Lorain County Football Power Rankings

Six weeks of high school football are complete and six Lorain County teams have more wins in 2011 then all of last year.

Here are my team rankings with their records and pre-season rankings:

1. Avon 6-0, 3-0 (1) – The best school in Lorain County. The Eagles have dominated the competition including a 42-7 win last week vs. Rocky River. Senior quarterback Justin O’Rourke has 906 passing yards and 13 touchdowns.
   
   
2. Elyria 5-1, 2-1 (10) – If the season ended today, head coach Kevin Fell is coach-of-the-year. Dustin Stolarski has every school passing record this year.
   
   
3. North Ridgeville 5-1, 2-1 (6) – Only loss was to Avon. Have a shot at their 2nd ever post-season appearance despite moving up to Division 1 for the first time this season.
   
   
4. Midview 5-1, 3-0 (8) – After losing to Lorain in week 1, the Middies have won five straight but will have their toughest tests in week 9 (Avon) and week 10 (North Ridgeville). Sophomore quarterback Cody Calloway threw five touchdown passes in horrible weather.
   
   
5. Firelands 6-0, 3-0 (14) – With nine seniors starting on offense and defense, several Falcon players such as QB Kyle Smith and RB Nick Deichler are looking to cap their careers with a play-off appearance. Big showdown in week 9 against 6-0 Black River.
   
   
6. Avon Lake 4-2, 3-0 (2) – Dontez Smith is the stellar Shoremen running back (950 yards and 13 touchdowns). His 204 yard effort last week against Berea was his third time over 200 yards this season. Brett Bass has six touchdowns this season: 2 rushing, interception return, kick-off return, 2 punt returns.
   
   
7. Wellington 3-3, 2-1 (9) – Despite losing last week, the Dukes can still make some noise in the PAC Stars division. Clay Wright (660 yards rushing), Chase Bealer and Dylan Weidrick make for a strong offensive backfield. Wellington's losses are against 6-0 Norwayne, 6-0 Avon and 6-0 Firelands. The next opponent: Black River at, you guessed it, 6-0.
   
   
8. Elyria Catholic 2-4, 0-3 (3) – The Panthers have lost four straight games to Elyria, Midview, Avon and North Ridgeville. Life in the new West Shore Conference has been very tough. Missing team leader Joe Dempsey with a knee injury has made it much tougher.
   
   
9. Columbia 4-2, 2-1 (5) – The Raiders return to the play-offs will rest on the right arm of quarterback John Banyasz. Zach Bican's return to the lineup last week vs. Oberlin will be a big lift.
   
   
10. Lorain 3-3, 1-2 (12) – The Titans snapped a 3-game losing streak with a win last week against Warren Harding. The team looked very good in wins over Midview, Parma and a loss to Avon. Losses to Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights are head scratchers.
    
    
11. Brookside 4-2, 2-1 (15) - The Cardinals have won four games for the first time since 2006. Remarkable record when you consider the team has made two head coaching changes since June and have lost their first two quarterbacks for the season. Their new QB Keyonte Francis has not played football the last two seasons.
    
    
12. Amherst 1-5, 0-3 (7) – The Comets are one of the most disappointing teams in the county this season. They got drilled 55-0 to Elyria in week 1 and the season hasn't gotten much better. Injury to quarterback Brennan Hosier hasn't helped.
    
    
13. Vermilion 1-5, 0-3 (13) – Rebuilding year for the Sailors. They haven't won a West Shore Conference game since 2009. Has the most difficult remaining schedule wiith Midview, Avon, North Ridgeville and Elyria Catholic still to play.
    
    
14. Clearview 1-5, 1-2 (4) – This team is a mess. The offensive line can't block, they're using a freshman quarterback and their leading rusher from last season has been a head case.
    
    
15. Oberlin 2-4, 0-3 (16) – Another rebuilding team. Got crushed by Columbia last week in a game in which starting quarterback DaShaun Horton and captain Lorenzo Davis suspended for disciplinary reasons.
    
    
16. Keystone 0-6, 0-3 (11) – Long year for the Wildcats. They have only five seniors and only return three letter-winners from a year ago. Their first two quarterbacks are injured. With Firelands, Wellington and Black River coming up on the schedule, not too many realistic opportunities remaining to crack the win column.