Power Eight - Week #3

Now until the end of the season, we're going to give you our thoughts who the top 8 teams of each classification is, with one exception.

In Class D, because only four teams will make the playoffs, we will limit that classification to four teams instead of eight.

We will post a new list every Thursday.

CLASS AA

Rank	Team	Record	Last Week	This Week
1	Troy	3-0	LaSalle-W 54-0	vs. Shaker
2	Shaker	3-0	Colonie-W 44-0	at Troy
3	CBA	3-0	Saratoga-W 27-6	at Niskayuna
4	Guilderland	3-0	Albany-W 47-24	vs. Ballston Spa
5	Shenendehowa	2-1	Niskayuna-W 49-0	vs. Saratoga
6	Bethlehem	2-1	Ballston Spa-W 28-13	vs. Columbia
7	Columbia	2-1	Schenectady-W 28-16	at Bethlehem
8	Schenectady	1-2	Columbia-L 28-16	vs. Albany

THOUGHTS: Troy and Shaker will decide on the field who should be ranked #1 next week this Friday night in the Collar City.  CBA and Guilderland have been fine so far through three weeks, but don't look as dangerous in the Empire Division as Troy and Shaker do in the Liberty.  But watch out, because since losing their opening week game to Troy, Shenendehowa has not surrendered a single point in the last two weeks, and could quickly replace one of these teams in the Top 4 with a big game against rival Saratoga Springs.  Bethlehem and Columbia play this week, and Schenectady looks to be the best of the 1-2's so far.  

OUTLOOK: Top position in Class AA is on the line when the Troy Flying Horses and the Shaker Blue Bison play Friday night.  Shenendehowa could push one of the Top 4 off if they continue to play shutout defense against Saratoga Springs.  Bethlehem and Columbia also play this week.

CLASS A

Rank	Team	Record	Last Week	This Week
1	Queensbury	3-0	Amsterdam-W 40-0	at South Glens Falls
2	Burnt Hills	3-0	Gloversville-W 35-0	at Averill Park
3	Lansingburgh	3-0	Mohonasen-W 38-36	vs. Amsterdam
4	Averill Park	2-1	Green Tech-W 42-14	vs. Burnt Hills
5	Amsterdam	1-2	Queensbury-L 40-0	at Lansingburgh
6	Mohonasen	1-2	Lansingburgh-L 38-36	vs. Green Tech
7	Green Tech	1-2	Averill Park-L 42-14	at Mohonasen
8	South Glens Falls	1-2	Scotia-W 38-25	vs. Queensbury

THOUGHTS: It's a shame we won't see a Spartan Bowl until the playoffs, because that would easily tell us which of the two Spartans in Class A is supreme.  Queensbury has looked unstoppable since needing overtime to survive their Week 1 match against Averill Park.  Burnt Hills looks to be on a tear in the Southeast Division, Lansingburgh needed double overtime and a two point conversion to stay undefeated last Friday night against Mohonasen.  Amsterdam's in trouble after losing their starting quarterback to injury on their second play from scrimmage against Queensbury on Saturday.  Green Tech is #7 as from top to bottom, it looks like the Southeast Division is the stronger of the two divisions through three weeks, and South Glens Falls makes the list after knocking off winless Scotia last Friday night.  

OUTLOOK: I seriously think this could come down to a situation where the Northwest Division loses a playoff spot to the Southeast Division, unless South Glens Falls, Gloversville or Scotia compiles some wins.  Of the three 3-0's, Lansingburgh has the most to prove, and with an injury-plagued Rams team coming to Rensselaer County, that chance could be this Friday night.  

CLASS B

Rank	Team	Record	Last Week	This Week
1	Glens Falls	3-0	Johnstown-W 55-7	at Broadalbin
2	Hudson	3-0	Ravena-W 21-6	vs. Ichabod Crane
3	Schalmont	1-2	Cobleskill-W 42-14	at Albany Academy
4	Albany Academy	3-0	Ichabod Crane-W 39-0	vs. Schalmont
5	Ravena	1-2*	Hudson-L 21-6	vs. Cobleskill*
6	Schuylerville	2-1	Hudson Falls-W 35-28	vs. Johnstown
7	Cobleskill	2-1*	Schalmont-L 42-14	at Ravena*
8	Broadalbin	1-2	Watervliet-L 27-13	vs. Glens Falls

* - Cobleskill at Ravena has already played as of this writing, with Ravena winning.  Rankings/Records does not take this game into account.

THOUGHTS: Glens Falls looks strongest of the teams in Class B.  Hudson turned some heads with their win over Ravena, helping to their #2 ranking on here.  Schalmont is a good team, and they showed their potential with their loss to Glens Falls in Week 2.  Albany Academy is an untested team so far, but that test finally comes by way of Schalmont this Saturday.  Ravena's loss to Hudson was stunning, but rebuilt well with a Wednesday night game against Cobleskill.  And Broadalbin is the best of the rest in the Class B North right now, and could use a big game against Glens Falls.

OUTLOOK: If Albany Academy wants to join Hudson higher in the rankings, they need to prove themselves.  That opportunity comes Saturday against Schalmont.  Baring any upsets, this list will likely stay the same come next week.

CLASS C

Rank	Team	Record	Last Week	This Week
1	Greenwich	3-0	Fonda-W 46-13	vs. Hoosic Valley
2	Hoosic Valley	3-0	Corinth-W 49-24	at Greenwich
3	Mechanicville	3-0	Holy Trinity-W 21-10	vs. Watervliet
4	Watervliet	3-0	Broadalbin-W 27-13	at Mechanicville
5	Holy Trinity	2-1	Mechanicville-L 21-10	vs. Granville
6	Voorheesville	2-1	Stillwater-W 34-13	at Fonda
7	Coxsackie-Athens	2-1	Tamarac-W 41-6	vs. Taconic Hills
8	Lake George/H-L	2-1	Cairo-Durham-W 62-7	at Hoosick Falls

THOUGHTS: Class C is going to be tough to forecast.  Greenwich gave up their first points of the season, but it doesn't matter when you score 33 more than your opposition.  Hoosic Valley's game against Corinth was closer, but still looks like a solid postseason pick.  Mechanicville fell behind early, but picked themselves up with 21 points in the 4th quarter to defeat Holy Trinity.  Watervliet's perfect record stayed intact after their win over Class B's Broadalbin-Perth.  Voorheesville wouldn't be on this list if it weren't for a stunning 34-13 win over Stillwater.  And Coxsackie-Athens and Lake George/Hadley-Luzerne's big wins propelled them onto this list.

OUTLOOK: The top spots in Class C North and Central will be played Friday night, with Greenwich and Hoosic Valley squaring off in Washington County, and Mechanicville taking on Watervliet in Saratoga County.  Winners of those games should likely be 1-2 on the rankings next week.  Lake George/Hadley-Luzerne and Coxsackie-Athens have solid chances to further stabilize their position on this list this week.  But because of the nature of the classification, with 17 teams, this is going to be a tough class to stay on the list.

CLASS D

Rank	Team	Record	Last Week	This Week
1	Cambridge	3-0	Warrensburg-W 63-6	vs. Salem
2	Whitehall	3-0	Fort Edward-W 37-0	at Canajoharie
3	Canajoharie	3-0	Helderberg Valley-W 47-18	vs. Whitehall
4	Warrensburg	2-1	Cambridge-L 63-6	at Helderberg Valley

THOUGHTS: The start of the clearer picture in Class D came last week when Cambridge stood their ground and fended off an uprising Warrensburg team easily.  Whitehall had no problems taking care of Fort Edward/Argyle, and the same for Canajoharie with their win over Helderberg Valley.  

OUTLOOK: The next piece of the puzzle comes into place when Whitehall and Canajoharie square off Friday night to settle which team will challenge Cambridge for the #1 seed in the classification.  Warrensburg has a chance to rebound, and Cambridge should find it easy against Salem.