By DOUG DONNELLY

OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford has been ranked No. 1 in every Division 8 Associated Press poll so far this season. One poll remains – next week – and the Bobcats will look to become the first team in Tri-County Conference history to close the regular season No. 1.

The Bobcats host Pioneer (Ohio) North Central tonight at 7 p.m.

The Bobcats are 8-0, averaging 50.3 points per game and have scored at least 50 points four straight games.

North Central is 6-3 (Ohio prep football starts a week earlier than Michigan). The Eagles had a four-game win streak snapped last week when Summerfield beat them 38-6. The Eagles played three other TCC schools this season – losing to Adrian Madison (26-22) and beating Erie Mason (34-14) before falling to Summerfield.

In addition to beating Erie Mason (5-3), North Central has wins over Woodmore (1-8), Fremont, Ind. (2-7), Fairport (4-6), Dixie (0-9) and Hilltop (1-8).

Here are some pre-game notes for tonight’s game:

ASSOCIATED PRESS POLLS

Five TCC schools have been ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll of the season – including Whiteford in its 2017 state championship season and last year. But, no league team has ever been No. 1 in the final poll of the season:

TCC teams finishing among top 10 teams in final Associated Press annual polls:

1977: Sand Creek, No. 3, Class D

1978: Sand Creek, No. 3, Class D

1979: Britton, No. 8, Class D

1984: Sand Creek, No. 5, Class D

1987: Sand Creek, No. 6, Class D

1988: Sand Creek, No. 8, Class D

1989: Sand Creek, No. 10, Class D

1990: Morenci, No. 6, Class C

1991: Sand Creek, No. 4, Class DD

1991: Morenci, No. 6, Class C

1992: Sand Creek, No. 2, Class DD

1993: Whiteford, No. 3, Class DD

1994: Whiteford, No. 2, Class DD

1995: Morenci, No. 2, Class C

1996: Morenci, No. 5, Class C

1996: Sand Creek, No. 7, Class C

1997: Morenci, No. 7, Class C

1998: Britton-Deerfield, No. 3, Class C

1998: Sand Creek, No. 6, Class C

2000: Britton-Deerfield, No. 4, Class C

2001: Morenci, No. 5, Division 7

2002: Whiteford, No. 5, Division 8

2004: Sand Creek, No. 6, Division 7

2004: Whitmore Lake, No. 8, Division 7

2005: Sand Creek, No. 7, Division 7

2006: Sand Creek, No. 3, Division 7

2007: Sand Creek, No. 12, Division 7

2009: Clinton, No. 10, Division 6

2009: Summerfield, No. 10, Division 7

2010: Summerfield, No. 8, Division 7

2012: Clinton, No. 4, Division 6

2012: Whiteford, No. 7, Division 7

2013: Clinton, No. 4, Division 6

2014: Clinton, No. 3, Division 6

2015: Clinton, No. 5, Division 7

2015: Whiteford, No. 11, Division 8

2016: Whiteford, No. 5, Division 8

2016: Sand Creek, No. 10, Division 7

2017: Whiteford, No. 2, Division 8

2018: Whiteford, No. 3, Division 7

2019: Clinton, No. 4, Division 7

2020: Erie Mason, No. 7, Division 6

2020: Sand Creek, No. 5, Division 8

2021: Whiteford, No. 2, Division 8