CT VARSITY

Hand holds on to the top spot in the Week 7 area high school football rankings.

Hand has spent each week this season atop The Courant’s area rankings, and that won’t change this week. The Tigers beat Foran 42-0 to stay undefeated. Shelton is the only team that rises this week, as the Gaels beat previously undefeated North Haven to jump to fourth in the state rankings.

Despite losing to Berlin, the ninth team in the state rankings and fourth in the area, RHAM stays in the area top 10. The Sachems gave Berlin its hardest game of the season and should be rewarded for doing so.

State

1. Darien (6-0): After a bye week, Darien showed no signs of rust and beat Fairfield Warde, 42-7. The Blue Wave stay atop the state rankings. Last week: 1.

2. Hand-Madison (6-0): The Tigers keep on rolling, and beat Foran, 42-0. Colin McCabe rushed for 158 yards and two scores in the win. LW: 2.

3. Greenwich (5-0): The Cardinals’ undefeated season continued with a 53-0 win over Westhill. Tysen Comizio rushed for three touchdowns. LW: 3.

4. Shelton (6-0): The Gaels jump a spot in the rankings after beating previously undefeated North Haven, 28-24. LW: 5.

5. St. Joseph-Trumbull (5-1): The Cadets took down Stamford 42-0 on Friday to keep their spot in the top five. LW: 4.

6. East Hartford (6-0): The Hornets returned from their bye to defeat Enfield, 55-27. They’ll face Southington in Week 8. LW: 6.

7. Ansonia (6-0): The Chargers beat Derby 38-0 to remain undefeated. Shykeem Harmon rushed for a pair of touchdowns in the win. LW: 7.

8. Southington (6-0): Southington beat Conard 38-0 to keep its record perfect. Jacob Drena threw for 370 yards and four touchdowns in the win. LW: 8.

9. Berlin (6-0): Berlin faced its toughest test of the season and came out on top as the Redcoats beat previously undefeated RHAM, 41-35. Giancarlo Tufano scored three touchdowns in the win. LW: 9.

10. Naugatuck (5-0): Naugatuck came off its bye and beat Kennedy 56-0 to remain in this week’s top 10. LW: 10.

Area

1. Hand-Madison (6-0) LW: 1.

2. East Hartford (6-0) LW: 2.

3. Southington (6-0) LW: 3.

4. Berlin (6-0): LW: 4.

5. Bloomfield (6-0): The Warhawks beat Avon, 48-0. They’ve outscored their opponents 296-13 this season. LW: 5.

6. Middletown (6-0): Xzavier Reyes continued his consistent season with 112 yards and two more touchdowns in Middletown’s 31-13 win over E.O Smith. LW: 6.

7. Maloney (5-1): The Spartans bounced back from their loss to Bristol Central with a 49-18 win over Wethersfield. LW: 7.

8. Windsor (5-1): Windsor beat NFA 28-21 behind four touchdowns from four players. LW: 8.

9. Stafford/Somers/East Windsor (6-0): The Bulldogs kept rolling in Week 7, as they beat Rockville 30-15 behind Colton Engel’s four touchdowns. LW: 9.

10. RHAM ( 5-1): Despite the loss to No. 4 Berlin, RHAM stays in the rankings this week. The Sachems gave the Redcoats their toughest game yet, and came close to the upset win. They’re contenders. LW: 10.