There were over six minutes left in the first quarter, Greenwich had run just 12 plays, and it already had a 21-point lead over New Canaan last Saturday.

The Cardinals got everyone’s attention quickly before a packed house at New Canaan’s Dunning Stadium. They also got the attention of voters in The Day's Top 10 state coaches’ football poll this week.

Three-time defending CIAC Class LL champion Darien (5-0) is still number one, but it lost two first-place votes to second-ranked Greenwich (4-0). The Blue Wave have nine first-place votes, and the Cardinals have the other four.

The two FCIAC powers don’t play in the regular season. They could meet in the LL playoffs, as they did in last year’s state final. Darien won, 31-22.

New Canaan (3-2), which was ranked sixth, dropped out of the Top 10. That’s a rarity, especially this millennium when it’s won 10 of their 12 state titles.

The Rams’ fall made room for Southington (5-0) to move up to No. 9. The Blue Knights scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns as they rallied from 11-point deficit to beat New Britain in a thriller last Friday, 27-24.

Quarterback Tahje Yopp scrambled for a 15-yard touchdown that gave the Hurricanes a 24-21 lead with one minute, 34 seconds remaining.

It was more than enough time for Southington. The Blue Knights started their final drive at their own 20-yard line and needed just six plays and less than a minute to score. Tanner LaRosa ran for a go-ahead 4-yard touchdown with 36 seconds left.

No Eastern Connecticut Conference teams received a vote this week. Killingly (3-1) previously received votes each week.

n.griffen@theday.com