The Dogwood Circle Power Rankings (Week 1)

Welcome everyone to our new venture, the Dogwood Circle Power Rankings. Every week we'll dive in to how we rank the Dogwood Circle's seven football teams based up their performances so far this season.

But first, some explanation. This is not a poll based on how we think teams would do matched up against one another. Obviously, with Palestine's sheer numbers they could best a lot of the teams in the area. On the other end of the spectrum, Oakwood doesn't even play 11-man football.

What this is is a poll to show how we think each team matches up against their own level of competition and their own schedule. Nothing more.

So with all that said, let's go.

 1. Palestine (1-0) — The Wildcats showed that they may in fact be a force to be reckoned with during the team's impressive 54-6 drubbing of Brownsboro to open up 2011. It's still early, but if the Wildcat offense can stay that explosive and the defense can maintain that level of intensity, it could be a good, good year at Wildcat Stadium.

2. Oakwood (1-0) — The lone defending district champion in the area just kept on winning this past weekend, defeating Watauga Harvest at Maverick Stadium on the campus of UT-Arlington. Oakwood could have easily been No. 1 on this list, but the team's lack of depth at key positions makes me worry about something possibly going awry.

3. Elkhart (1-0) — The stock for the Elks just keep right on rising. After a turnaround season in 2010, Elkhart kept winning Friday, defeating Leon, 38-6. The Elks showed a beautiful understanding of the team's new running attack, and running back Jeffrey Wilson seems like he'll be a star for the next two-plus years.

4. Frankston (0-1) — If you'd have ask me to make this list before the season started, odds are the Indians would've been at the top. Armed with all the offensive talent anyone could ask for, the key to Frankston's success will be whether they have the ability to stop anyone when they need to. They couldn't against White Oak, and it cost them a game in which they scored 40 points and gained 600 yards.

5. Cayuga (0-1) — No one expected the Wildcats to be state championship-level great forever, and all good things must come to an end. That being said, don't count the Wildcats out of the playoff race just yet. Cayuga is a young team made up of players who are going to have to adjust to the speed of Friday nights.

6. Westwood (0-1) — No one wants to lose a game by 51 points, but the Panthers showed something to plenty of people in their 74-23 loss to No. 1 Chapel Hill Friday. The Panthers have the talent on offense and some playmakers on defense. Enough to contend for a playoff spot? Maybe.

7. Grapeland (0-1) — The Sandies lost a ton of talent (Reshawd Shepherd, Donte Brown) off a 2010 team that won three games. It showed against Centerville, when Grapeland also struggled to contain the running game of the Tigers.

So there it is, the first edition of the Dogwood Circle Power Rankings. Agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments.