YAIAA football power rankings, Week 4: New team on top?

After three weeks, six unbeaten teams remain in the YAIAA. And yes, one of them rose to the No. 1 spot in our latest power rankings for the first time this season.

Check out the full Top 10 after the jump. Last week's rankings here.

A reminder of the process behind the rankings: Don’t think of these as a straight-on measure of which team is better in a head-to-head sense -- obviously, if that were the case, the top five would be loaded with Class AAA and AAAA teams most of the time. Instead, think of them as a gauge primarily of which team is playing the best, with record, quality of opponent(s), classification, etc., also factored in.

1. Bermudian Springs (2) -- At least one YAIAA team has Alex Cooley figured out. The Eagles (3-0) held Eastern York's all-everything tailback to 44 yards during a 55-7 rout of the Golden Knights last week. Bermudian has kept Cooley under 100 yards twice in the past two seasons -- no other team has done it once. Jon Defoe's squad also racked up 41 first-half points on Friday night. Eagles are clicking on all cylinders right now.

T-2. West York (1) -- A 21-17 victory over Spring Grove on Friday was not vintage Bulldogs, to say the least. West York was outgained (274 to 189) and almost doubled up in first downs (15 to 8). Still, give the Rockets credit for playing inspired football, and give West York (3-0) credit for winning when it didn't have its A-game. You can bet coach Ron Miller will expect a crisper performance at home Friday against Red Lion.

T-2. Northeastern (3) -- Talk about a big-boy win. Going up to Shippensburg and posting 451 yards of offense during a 32-27 win is no joke. Daniel Adams continues to chew up rushing yards (533 on the season), and quarterback Alec Miller had a big game, too (197 passing yards, 3 TDs). We knew defense would be a strength for the Bobcats (3-0), but if the offense is going to be this sharp? Watch out.

4. Littlestown (7) -- Statement victory for the 'Bolts last week, who controlled Delone Catholic during a 33-14 win. The big talking point for Littlestown so far has been its reliance on the run game, but the bigger story may be the play of its defense. The Thunderbolts (3-0) have allowed just 28 total points so far, and confounded Squires standout QB Brett Smith into 4-of-15 passing and two INTs on Friday.

5. Biglerville (5) -- We'll let the numbers speak for themselves: 154 total points; a point-differential of plus-109; three running backs with at least 231 rushing yards and three touchdowns; and most importantly, a 3-0 record. Yes, the Canners have been impressive, but the competition (James Buchanan, Fairfield and, most recently, Hanover) has been far from stellar. This Friday showdown at home with Littlestown will show us more.

6. York Suburban (10) -- Better from the Trojans (3-0), who flashed some of their big-play muscle during last week's win over York County Tech. Now comes Suburban's biggest test so far -- a home matchup with Delone Catholic.

7. Dover (4) -- Tough one last week for Dover (2-1), which went up early only to fall to Red Land, 34-14. The Eagles get another tough one this Friday, when what should be a desperate Dallastown team comes to town. One player to watch for Dover going forward: bruising sophomore fullback Isaiah Green.

8. Central York (NR) -- That's more like it. Yes, Hempfield was short-handed, but the Panthers (1-2) looked liked a different team from the first two weeks during a 51-14 rout. Good for Central fans to finally see Marquis Fells breakout. The senior scored three different ways Friday: on a kick return, a catch and a run.

9. Delone Catholic (9) -- Strange seeing a Squires team with a 1-2 record. But Delone's two losses came to quality teams (Trinity, Littlestown) and Steve Wiles' group can soften the blow from those defeats with a win at York Suburban on Friday.

10. York Catholic (NR) -- The Irish (1-2) sneak onto the list after a blowout of Fairfield. York Catholic was able to finally take out some frustration, after narrow losses to a pair of unbeaten teams in Northeastern and Bermudian.

In the mix: Dallastown (0-3), South Western (1-2), Spring Grove (1-2)