By RICK STONE

In two weeks’ time I figured that my ranked teams would have grown in number. Wrong. As last weekend’s blowouts demonstrated, we’re seeing the wheat being separated from the chaff.

LARGE SCHOOLS (CLASSES AA and A)

1. MONROE-WOODBURY (5-0) - The state’s #1 ranked team maintains a secure hold on the top spot here, needless-to-say. The Crusaders can give D’Aliso his 195^th victory and keep the five-plus seasons SNF winning streak alive this Friday at Middletown.

2. WARWICK (5-0) - Sciarra's Wildcats should keep chalking up touchdowns at a record pace this weekend. Then comes a two-pack challenge in M-W and MV.

3. NEWBURGH (4-1) - The already-daunting Goldback offense is getting better and better each week. That’s very bad news for winless Washingtonville.

4. MINISINK VALLEY (3-2) - After opening losses to NFA and M-W, the Warriors have found their offense. Their defense was already solid.

5. WALLKILL (4-1) - The Panthers are fresh off a big Class A victory over Saugerties that gave them a four-game win streak. They were able to schedule a Saturday non-leaguer in Section One to fill their bye week, but first Coach Vegliando and his staff will spend a few hours Friday night in Port Jervis.

6. KINGSTON (3-2) - The Tigers gutted out an overtime win over Pine Bush to keep them in the hunt for a playoff spot. They (like Pine Bush) have been stung by key injuries, however.

7. CORNWALL (2-2) - The defending Class A champs are coming off a bye week that followed the wildly offensive Newburgh game. Coach Hughes said he was embarrassed by the team’s sloppy play that resulted in five turnovers. You can bet that those problems have been fixed. But the Dragons also realized that their offense, led by a rocket named Tyree Smallwood, has become quite explosive. Cornwall netted 433 offensive yards against the powerful ‘Backs. Dangerous league foe Port Jervis is up next.

SMALL SCHOOLS (CLASSES B-C-D)

The small schools have been pared down to a top six this week.

1. HIGHLAND (4-0) - The Husky defense picked up where it left off last year. State-ranked Highland chalked up its third straight shutout last week and has allowed only eight points this season. New Paltz, currently sitting in Class B’s second place, takes the short trip to Highland this weekend.

2. ELLENVILLE (5-0) - The defending Class C champ Blue Devils have come up with another stellar running back in Doug Lewis. Of course, running behind that imposing o-line, led by all-state A.J. Borriello, doesn’t hurt. The Devils have a big game this Saturday against Millbrook.

3. ELDRED (5-0) - The state-ranked Yellowjackets are averaging 47.2 ppg. Four of their wins have come against Class C and B teams. Eldred hosts Section Four’s Hancock Saturday. Then comes tough Chester.

4. SULLIVAN WEST (4-1) - The Bulldogs seem to have lost a little of their bite since the big win over Millbrook. They have two non-leaguers coming up before they finish up the regular season against fellow Class C Tri-Valley. Coach Bauer will get them focused.

5. MILLBROOK (4-1) - The Blazers have been bolstered by a couple of new additions. They’ll need to break a couple of sizable runs against that stingy Ellenville defense Saturday while containing the dangerous Devil ground attack.

6. NEW PALTZ (2-3) - After losing their first three games, the Huguenots have won their last two over league foes O’Neill and Burke by a total of five points to eke into the #6 hole. New Paltz gets Highland next as Chester and Red Hook look to crack the top six after this week’s games with LMR and Marlboro, respectively.