Prep Football: Devils leave no doubt

After Murphysboro soundly thumped Herrin two weeks ago and Marion was upended by unbeaten and state ranked Belleville Althoff last week, the Red Devils were a unanimous choice for the top spot in this week's Daily Register Southern Illinois Super 10 prep football poll.

Murphy is 6-0, including a 3-0 clip in the Southern Illinois River-to-River Ohio Division and has clinched back-to-back playoff berths for the first time since 1995 and 1996.

The Red Devils visit Harrisburg, No. 6 in the poll, Friday night on Homecoming for the Bulldogs and coach Al Way, who has lost just one Homecoming game in his 22-year career -to Murphysboro -in 1995.

Marion, No. 2 in the poll, will host Centralia, who moved up two spots to No. 4 this week in another key South Seven game.

Herrin, who moved up one spot, will host West Frankfort, while Chester, who stayed pat at No. 5 will be at Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton Saturday.

Nashville, after their collapse against Carterville last week, plummeted four spots to No. 7 this week and will play host to Pinckneyville, while Eldorado, No. 8, will host Fairfield.

Eldorado, is one of four teams that are still unbeaten, joining Chester, Murphysboro and Belleville Althoff.

Sparta, the surprise team this year, holds steady at No. 9 and will travel to Carterville as the Lions pulled off the upset of Nashville last week.

For their efforts, Carterville garnered enough points to enter this week's poll at No. 10.

SI SUPER 10 PREP FOOTBALL POLL

By The Daily Register

The Top 10 teams in The Daily Register/Gatehouse News Service prep football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through October 8. Total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote, and previous ranking:

Record Pts Pv

1. Murphysboro (10) 6-0 100 1

2. Marion 4-2 87 2

3. Herrin 5-1 76 4

4. Centralia 5-1 66 6

5. Chester 6-0 56 5

6. Harrisburg 5-1 50 6

7. Nashville 5-1 42 3

8. Eldorado 6-0 37 8

9. Sparta 5-1 23 9

10. Carterville 3-3 6 NR

Others receiving votes: Johnston City 5, Du Quoin 1, Fairfield 1.