(Jaden Slaughter & St. Joe's are WNY's new #1 /Photo: Andrew Miller)

 

Large Schools

1. St. Joe's (A) – An impressive start to the season for the high-powered Marauders – and then came Sunday.  St. Joe's win over Canisius ended a 20-game losing streak, but what was most telling was the 20-point lead they had for most of the second half.  

2. Canisius (A) – The Crusaders are looking up in the MMA standings at St. Joe's for the first time in a very long time.  They have games this week against St. Francis and at Timon and the league is once again a fun follow!

3. Jamestown (AA) – Fresh off a big win over the defending Class AA champs from Lancaster with their only loss coming at Canisius.

4. Park (A) – The Pioneers are 3-1, knocking off Rochester's East High, Leadership Academy, & Aquinas.  If those sound like annual Section V powers, it's because they have been for awhile.  Park's lone loss came against St. Joe's. 

5. Health Sciences (AA) – Earned a pair of solid wins over Tapestry & Ken West, heading into a week where they'll visit Park & St. Francis. 

6. Niagara Falls (AA) – The 3-0 Wolverines are a team in a similar plight as the Bucs were coming into the NFL season.  Falls has some players.  And now they have a hungry superstar added to the mix.  As chemistry continues to develop, I expect them to get a lot better as the year wears on.

7. Lancaster (AA) – The Legends were tripped up for the first time Saturday afternoon at Jamestown, after starting 3-0 including a win at Amherst.

8. McKinley (A1) – If you're following all the scores in the Yale Cup and comparing common opponents, the Macks look like the early trophy favorites.  I'm buying in.

9. Amherst (A2) – Already winners of five games and tied for first place in ECIC II, with their lone loss coming to Lancaster.

10. Sweet Home (A1) – A 3-0 start to the season for the Panthers with all wins coming by double figures.

 

Small Schools

1. Timon (B) – The Tigers are just 2-1 in this early part of the season, with the loss at St. Joe's by four points.  

2. East Aurora (B1) – A 5-0 start to the season has seen the Blue Devils already hold three opponents under 40 points.

3. Cardinal O'Hara (B) – The Hawks are 2-3 on the season, but the two losses came at the hands of St. Joe's, Canisius, & St. Francis.

4. Tapestry (C1) – The Thunderhawks bounced back from a loss to Health Sciences with a solid team victory over Maritime.

5. Southwestern (B3) – The Trojans are already 5-0 this season, including victories over Olean & Fredonia.

6. East (B1) – After losing to McKinley by five points, the Panthers bounced back with a double digit win over South Park.

7. Bennett (B1) – This season began for the Tigers with a resounding victory over Hutch-Tech, who just knocked off Middle College.

8. Middle College (C1) – The three-time defending Yale Cup champs also own a win over South Park, and have a big game coming up on Monday with East High.

9. Medina (B1) – A 3-0 start for the Mustangs includes a win over Akron, who had began the season with a 20-point win at Maryvale.

10. Ellicottville (C2) – The Eagles have dominated their division recently, and on Friday night, they went into Randolph and took a 48-40 win to start the year 3-0.

 

-centercourt