TOP OF THE CROP

Football

1: (1) Avon Lake (5-0) 2: (2) Avon (4-1) 3: (3) Olmsted Falls (4-1) 4: (6) Amherst (5-0) 5: (4) Lorain (3-2) 6: (5) Bay (5-0) 7: (7) Columbia (3-2) 8: (9) Rocky River (4-1) 9: (8) Elyria Catholic (3-2) 10: (NR) Luth. West (4-1)

Dropped out: Clearview (4-1) Watch list: Clearview (4-1), Firelands (2-3), North Olmsted (2-3), Vermilion (2-3)

Comments: Avon Lake dismantled Lakewood to remain perfect, but will receive more of a challenge against North Ridgeville this week . ... Avon broke Midview’s streak of 61 straight games in which the Middies scored 10-plus points (dating to 2012), which was the best in the state. The Eagles’ defense is often not given the credit it deserves . ... Olmsted Falls kept its high-scoring pace going against North Ridgeville. Its reward is undefeated Amherst, which boasts one of the best defenses in the SWC . ... Amherst showed grit in a 45-38 win over Berea-Midpark. The defense held just enough against one of the top quarterbacks in Northeast Ohio. The Comets get no rest with Olmsted Falls up next . ... Lorain slides one spot after a 10-point loss to Canadian opponent Clarkson Academy. The panic over the loss, though, is unfounded. Clarkson’s two losses this year are against Cincinnati Moeller and Cincinnati Elder, aka two topnotch southern Ohio teams. ... As was stated last week, it’s nothing against Bay that it slides a spot. It’s due to the strength of schedule, with the Rockets’ opponents at 6-19. A showdown with rival Rocky River will show where Bay stands. ... Columbia took perennial contender Buckeye to the brink in Week 5. The Raiders’ won’t be faulted for that . ... Rocky River showed its passing prowess against Ashtabula Lakeside. It will need to show a complete package to beat Bay and jump further in the Crop. ... Elyria Catholic doesn’t slide due to a combination of strength on schedule and losses to teams in the watch list. However, a three-game skid will mean a drop, possibly out of the Crop . ... Lutheran West jumps back into the Crop largely due to a harder schedule than Clearview and the fact that they played their only similar opponent, Wellington, to a score that was nearly identical.