Falcons fourth in opening state football poll

Pre season polls...the bane of all coaches on every level in every sport. The first high school state football polls are out from the Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. At this point...these polls are about worth the paper they are written on...or the webspace they take up. Most of the 15 writers who are doing the voting can only really go on last year's performance and the reputation of the team they are choosing...and that's okay. We'll know a lot more after week one.

I know that Coach Walker sure wouldn't put the Falcons fourth in state after the jamboree. Anyway, here's a look at where they'll start in the polls this year!

Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 15-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. 2014: final record last year:

CLASS 6 Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts. 1. CBC (9), 13-0, 144 2. Rockhurst (6), 12-2, 140 3. Francis Howell, 11-1, 113 4. Kirkwood, 11-2, 94 5. Raymore-Peculiar, 8-3, 86 6. Jefferson City, 8-4, 77 7. Hazelwood Central, 11-1, 45 8. Blue Springs South, 5-6, 37 9. SLUH, 7-3, 24 10. Lee’s Summit West, 6-4, 23 Also receiving votes: Eureka (8-2), 12; Lafayette (6-6), 10; Blue Springs (8-4), 8; Rock Bridge (4-6), 7; Kickapoo (7-4), 5

CLASS 5 Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts 1. Fort Osage (5), 11-1, 132 2. Park Hill (5), 12-1, 125 3. Battle (4), 11-4, 116 4. Fort Zumwalt North, 10-2, 110 5. Staley (1), 8-3, 74 6. Nixa, 10-5, 59 7. Ladue, 12-2, 44 8. McCluer North, 7-4, 44 9. Carthage, 8-4, 35 10. Liberty North, 8-4, 31 Also receiving votes: Willard (9-2), 19; Chaminade (6-4), 13; Pattonville (7-4), 12; Webster Groves (7-3), 8; Jackson (10-2) 2, 27; Camdenton (8-3), 1

CLASS 4 Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts 1. Webb City (15), 15-0, 150 2. Carl Junction, 11-1, 123 3. Westminster, 11-2, 107 4. Cape Central, 12-3, 106 5. Kearney, 12-2, 84 6. Helias, 11-2, 65 7. Affton, 12-1, 61 8. Harrisonville, 11-2, 39 9. Platte County, 9-2, 31 10. West Plains, 8-3, 19 Also receiving votes: Bolivar (7-4), 14; Hannibal (8-3), 10; Hillsboro (9-3), 9; Grain Valley (5-6), 3; Smithville (9-3) 2, 16; Mexico (9-3), 1; Sullivan (5-5), 1

CLASS 3 Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts

1. Oak Grove (13), 13-2, 148 2. John Burroughs (2), 13-2, 132 3. Maryville, 12-1, 122 4. Blair Oaks, 9-3, 92 5. Mountain Grove, 11-2, 82 6. Park Hills Central, 12-1, 68 7. California, 13-1, 52 8. Bishop DuBourg, 7-5, 35 9. Reeds Spring, 10-2, 33 10. Monett, 11-3, 29 Also receiving votes: Ava (9-2), 14; Hogan Prep Academy (10-1), 11; Eldon (3-7), 2; McCluer South (5-6), 2; Osage (10-3), 2; Orchard Farm (10-3), 1

CLASS 2 Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts 1. Lamar (15), 14-1, 150 2. East Buchanan, 12-1, 109 3. Palmyra, 9-5, 104 4. Strafford, 12-1, 94 5. Brookfield, 11-1, 87 6. Lafayette County, 11-1, 86 7. South Callaway, 14-1, 57 8. Hermann, 9-3, 46 9. Malden, 13-1, 43 10. Mt. View-Liberty, 10-2, 26 Also receiving votes: Cardinal Ritter (6-7), 12; Tolton Catholic (8-2), 7; East Prairie (7-4), 3; Lutheran North (11-2), 1

CLASS 1 Rank, team, 2014 Rec., Pts 1. Valle Catholic (15), 15-0, 150 2. Westran, 14-1, 132 3. Marceline, 9-3, 116 4. Marionville, 9-4, 81 5. Skyline, 10-4, 73 6. South Shelby, 10-3, 59 7. Cass-Midway, 12-1, 56 8. Hamilton-Penney, 11-3, 54 9. West Platte, 8-4, 49 10. Osceola, 10-2, 14 Also receiving votes: Wellington-Napoleon (7-4), 13; Lockwood (8-2), 12; Knox County (7-4), 8; Milan (11-1), 6; Crest Ridge (8-3), 2