TOP OF THE CROP

Football 1: (1) Mentor 9-1 2: (2) Euclid 8-2 3: (3) Kirtland 10-0 4: (4) Perry 9-1 5: (5) Kenston 9-1 6: (6) Riverside 8-2 7: (7) Chardon 7-3 8: (8) Lake Catholic 7-3 9: (NR) Mayfield 5-5 10: (10) Gilmour 10-0

Dropped out: NDCL Watch list: NDCL 7-3, Wickliffe 8-2

Crop comments: There’s not much movement for the final week of the Crop, because the ranked teams pretty much held serve. Now it’s time for the playoffs, so we’ll see what’s next . ... Mentor (9-1) is this year’s Crop champ. The Cardinals should get QB Ian Kipp and RB Brian Trobel back for what they hope is a state championship run . ... Euclid (8-2) got its offense back on track in Week 10 after a rough Week 9 loss to Mentor. The Panthers are built for a deep postseason run. ... Kirtland (10-0) stays at No. 3, and will likely be the top-ranked Division VI team in the AP poll this week with No. 1 Marion Local and No. 3 Lima Central Catholic losing in Week 10. The Hornets want a state title . ... Perry (9-1) stays at No. 4. This is another team geared for a deep postseason run. The Pirates have been a wrecking ball since that 49-43 overtime loss to Chardon in Week 2 . ... Kenston (9-1) stays at No. 5 with a strong bounce-back win against South. Losing on the last play of the game against Chardon in Week 9 looks like it was a wake-up call for the Bombers . ... Riverside (8-2) stays at No. 6. The Beavers will be on the road in the first-round of the playoffs, but it was encouraging to see their defense so strong in a 14-6win over Mayfield in Week 10 . ... Chardon (7-3) probably deserves to be ranked higher here. The Hilltoppers beat No. 4 Perry and No. 5 Kenston, but have two more losses. Rest assured, Chardon is a dangerous team in Division III, Region 9 . ... Lake Catholic (7-3) did not get into the playoffs, but had its best season in years. This is a year the Cougars can build off of going forward . ... Mayfield (5-5) gets into the Crop this week. The Wildcats’ four losses are to D-I Massillon Jackson and four playoff-qualifying teams. That’s a quality schedule . ... Gilmour (10-0) stays at No. 10 despite being unbeaten, just because of schedule strength. But wow, what a season for the Lancers and 2,000-yard rusher C.J. Charleston.