NFL Power Rankings: Week 9

1. Green Bay Packers – Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are unstoppable at this point. Rodgers is the best QB in the NFL in case you wanted to know.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers – After a slow start the Steelers are rolling, and handled the high powered Patriots offense.
3. San Francisco 49ers – Harbaugh has this team believing and they are finding ways to win. Alex Smith has only thrown 2 INT’s and their defense looks as good as any.
4. New England Patriots – Brady and the Pats ran into a hot Steelers team, but they will recover.
5. Baltimore Ravens – Offense didn’t look great, but they got it done when it mattered vs. Arizona. Flacco needs to step up come playoff time.
6. New Orleans Saints – They played down to the Rams after their smashing of the Colts, I expect them to play much better this week looking for revenge against the Bucs.
7. Detroit Lions – They took out their frustration of the 2 game losing streak on Denver and Tebow Time. The offense looked great despite all the injuries at the RB position. MEGATRON, that is all!
8. Buffalo Bills – They continue to find ways to win, even in Canada, with Fitzpatrick circling the wagons. The defense is creating turnovers and keeping them in games.
9. Chicago Bears – Their OL is protecting Cutler much better and Forte is looking like an elite RB.
10. Houston Texans – The Texans have an explosive offense and defense despite key injuries to Super Mario Williams and Andre Johnson.
11. Atlanta Falcons – Have looked good despite a disappointing record. Stuck with GB and beat DET in the Motor City.
12. New York Jets – Big comeback win vs. SD and I expect them to continue to play better led by Mark Sanchize.
13. New York Giants – Had a scare vs. MIA but Eli is playing great and the Giants continue to win.
14. San Diego Chargers – Blew the game vs. NYJ and lost a heart breaker on a muffed snap to KC.
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Their record isn’t good, but they showed me vs. DAL they can play defense. It helps having Vick, McCoy, Jackson, Maclin & Celeck… good luck all opposing defenses.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Got blown out at SF but showed character by coming back to beat NO without Blount or Graham.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals have looked strong on defense and are starting to score points.
18. Kansas City Chiefs – Two huge wins in a row against division rivals, look out AFC West!
19. Dallas Cowboys – Rough game vs. PHI where the defense was clueless and offense did nothing.
20. Oakland Raiders – After Campbell went down they haven’t looked the same. It will help when they get Run DMC back.
21. Tennessee Titans – Hasselbeck is finding ways to win despite CJ2K producing under 3 yards per carry.
22. Minnesota Vikings – Ponder looks good as the Vikings ride “All Day” AP to a victory at CAR.
23. Washington Redskins – Shutout in Canada by the Bills, can John Beck get the job done?
24. Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton has energized this team, but they just aren’t winning games.
25. Cleveland Browns – Their defense is keeping them in games but McCoy has to play much better.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars – Big win against BAL but the Texans brought them back down to earth.
27. St. Louis Rams – HUGE win vs. NO after the Cardinals won the World Series, great week for sports in St. Louis!
28. Seattle Seahawks – Pete Carroll is rumored to be on the hot seat, do I smell suck for L...Barkley?
29. Denver Broncos – Tebow time didn’t work vs. DET, but I expect Tebow to play much better despite not having much talent surrounding him.
30. Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals have good talent, but can’t seem to put 4 quarters together. Could've beat both the Giants and Ravens.

31. Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins came close to beating the Giants but get a rolling KC team next.
32. Indianapolis Colts – I thought Curtis Painter would improve, but I see no evidence of that. I was skeptical of Collins, but something needs to change for this team or they may never see a W.

Servite or Upland?

Servite or Upland? OC or IE? Trinity League or Baseline League? While Anaheim Servite has dominated Southern California over the past two years, Upland has taken a backseat to Inland Empire powerhouse Corona Centennial. 2011 has seen the reemergence of the 2009 CIF Central Division Champion Upland Highlanders and many news outlets rank them as one of the top ten teams in Southern California.

As some of you may know, Servite High School (7-1, 3-0) is considered the best team in Southern California by many, leaving Upland (8-0, 3-0) in the shadows. This wouldn't have been an issue in previous years because the two schools are in different CIF divisions, but the creation of the CIF state bowl system in 2006 increased the importance of these rankings. Ultimately, the team chosen to play in the Open division, the highest of the five playoff divisions, will likely play defending CIF Open Division State Champion Concord De La Salle of Northern California. Last year's championship game was a one-sided victory for the De La Salle Spartans over the Servite Friars by a score of 48-8. Assuming Servite wins the Pac-5 Division and Upland wins the Inland Division, the CIF selection committee will be left with their toughest decision in recent years.

The Highlanders are led by one of the top offensive units in Southern California, led by running back Donta Abron, wide receiver Kenny Lawler, and running back Chrsitain Powell. The Highlanders' offense has averaged 40.9 points per game and an astonishing 246.6 rushing yards per game. On defense, Upland has been impressive, shutting down Etiwanda's prolific passing game and Rancho Cucamonga's dominant running game, reminiscent of their 2009 championship team. After defeating league rival Rancho Cucamonga (7-1, 2-1), Upland's toughest remaining league game comes this friday against Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos (6-2, 3-0). The Highlanders will have a difficult road ahead if they want to claim the Inland Division title, including possible battles with Redlands East Valley (8-0, 3-0) and Corona Centennial (7-1, 5-0), but they have certainly proved they are capable of conquering such tests.

Servite has been strong thus far this season and they are led by their fearless 5'10", three-year starting quarterback Cody Pittman. While Pittman doesn't have the same big threats to throw to as he did last year, he has commanded a physically empowering running game featuring running back Andrew Moore. Moore and Pittman have combined for 690 rushing yards in large part because of the blocking of their dominant front line. Coming off a tough 35-27 victory over Bellflower St. John Bosco, one would be hard-pressed to say the Friars aren't the top team in Southern California. Servite still has their fair share of tests remaining this season, including their famed rivalry game with Santa Ana Mater Dei (3-5, 1-2) and a must-win game for Rancho Santa Margarita Santa Margarita (7-1, 2-1) in the final game of the season. The Pac-5 playoffs will have its usual challenges for the Friars but a third straight CIF championship is in sight for Pittman and the gang.

Although the Pac-5 schools have received most of the media attention over the past few years, the Upland Highlanders' dominant season may shift the spotlight to the Inland Empire by the time CIF Bowl weekend comes around. Both Servite and Upland have dominated their Southern California foes thus far and the battle for the Southern California spot in the Open Division Championship will become a two team race as we near the end of the season.

Welcome!

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