It was a given that The Day's Top 10 state coaches' poll this week would be greatly affected after two games involving unbeaten teams last week — Ansonia vs. Newtown, and Southington vs. Hall.

Those two games didn't just shake up the poll — they puréed it.

Southington is the new top-ranked team despite receiving one less first-place vote than former No. 1 New Canaan. Moreover, New Canaan didn't lose last weekend — the Rams didn't even play (they were on a bye).

The Blue Knights (5-0) received six first-place votes to New Canaan's seven. No other team received a first-place vote.

Southington passed the Rams for a few reasons. The first was that it inherited the two first-place votes formerly held by Ansonia, which was beaten by Newtown, 14-8.

The second reason was that the Blue Knights were ranked first or second on all 13 ballots.

New Canaan (6-0) was rated second on three ballots, third on two ballots, and fourth on another.

So although Southington impressed by hammering then unbeaten Hall last Friday, 48-0, it didn't take away any first-places votes from the Rams.

It's quite possible that this won't be the last shift at No. 1. The Blue Knights play No. 6 Cheshire on Thanksgiving. New Canaan plays No. 9 St. Joseph next Saturday, and plays at No. 3 Darien on Thanksgiving.

Newtown (6-0) moved up two spots to No. 5 for beating the Chargers and snapping their 48-game winning streak.

Ansonia surprisingly dropped out of the Top 10 despite being ranked on every ballot.

Ansonia was replaced by Brookfield (6-0), which debuted at No. 10 and plays at Newtown on Friday night.

Ledyard (6-0) holds on at No. 8. Valley Regional/Old Lyme (6-0) and New London (5-1) were the only other local teams receiving votes.

Ledyard hits the road for a game at Killingly on Friday, New London is home to Fitch in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Large Division and Valley/OL plays one of the most important games of the weekend when it visits unbeaten Coginchaug (6-0) on Saturday with first place on the line in the Pequot Sassacus.

- Ned Griffen