RGVSPORTS.COM
Two new teams made their way into RGVSports.com’s high school football Top 10 poll this week, while another team made its return as the season heads into Week 9.
Mercedes and Sharyland Pioneer, each coming off big wins over previously-ranked top 10 teams, are ranked for the first time this season. The Tigers, winners of four straight and alone at the top of District 32-5A, come in at No. 7 going into Friday’s big game at Brownsville Lopez. Mercedes earned a dramatic 27-12 win over Edcouch-Elsa last week.
Pioneer, meanwhile, topped sister school Sharyland High for the first time and is ranked No. 9 in this week’s poll. The 5-2 Diamondbacks are in contention for a District 31-5A title and host Valley View on Friday.
Weslaco High is back in the top 10 at No. 8. The 4-3 Panthers host Harlingen South on Friday in a pivotal 32-6A matchup.
San Benito remained the unanimous No. 1 team for the seventh straight week. The Greyhounds are 7-0 after a 28-0 win over Harlingen South last week.
San Benito was voted No. 1 by all of RGVSports.com’s seven voters who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers (the Monitor, Valley Morning Star and Brownsville Herald). The Greyhounds host Brownsville Hanna on Friday.
Harlingen High moved up a spot to No. 2. The Cardinals have won five games in a row and earned a demonstrative 24-10 win over Weslaco East last week.
Harlingen High hosts Los Fresnos on Friday.
Edinburg Vela improved to 6-1 with a 49-7 win over PSJA Memorial last week, but dropped to No. 3. The SaberCats visit undefeated PSJA North in a big 31-6A showdown on Thursday.
The aforementioned Raiders, boasting the Rio Grande Valley’s best defense, stayed No. 4 after going to 7-0 with a 17-14 win over PSJA Southwest last week.
McAllen Memorial and Los Fresnos remained in their middle spots at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively. The Mustangs are 6-2 after last week’s 42-14 win against La Joya and are on a bye this week. Los Fresnos won its second straight game last week with a 34-31 decision over Brownsville Hanna and visit Harlingen High on Friday.
Weslaco East rounded out the poll at No. 10. The Wildcats fell 24-10 to Harlingen High last week and visit Brownsville Rivera on Saturday.
Six other teams received votes in this week’s poll. They were Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Brownsville St. Joseph, Edcouch-Elsa, Rio Grande City, Port Isabel and Brownsville Lopez.
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WEEK 9 RGVSPORTS.COM TOP 10 POLL
The following are the teams in RGVSports.com’s Top 10 poll, with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through 1 point for a 10th-place vote. The seven voters are writers who cover RGV high school football for AIM Media’s three newspapers (the Monitor, Valley Morning Star and Brownsville Herald).
Team – Record – Points – Prev.
1. San Benito (7) 7-0 70 1
2. Harlingen High 5-2 60 3
3. Edinburg Vela 6-1 59 2
4. PSJA North 7-0 39 4
5. McAllen Memorial 6-2 37 5
6. Los Fresnos 4-3 36 6
7. Mercedes 4-3 20 NR
8. Weslaco High 4-3 18 NR
9. Sharyland Pioneer 5-2 16 NR
10. Weslaco East 3-4 8 8
Other teams receiving votes: Brownsville Veterans Memorial (6), Brownsville St. Joseph (5), Rio Grande City (4), Edcouch-Elsa (4), Port Isabel (2), Brownsville Lopez (1).