Section II football power rankings heading into Week 8

PHOTOGRAPHER: Stan Hudy

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake coach Matt Shell talks to Spartans quarterback Tyler Manning during a timeout versus Troy in Section II Class A football action at Centennial Field at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School on Sept. 17.

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Week 8 high school football action starts Thursday night.

Before that, The Daily Gazette is rolling out its final ranking of the top teams in each Section II classification for the 2021 fall season.

Rankings were voted on by a panel of Daily Gazette sports editor Michael Kelly, staff writers Stan Hudy, Adam Shinder and Paul Wager, and contributors Jim Schiltz and Will Springstead.

CLASS AA

No. 1 Shaker (7-0) is one win away from bringing a perfect record into the Section II Class AA playoffs. No. 2 Shenendehowa (6-1) only lost this season to the Blue Bison, and are able to secure a home semifinal game with a win this week. No. 3 Guilderland (5-2) is coming off a big win against No. 4 CBA (6-2), which hosts Shenendehowa this week in the top game in this classification. No. 5 Saratoga Springs (2-5) is the club that stands in the way of Shaker’s undefeated regular season.

This week: Shaker, Shenendehowa, Guilderland, CBA, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady (also receiving votes)

Last week: Shaker, CBA, Shenendehowa, Guilderland, Saratoga Springs

CLASS A

No. 1 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (6-1) has already secured the Grasso Division title. No. 2 Averill Park (6-2), No. 3 Amsterdam (5-1) and No. 4 La Salle (5-3) appear to be headed toward a series of tiebreakers to decide the Capital Division champion and runner-up. No. 5 Niskayuna (5-3) needs a win this weekend at Queensbury to clinch its postseason spot.

This week: Burnt Hills, Averill Park, Amsterdam, La Salle, Niskayuna, Queensbury (ARV)

Last week: Burnt Hills, Amsterdam, Averill Park, La Salle, Niskayuna

CLASS B

No. 1 Glens Falls (6-1) and No. 2 Schalmont (6-1) are set as this classification’s top seeds, but both play interesting Week 8 games. Glens Falls hosts No. 3 Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (6-1) in a preview of their Week 9 semifinal against each other, while Schalmont plays Rotterdam rival Mohonasen. No. 4 Gloversville (5-3) has already clinched its postseason spot after it defeated No. 5 Hudson Falls (3-4) last week.

This week: Glens Falls, Schalmont, Ravena, Gloversville, Hudson Falls

Last week: Glens Falls, Schalmont, Ravena, Gloversville, Hudson Falls, Mohonasen (also receiving votes)

CLASS C

No. 1 Schuylerville (9-0) opens its playoff run against Taconic Hills, while No. 2 Hoosick Falls/Tamarac (6-1) takes on Hudson. No. 3 Watervliet (7-1) won the South Division after ending its regular season on a seven-game winning streak, while No. 4 Voorheesville (6-1) won its final six games after a season-opening loss to Watervliet. No. 5 Fonda-Fultonville (5-3) is a dangerous fourth seed in the playoffs, and takes on top-seeded Watervliet in the quarterfinals.

This week: Schuylerville, Hoosick Falls/Tamarac, Watervliet, Voorheesville, Fonda-Fultonville, Hudson (ARV), Cobleskill (ARV)

Last week: Schuylerville, Hoosick Falls/Tamarac, Watervliet, Fonda, Hudson (ARV)

CLASS D

A Week 10 clash for the championship between No. 1 Greenwich (7-0) and No. 2 Stillwater (5-1) seems likely, but No. 3 Warrensburg/North Warren/Bolton (6-2) could have something to say about that when it takes on Stillwater next week. No. 4 Cambridge/Salem (5-3) will miss out on the playoffs, while No. 5 Chatham (3-3) already knows it’s playing Greenwich in the Week 9 semifinals.

This week: Greenwich, Stillwater, Warrensburg/North Warren/Bolton, Cambridge/Salem, Chatham

Last week: Greenwich, Stillwater, Warrensburg/North Warren/Bolton, Cambridge/Salem, Chatham