The CIF Southern Section released its first 8-Man Football rankings of the 2011 season Tuesday and defending champion is No. 2 in the Division 1 poll behind Victorville Excelsior, the team that lost to Windward in overtime in the championship game last fall.
Windward, which plays in the Heritage League, is followed in the poll by Bloomington Christian, a 45-0 victor over Hesperia Christian last Saturday. At No. 4 is Faith Baptist of Canoga Park, a 34-8 loser Friday to Excelsior. Public Safety Academy, which won its opener over Desert Christian Academy on Friday is at No. 5.
Rounding out the Top 10 are No. 6 Rolling Hills Prep (0-0), No. 7 Avalon (0-0), No. 8 Thacher (0-0), No. 9 Lancaster Baptist, which crushed Big Pine 66-20 in its opener last Friday, and No. 10 Cate (0-0).
Joshua Springs is No. 1 in the initial 8-Man Division 2 poll, followed by California Lutheran, Cuyama Valley, Trona, Liberty Christian, Hope Centre Academy, Maricopa, Trinity Classical Academy, Hesperia Christian and North County Christian.
Polls will be updated every week throughout the regular season.
Windward, coached by , opens its season at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Brentwood, an 11-man squad that blanked the Wildcats 22-0 last season.
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