Associated Press state football poll: Sexton jumps into top 10
Sexton football is enjoying its best start since finishing as the Division 4 state runner-up in 2014.
And the early-season success that included a 28-0 victory over Charlotte last week in a matchup of unbeatens has led to the J-Dubbs moving into the top 10 of their division in the latest Associated Press rankings.
Sexton is ranked No. 9 in Division 4 this week along with Chelsea. The J-Dubbs (4-0), who are tied atop the CAAC White standings with Portland, are among 11 Greater Lansing teams that appear in the top 10 of their divisions.
Mason and Ithaca continue to lead the way and are both ranked No. 2 in their divisions. Mason, which is tied atop the CAAC Red standings, is No. 2 in Division 3. Ithaca, which is off to a 2-0 start in TVC White play, is No. 2 in Division 8.
Corunna remains in the top five in Division 5 and is No. 4. Fowler is No. 4 in Division 8.
CAAC White co-leader Portland is No. 6 in Division 7, four spots ahead of CMAC leader Pewamo-Westphalia at No. 10.
Receiving votes outside the top 10 in their divisions are Grand Ledge (Division 1) and Lansing Catholic (Division 6).
8-player teams gaining attention
Greater Lansing has four 8-player teams who are part of the top 10 this week. Carson City-Crystal, which is in its debut season of 8-man football, is No. 7 in Division 1 after knocking off last year's state runner-up Merrill. Unbeaten Maple Valley is No. 10 in 8-man Division 1.
Portland St. Patrick, which matched its win total from last season with its win over Morrice last week, moved to No. 8 in 8-man Division 2. Fulton is up to No. 10 in Division 2 after improving to 4-0 with a forfeit win.
Morrice is receiving votes in Division 2.
ASSOCIATED PRESS STATE POLL
Division 1
School Record Total Points
1. Belleville (4) (4-0) 49
2. Rockford (1) (4-0) 45
3. Southfield A&T (4-0) 32
4. Saline (4-0) 31
5. Davison (4-0) 29
6. Lake Orion (4-0) 25
7. Macomb Dakota (4-0) 24
8. Northville (4-0) 16
9. West Bloomfield (3-1) 11
10. Hudsonville (4-0) 6
Others receiving votes: Detroit Cass Tech 4. Lapeer 2. Grand Ledge 1.
Division 2
School Record Total Points
1. Caledonia (2) (3-1) 47
2. Warren De La Salle (1) (2-2) 43
3. Byron Center (2) (4-0) 38
4. Muskegon (2-2) 32
5. Allen Park (4-0) 25
(tie) Birmingham Groves (2-2) 25
7. Roseville (3-1) 18
(tie) Portage Northern (4-0) 18
9. White Lake Lakeland (3-1) 10
10. Warren Mott (3-1) 4
(tie) Waterford Mott (3-1) 4
Others receiving votes: Detroit U-D Jesuit 3. Portage Central 3. Muskegon Mona Shores 2. Saginaw Heritage 2. St. Clair Shores Lakeview 1.
Division 3
School Record Total Points
1. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (4) (4-0) 49
2. Mason (1) (4-0) 45
3. Walled Lake Western (4-0) 40
4. Zeeland West (4-0) 36
5. East Grand Rapids (4-0) 25
6. Parma Western (4-0) 24
7. Auburn Hills Avondale (4-0) 14
8. Battle Creek Harper Creek (4-0) 11
(tie) Gaylord (4-0) 11
10. Mount Pleasant (3-1) 10
Others receiving votes: Linden 5. Cadillac 3. Lowell 1. Detroit King 1.
Division 4
School Record Total Points
1. Goodrich (3) (4-0) 47
2. Whitehall (2) (4-0) 44
3. Freeland (4-0) 38
4. Grand Rapids South Christian (3-1) 36
5. Croswell-Lexington (4-0) 24
6. Portland (4-0) 22
7. Paw Paw (4-0) 18
8. Adrian (4-0) 13
9. Chelsea (3-1) 10
(tie) Lansing Sexton (4-0) 10
Others receiving votes: Spring Lake 9. Detroit East English 3. Hamilton 1.
Division 5
School Record Total Points
1. Grand Rapids West Catholic (4) (4-0) 49
2. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (1) (3-1) 42
3. Gladwin (4-0) 40
4. Corunna (4-0) 32
5. Flint Hamady (4-0) 27
6. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (4-0) 25
7. Frankenmuth (3-1) 22
8. Flat Rock (4-0) 17
9. Allegan (4-0) 10
10. Belding (3-1) 4
(tie) Detroit Denby (4-0) 4
Others receiving votes: Kingsford 2. Howard City Tri-County 1.
Division 6
School Record Total Points
1. Warren Michigan Collegiate (5) (4-0) 50
2. Almont (4-0) 44
3. Manistee (4-0) 40
4. Negaunee (3-1) 29
5. Gladstone (3-1) 27
6. Kingsley (3-1) 24
7. Constantine (3-1) 21
8. Hart (4-0) 18
9. Detroit Edison (4-0) 8
(tie) Chesaning (3-1) 8
Others receiving votes: Ecorse 3. Clare 2. Lansing Catholic 1.
Division 7
School Record Total Points
1. Jackson Lumen Christi (5) (4-0) 50
2. North Muskegon (4-0) 41
3. Menominee (4-0) 38
3. Millington (4-0) 38
5. Napoleon (4-0) 30
6. Montrose (4-0) 28
7. Lawton (3-1) 9
(tie) Clinton (3-1) 9
(tie) Grass Lake (4-0) 9
10. Pewamo-Westphalia (3-1) 8
(tie) Schoolcraft (3-1) 8
Others receiving votes: Manchester 3. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett 2. Blissfield 1. Sandusky 1.
Division 8
School Record Total Points
1. Ottawa Lake Whiteford (4) (4-0) 49
2. Ithaca (1) (4-0) 41
3. Ubly (4-0) 30
4. Hudson (4-0) 27
(tie) Fowler (4-0) 27
6. Beal City (4-0) 24
7. Addison (4-0) 21
8. Iron Mountain (4-0) 17
9. Frankfort (4-0) 14
10. White Pigeon (4-0) 10
Others receiving votes: Saugatuck 9. Clarkston Everest Catholic 3. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian 1. East Jordan 1. Petersburg Summerfield 1.
Division 1 (8-player)
School Record Total Points
1. Bridgman (3) (4-0) 45
2. Gobles (2) (4-0) 39
3. Pickford (4-0) 35
4. Mendon (4-0) 34
5. St. Ignace LaSalle (4-0) 32
6. Brown City (4-0) 23
7. Carson City-Crystal (4-0) 22
8. Mayville (4-0) 11
9. Indian River-Inland Lakes (3-1) 10
10. Vermontville Maple Valley (4-0) 7
Others receiving votes: Rudyard 6. Norway 4. Martin 3. Merrill 2. Gaylord St. Mary 2.
Division 2 (8-player)
School Record Total Points
1. Powers North Central (5) (4-0) 50
2. Adrian Lenawee Christian (4-0) 42
3. Marion (3-0) 34
4. Climax-Scotts (4-0) 33
5. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (4-0) 32
6. Au Gres-Sims (4-0) 22
7. Posen (4-0) 15
8. Portland St Patrick (3-1) 11
9. Crystal Falls Forest Park (3-1) 10
10. Fulton-Middleton (4-0) 9
Others receiving votes: Morrice 6. Deckerville 5. Pittsford 5. Lake Linden-Hubbell 1.
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Sexton football moves into top 10 of football state rankings
