Three weeks, and Stat Hound feels it has a big enough sample size to rank the area’s best football teams, no matter the classification or league.

In the first rankings, Class 1A and SCAC juggernaut Royal holds down the top spot. The Knights won their 50th straight game by topping Cashmere in Week 2, and will welcome fifth-ranked Zillah to David Nielsen Memorial Field on Friday.

The Mid-Columbia Conference, which seems to have a thriller every week and two last week, holds down five of the spots in the rankings.

Here are the inaugural power rankings for the 2026 season:

1. Royal

The winners of six straight state championship host Zillah this Friday in a matchup of unbeatens, with the Knights two victories away from matching their 53-game winning streak from 2014-18.

2. Kennewick

The Lions took a big step toward the Mid-Columbia Conference championship by beating Kamiakin with a 17-play, 10-plus minute drive.

3. Eastmont

Rory Rosenbach has the Wildcats sitting at 3-0 with a victory over the MCC’s Southridge looking solid. Eastmont wraps up nonconference play this week against Post Falls.

4. Prosser

Brody Buxton returned to the lineup for the Mustangs and promptly caught a pair of touchdowns, and that was enough in itself with a defense that hasn’t given up more than one score in any game this year.

5. Southridge

In a Thursday night classic, the Suns booted past Chiawana with a last-second field goal, rebounding from a loss at Eastmont and getting off to a great start in MCC play.

6. Chiawana

The Riverhawks’ 24-game MCC winning streak is gone but they’ll get a chance to start a new one Thursday when Walla Walla and standout junior quarterback Lincoln Heinrich visit.

7. Kamiakin

It was a double-whammy for the Braves on Friday – a loss to Kennewick and an injury to senior Mason Severson, likely ending his season. Kamiakin will try to rebound Friday against Southridge.

8. Moses Lake

The Mavericks bounced back from a lopsided loss to Idaho No. 1 Coeur d’Alene by opening conference play with a dominating win against West Valley.

9. Cashmere

After falling to Royal, the Bulldogs rolled past former Caribou Trail League rival Chelan, and will host Wapato before a trip to Zillah.

10. Selah

Running back Calen Wuitschick continues to roll (nearly 600 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing this season) and the Vikings beat Othello for the first time since 2018.

11. Sageview

First victory, first Mid-Columbia Conference victory and now first three-game winning streak                   –    the Lobos will try to make it four straight Friday against Pasco.

12. Wenatchee/East Valley/Zillah

Sure, it’s a cop out, but the next couple weeks will show where the Panthers (at Moses Lake) and Leopards (at Royal, vs. Cashmere) are, while the Red Devils’ big tests (Oct. 16 at Prosser, Oct. 29 at Selah) are still a few weeks away.