Tuesday, September 29, 1998

Some shakeup in the latest high school football poll

By AL PICKETT

Sports Editor

Without even playing a game, Longview became the new No. 1 in The Associated Press high school football poll.

Killeen Ellison relinquished the top spot in Class 5A by losing 14-10 to Marshall on Saturday. Second-ranked Longview was idle last weekend, but a panel of 20 AP voters were impressed enough by the Lobos' 3-0 start to bump them up a notch.

Defending 5A Division I champ Katy moved up to second, Lewisville took third and Converse Judson fourth. Aldine Eisenhower is fifth, followed by Ellison, Arlington Lamar, Plano East, Duncanville and Midland Lee.

Lee (4-0) replaces previous No. 10 Tyler John Tyler, which fell out following its second loss of the year.

Ellison's loss means Cooper will miss the opportunity of playing the No. 1 team in the state. The Cougars play at Killen Ellison Friday night.

In fact, Ellison's loss prevented three Big Country teams playing in games involving No. 1-ranked teams Friday. Breckenridge is ranked No. 1 in the state again this week in Class 3A, while defending state champion Stanton, rated No. 1 in Class 2A, will play Jim Ned on Friday in Tuscola.

Stephenville and Brownwood moved up one notch each to fourth and eighth, respectively, in Class 4A, while Sweetwater returned to the 4A state rankings at No. 10.

Winters is ranked third in Class 2A again this week, while Aspermont is No. 3 in Class A. Rotan made its debut in the Class A poll this week at No. 9.

La Marque stayed on top of 4A, but a loss by second-ranked Corsicana sank it to seventh. West Orange-Stark moved up to second, Andrews took third and Stephenville got fourth.

Losses knocked out Highland Park, which had been sixth, and Greenville, which had been eighth. The newcomers are Schertz Clemens at No. 9 and Sweetwater at No. 10.

In 3A, Alvarado tumbled out of the top 10 from No. 3, making way for Corrigan-Camden to get it at No. 9.

Breckenridge and Sweeny held onto the top two spots, four-time defending state champion Sealy moved up to third, Tatum went to fourth and Commerce to fifth.

Stanton, Mart and Winters led the way as the top eight teams in 2A all remained in place. The only movement was Omaha Pewitt falling out and Alto coming in at No. 10.

In Class A, Tenaha remained the only unanimous No. 1 and the next five pursuers - Iola, Aspermont, Era, Bartlett and Granger - also were the same.

Menard and Sudan bumped up a spot to seventh and eighth, while Rotan entered at No. 9 and Wortham at No. 10. Dropping out were No. 6 Wheeler, last year's Class A runner-up, and No. 10 Alvord.