Three defending state champions top the first MontanaSports.com high school football power rankings of 2019, while a trio of teams were unanimous No. 1 selections in the weekly poll, which is voted on by members of the MTN Sports team.
Billings West, Fairfield and Wibaux were voted atop Class AA, Class B and 6-Man, respectively, while Hamilton, last year's Class A runner-up, is No. 1 in its classification. Fairview was selected first in 8-Man. The Warriors join Fairfield and Wibaux as unanimous No. 1 selections in the initial poll of 2019.
West (3-0) has outscored opponents 129-16 this season, including last weekend's 40-3 win over crosstown foe Billings Skyview. The Golden Bears host Great Falls CMR (1-2) at Daylis Stadium this Friday. Senior quarterback Josh Erbacher has completed 51 of 63 passes for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions through the Bears' first three games. Receiver Connor Ryan, who gave a verbal commitment to Montana State, has 12 receptions for 453 yards and four touchdowns.
Hamilton (3-0) received all but one first-place vote from the MTN Sports team after defeating Butte Central (49-26), Corvallis (47-7) and Stevensville (55-0). Quarterback Carson Rostad, a Montana Grizzly verbal commit, has thrown for 799 yards and 13 touchdowns, while running back Landon Duce has 420 rushing yards and three scores. The Broncs travel to Dillon to face the Beavers of Beaverhead High School on Friday.
Class B continues to belong to Fairfield, the defending state champion, despite the Eagles losing 12 seniors from last year's title team. The Eagles (2-0) routed defending runner-up Missoula Loyola 38-7 in a rematch of last year's championship, then defeated league rival Cut Bank 28-7 last weekend.
Fairview (3-0) and Wibaux (2-0), former playoff foes on the 8-Man football fields, have rolled to perfect starts in 8-Man and 6-Man, respectively, this fall. The Warriors have tallied 166 points through their first three games, giving up only 22, to land as the unanimous No. 1 in the 8-Man ranks. The Longhorns won the program's first 6-Man title a year ago, 70-27 over Jordan, and are off to a hot start toward defending that championship this fall, winning games 61-6 (Bridger) and 70-0 (Bainville) to open 2019.
The MontanaSports.com high school football power rankings, along with team records, can be found below.
Class AA
1) Billings West, 3-0
2) Butte, 3-0
3) Helena Capital, 3-0
4) Missoula Sentinel, 3-0
5) Helena High, 2-1
Receiving votes: Bozeman (2-1)
Class A
1) Hamilton, 3-0
2) Billings Central, 2-0
3) Frenchtown, 3-0
4) Miles City, 3-0
5) Libby, 3-0
Receiving votes: Laurel (1-1)
Class B
1) Fairfield, 2-0
2) Eureka, 3-0
3) Missoula Loyola, 2-1
4) Manhattan, 2-0
5) Huntley Project, 2-1
Receiving votes: Red Lodge (3-0)
8-Man
1) Fairview, 3-0
2) Shelby, 3-0
3) Alberton-Superior, 3-0
4) Fort Benton, 3-0
5) Great Falls Central Catholic, 3-0
Receiving votes: Drummond-Philipsburg (2-1), West Yellowstone (3-0)
6-Man
1) Wibaux, 2-0
2) Big Sandy, 3-0
T3) Jordan, 2-1
T3) Hot Springs, 3-0
T3) Richey-Lambert, 3-0
