With Week 3 about to kickoff in Southern Illinois, area teams have been looking to beat the heat however they can. But no one can escape the furnace that is the John A. Logan College Little Egypt Football Poll.
The Centralia Orphans remain at the top of the poll but their hold on the region is slipping some – #2 Carterville has stolen three first place votes for themselves.
And for good reason – the Lions showed Southern Illinois the Lions are not to be trifled with in Week 2, winning at Nashville 45-14. That win actually resulted in the Hornets having the largest slide in the Top 10, down two spots to #6.
Carbondale’s 28-22 loss at Quincy Notre Dame did not affect the Terriers too much, just falling one spot to #3.
The West Frankfort Redbirds continue impressing. Their explosive offense has outscored opponent 89-30 in the first two weeks. That type of powder keg of an offense has them up to #4. But they’ve got a bit of a tougher test this week at Chester Friday night.
The Benton Rangers round out the top five, edging out Nashville by a single point. Their quarterback Drake Porter has accounted for nearly 500 yards of their offense and 9 of their 12 touchdowns in the first two weeks.
Marion rebounded from their Week 1 loss to Carterville with a 60-0 victory over the visiting Lincoln. That win moves them up to #7.
Johnston City did everything they were supposed to – winning 32-0 at Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton-Elverado – but still slid down one spot to #8, being edged by Marion by a single point.
Du Quoin had a neck-and-neck game against Harrisburg in Week 2 but pulled away in the second half, winning 49-28. The Indians move up to #9 while the Bulldogs get booted out of the Top 10.
Mt. Vernon returns to the Top 10 at #10 after a 27-7 win over Belleville West. They’re on thin ice, though. The recently besmirched Harrisburg Bulldogs are nipping at the Rams’ heels, just a point outside of the Top 10.
Here’s a look at the Full Rankings:
| Rank | School (Record) [First Place Votes] | Points | Rank Last Week |
| 1 | Centralia (2-0) [9] | 124 | 1 (-) |
| 2 | Carterville (2-0) [3] | 117 | 3 (+1) |
| 3 | Carbondale (1-1) | 89 | 2 (-1) |
| 4 | West Frankfort (2-0) [1] | 72 | 5 (+1) |
| 5 | Benton (2-0) | 58 | 6 (+1) |
| 6 | Nashville (1-1) | 57 | 4 (-2) |
| 7 | Marion (1-1) | 44 | 8 (+1) |
| 8 | Johnston City (2-0) | 43 | 7 (-1) |
| 9 | Du Quoin (1-1) | 41 | 10 (+1) |
| 10 | Mt. Vernon (1-1) | 16 | NR |
Also receiving votes: Harrisburg 15, Sparta 9, Herrin 8, Fairfield 5, Chester 2, Hamilton County 2
*The John A. Logan Little Egypt Football Poll is voted on by a trusted group of area coaches and media members each week
