First state football poll released

The first Associated Press state football poll was released on Monday evening, and it featured few surprises.

Below is the poll in the three divisions.

The top-ranked teams on my poll are Homestead, Kewaunee and Stevens Point Pacelli. I'm very confident in the first two. Stratford is rightfully ranked No. 1 in the Small Division poll.

- Locally, Chilton received 11 votes in the Medium Division, while Cedar Grove (Medium) and Sheboygan Lutheran/Kohler (Small) got one vote each.
- I had Chilton No. 5 on my poll based on its potential, returning players and an impressive week 1 win.
- I also had Cedar Grove at No. 10; the Rockets collapsed in the fourth quarter and handed Cambridge an 18-14 win by being outscored 18-0 in the fourth. I prefer to think of that fourth quarter as an anomaly, one that won't be repeated.
- Lutheran/Kohler received its one vote from somebody else.

As far as local teams who didn't receive votes, New Holstein has a great, albeit very tough, change of climbing very quickly if it can win its next two games: hosting Chilton this week and at Sheboygan Falls for Week 3.

--Adam Thompson


Large Division (enrollment 744 and up)
School Record Points
1. Meq. Homestead (6) 1-0 78
2. Stevens Point 1-0 63
3. Hart. Arrowhead (1) 1-0 54
4. Janesville Parker 1-0 48
5. D.C. Everest 1-0 38
6. Ashwaubenon 1-0 26
7. Menomonie 1-0 23
8. Hartford 1-0 22
9. Verona 1-0 20
10. Franklin (1) 1-0 19
Others receiving votes: Brookfield Central (1-0) 17, Waunakee (1-0) 17, Appleton North (1-0) 14, Sun Prairie (1-0) 11, Kenosha Tremper (1-0) 11, Lakeland (1-0) 10, Kimberly (1-0) 7, Wisconsin Lutheran (1-0) 7, Waupaca (1-0) 5, Oshkosh North (1-0) 2, La Crosse Logan (1-0) 1, Chippewa Falls (1-0) 1, Germantown (1-0) 1.

Medium Division (284-742)
School Record Points
1. Kewaunee (3) 1-0 54
2. Madison Edgewood 1-0 44
3. Brodhead-Juda (1) 1-0 43
4. Kewaskum (2) 1-0 35
5. Platteville 1-0 34
6. Evansville (2) 1-0 30
7. Pardeeville 1-0 26
8. Denmark 1-0 22
9. Ladysmith 1-0 21
10. Horicon 1-0 18
(tie) Walworth Big Foot 1-0 18
Others receiving votes: Green Bay Notre Dame (0-1) 16, West Salem (1-0) 13, Lancaster (0-1) 12, Chilton (1-0) 11, Somerset (1-0) 11, Wrightstown (0-1) 10, Stanley-Boyd (0-1) 9, Lakeside Lutheran (1-0) 9, Amery (0-1) 8, Appleton Xavier (1-0) 8, Ripon (1-0) 7, Waupun (0-1) 6, Clintonville (1-0) 4, Kettle Moraine Lutheran (1-0) 4, Marathon (1-0) 3, Durand (1-0) 3, Whitewater (1-0) 3, Mount Horeb/Barneveld (0-0) 3, Waterloo (0-0) 3, Pewaukee (1-0) 2, Poynette (1-0) 2, Edgerton (1-0) 1, Cedar Grove (0-1) 1, Mosinee (1-0) 1.

Small Division (283 and lower)
School Record Points
1. Stratford (4) 1-0 59
2. Fennimore (1) 1-0 52
3. Eleva-Strum 1-0 41
4. Gilman (1) 1-0 40
(tie) Hilbert 1-0 40
6. Ste. Point Pacelli (1) 1-0 33
7. Racine Lutheran 1-0 23
8. Johnson Creek 1-0 15
(tie) Eau Claire Regis (1) 0-1 15
10. Edgar 1-0 13
(tie) Cambria-Friesland 0-1 13
Others receiving votes: Cuba City (1-0) 11, Deerfield (1-0) 11, Abbotsford (1-0) 9, Pecatonica/Argyle (1-0) 8, Burlington Catholic Central (1-0) 8, Shiocton (1-0) 8, Fond du Lac Springs (0-1) 7, New Glarus/Monticello (1-0) 7, Black Hawk (1-0) 6, DeSoto (0-1) 6, Plum City (1-0) 4, Suring (1-0) 3, Iola-Scandinavia (1-0) 3, Oakfield (0-1) 2, Wausaukee (1-0) 1, Sheboygan Lutheran (1-0) 1, Seneca (0-1) 1.

North-South football

Tonight's North-South game was entertaining, with plenty of big plays (mostly by South) and two diverse offenses who put the ball up in the air a combined 35 times.

I really like South's potential on offense. The Redwings have the excellent feature back (Ray Smith) and quarterback John Cabaj seems to have some special potential. If South's young offensive line continues to mesh and grow, the Redwings will score points.

North's offense seems like it's better than last year's, but the defense has some work to do, especially in the secondary.

South's defense won't come close to that great 2004 unit, but its offense has a chance to be better than any since that year.