Ursuline is No. 2 in Div. V, while Cardinal Mooney is No. 4 in the Div. IV poll.

STAFF REPORT

Poland High’s 3-0 start has vaulted Coach Mark Brungard’s Bulldogs to the top of the first Associated Press football poll, released Monday night.

The Bulldogs picked up four first-place votes and 154 points to edge Canal Fulton Northwest (3-0) by three points.

Three other area teams — Lakeview, West Branch and Liberty — made the top 10 of Div. III, at No. 8-10, respectively.

Lakeview plays host to Poland Friday night.

Bellevuew, Thornville Sheridan, Tipp City Tippecanoe, St. Mary’s Memorial and Germantown Valley View round out the top seven in Div. III.

Ursuline (3-0), in Div. V, was the next-highest rated area team, at No. 2, behind Maria Stein Marion Local, the team that defeated the Irish, 20-14, in the state championship game last December.

Also in Div. V, Crestview is No. 19. St. Henry, Hamler Patrick Henry, Archbold, Findlay Liberty-Benton, Bainbridge Paint Valley, Wheelersburg, Anna and Ashland Crestview round out the top 10.

Mooney (2-1) is ranked No. 4 in Div. IV, behind Coldwater, the team that defeated the Cardinals in the state championship last year, Kettering Alter and Steubenville. Fostoria is No. 5. Perry, Akron Manchester, Belmont Union Local, Columbus Hartley and New Lexington round out the top 10.

Also in the top 10 are Warren Harding and Boardman, tied for No. 10 in Div. I. Fitch is tied for 19th in the big school division. Cincinnati Colerain, Cleveland Glenville, Pickerington Central, Lakewood St. Edward, Cincinnati St. Xavier, Dublin Coffman, Huber Heights Wayne, Canton GlenOak and Hilliard Davidson hold down the top nine spots.

In Div. VI, McDonald is No. 12, Leetonia is No. 16, Wellsville is No. 18 and Southern is No. 20.

Newark Catholic is the top-ranked team in Div. VI, followed by Bascom Hopewell-Loudson, Mechanicsburg, Delphos St. John’s, Mogadore, Carey, Columbus Africentric, Norwalk St. Paul, Ada and Caldwell.

The poll will be conducted through the end of the regular season.

The first computer ratings, which determine the playoff teams, will be released Sept. 16.