Poll Ballots - Week Seven

As a pollster for the Buffalo News, I'm asked to send in my weekly ballots ranking the top ten large and small schools.  The polls are based on games played through Sunday of each week.  Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.

 

Large Schools

1. St. Joe's (MMA) -  Hosted Timon last week, visit them this week.  The last two regular season meetings between these two have gone to OT and both times, the Marauders overcame a late six-point deficit to force, and win in, the extra session. 

2. Canisius (MMA) - Held Timon's sharp shooters in check and went two games up on the Tigers, trailing only St. Joe's by a game in the MMA. 

3. Jamestown (AA) -They've only been held under 60 points in two of their 14 wins - the only two Red Raider games I've seen.  In 10 of their 15 games, they've scored at least 70 points.  I still think they're at least third in the large schools, despite only seeing their two worst performances of the season.

4. Niagara Falls (AA) - The NFL makes it really difficult to gauge how the Wolverines are responding to losing at home to Kenmore West.  We'll have to wait a few weeks to really see what this team is made of, but if they aren't playing for the AA title in March, their season would be a colossal disappointment.

5. McKinley (A1) - Moved the Macks up two spots because I think they play harder than and would beat any team I have below them.

6. Kenmore West (AA) - Another slow start last week against Lew-Port (tied at halftime).  The Blue Devils need to start games the same way come out of the locker room for the second halves of games.

7. Bishop Timon/St. Jude (MMA) - Drop to number seven on this ballot with recent MMA losses to St. Mary's, St. Joe's, and Canisius.  The number seven spot is pretty good for the Tigers, considering the last time they beat a ranked large school from WNY was in February 2010.

8. Riverside (A2) - They've been the only A2 ranked all season, and aside from that early season hiccup at East, have been the second best in the Yale Cup behind McKinley.

9. Hutch-Tech (A1) - The Engineers were very impressive against East on Friday.  I like this year's team even more than last year's, and think they have more chemistry this season.

10. Amherst (A2) - I voted for the the Tigers instead of Williamsville East for a few reasons.  They have won 11 of their last 12, and the two games before the aforementioned 12 were losses to St. Mary's and a three-point loss to OTC/MEC.  I think ECIC III is a better league than ECIC II this season, so the Tigers are facing more competition.  The Flame's best wins this season are by two against Clarence (lost five of last six) and Will South by one.  Amherst has a pair of double-digit wins against Depew and one against Cheektowaga.  The two have one common opponent in Nichols: Amherst beat them by 30, Will East by 12.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) - The last time a NYSPHAA Class B team from WNY advanced to Glens Falls was in 2008, when the Huskies won a state championship.  Guess who's ranked number one in NYS again?

2. Tonawanda (B1) - The unbeaten Warriors topped East Aurora (who beat OTC/MEC), North Tonawanda by 16 (who beat Amherst and every team in the NFL not named Falls or Ken West), and West Seneca West (who just beat Clarence).  They absolutely deserve to be ranked number two.  Nevermind who you think might be better, the season's results at this point in the season warrant Tonawanda being number two!

3. Archbishop Walsh (MMA) - If any team could make an argument for number two over Tonawanda, it would be these guys.  They manhandled St. Mary's in a 19-point win and their only losses are to Joe's, Canisius, Timon, and Olean. 

4. OTC/MEC (C1) - The Kats are crushing the competition in Yale Cup II, and recently rolled up 109 points against Buffalo Arts.

5. St. Mary's (MMA) - Winning at Timon had the Lancers feeling pretty good, maybe too good.  I don't think they realized just how good the Eagles would be, although they found out.  It's hard to believe that the four teams ahead of the Lancers on this ballot all have less small school losses than the Lancers do.

6. Dunkirk (B1) - Having seen them in person, I can say they are right there with the other non-Olean teams in Class B1.  They are extremely aggressive and quick, and produce a lot of points due to their pressure defense.

7. Wilson (B2) - The Lakemen's results this season warrant a spot ahead of the teams below, even with the loss at Newfane.

8. Silver Creek (C2) - A chance to avenge its lone loss of the season tonight when they visit Randolph.

9. Depew (B1) - Travel to face a Pioneer squad tonight that recently beat East Aurora. 

10. East (B1) - After seeing them on Friday at Hutch-Tech, the Panthers fall a few spots.  Their defense and decision making are working against their length and athleticism.

 

-centercourt

Comments

[Ricky]

CHS vs. Kearney or Joes v. Aquinas.

Which Rochester game is the better game?

[centercourt]

Being that Aquinas has beaten BK twice and Joe's has beaten Canisius, I would think Joe's at AQ. It's a rematch that the Lil Irish will be eager to win.

[Ricky]

Ya I'm pretty scared their gonna come out and give Joes a smack

[centercourt]

I wouldn't be scared, it's not like the Marauders got lucky in their first meeting. Aquinas will have to get a whole lot better attacking the zone in order to lay the smack down. I'm really looking forward to that one - unfortunately, I can't make the BK/Canisius game on Saturday though.