tailback Mike Bell gives the Bulldogs (3-1) a different dimension. Brock Snellbaker is the workhorse, but Bell is a gamebreaker. He could come in handy this week against South Western.
6. South Western (6) -- The biggest takeaway from a breezy win against Susquehannock: The brilliant play of quarterback Zach Gross. The senior completed 12 of 13 passes for 164 yards and three touchdown passes for the Mustangs (3-1). If he's going to complete balls at that kind of rate .. well, good luck stopping them.
7. Red Lion (8) -- Easy to see this coming. After two losses to open the season, the Lions (2-2) have reeled off two lopsided wins in a row. Tailback Jason Milton continues to dazzle at tailback. He ranks second in the YAIAA with 604 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. This offense is going to be hard to stop. Great three-way race shaping up in Division I.
8. York Suburban (7) -- A loss to an excellent Delone Catholic team is by no means a season-ender. That said, it will be interesting to see how the Trojans (3-1) respond this week against another daunting opponent in Bermudian Springs. Suburban will be at home. It's homecoming. You'd expect a bounce-back showing. The Trojans will need one if they want to have a chance.
9. Northeastern (NR) -- The Bobcats (2-2) earned one of the biggest wins in their program's history with a 37-7 thumping of William Penn last week. This Northeastern team wants to be the first to make the District 3 playoffs, and Friday's win makes that look a little more possible. A win Friday at Dallastown would put the Bobcats in even better position.
10. Littlestown (9) -- The Thunderbolts looked shaky early, before eventually rebounding to down a game Biglerville side. Dustin Crouse has been as-advertised at quarterback. The junior leads the YAIAA with 894 passing yards -- 210 more than the next closest quarterback (York Catholic's James Dougherty).
Honorable mention: Biglerville, York Catholic, Dallastown