Blue Mountain never had a chance in the second half to win its Week 2 game at Southern Lehigh. It never seriously threatened to score a point.
But, Blue Mountain drove to host Northwestern Lehigh’s 32-yard line midway through the fourth quarter last Friday trailing by only six points.
The Blue Eagles lost both games, but the method in which they lost to the Colonial-Schuylkill League’s two best teams warrants a change, for now, in the latest top 10 rankings.
Southern Lehigh, which beat Blue Mountain 28-0 in Week 2 and is coming off a 20-point win at North Schuylkill, ascends to the No. 1 spot for the first time this season.
Northwestern Lehigh, which beat Blue Mountain 34-28 last Friday, slips one spot to No. 2 but moves on with the confidence knowing this year’s group can respond favorably to adversity and stand up to a challenge.
Southern Lehigh must be sharp again Friday when it hosts Pottsville, a team it needed to rally at home from a three-touchdown deficit to win last year’s District 11 Class 4A playoff game.
Northwestern Lehigh travels to Lehighton, which two weeks ago was only a missed two-point conversion from beating visiting Southern Lehigh (21-20).
Southern Lehigh and Northwestern Lehigh eventually will settle things in Week 10 in New Tripoli. The Tigers won the previous five meetings, including 23-17 last season in Center Valley.
Notre Dame-Green Pond stays put at No. 3, then everyone else in the rankings shuffles around. North Schuylkill drops two spots to No. 6 after its second consecutive loss.
Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven each move up a spot one week away from their showdown.
Blue Mountain moves up two spots to No. 7. Palisades, despite an impressive win over Northern Lehigh, slides one to No. 8.
Minersville moves up one to No. 9 after losing a 43-40 thriller to Williams Valley. Northern Lehigh slips one to No. 10.
Colonial-Schuylkill League football top 10
Ranking. Team (2025 record; last week): Of note
1. Southern Lehigh (4-0; 2): A convincing win on the road against a foe no one wants to play in the postseason.
2. Northwestern Lehigh (4-0; 1): Survived its first shaky performance with defense when it needed it against Blue Mountain.
3. Notre Dame-GP (4-0; 3): QB Matt Bodnar is 152 passing yards shy of 1,000 this season.
4. Williams Valley (4-0; 5): Trevon Bair leads the team with 42 tackles, including three sacks.
5. Schuylkill Haven (4-0; 6): Have 29 offensive TDs in first four weeks.
6. North Schuylkill (2-2; 4): Losses are to the teams ranked Nos. 2 and 3.
7. Blue Mountain (1-3; 9): Losses are to the teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2.
8. Palisades (4-0; 7): Ashton Fitzgerald rushed for 77 yards in his return from injury.
9. Minersville (3-1; 10): Scored 40 points against a team that didn’t allow a point in the first three games.
10. Northern Lehigh (2-2; 8): Have won seven of last nine meetings with Friday’s foe: Palmerton.
Dropped out: None
Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Catasauqua (3-1); Jim Thorpe (2-2); Lehighton (2-2); Marian Catholic (4-0); Nativity BVM (2-2); Palmerton (1-3); Pen Argyl (3-1); Pottsville (2-2); Salisbury (2-2); Tri-Valley (3-1)
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
