Stevens Point enters AP football poll

WAUSAU - Stevens Point Area Senior High, off to its best start in four years, moved into the Associated Press state high school football poll this week.

The Panthers (3-0) are ranked No. 9 in the Large Division of the state poll after receiving votes the past two weeks. SPASH is coming off a 45-14 win over Fond du Lac last Friday.

SPASH, which is averaging 39.3 points per game this fall, is tied for first place in the Valley Football Association with Oshkosh North and Wisconsin Rapids. SPASH travels to Oshkosh North this week for a conference showdown.

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The Panthers are one of three local programs to be ranked in the state poll.

Amherst (2-1) moved up a spot to No. 6 in the Medium Division after a shutout win over Shiocton.

Edgar (3-0) remained No. 3 in the Small Division for a third straight week. The Wildcats host Stratford in a Marawood Conference showdown Friday. Stratford (2-1) received votes in the Small Division, as did Iola-Scandinavia (3-0), Abbotsford (3-0) and Loyal (3-0)

Spencer/Columbus Catholic (2-1) fell out of the poll but received votes in the Medium Division after falling to Stanley-Boyd last Friday at home.

St. Mary's Springs and Kimberly were unanimous top-ranked teams in the Small and Large Divisions, respectively.

Green Bay Notre Dame received eight first-place votes and was the top-ranked team in the Medium Division.

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11

Here is The Associated Press high school football poll. The poll includes first-place votes in parentheses, season record, total points and last week<s ranking, as voted upon by a statewide panel of sports writers. teams are arranged in three divisions equal size based on current enrollments< p>

LARGE DIVISION

1. Kimberly (11) 3-0, 110, 1. 2. Menasha 3-0, 91, 2. 3. Middleton 3-0, 76, 3. 4. Waunakee 3-0, 72, 4. 5. Appleton North 3-0, 70, 5. 6. Hudson 3-0, 62, 6. 7. Brookfield Central 3-0, 37, 10. 8. Mequon Homestead 2-1, 34, 9. 9. SPASH 3-0, 16, NR. 10. Oconomowoc 3-0, 10, NR. 

Others receiving votes: 11, Verona Area 8. 12, Waukesha North 7. 13, Sun Prairie 4. 14, Neenah 2. 14, Waukesha West 2. 14, Bay Port 2. 17, Muskego 1. 17, Superior 1.

MEDIUM DIVISION

1. Green Bay Notre Dame (8) 3-0, 107, 1. 2. Waukesha Catholic Memorial (2) 3-0, 100, 2. 3. Osceola 3-0, 84, T3. 4. Freedom (1) 3-0, 75, T3. 5. Pewaukee 3-0, 50, 6. 6. Amherst 2-1, 48, 7. 7. Columbus 3-0, 41, 8. 8. Lodi 3-0, 33, 10. 9. Little Chute 3-0, 30, 9. 10. West De Pere 3-0, 11, NR. 

Others receiving votes: 11, Mount Horeb-Barneveld 7. 11, Luxemburg-Casco 7. 13, Spencer-Marshfield Columbus 6. 14, Kewaskum 3. 15, Monroe 1. 15, Southern Door 1. 15, Waupun 1.

SMALL DIVISION 

1. Fond du Lac Springs (11), 3-0, 110, 1. 2. Darlington 3-0, 87, 2. 3. Edgar 3-0, 86, 3. 4. Bangor 3-0, 73, 4. 5. Lake Country Lutheran 3-0, 60, 5. 6. Eau Claire Regis 3-0, 46, 7. 7. Alma-Pepin 3-0, 40, 6. 8. Stanley-Boyd 2-1, 30, 10. 9. Coleman 3-0, 22, 9. 10. Fond du Lac Winnebago Lutheran 3-0, 12, NR.

Others receiving votes: 11, Pecatonica-Argyle 8. 12, Spring Valley 7. 13, Ozaukee 6. 13, Hurley 6. 15, Iola-Scandinavia 3. 16, Hilbert/Stockbridge 2. 16, Abbotsford 2. 16, Stratford 2. 19, Dodgeland 1. 19, Loyal 1. 19, Glenwood City 1.