1. Lewisburg (7-0): Lewisburg has climbed to No. 6 in the latest Class AAA state rankings. That is the highest the program has been ranked since 2010 when it reached the Class AA state semifinals, finishing 14-1.

2. Jersey Shore (5-2): Jersey Shore has lost two games by two points each after holding 13 points each. In one sense that can be extremely frustrating. In another, it can be a motivator. The Bulldogs are a play or two from being undefeated, so it’s a matter of fixing the small things to get where they want to go.

3. Montoursville (5-2): One of the district’s most successful programs during the 2000s has had good kicking as an under the radar weapon. Gavin Hawley has flourished in his debut season and last week made it 24 times in 25 seasons that the Warriors have had a kicker top 20 points in a season. Quite often, they have eclipsed that number with ease.

4. Muncy (6-1): Here is a list of all the Sun-Gazette area running backs who have reached 1,000 yards in all four years of high school: 1, Austin Johnson … That’s it. That’s the list. Johnson made history last week and also joined Dominick Bragalone as the only running backs in area history to reach 70 career rushing touchdowns.

5. Loyalsock (5-2): Loyalsock enters the toughest part of its schedule quite battle-tested. Two fourth-quarter comeback wins and a goal-line stand to preserve a one-point victory against Mifflinburg have prepared the Lancers well for the three challenges coming their way to close the regular season.

6. Warrior Run (5-2): Warrior Run has hosted just one district playoff game in program history, doing so in 2019. Two more wins likely would give the Defenders their second, but three would ensure it.

7. Williamsport (4-3): Despite the three-game setback, Williamsport remains in the hunt for the top seed in districts. A strong finishing kick could move it back to the top spot or, at worst, likely earn it a semifinal home game.

8. Montgomery (4-3): Montgomery has made itself quite comfortable on the road. The Red Raiders are 3-0 and can match the most regular season wins by a Montgomery team since 2000 with a victory Saturday night.

9. South Williamsport (4-3): South has worked its way into a good position entering tonight’s showdown against Muncy. The young Mounties faced adversity early this season, but have continued to grow, won two thrilling games in the closing minutes and have started finding their groove.

10. Hughesville (3-4): Hughesville showed how dangerous it can be when it trailed Lewisburg by just six points entering the fourth quarter. It’s a matter of being that team for four quarters going forward which will determine its playoff fate.

11. Canton (3-4): Kicker Alexis McRoberts is four points from breaking the single-season record for points by a female that she set last season. McRoberts is third among area kickers with 32 points after collecting 35 in her debut season. Her 67 career points also is an area record for a girls player.

12. North Penn-Mansfield (2-5): Quarterback Cooper Shaw is closing in on 2,000 total yards this season. The senior has produced 1,787 yards and 17 touchdown. He also is among the top 10 area passing and rushing leaders.

13. Milton (2-5): Junior Monty Fisher is one of the area’s more versatile players and he achieved a rare area double-double last week. Fisher went over 1,000 career rushing and receiving yards at Central Columbia. He has 1,002 rushing yards and 1,019 yards on 63 catches. He also is the first player of the 2000s to reach that double milestone as an underclassman.

14. Wellsboro (1-6): Wellsboro has come a long way the past four weeks and its future appears bright since a lot of the players making this progress will be back next season. One of those is Jonathan Carl who has scored touchdowns on each of his last three catches.

15. Cowanesque Valley (2-5): Last week’s win against CMVT was the latest in a series of thrillers between these two small schools. Each of the last three games has been decided by eight points or fewer with each team rallying to win those games. CV has done so twice.

16. Central Mountain (0-7): It would be harder to find a much more difficult three-game stretch to close the season than Central Mountain faces. Mount Carmel, Troy and Jersey Shore are a combined 17-4.

17. Bucktail (0-5): Despite Bucktail having two games taken from the schedule after Elk County Catholic was forced to cancel its season due to a lack of players, Brody Pentz remains on pace for his second straight 1,000-yard season. His 147 yards per game is third among area rushers.