Top-10 taking shape in Dirty 30 Rankings

It is the time of the year when the cream of the crop starts rising to the top of the Dirty 30 Rankings, and with half of the regular season in the books it is wide open for the 2016 national title. A new team has emerged in the top-10 with a 5-0 start.

With half the season behind us, some of the resumes look more impressive than others. Not much happened in the top-10 this week as most teams held serve. However, Fullerton College cracked the top third of the rankings with yet another impressive win.

Fullerton manhandled Moorpark College 62-6, sending the rest of the programs in Southern California a message. The Hornets had a 62-0 lead late in the third quarter and have scored an average of 52.8 points-per-game for the year. Fullerton climbed three more spots in the rankings to No. 9 this week. Like most of the teams in California, they have the week off before jumping into league play.

Garden City was another making a statement. The Broncbusters made a complete mess of a once proud Butler program, beating the Grizzlies 43-0. With the win, they are now 5-0 and look to be in control of the Jayhawk for the time being. Garden City moved up to No. 8 with the win and have a big road test this week at No. 29 Coffeyville with two more road games on deck.

Santa Rosa appears to be the team to beat in Northern California. The Bear Cubs clobbered Sierra 44-0 and stand alone as the only undefeated upper-tier team in the north. Santa Rosa’s defense has surrendered just 57 points all season and the Bear Cubs have played a challenging schedule. Santa Rosa jumped one spot to No. 7 in the rankings and has a bye before entering league play against the likes of No. 13 Diablo Valley, No. 33 San Francisco and No. 51 San Mateo.

The Southwest JCFC took more turns this week when Blinn beat Tyler (52-35), Trinity Valley edged New Mexico Military (45-41) and Kilgore stunned NEO (31-22). What it gives us is a scenario where one of any six programs could win the conference, with no clear leader. For the time being, Trinity Valley is the highest ranked program at No. 16 with four more of those teams appearing in the top-30.

The Minnesota ranks seem to be a boat race with Central Lakes leaving the rest in their wake. The Raiders come in at No. 46 this week but the competition isn’t going to do them any favors. Central Lakes finishes Vermilion and Northland before the MCAC playoffs begin.

The Northeast Region has nobody that can play with No. 4 Lackawanna and despite Monroe’s 3-0 record against affiliated programs it doesn’t appear as if they will be able to hang with the Falcons on October 15. Lackawanna should be able to slap around ASA-New York this week and needs to make a big impression later in the season when they hook up with Georgia Military in the final week.

#2 East Mississippi at #12 Holmes (Th)
#39 Snow at #6 Arizona Western
#8 Garden City at #29 Coffeyville
#14 Highland at #52 Butler
#15 Itawamba at #34 Northeast Mississippi (Th)
#35 Iowa Western at #19 Dodge City
#36 Kilgore at #20 New Mexico Military
#26 Tyler at #22 Navarro
#30 Phoenix at #31 Mesa

The rest of the Dirty 30 Rankings follow. Just a reminder, the JCGridiron.com Dirty 30 Rankings do not recognize games against Club Teams or Prep Schools.