The Gridiron Digest released its first ever poll on their website today, as voted by a group that includes coaches, media members and football fans.
Four of the five defending state champions start the year at No. 1 in their respective polls. The Indianapolis area has a stranglehold on 5A, with the top six spots being teams from the Indy metro area -- the top three from the MIC. They're led by Warren Central and Carmel, who played a thrilling double overtime game in the state finals last year. In 4A, Evansville Reitz and Semi-State opponent Indianapolis Cathedral are 1-2. In 2A, defending champ Fort Wayne Luers was a nearly-unanimous pick for the top spot, with Indianapolis Ritter and defending state runner-up Monrovia under first-year coach Mark Jaynes the top three. In 1A, a wide variety of teams got votes after defending champ and the lone unanimous No. 1 Lafayette Central Catholic. The only state champ not to get the top spot was West Lafayette, which begins the year No. 3 in Class 3A. Indianapolis Chatard -- which dominated 3A throughout much of the 2000s -- starts in the top spot, with Jimtown standing at No. 2.
Poll points are listed, first-place votes in parentheses. Scoring is as follows: 10 points for a first-place vote down to 1 for a 10th-place vote.
The Gridiron Digest 2010 preseason poll
Class 5A
1. Warren Central (9) 99
2. Carmel (1) 77
3. Center Grove 75
4. Fishers 48
4. Hamilton Southeastern 48
6. Pike 42
7. Penn 32
8. Columbus North 23
9. Merrillville 22
9. Fort Wayne Snider 22
Others receiving votes: Columbus East 14, Ben Davis 13, Avon 10, Brownsburg 8, Mishawaka 7, Lawrence Central 5, Zionsville 4, Kokomo 1.
Class 4A
1. Evansville Reitz (8) 97
2. Indianapolis Cathedral (2) 86
3. Fort Wayne Dwenger 82
4. Lowell 66
5. Delta 46
6. Plymouth 37
7. Concord 28
8. South Bend Washington 24
9. East Central 21
10. Fort Wayne South 20
Others receiving votes: Jasper 15, Hammond Morton 10, Roncalli 8, East Noble 4, Shelbyville 4, New Palestine 1, Lebanon 1.
Class 3A
1. Indianapolis Chatard (8) 128
2. Jimtown 99
3. West Lafayette (4) 87
4. Heritage Hills 78
5. Evansville Memorial (2) 75
6. Indian Creek 62
7. Eastbrook 60
8. Batesville 38
9. Brebeuf Jesuit 37
10. Norwell 35
Others receiving votes: Andrean 21, Leo 20, Hamilton Heights 10, Harding 7, Mishawaka Marian 4, NorthWood 3, Culver Academy 2, Southmont 2, Bellmont 1, South Bend St. Joseph’s 1
Class 2A
1. Fort Wayne Luers (7) 77
2. Indianapolis Ritter (1) 62
3. Monrovia 44
4. Rensselaer 37
5. Cass 36
6. Evansville Mater Dei 29
7. Paoli 27
8. Southridge 24
9. Tipton 21
10. Wheeler 19
10. Heritage Christian 19
Others receiving votes: North Putnam 13, Speedway 8, South Spencer 6, Fairfield 6, Northwestern 5, Brownstown 4, Tri-West 3
Class 1A
1. Lafayette Central Catholic (9) 90
2. Pioneer 75
3. Fountain Central 40
4. Perry Central 38
5. Linton-Stockton 37
6. Southern Wells 34
7. Sheridan 31
8. North Daviess 28
9. Churubusco 23
10. Clinton Central 16
Others receiving votes: Winamac 14, Knightstown 14, Culver 11, Guerin Catholic 11, Rockville 9, Indianapolis Scecina 8, Indianapolis Lutheran 6, Adams Central 5, Milan 3, Whiting 2.
The Gridiron Digest will release their next poll on the Tuesday after the regular season starts (Aug. 24).
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