A rankings atrocity in the Northwest Division

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Last week, I was more than a little perplexed to see Harvard-Westlake had beaten out Oaks Christian for the top spot in the Southern Section’s Northwest Division poll. But that was nothing compared to the atrocity that’s occurred in this week’s rankings.

Oak Park is the top-ranked team with Morro Bay, Harvard-Westlake and Oaks Christian taking over the Nos. 2-4 spots.

Is this for real? I think someone needs to throw a bucket of ice water on whoever voted like this so they’ll wake up and not just look at records anymore.

Sure, Oaks Christian has lost two in a row, but both losses came against two of the best teams in Southern California –- St. Bonaventure and Venice. The four-time defending Southern Section divisional champions hung tough in both games and should be ranked No. 1 in their division.

Oak Park is good, but it’s no Oaks Christian. It lost a close one to a strong Newbury Park team in Week 3 and, in my opinion, should be ranked either No. 2 or No. 3.

Carson’s 31-15 victory over Harvard-Westlake proved the Wolverines should be kind of where they are this week, and Morro Bay’s 68-0 victory Friday came against a Santa Maria team that has been outscored 150-26 this season. So, in short, the Pirates shouldn’t be ranked No. 2, but instead No. 4.

All of these teams are talented, but Oaks Christian is still the unquestioned titan in this division, losing streak or not.

- Austin Knoblauch

Editor Bob: Unfortunately (at least as far as I’m concerned), it is against The Times’ editorial policy to participate in any voting, though the Southern Section invites us to each week. This goes for the entire Sports Department, not just high school sports.