The final rankings for the...

Kaneland's Drew David.

...2012 regular season are in. (The news services were prompt this week.)

While I still agree with MaxPreps that Lincoln-Way East (9-0) and Loyola (8-1) should get top billing, after that it's a bit of a muddle.

The Trib's top ten didn't budge this week, but the Sun-Times had some (head-scratching) changes. After ranking Maine South (9-0) No. 1 for most of the season (I think), the Hawks suddenly dropped two spots after its 35-14 victory over Glenbrook South (5-4). (Maine South is ranked No. 20 by MaxPreps.) Meanwhile, Mount Carmel vaulted up five spots to No. 2 after its 17-0 shutout of Providence. Okay, but why are they ranked ahead of Loyola, who played a tougher schedule than the Caravan and beat them on their home field?

Oh, well. As for my own rankings, I still have the Griffins and the Ramblers ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. (After that, as I said, it's just a muddle.) I did add Kaneland to the list of top teams I've seen play, but I still haven't seen Batavia (9-0), Neuqua Valley (9-0), Waubonsie Valley (8-1), Palatine (8-1), Montini (7-2), Marian Central (9-0), Maine South (9-0) and a host of others. (I'll try to rectify that in the next few weeks.)

So here's my final Top Ten. After that are the rest of the teams I've seen this year, in no particular order.

After Week Nine:

1. Lincoln-Way East (9-0) *
2. Loyola (8-1) *
3. Mount Carmel (8-1) ^
4. Bolingbrook (7-2) *
5. Glenbard West (9-0) *
6. Cary-Grove (9-0) *
7. Glenbard North (8-1) *
8. Wheaton North (8-1) *
9. Marist  (8-1) *
10. Kaneland (9-0) *

I've also seen Crystal Lake South (6-3), Nazareth (5-4), Hinsdale Central (7-2), Providence (7-2), Crete-Monee (9-0), Bloom (6-3), Brother Rice (5-4), Morris (8-1), St. Viator (5-4), St. Patrick (6-3) and Downers Grove North (5-4).

Now for the rankings from the top news services:

MaxPreps:

1. Lincoln-Way East (9-0) *
2. Loyola (8-1) *
3. Mount Carmel (8-1) ^
4. Cary-Grove (9-0) *
5. Marian Central Catholic (9-0)
6. Neuqua Valley (9-0)
7. Glenbard West (9-0) *
8. Kaneland * (9-0)
9. Palatine (8-1)
10. Marist (8-1) *

Chicago Sun-Times:

1. Glenbard West (9-0) *
2. Mount Carmel (8-1) ^
3. Maine South (9-0)
4. Lincoln-Way East (9-0) *
5. Loyola (8-1) *
6. Bolingbrook * (7-2)
7. Neuqua Valley (9-0)
8. Palatine (8-1)
9. Batavia (9-0)
10. Glenbard North (8-1) *

Chicago Tribune:

1. Maine South (9-0)
2. Loyola (8-1) *
3. Lincoln-Way East (9-0) *
4. Glenbard West (9-0) *
5. Mount Carmel (8-1) ^
6. Crete-Monee (9-0) *
7. Batavia (9-0)
8. Glenbard North (8-1)* 
9. Bolingbrook (7-2) *
10. Palatine (8-1)