H.S. FOOTBALL: Liberty, Crockett Co., Hardin Co. make jumps in top 10

The post-Week 2 edition of the Associated Press state high school football rankings are in, and a few local teams made significant jumps within their class’ statewide rankings this week.

Both of those came for teams in Region 7-4A.

Crockett County played its first game and won 13-7 at Westview and jumped three places because of it combined with losses for Ridgeway, Pearl-Cohn and Marshall County, who had all been ranked ahead of the Cavaliers.

The other team to make a jump was Hardin County, who wasn’t listed in the receiving votes category of the ranking last week before the Tigers knocked off the team that was ranked No. 1 in Class 2A by 35 points. Because of that, the Tigers are now ninth.

North Side is hanging on in the ranking at No. 10 after being shut out last week. Another team in Region 7-4A nearly made it into the top 10, and that is Lexington. The Tigers and Sullivan East were one voters’ point away from making it into the top 10 and are essentially voted tied for the No. 11 team in the state.

Another team that made a significant jump in the poll was Liberty, who moved from No. 8 to No. 4 after its win over North Side. The Crusaders have performed well defensively so far, allowing three points in two games.

The Crusaders will travel to No. 7 Milan this week, who held steady at its ranking.

Camden dropped a spot to No. 10, and Dyersburg moved up a spot to No. 5 right behind Liberty.

In Class 2A, Adamsville’s loss to Hardin County drops the Cardinals out of the top spot, but the voters respect the program enough to keep it in the top five at No. 5.

Trinity Christian Academy dropped out of the top 10 after taking its second loss but is still listed as the first team receiving votes.

In Class 1A, the rankings set up a game that was already going to be big to possibly be even bigger. Not only will defending state champions collide at Walter Kilzer Stadium Friday night, but the game will also be a matchup of Nos. 1 and 2 in the state. Union City, the defending Class 1A champion and top-ranked team in the state, will travel to Trenton Peabody, the defending 2A champion who is ranked just behind the Tornadoes.

Dresden is holding steady at No. 4, giving Region 7-1A three teams in the top four. Huntingdon moved up two spots to No. 6.

The top-ranked teams in each class not already mentioned are Maryville in 6A, Oak Ridge in 5A, Knoxville Fulton in 4A, Christ Presbyterian Academy in 3A, Marion County in 2A and Montgomery Bell Academy in Division II. The Division II ranking combines Classes A and AA. The highest ranked Division II-A team is Battle Ground Academy at No. 7.