By RICK STONE

Since I always seem to end up with too many teams in my rankings, I’ll start off with only 12 this season - seven large and five small. The lists will expand, don’t worry.

LARGE SCHOOLS (CLASSES AA and A)

1. MONROE-WOODBURY (1-0) - I can’t imagine anyone challenging this one. Here is a team designed to outscore anyone. By the fourth quarter, if not sooner, opponents will either be out of gas, begging for mercy or both.

2. WARWICK (1-0) - These guys will run opponents ragged, too. The Wildcats meet the Crusaders on October 16^th in a game that could easily last three hours.

3. NEWBURGH (1-0) - The Goldbacks, on the other hand, played some great defense. But they’ll need to get the offense in gear for Friday’s home bout with Binghamton which should come into the ’Burgh mad as hornets after what M-W did to them.

4. VALLEY CENTRAL (1-0) - The Vikings were expected to be strong this year … just not so soon. Kingston will be a big test this Friday.

5. MINISINK VALLEY (0-1) - The Warrior offense couldn’t get untracked at NFA last week. They’ll make it into the end zone this week, but with their opponent being M-W in Harriman … ouch! And Tom Tegeler thinks he has a tough schedule?

6. WALLKILL (0-1) - Class A’s potentially top team got tripped up by neighboring rival Valley Central last week. The Panthers could ignite their mojo with a win over young Section Four AA Horseheads. Fortunately, the game will not be played up in you-know-where. … Phil wanted me to add that.

7. CORNWALL (0-1) - The young Dragons got done in by a pair of fumble recoveries returned for TDs last week. They’ll meet young New Paltz Friday.

KINGSTON and MIDDLETOWN (both winners last week) are looking to get ranked. If the Tigers can beat VC, they’ll be in while the Middies might have to beat rival Port Jervis by a couple of scores at least.

SMALL SCHOOLS (CLASSES B-C-D)

1. HIGHLAND (1-0) - Last year it was the Highland defense that won the Class B title for them. The Husky defense is still menacing, and this year the veteran team looks like its offense is going to plant plenty of points on the scoreboard. It chalked up 47 last week. Highland gets a challenge from AA FDR this week.

2. SULLIVAN WEST (1-0) - Overall, Class C may prove to be stronger than Class B this year. We’ll see. Right now we’ll give the Dawgs a slight edge over Ellenville, but they can’t afford to take Liberty lightly this Friday.

3. ELLENVILLE (1-0) - Last year’s Class C title has given the Devil football program more than just a new life. It also allows coach Tony Borriello the opportunity to do one of his favorite things - game prep - which beats running around trying to find bodies. Blue Devil football is alive and getting healthier.

4. MILLBROOK (1-0) - Millbrook football is also back. Coach Sean Keenan, his staff and young but well-schooled players are going to win a lot of games again this year. The Blazers meet Dutchess Class C rival Spackenkill on Saturday.

5. O’NEILL (1-0) - The talented Raiders got a wakeup call last week when they just beat Class D Chester in the waning moments, 14-8. QB Aaron Kilner had his usual fine game, and we expect others to step it up. This Friday O’Neill plays an unknown opponent down at Montvale, NJ in Pascack Hills’ season opener. Rondout Valley had been the Raiders’ originally scheduled opponent.

ON THE CUSP: We’ll have a few more teams listed here next week for sure. Which of Marlboro, Burke, Red Hook or New Paltz will rise up to challenge Highland and O’Neill? Will Liberty or Spackenkill pull off some upsets in B? Class D will certainly be included. Chester and Eldred look very tough while neither can afford to take LMR lightly.

ENDZONE ANTICS: Our winningest coaches list finds Pat D’Aliso with 190 career victories which is just four behind all-team leader Joe Viglione, formerly of Port Jervis and Warwick. Meanwhile Sully West’s Ron Bauer, the section’s oldest coach, won his 138^th last week while Highland’s Carl Relyea won his 115^th game. … Meanwhile LMR’s Fred Ahart is looking forward to his 104^th win while Eldred’s Frank Kean got his 90^th last week. Kean is planning to make this his final season. … We’re still waiting for Chester coach Ron Stover to research his wins prior to his Chester career. We’ve estimated that he has about 93 career victories.