The Day's Top 10 H.S. football coaches' poll

First-place votes in parentheses, record through Saturday, points tabulated on a 30-28- 26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis and last week's ranking:

1. Staples-Wstprt (13) 11-0 390 1

KNOW THIS: The Wreckers need to be iron men - they will have played No. 6 Bridgeport Central (Nov. 20), Greenwich (Thanksgiving Day) and No. 2 Xavier of Middletown (today) in 11 days. Yeesh. NEXT: vs. Xavier at Wilton in Class LL semifinals, today 6:30 p.m.

2. Xavier-Middletown 9-1 312 3

KNOW THIS: If nothing locally interests you, then Wilton High is about 70 miles away. Come on, it's not that far. Connecticut is a small state. NEXT: vs. Staples at Wilton in Class LL semifinals, today 6:30 p.m.

3. Pomperaug-Sthbry 11-0 308 2

KNOW THIS: If you're headed to Wilton, you couldn't go wrong taking a detour northwest towards Southbury. NEXT: vs. Simsbury in Class L semifinals, today 6:30 p.m.

T4. New London 10-0 290 4

KNOW THIS: The Whalers have been getting a crash course the last four days in defending the triple option. Remember - assignment football. NEXT: vs. Bethel in Class M semifinals, today 6:30 p.m.

T4. Notre Dame-W.H. 9-1 290 5

KNOW THIS: The Green Knights caught a break when Masuk lost, thus giving them a chance at making states. NEXT: at Conard-West Hartford in Class L semifinals, today 6:30 p.m.

6. Bridgeport Central 9-2 215 6

KNOW THIS: The Hilltoppers are the best team not to make the state playoffs - they finished the regular season playing as well as any of the state's top teams. NEXT: Season over.

7. Conard-W. Hartford 10-0 209 8

KNOW THIS: The phrase "Jonathan Esposito with the carry" will be annouced 40 times over the p.a. tonight. Maybe more. NEXT: vs. Notre Dame-W.H. in Class L semifinals, today 6:30 p.m.

8. Simsbury 9-1 208 9

KNOW THIS: If you dislike the forward pass, then Simsbury vs. Pomperaug is the game for you. NEXT: at Pomperaug in Class L semifinals, today 6:30 p.m.

9. New Canaan 9-1 200 7

KNOW THIS: The Rams are looking to four-peat in MM. NEXT: vs. St. Paul/Goodwin Tech in Class MM semifinals, today 6:30 p.m.

10. Cheshire 9-1 192 NR

KNOW THIS: The Rams get their rematch with Glastonbury after losing to it in last December's LL final. NEXT: at Glastonbury in Class LL semifinals, today 6:30 p.m.

Dropped out: Glastonbury (T10), Masuk-Monroe (T10).

Also receiving votes: Glastonbury (9-1), 165; Montville (9-1), 89; Avon (10-0), 77; Greenwich (7-3), 73; East Lyme (9-1), 49; Bloomfield (9-1), 48; Ridgefield (9-1), 36; Tie, Masuk-Monroe (9-2) and St. Joseph-Trumbull (8-2), 34; Northwest Catholic-West Hartford (9-1), 25; Holy Cross-Waterbury (9-1), 24; Hamden (7-3), 16; Ansonia (8-2), 14; Hyde-New Haven (9-1), 10; Vinal Tech/Coginchaug (9-1), 7.

The following coaches voted: Scott Benoit, Hamden; Tom Brockett, Ansonia; Jim Buonocore, Ledyard; Dave Cadelina, Bridgeport Central; Chuck Drury, Pomperaug-Southbury; Steve Filippone, Hand-Madison; Tanner Grove, Montville; Jude Kelly, St. Paul-Bristol; Tim King, Valley Regional-Deep River; Bill Mella, Southington; John Murphy, Masuk-Monroe; Marce Petroccio, Staples-Westport; Bob Zito, Maloney-Meriden.