Getting crowded at top

For the third week in a row, Freeman and Lind-Ritzville/ Sprague top the NWPrepsnow Power Rankings.

Only this time, there’s no clear No. 1.

The Scotties (6-0) and Broncos (5-0) garnered two first-place votes each and totaled 33 overall points after winning their sixth and fifth games, respectively.

“In a battle of Northeast A league frontrunners, the Scotties proved they are the class of the league right now,” SWX producer Neil Stover said of Freeman after its dominant 50-16 win over Lakeside (4-2).

As for LRS, Stover said, “The Broncos are as steady as teams come right now and very well may repeat as state champs.”

Flip-flopping at No. 3 and No. 4 are Ferris and Shadle Park. Spokesman-Review preps writer Greg Lee was impressed enough by the Saxons’ 24-14 win over Mt. Spokane to give them his first-place vote.

Lee noted that Shadle Park, which topped Mead 33-7, “might be as good as Ferris,” and he expects the Highlanders to make a deep playoff run.

Ferris might climb its way up the rankings thanks to a soft late-season schedule, according to SWX sports director Sam Adams. But don’t overlook Shadle Park: “Only one team (Ferris) has figured out how to slow down Shadle’s aerial assault,” Adams said. “With games against North Central, Central Valley and Lewis and Clark to close out the regular season, the Highlanders are on track to grab the all-important No. 1 seed in 3A out of the Greater Spokane League.

“Brett Rypien might just break a few more records along the way.”

SWX analyst Bill Ames kept Coeur d’Alene atop his list after an idle week from the Vikings. “Nobody impressed me so much this week that led me to change my top ranking,” Ames said.

Gonzaga Prep eked into the top-6 once again after pummeling NC 49-14 Thursday night. The Bullpups are 5-1 with wins over Mead and Ferris.

“Right now they have the clearest path to the No. 1 GSL 4A seed,” Ames said. “The final regular season game against CV is setting up to be the game of the year.”