BLUE EAGLES TOP VALLEY BIG SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS
The EPC South’s last two unbeatens have climbed to the top of The Morning Call’s big-school football rankings, while the EPC North’s final unbeaten has earned a ranking for the first time.
Here’s how our voters see things after Week 4.
Small School Top 3 rankings
The top 3A, 2A and A teams in The Morning Call coverage area No. 1 — Tamaqua Record: 4-0.
Last week: No. 1.
Poll points: 11 (three first-place votes).
Blue Raiders quarterback Brayden Knoblauch tossed his 32nd career TD in a 50-16 rout of Panther Valley to pass his uncle Adam Knoblauch, who had 31 career TD passes, and tie Nate Edmonds (2010-13) for the school record. No. 2 — Jim Thorpe Record: 4-0. Last week: No. 2. Poll points: 7.
The Olympians’ 76-0 rout of Kutztown was stopped at halftime. The coaches agreed to end the game because the game was noncompetitive and the Cougars suffered first-half injuries that reduced the roster to about 20 available players. No. 3 — Notre Dame-Green Pond Record: 3-1.
Last week: No. 3.
Poll points: 6 (one first-place vote).
Senior Andrew Darno was impressive in his first start at quarterback with 176 yards passing for two TDs and also ran for 57 yards and two more scores in a 50-14 win over Palmerton. Sophomore Derek Berlitz has replaced Darno as the Crusaders’ most frequent pass-catching threat. He had five catches
for 80 yards against the Blue Bombers. Watch list Northern Lehigh (3-1)
The Bulldogs hit the toughest patch of their schedule with Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh coming up the next two weeks.
Big School Top 5 rankings
The top 6A, 5A and 4A teams in The Morning Call coverage area No. 1 — Nazareth Record: 4-0.
Last week: No. 2.
Poll points: 19 (three first-place votes). Quarterback Anthony Harris became the Blue Eagles’ all-time passing leader in Friday’s win over Freedom, pushing his career total to 6,161 yards. No. 2 — Easton Record: 4-0. Last week: No. 5. Poll points: 15 (one first-place vote).
The Red Rovers lead the EPC South in scoring offense (46.3 points per game) and scoring defense (14 ppg). No. 3 — Freedom Record: 3-1. Last week: No. 1. Poll points: 13.
Freedom set season-highs in penalties (11) and penalty yards (94) Friday against Nazareth, leading to its first loss this season and a tumble from the top spot in the big-school rankings. No. 4 — Bethlehem Catholic Record: 3-1. Last week: No. 4. Poll points: 9.
After playing their first four games in Bethlehem, the Golden Hawks finally leave the city limits for a Friday showdown at Nazareth. No. 5 — East Stroudsburg South
Record: 4-0.
Last week: NR.
Poll points: 2.
The Cavaliers won the battle for the Little Brown Jug with Stroudsburg for the first time since 2009, posting a 21-0 victory with a defensive effort that limited the Mounties to three first downs. Watch list Emmaus (3-1), Northampton (3-1), Northwestern Lehigh (3-1), Parkland (2-2), Saucon Valley (3-1), Southern Lehigh (4-0). Saucon Valley has averaged 33.3 points per game during its three-game winning streak. Points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale (big school) and 3-2-1 scale (small school). Voting done by Keith Groller, Stephen Miller, Tom Housenick and Michael Blouse.