There's a new No. 1 among the MontanaSports.com high school football power rankings.
Billings Central, the defending Class A state champion, vaulted to the top of its class, moving up from last week's No. 2 ranking. The Rams improved to 3-0 with a 43-0 win over Glendive last week. They supplant Hamilton at the top of the Class A rankings after the Broncs suffered their first loss of the season last Friday at Dillon, which brought the one-loss Beavers into the top five. Hamilton fell to fifth, while Frenchtown moved up one spot to No. 2. Hamilton and Frenchtown meet this week in a crucial Western A matchup.
Across the rest of the classes, Billings West, Fairfield, Fairview and Wibaux maintained their No. 1 rankings. West, Fairfield and Wibaux are the defending state champions in Class AA, Class B and 6-Man, respectively.
Missoula Sentinel climbed one spot to third in the Class AA poll following its 28-14 win over previously unbeaten Helena Capital. The undefeated Spartans will now play No. 2 Butte in Class AA's biggest game of the week.
Manhattan continues to climb the Class B rankings. The Tigers, now third, notched an impressive win at Missoula Loyola last week, running past the Rams 26-14. Manhattan now turns its attention to conference play in the Southern B with a game against Whitehall. Glasgow also enters the Class B top five. The Scotties are an impressive 3-0 this season and are coming off a 46-0 shutout against Cut Bank.
Shelby tumbled out of the 8-Man top five after its loss to Centerville last week, allowing Alberton-Superior (now No. 2) and Fort Benton (now No. 3) to move up the rankings. West Yellowstone makes its debut at No. 4, and Great Falls Central still sits fifth. The Mustangs play Fort Benton in a big-time 8-Man North battle on Friday.
The 6-Man poll saw little change. Wibaux and Big Sandy are locked in the Nos. 1 and 2 slots, while Jordan and Hot Springs sit in third and fourth after being tied for third last week. Richey-Lambert, though, fell from the top five after its loss at Wibaux, opening the door for Power-Dutton-Brady to enter this week's rankings.
The MontanaSports.com high school football power rankings, along with team records, can be found below.
Class AA
1. Billings West (4-0)
2. Butte (4-0)
3. Missoula Sentinel (4-0)
4. Helena Capital (3-1)
5. Helena High (3-1)
Receiving votes: Bozeman (3-1), Missoula Hellgate (3-0).
Class A
1. Billings Central (3-0)
2. Frenchtown (4-0)
3. Dillon (3-1)
4. Miles City (3-0)
5. Hamilton (3-1)
Class B
1. Fairfield (3-0)
2. Eureka (4-0)
3. Manhattan (3-0)
4. Glasgow (3-0)
5. Missoula Loyola (2-2)
Receiving votes: Red Lodge (4-0), Huntley Project (3-1), Townsend (3-1).
8-Man
1. Fairview (4-0)
2. Alberton-Superior (4-0)
3. Fort Benton (4-0)
4. West Yellowstone (4-0)
5. Great Falls Central (4-0)
Receiving votes: Drummond-Philipsburg (3-1).
6-Man
1. Wibaux (3-0)
2. Big Sandy (4-0)
3. Jordan (3-1)
4. Hot Springs (4-0)
5. Power-Dutton-Brady (4-0)
