High school football Top of the Crop for Sept. 5

Sep. 4—TOP OF THE CROP

Football

1 (1): Chardon 3-0

2 (2): Mentor 2-1

3 (3): Riverside 2-1

4 (4): Kirtland 3-0

5 (5): Benedictine 0-3

6 (7): VASJ 2-1

7 (6): Mayfield 2-1

8 (8): Perry 2-1

9 (10) Kenston 2-1

10 (8) Gilmour 3-0

Watch list: NDCL 1-2, South 1-2, University 2-1, Hawken 2-1

Crop comments: Look at Chardon's ledger — dominated a scrimmage with Mentor, then beat Olmsted Falls, Camden (N.J.) and First Baptist Academy (Fla.) to start the season. The Hilltoppers are the unquestioned No. 1. But the No. 3 Riverside Beavers will have something to say about that this week. ... Mentor got past Riverside, 7-6, so the Cardinals hold on to the No. 2 slot ahead of the Beavers. What a game that was. ... Kirtland stays at No. 4 with a dominating four-game stretch. ... This is where it gets tough. Benedictine is 0-3, but has played arguably the area's toughest schedule against Walsh Jesuit, Toledo Central Catholic and Cleveland Heights. Tough to ding the Bengals too hard here. ... VASJ has outscored its last two foes, 99-0, after losing its opener. Undefeated Wheeling Park comes to town this week. ... Mayfield got beat by a very good Nordonia team, so it slips just one spot to No. 7. A win against Akron Garfield is important this week for the Wildcats, because after that comes Chardon and Riverside. ... Perry has scored 97 points in the past two weeks. That Week 1 loss to Riverside shows how good the Beavers are. Perry stays at No. 8 this week. ... Kenston checks in at No. 9 after a key win over NDCL. The defense came up big to top the Lions. .. Gilmour is 3-0, but drops a slot — unfair, we know — just based on early strength of schedule of teams ahead of them. But that Lancers' offense with the Kavcic twins and Tommy McCrone is scary good. ... On the doorstep of the Crop Top 10 are Hawken, University, South and NDCL.