By ELADIO JAIMEZ
eladioj@valleystar.com
956-430-6285

HARLINGEN - There's no question about it this week, Los Fresnos is No. 1.

After Edcouch-Elsa split first-place votes with San Benito then Los Fresnos last week, the Falcons garnered all five top spot nods this week to stay as the top team on the Valley Morning Star's Football Top 10 Writers' Poll.

The Falcons (4-0) defeated the then-ranked Brownsville Pace Vikings handily last week to remain perched atop the list.

Los Fresnos heads to Sams Stadium tonight to battle the Brownsville Hanna Eagles.

The Falcons have a date with the No. 5 Harlingen Cardinals set for next week. The Cards (3-1) are the second highest ranked District 32-5A squad this week.

Harlingen moved up three spots after dominating Brownsville Rivera at home last week, 41-13. The win was the first win by the Cardinals in five tries against the Raiders. Rivera had won four straight coming into the rescheduled meeting last Thursday.

The rest of the top five remained in tact.

No. 2 E-E (4-0) struggled against Mission, but the Yellowjackets defense bailed them out securing a 21-0 win against the Eagles.

PSJA North remained at No. 3 with a win against Donna. The Raiders (5-0) come to the mid-Valley on Friday, this time to face the Weslaco Panthers.

At No. 4, Lyford used its power running game to run all over Raymondville in the Battle of Willacy County. The Bulldogs (5-0) face the No. 7 St. Joseph's Bloodhounds this week in a non-district clash of unbeatens.

The Bloodhounds, led by the Valley's first 1,000-yard rusher Coco Martinez, make their debut on the VMS Poll after picking up their fifth win of the season against Monterrey Prep last week.

St. Joe's and PSJA North are the only five-win teams in the Valley so far.

San Benito (3-1) jumped up four places to No. 6 with a win against Brownsville Hanna. The Greyhounds had dropped from No. 1 to 10 last week after an upsetting loss to PSJA a couple of weeks ago.

Rivera (3-1) fell three places into a tie for No. 8 with PSJA Memorial.

The Wolverines (3-1) moved back into the elite list after falling out following Week Zero. Memorial was No. 9 on the preseason poll but dropped after a season opening loss to PSJA North.

The Wolverines return this week after winning three straight including their District 32-4A opener against Roma.

The Panthers (4-1) got off to a hot start winning their first four games after winning only two in the past couple of seasons and climbed as high as the seventh spot on the poll. But a loss to Edinburg in the District 31-5A opener knocked Weslaco to No. 10 but not out of the poll.

Rio Hondo (3-1) just missed making the poll picking up six points. The Bobcats beat Progreso in their league opener and host Raymondville this week.

Edinburg North (3-1) received four points and PSJA got three. The Bears (2-2) dropped off the top 10 following a loss to previously winless McAllen.

The MMA Leathernecks (3-1) collected one point in the voting.

Following is the Valley Morning Star's Top 10 football poll through Week Four

School Rec. Pnts. Prev.

1. Los Fresnos (5) 4-0 50 1

2. E-E 4-0 42 2

3. PSJA North 5-0 38 3

4. Lyford 4-0 35 4

5. Harlingen 3-1 33 8

6. San Benito 3-1 21 10

7. St, Joseph's 5-0 14 -

8T. Rivera 3-1 9 5

8T. PSJA Mem. 3-1 9 -

10. Weslaco 4-1 7 7

Also receiving votes: Rio Hondo 6, Edinburg North 4, PSJA 3, MMA 1.

Sep 29, 2005 - 10:22:35 CDT