TOP TEAMS NO-BRAINERS IN TOP 25
In all the years we've done our Big Ticket Top 25 High School Football poll, we can't remember having less internal debate or external complaints about our number-one selections. In our Big Schools poll, Liberty was the obvious choice. When you've just won the state championship, and return the best player in the entire state, it really doesn't matter who else you've lost - you're number one. In our Small Schools poll, Palisades was the clear-cut choice. They lost versatile playmaker Jon Gruver, but just about everyone else is back from a two-time defending District 11 championship team.
That being said, there have been some questions (as is to be expected) surrounding the other selections. Here are a few of them, and my brief, Cliff's Notes answers:
Q: Why isn't Wilson ranked higher than #11?
A: Wilson went undefeated in the regular season last year, and they have the majority of that team back again this year, so people are understandably pretty high on the Warriors. But one of the biggest challenges for us in our poll, is figuring out how to combine the 4A and 3A teams into one group. Because we split our two polls that way, 3A teams in the Colonial League (like Wilson) get grouped in the same poll with the Liberty's, Parkland's, Easton's, and North Penn's of the world. As a result, we need to try to hypothesize as to where they'd fit in against all the big boys that they'll never play, and Number 11 is our best bet. If they were still a 2A school, Wilson would be our no-brainer #1.
Q: Why is #2 Neshaminy your highest-ranked District One team?
A: Honestly, we could see any of our four highest-ranked District One teams (#2 Neshaminy, #3 Downingtown West, #6 Pennsbury, #7North Penn) winning that district. We gave a slight edge to Neshaminy because they went all the way to the District Final last year, and return a lot (including their quarterback) this year. That said, Downingtown West should win the Ches-Mont League, and the Week 10 showdown between Neshaminy and Pennsbury could decide the Suburban One.
Q: How did you determine the order of the four ranked Berks County teams (#8 Conrad Weiser, #10 Wilson-West Lawn, #12 Daniel Boone, #13 Governor Mifflin) in the Big Schools Poll?
A: Weiser may only be a 3A school, but they return some tremendous skill kids from a good team a year ago, including perhaps Berks County's best running back in Cody Butler. Wilson had perhaps the best season in school history last year when they ran all the way to the state semifinals (don't ask Wilson fans about the officiating in that heatbreaking loss to Bethel Park). That team was almost entirely senior-laden though, and we doubt they'll be able to duplicate that run this season. Boone has a tremendous quarterback in Jon Montero, but he lost some of his big playmakers around him. We'll learn a lot about Mifflin in its week one matchup with Wilson.
Q: Why is #5 Northern Lehigh ranked higher than #7 Palmerton in the Small Schools Poll?
A: We suspect this question stems from the fact that Palmerton was 8-2 and the Number-1 seed in the District playoffs last year, while Northern Lehigh was just 4-6. But the Bulldogs return a lot, and we think their younger kids are ready to break out this year. On the other hand, Palmerton lost all of its playmakers from last year's team, meaning the young kids will need to carry them this season.