John C. Cotey's Top 10

Ranking the bay area's football teams, with previous ranking in parentheses.

By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
Published September 16, 2007

1. 1 Armwood (3-0)

Friday: Beat No.18 Brandon 34-3.

This week: vs. Newsome.

So, what's the over-under on how many starters the Hawks will be missing this week? I'm setting the line at 2.5, and I'll take the over - one injury, one suspension, one kid gets lost on way to game.

2. (2) Largo (2-0)

Friday: DNP.

This week: vs. St. Petersburg on Thursday.

Packers had an extra week to prepare for St. Petersburg ... or rather, to prepare for not looking past St. Petersburg toward a Sept.28 showdown with Dunedin. Hey, you - eyes forward!

3.(3) Hillsborough (3-0)

Friday: Beat No.8 Chamberlain 20-0.

This week: vs. Middleton.

Five of the Terriers' seven remaining games are against teams that are or have been ranked in the top 10 - including Plant and Armwood - and another is against unbeaten Tampa Bay Tech. Now that is a schedule.

4. (4) Plant (2-1)

Friday: Beat No.7 Middleton 35-7.

This week: vs. No.9 Riverview.

No.1 on my most underrated list? Plant's defense, which has been pretty good.

5. (5) Northeast (3-0)

Friday: Beat No.20 Gibbs 32-21.

This week: at Bradenton Southeast.

This just in: Jeff Brinson is human. Oh, and this too: the Vikings are more than a one-man show.

6. (6) Jefferson (1-1)

Friday: DNP.

This week: at Gaither.

Jefferson had its freedom this week. So did Gaither, which beat the Patriots 42-6. I'm not sure how many stale Freedom jokes I can squeeze into this every week, but I sure aim to find out.

7. (9) Ridgewood (2-0)

Friday: DNP.

This week: vs. Central.

I'm still not sure how good these Rams are, but they do have our Game of the Week on Friday.

8. (10) Boca Ciega (2-0)

Friday: Beat No.43 Dixie Hollins 21-14 in overtime.

This week: at Lakewood on Thursday.

Orhian Johnson had three touchdown passes Friday against winless Dixie Hollins, including the game-winner in overtime, begging the question: overtime?

9. (14) Riverview (1-1)

Friday: beat No.17 Plant City 31-0.

This week: at No.4 Plant.

And that's how you come back from a crushing loss. The Sharks go back to the strong running of Jaheel Addae and dash right back into the top 10.

10. (11) Nature Coast (2-0)

Last week: DNP.

This week: vs. Crystal River.

Fun fact: Nature Coast had the week off, but I jumped the Sharks anyway. Hahahaha! Get it? Oh, wait ... jumping the shark is a bad thing, isn't it?

[Last modified September 15, 2007, 22:16:03]