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 year's final ranking:

1. Xavier-Mddltown (7) 4-0 378 1

KNOW THIS: Falcons allowed 126 yards in last Thursday's 49-7 win over Amity of Woodbridge. NEXT: at Fairfield Prep, Friday, 6 p.m.

2. Masuk-Monroe (6) 4-0 370 2

KNOW THIS: Casey Cochran was 13 of 17 for 300 yards with four touchdowns and an interception and ran for a touchdown in last Friday's 55-12 win over Barlow of Redding. NEXT: Notre Dame-Fairfield, Friday, 7 p.m.

3. Ansonia 4-0 320 3

KNOW THIS: Holy Cross of Waterbury scored first in last Friday's game at the Chargers. Ansonia responded by scoring seven straight touchdowns in a 45-13 win. NEXT: at Seymour, Thursday, 6 p.m.

4. Hand-Madison 4-0 306 4

KNOW THIS: The Tigers had last weekend's most impressive win, 31-14 over then No. 10 Cheshire. Hand's first-team defense allowed just one touchdown. NEXT: Notre Dame-West Haven, Friday, 7 p.m.

5. New Canaan 4-0 272 5

KNOW THIS: Another week, another fourth-quarter rally by the Rams. They scored 15 straight fourth-quarter points last Thursday, including the game-winner with 35 seconds left, to edge McMahon of Norwalk, 36-33. NEXT: at Norwalk, Friday, 7 p.m.

6. Windsor 4-0 252 7

KNOW THIS: Hartford Public was unbeaten prior to last Friday. Then the Warriors pummeled the Owls, 46-0. NEXT: at Simsbury, Friday, 7 p.m.

7. New London 3-0 242 6

KNOW THIS: The Whalers lost the No. 1 vote they received last week. No biggie - they'll have ample chance to prove whether they are or aren't No. 1 if they make the CIAC playoffs again because Class L is again the state's most loaded division. NEXT: East Lyme, Friday, 6:30 p.m.

8. Staples-Westport 3-0 189 8

KNOW THIS: Wreckers return from a bye week against a Hatters' team with good speed and talent. NEXT: Danbury, Saturday, 2 p.m.

9. Bunnell-Stratford 4-0 149 9

KNOW THIS: The Bulldogs play host to Pomperaug in this week's biggest game. NEXT: Pomperaug-Southbury, Friday, 7 p.m.

10. North Haven 4-0 115 NR

KNOW THIS: The Indians make their season debut. They're also one of seven Class L teams ranked in the Top 10. NEXT: East Haven, Friday, 7 p.m.

Dropped out: Cheshire (10).

Also receiving votes: Pomperaug-Southbury (4-0), 105 points; Conard-West Hartford (4-0), 96; Darien (4-0), 85; Notre Dame-West Haven (3-1), 62; Tie, Berlin (4-0) and Bloomfield (4-0), 58; Montville (4-0), 55; Cheshire (2-2), 32; Middletown (4-0), 30; Naugatuck (4-0), 27; Norwich Free Academy (3-0), 25; Greenwich (3-1), 21; Cromwell (4-0), 19; Norwalk (4-0), 17; Tie, Trumbull (2-1) and West Haven (3-1), 9; Tie, Hillhouse-New Haven (2-2) and Northwest Catholic-West Hartford (3-1), 7.

The following coaches voted: Tom Brockett, Ansonia; Jim Buonocore, Ledyard; Craig Bruno, Bunnell-Stratford; Dave Cadelina, Bridgeport Central; Steve Filippone, Hand-Madison; Rob Fleeting, Windsor; Tanner Grove, Montville; Jude Kelly, St. Paul-Bristol; Tim King, Valley Regional-Deep River; Sean Marinan, Xavier-Middletown; John Murphy, Masuk-Monroe; Marce Petroccio, Staples-Westport; Bob Zito, Maloney-Meriden.

Note: Go to www.theday.com to read Ned Griffen's state high school football notebook.