HS: Fall state, regional rankings, Oct. 22

by Sheldon Shealer

October 22, 2018

St. Xavier (Ky.) boys made the most of a second chance. Houston (Tenn.) girls will try to do the same this week.

But for Louisville Trinity (Ky.) and Troy Athens (Mich.) boys, the end came all too early.

Such is postseason soccer.

While most states offer some sort of single-elimination postseason, Kentucky and Tennessee are among the few that affords some teams a second chance. In Kentucky, the district champion and runner-up advance to the regional tournament, which then starts as a single-elimination event to the final. In Tennessee, the regional runner-up advances to a sectional round, which then plays down in single-elimination style. Basically, a team can lose at the right time and get a second chance.

St. Xavier, TopDrawerSoccer's preseason No. 1 team in Kentucky, watched a 3-0 lead disappear in a 4-3 shootout loss to Louisville Collegiate in the district final a week earlier, then won the rematch to advance to the final 16 this week. Collegiate's season is now finished.

Houston, which started the year as the FAB 50 No. 1 girls team, was setting at No. 10 last week when it was upset by local rival and FAB 50-ranked Collierville in the regional final. Both teams then won sectional tournament games to advance to this week's state quarterfinals. Houston and Collierville are on opposite sides of the bracket, meaning they could meet for the state final later this week.

For Trinity and Athens, there was no second chance. These teams were a combined 39-0 and ranked among the nation's elite before losing season-ending playoff contests last week. In both cases, the early playoff exit means a deep drop in the state rankings this week as other teams now get their chance to play for the title.

This week, there are new No. 1 teams in seven boys-playing states and two girls-playing states.

Now, on with the champions and rankings ...

LAST WEEK'S STATE CHAMPIONS:

Boys -- Idaho: 5A: Rocky Mountain, 4A: Caldwell, 3A: Sun Valley Community School.

Girls -- Idaho: 5A: Rocky Mountain, 4A: Bishop Kelly, 3A: CDA Charter; Utah: 6A: Lone Peak, 5A: Corner Canyon, 4A: Snow Canyon, 3A: Morgan, 2A: Rowland Hall.

CLICK BELOW FOR THE COMPLETE FALL HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS

FALL REGION RANKINGS: BOYS (Oct. 22) | GIRLS (Oct. 22)

FALL STATE RANKINGS: BOYS (Oct. 22) | GIRLS (Oct. 22)