The News-Gazette's football Top 10 poll: SJ-O still at No. 1

Before Week 5 of the high school football season kicks off Friday night, Sports Editor Matt Daniels updates our weekly area Top 10 poll:

1. St. Joseph-Ogden

➜ Record: 4-0

➜ Previous ranking: No. 1

Hardly anyone in the area has played better in the first half than the Spartans. The key for Coy Taylor and Co. is to put a full four quarters together. SJ-O steps out of Illini Prairie Conference play for the only time on Friday night when it hosts Carterville at Dick Duval Field.

2. Salt Fork

➜ Record: 4-0

➜ Previous ranking: No. 2

Salt Fork would like to have a word about first-half performances. Carter Chambliss and his teammates have outscored their foes 124-6 in the first two quarters. A Vermilion Valley Conference showdown at fellow unbeaten Bismarck-Henning/Rossville awaits the Storm on Friday.

3. Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond

➜ Record: 4-0

➜ Previous ranking: No. 3

The Lincoln Prairie Conference win streak is now at 18 games for Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond. Cruz Hale and the Knights will try to keep their home fans at Wilson Field entertained during Friday night’s homecoming game when a quality Cumberland team pays a visit to Arthur.

4. Paxton-Buckley-Loda

➜ Record: 4-0

➜ Previous ranking: No. 4

If Bryar Cosgrove and his fellow Panthers can earn an Illini Prairie Conference home win against Rantoul on Friday night at Zimmerman Field at I-57 Stadium, PBL gets a fifth win needed for playoff eligibility. And guarantees PBL a winning regular season for the 11th consecutive season.

5. Centennial

➜ Record: 3-1

➜ Previous ranking: No. 6

Zi’yir Aker is just a sophomore. He doesn’t run like it, though, for the Chargers. The emergence of Aker, combined with steady play from quarterback Kellen Davis-Foltz, has Centennial on a three-game win streak before its homecoming game against Peoria Notre Dame on Friday night.

6. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley

➜ Record: 4-0

➜ Previous ranking: No. 7

The last time Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley started 4-0 was in 2018. A second straight Class 2A state title ensued for the Falcons that fall. It’s still way too early to start talk of that lofty aspiration, but Matt Allen and his teammates are feeling good before hosting Heyworth on Friday night.

7. LeRoy

➜ Record: 4-0

➜ Previous ranking: No. 9

The Panthers hardly throw the ball running their triple option offense. Doesn’t matter. Bo Zeleznik, Stephon Williams, Landon Welte and others do their jobs. They’ll aim to keep the trend going when the Panthers host Tuscola on Friday night for their homecoming game.

8. Bismarck-Henning/Rossvile-Alvin

➜ Record: 4-0

➜ Previous ranking: No. 10

Payton-Moss Field in Bismarck should be electric on Friday night with Salt Fork visiting for possibly the top Vermilion Valley Conference game all season. Eli McConkey and the rest of the Blue Devils’ offense is clicking at the right time, averaging 49.5 points in their last two games.

9. Mahomet-Seymour

➜ Record: 2-2

➜ Previous ranking: No. 8

The Bulldogs took out their frustrations from a 1-2 record in nonconference play with a 56-3 rout of Charleston last Friday to begin Apollo Conference action. Mason Orton and Co. hit the road this Friday night to play an improved Taylorville team that nearly beat Mt. Zion last week.

10. Unity

➜ Record: 2-2

➜ Previous ranking: No. 5

Unity’s losses are against teams who are a combined 8-0 (St. Joseph-Ogden and Belleville Althoff) and by a combined four points. Tre Hoggard and the Rockets will try to avoid a two-game losing skid when they host Bloomington Central Catholic on Friday night at Hicks Field in Tolono.