The level of respect the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference is receiving from voters in The Day's state coaches’ poll is pretty wild.

Half of the top 10 teams are from the FCIAC — top-ranked Darien, No. 5 New Canaan, No. 8 St. Joseph, No. 9 Greenwich and No. 10 Ridgefield. Staples also received votes.

Those six face off in Week 6 this weekend, making Fairfield County the place to be for high school football.

Darien (4-0) plays at Staples (3-1) on Friday night. The Wreckers lost their first game last weekend to Ridgefield, 24-20.

The FCIAC gives fans a double-shot on Saturday afternoon. It starts with Ridgefield (3-1) at St. Joseph (3-1) at 1:30. New Canaan (3-1) at Greenwich (3-0) follows at 4 p.m.

Lest anyone think that the coaches’ poll is rigged in the FCIAC’s favor, it has two voters, the same as every other league except the Pequot (one) and Connecticut Technical Conference (none).

The FCIAC has earned its bones on the field. It has the best playoff record the past four seasons (31-9) with Darien, New Canaan and St. Joseph combining to win eight of the 20 state titles handled out during that time.

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.

West Haven was the only upward mover among top 10 teams this week as it moved out of a fifth-place tie with New Canaan and leapfrogged Windsor at No. 4. The Westies manhandled then No. 10 Cheshire las t Friday, 27-0.

Unbeaten Fitch (4-0) is the lone area team receiving votes. Killingly is the only other Eastern Connecticut Conference team getting points.

THE DAY OF NEW LONDON TOP 10 STATE 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. Darien (13) 4-0 390 1

2. Southington 5-0 332 2

3. Ansonia 5-0 304 3

4. West Haven 5-0 295 T5

5. Windsor 5-0 271 4

6. New Canaan 3-1 258 T5

7. Masuk 4-0 239 7

8. St. Joseph 3-1 228 8

9. Greenwich 3-0 198 9

10. Ridgefield 3-1 158 NR

Dropped out: Cheshire (10).

Also receiving votes: Middletown (5-0), 145 points; Shelton (4-1), 121; Rocky Hill (5-0), 78; Tie, Hand (4-1) and South Windsor (5-0), 71; Killingly (4-0), 42; Naugatuck (5-0), 35; Staples (3-1), 26; Cheshire (3-2), 20; Fitch (4-0), 19; Tie, Cromwell/Portland (5-0) and North Haven (3-2), 7.

The following coaches voted: Rich Angarano, Brookfield; Tom Brockett, Ansonia; Scott Daniels, Glastonbury; Joe DellaVecchia, St. Joseph; Mike Ellis, Fitch; Rob Fleeting, Windsor; Tanner Grove, Montville; Andy Guyon, Xavier; Tim King, Valley Regional/Old Lyme; Joe Lato, Masuk; Tom Lennon, Seymour; Marce Petroccio, Staples; Jeff Roy, Shelton.