Cardinals perched atop Associated Press poll

Staff Report

The Canfield High School football team remains atop Monday’s Associated Press state football poll of Division III teams.

The Cardinals remain the top-ranked team with 237 points and 16 first-place votes.

Some other schools in the area weren’t so lucky.

Poland, which was fourth last week in Div. IV, dropped out of the Top 10 following a last-second 22-21 loss to Struthers. The Bulldogs (5-1) are 11th with 32 votes — seven points behind Waverly for the final spot. Poland will host East on Friday.

Boardman (Div. II) and Austintown Fitch (Div. I) were just outside the top 10 last week, and didn’t make the cut this week. The Spartans (4-2) lost to Canfield 21-14 and will host Warren Harding on Friday while Fitch (4-2) lost to Massillon and will host Lakeside on Friday.

Hubbard remained in third place in the Div. IV with three first-place votes and 175 points. The Eagles (6-0) beat Niles 37-0 and will travel to Jefferson on Friday.

In Div. V, LaBrae remained in fourth with two first-place votes and 156 points. The Vikings (6-0) won 49-13 at Liberty and will travel to Newton Falls this week.

Southern moved up in the Div. VI poll again, advancing to sixth with 91 points. Southern blew out East Palestine at home 52-22. The Indians (6-0) will travel to United on Friday.

In Div. VII, McDonald moved up one spot — from 10th to ninth — and received one first-place vote. The Blue Devils (6-0) had 56 points after beating Jackson-Milton 55-14 at home. The Blue Devils will host Mineral Ridge this weekend.

Girard (17) in Div. IV and Valley Christian (17) in Div. VII received 12 or more votes, but didn’t make the top 10 in their divisions. Valley Christian received one first-place vote.