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Sports Editor Matt Daniels unveils an updated area Top 10 poll before Week 4 games arrive on Friday night:

1. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley

➜ Record: 3-0

➜ Previous: No. 1

➜ Quick hit: After three straight home games, the lengthy road swing for coach Chad Augspurger’s program begins on Friday night with a trip to El Paso. To play fellow unbeaten El Paso-Gridley. GCMS had its closest game of the season last Friday, earning a 21-12 win against still winless LeRoy but the road — literally — gets tougher for the next three weeks.

2. Westville

➜ Record: 3-0

➜ Previous: No. 3

➜ Quick hit: The Tigers won’t need much motivation come Friday night. That’s because Westville travels to play at rival Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman in the annual Coal Bucket game. Coach Guy Goodlove’s team has won its first three games by at least five touchdowns, with last Friday night’s 63-18 home victory against Momence the latest example.

3. St. Joseph-Ogden

➜ Record: 3-0

➜ Previous: No. 4

➜ Quick hit: The atmosphere at Dick Duval Field on Friday night will also certainly have a playoff-like feel when the Spartans host Illini Prairie Conference rival Unity. SJ-O coach Shawn Skinner and his players have done their part to build up the pregame hype for the latest showdown with the Rockets after leaving Chillicothe IVC with a 51-16 road victory last Friday night.

4. Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond

➜ Record: 3-0

➜ Previous: No. 5

➜ Quick hit: An impressive 35-20 home win against Cumberland last Friday night has coach Ryan Jefferson and his Knights in a prime spot to win a second Lincoln Prairie Conference title in the past three seasons. A showdown at fellow unbeaten Sullivan is looming in Week 5, but ALAH will get used to a road trip when it plays at Argenta-Oreana on Friday night.

5. Unity

➜ Record: 2-1

➜ Previous: No. 2

➜ Quick hit: If Unity wants to win its first Illini Prairie Conference title since the fall 2021 season, then a win on Friday night at reigning league champion St. Joseph-Ogden is a must. Coach Tony Reetz’s Rockets will come in motivated, though, after a close 34-27 home loss against Bloomington Central Catholic this past Friday night at Hicks Field in Tolono.

6. Oakwood

➜ Record: 3-0

➜ Previous: No. 6

➜ Quick hit: Two more wins, and the Comets are playoff-eligible for the second straight season after cruising to a 48-13 home win against Watseka last Friday night. But the schedule increases in difficulty for coach Cameron Lee’s program, beginning this Friday night with a trip north to play fellow unbeaten Clifton Central in a Vermilion Valley Conference clash along Interstate 57.

7. Monticello

➜ Record: 2-1

➜ Previous: No. 7

➜ Quick hit: The chance for Monticello to string together its first win streak of the season is there on Friday night. St. Teresa, coached by former Illini linebacker Brit Miller, pays a visit to Piatt County for the Sages’ only nonconference game. For Monticello coach Cully Welter, his team is fresh off a 36-14 road win against Rantoul last Friday night at Bill Walsh Field.

8. Centennial

➜ Record: 2-1

➜ Previous: No. 8

➜ Quick hit: Stacking wins now is imperative for the Chargers if they want to get back to the playoffs after missing out last season. Because Normal Community and Bloomington are waiting in Week 8 and 9, respectively. But the focus this week for coach Kyle Jackson’s team is Danville on Friday night at Tommy Stewart Field in Champaign after a 46-0 win at Peoria Richwoods last week.

9. Tuscola

➜ Record: 2-1

➜ Previous: No. 9

➜ Quick hit: The Warriors made a statement this past Friday night, earning a hard-fought 28-27 win at Tri-Valley to hand the perennial power Vikings their first regular-season home loss since 2022. Coach Andy Romine’s program has had its first three games decided by a touchdown or less. We’ll see if the trend reverses itself this Friday night when Tuscola hosts a winless Clinton team.

10. Mahomet-Seymour

➜ Record: 1-2

➜ Previous: No. 10

➜ Quick hit: The Bulldogs have won four consecutive Apollo Conference titles and carry a 23-game league win streak into Friday night’s Apollo Conference opener against Taylorville at Frank Dutton Field in Mahomet. Coach Jon Adkins’ team also brings added confidence into the matchup with the Tornadoes thanks to an impressive 45-16 win at Sycamore last Friday night.