N&O football rankings: West Johnston, Lee County enter Top 15

The top four teams still are the same in The News & Observer greater Triangle high school football rankings, but the bottom spots continue to be a revolving door.

After trying some combination of Knightdale, Panther Creek, East Wake, Rolesville, Heritage, Person and Southeast Raleigh over the past six weeks, it’s Lee County (back after three weeks) and West Johnston that fill into the final spots of the Top 15.

West Johnston’s arrival means six Greater Neuse River 4A teams have been ranked at some point this year.

1. Wake Forest (9-0, No. 1 last week): Sanderson has won its past three games. Wake Forest is allowing 6.4 points per game.

This week: vs. Sanderson (4-5).

2. Middle Creek (9-0, No. 2): Can’t celebrate too much after beating Fuquay-Varina in overtime – Green Hope has won three of its past four.

This week: vs. No. 13 Green Hope (6-3).

3. Fuquay-Varina (8-1, No. 3): Panther Creek has been luring teams into shootouts, and now it’s in a must-win situation against the Bengals.

This week: at Panther Creek (4-6).

4. Wakefield (7-2, No. 4): The Wolverines won’t leapfrog Fuquay-Varina, but there isn’t much of a gap between Nos. 1-4.

This week: vs Heritage (4-5).

5. Orange (9-1, No. 6): The Panthers will close out their regular-season this week in Oxford.

This week: at J.F. Webb (3-6).

6. Corinth Holders (8-1, No. 7): The Pirates held last week’s opponent, Western Harnett, to minus-15 yards of offense.

This week: at South Johnston (6-3).

7. Garner (7-2, No. 8): Give coach Thurman Leach credit: the Trojans have bounced back with four straight wins after a tough loss to Southeast Raleigh.

This week: vs. No. 14 West Johnston (5-4).

8. Southern Durham (6-3, No. 5): The Spartans still tout wins against Orange and Hillside but are 0-3 in games decided by two points or less.

This week: vs. Cedar Ridge (4-5).

9. Hillside (6-2, No. 9): The Hornets should roll past Jordan into another PAC-6 4A title.

This week: vs. Jordan (2-8).

10. Millbrook (6-3, No. 10): Leesville Road is among the many Cap-8 4A teams playing for their playoff lives.

This week: vs. Leesville Road (4-5).

11. Cleveland (6-3, No. 11): The Rams will keep an eye on the Corinth Holders score. One more week until that showdown.

This week: vs Western Harnett (2-6).

12. Holly Springs (6-4, No. 14): Winners of six of their past eight, they might be a dark horse to watch in the playoffs.

This week: at Cary (2-6).

13. Green Hope (6-3, No. 15): The Southwest Wake 4A is the only conference with four ranked teams.

This week: at No. 2 Middle Creek (9-0).

14. West Johnston (5-4, NR): The Wildcats have stayed the course, and now they can win at least a share of the Greater Neuse River 4A title.

This week: at No. 8 Garner (7-2).

15. Lee County (7-2, NR): If the Yellow Jackets win out, they’ll notch their fourth straight nine-win season.

This week: at Westover (4-5).

This story was originally published October 25, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "N&O football rankings: West Johnston, Lee County enter Top 15."