This week’s CIF-Southern Section football polls are out, with Monrovia the lone area team with a top ranking. The Wildcats, who opened with a victory over Ayala last week, set the bar in the Mid-Valley Division after winning the division each of the past three years. A noticeable bump up is Poly leapfrogging two-time champion Rio Hondo Prep in the Northeast.

CIF-SS FOOTBALL RANKINGS
MID-VALLEY DIVISION
1. Monrovia (1-0), 2. Paraclete (1-1), 3. Northview (2-0), 4. Windwward (2-0), 5. Viewpoint (2-1), 6. San Marino (1-0), 7. Arroyo (1-1), 8. Sierra Canyon (0-2), 9. Gabrielino (2-0), 10. Baldwin Park (1-0).
Comment: It’s just one game, but the way Monrovia opened, this division might already be over. For the Wildcats, the season comes down to the preseason, with games later against South Hills and St. Francis. Win those, and they may go bowling again. They might anyways.
NORTHEAST DIVISION
1. Mission Prep (1-1), 2. Pasadena Poly (2-0), 3. St. Anthony (1-0), 4. Rio Hondo Prep (1-1), 5. Chadwick (2-0), 6. Salesian (0-2), 7. St. Genevieve (1-1), 8. Capo Valley Chr. (2-0). 9. St. Monica Catholic (1-1), 10. Ribet Academy (1-1).
Comment: How is Poly ranked ahead of two-time champ Rio Hondo Prep? I get the Panthers are 2-0, but the Kares just took No. 1 Mission Prep to the brink. The two best teams in the division are Rio Hondo Prep and Mission Prep, and they will meet for the title in December.
NORTHWEST DIVISION
1. Bishop Diego (2-0), 2. Nordoff (2-0), 3. Compton Centennial (1-1), 4. Carpinteria (2-0), 5. El Segundo (1-0), 6. Oak Park (1-1), 7. Whittier Chrisitan (2-0), 8. La Salle (1-1), 9. Bishop Montgomery (2-0), 10. Santa Paula (2-0),2-0).
Comment: This is a tougher division than it gets credit for. La Salle likely wins the Del Rey League again, but I can’t see them getting out the first round. We get a good barometer this week with La Salle at Bishop Diego.
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
1. Norwalk (2-0), 2. Diamond Ranch (2-0), 3. Downey (1-1), 4. Santa Fe (2-0), 5. La Serna (1-1), 6. La Mirada (0-2), 7. West Covina (2-0), 8. Bonita (2-0), 9. Los Altos (2-0), 10. Muir (1-1).
Comment: The Mustangs, despite a 20-point loss, looked good against Alemany. If they can hang with the Warriors, they’ll mix it up in this division in November.
WESTERN DIVISION
1. Serra (2-0), 2. Chaminade (1-1), 3. Lompoc (1-1), 4. Harvard-Westlake (2-0), 5. Cathedral (2-0), 6. Camarillo (1-0), 7. Santa Monica (1-0), 8. St. Francis (1-0), 9. Culver City (0-1), 10. Inglewood (1-0).
Comment: The Mission League dominates this division, with five of the top eight coming from that league, including No. 1 Serra and No. 8 St. Francis.