Which are the 20 best HS football teams in RI? Here's how Eric Rueb ranks them this week

Rhode Island high school football teams are showing their faces.

For some, it’s good. We'll find out about Division I on Friday. Barrington is rolling in D-II, Lincoln is doing the same in D-III and Davies keeps winning in D-IV.

For others — like those with a fortunate September schedule against teams that we’re seeing struggle this fall — it hasn’t been good.

But we’re heading toward the homestretch of the season. Every game matters more this week than it did last week as playoff seedings and playoff spots are on the line.

This also makes ranking the top 20 teams in the state a little easier. Here’s how I ranked the teams for this week’s RI Sports Media Top 20 High School Football Poll:

20. Davies (4-0 Division IV)

The first half of the D-IV season is in the books and the Patriots’ second half looks considerably more favorable than the first. Davies won’t change its mindset moving forward and can move one step closer to clinching the No. 1 seed this week when it plays Scituate.

19. Moses Brown (2-2 Division III-B)

While I believe a healthy Quakers team is the best team in D-III, it's currently not healthy so this week’s rank had to reflect as much. Last week’s loss is going to apply some pressure as MB will likely need two wins in the final three weeks — starting on Friday at Mt. Hope — to make the postseason.

18. Classical (3-1 Division III-A)

Jordan Duke helped the Purple run over North Smithfield last weekend, which is what the team needed from its junior star. Classical isn’t locked into the postseason quite yet, but a win over Tolman this week will all but do the trick.

17. West Warwick (4-0 Division III-B)

There isn’t a more battle-tested team than the Wizards, who found late magic again in their win over Rogers. Wins like that should have West Warwick more than prepared for its brutal next two weeks when it hosts Johnston and then travels to take on a potentially healthier Moses Brown.

16. Middletown (3-1 Division III-A)

The Islanders cruised in last week’s win over Chariho, which allowed some starters to rest in the second half. Middletown is playing a nonleaguer against a team from Connecticut, which gives it a chance to stay sharp for next week’s game at Lincoln that should determine the No. 1 seed from III-A.

15. South Kingstown (3-1 Division II-B)

After beating the bottom half of II-B in September, the Rebels lost big against II-B’s top dog and now need to regroup. A win over Shea should secure SK a postseason spot, but it's looking likely that the season finale vs. Westerly will determine whether or not it's home for the D-II quarterfinals.

14. Johnston (4-0 Division III-B)

Johnston’s win over an undermanned Moses Brown team was a good one, but beating undefeated West Warwick this week will not only determine the No. 1 seed from III-B, it will also establish the Panthers as a bona fide Super Bowl contender.

13. Woonsocket (2-1 Division II-B)

Watch out for the Villa Novans. The 2-0 win over Central two weeks ago might have been the spark Woonsocket needed to get rolling. These next two weeks are crucial — the game at Portsmouth may determine a playoff seed and if the Novans win, the following week’s game at Westerly could determine who gets a home game in the D-II quarterfinals.

12. Central (0-1 Division I)

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The Knights’ loss to Woonsocket two weeks ago could have been a one-off, but losing to Westerly at home last week shows this team has a lot of work to do. Central has a nonleaguer this week against a tough Burrillville team before playing the games that matter most — at Hendricken and at NK — to close the season.

11. Westerly (2-1 Division II-B)

I neglected to put the Bulldogs in my top 20 last week. Clearly, that was the inspiration in their win over Central, a win that has Westerly moving in the right direction as it works to earn a No. 2 seed in II-B. A win over Cranston East this week would help, but seeding will be determined in the final two weeks when the Bulldogs play Woonsocket and South Kingstown.

10. East Providence (1-3 Division II-A)

Put the Townies on the other side of D-II and EP is sitting comfortably in second place. With no nights off in II-A, EP hasn’t been able to finish games it needed to win and it’s going to need to win its final two — vs. East Greenwich and at Burrillville — and hope for help to make the playoffs.

9. Cranston West (1-2 Division II-A)

Last week’s loss to Hendricken didn’t matter. What does matter are the next three weeks that will determine the Falcons’ season. Cranston West is going to need to win two of three and with undefeated Cumberland and Mount Pleasant coming up, it won’t be easy.

8. Mount Pleasant (2-1 Division II-A)

The Kilties have David Rodriguez, but they also have playmakers at other spots. Last week, quarterback Adonai Lopez and receiver Stylez Negron came up huge vs. East Providence. This week, Mount will need similar performances from its supporting cast when it travels to take on St. Raphael.

7. Lincoln (4-0 Division III-A)

Clinical. That’s the only way to describe how the Lions are playing right now. They line up, punch you in the mouth on both sides of the ball and dare you to hit back. Two of Lincoln’s final three games are against III-A’s bottom two teams, making the Oct. 20 game vs. Middletown the one that matters before the postseason hits.

6. Burrillville (3-1 Division III-A)

Last week wasn’t pretty, but the Broncos don’t care. The win over East Greenwich got Burrillville back on track and this week’s nonleaguer vs. Central should give it the test it needs before it closes the season with East Providence and St. Raphael, two games that will be huge for playoff seeding.

5. Cumberland (4-0 Division III-A)

Watch out. The Clippers got Evan Spencer back under center, making an already strong offense even better. Cumberland has rolled since Day 1 of the season and won’t plan on slowing down this week at Cranston West where, if things go right in other games, a win will secure the No. 1 seed.

4. Barrington (4-0 Division II-B)

We’re running out of words to describe just how good the Eagles have been this season. Their II-B opponents haven’t offered much of a challenge, which perhaps makes this week’s nonleague game against North Kingstown the public school state championship Super Bowl.

3. North Kingstown (0-2 Division I)

The second half of last week’s loss to La Salle was maybe the two worst quarters of football the Skippers have played all season. NK knows it will be on the road for the postseason and games against Barrington and Cumberland over the next two weeks should prep it just fine before it closes the regular season with Central.

2. La Salle (2-0 Division I)

If the Rams can play the rest of the season the way they played in the third quarter of Friday’s win vs. North Kingstown, they’ll be just fine. Friday would be a perfect time to do so. Expect a sellout crowd for this week’s game against Hendricken that should determine D-I’s top seed.

1. Hendricken (1-0 Division I)

The Hawks’ schedule was put together perfectly. Tough out-of-state games to start, league game, then two D-II teams before finishing with two league games. Hendricken is healthy, polished and will head to La Salle with revenge on its mind in a game that should provide the most electric atmosphere of the regular season.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Eric Rueb ranks the 20 best HS football teams in Rhode Island Oct 10