Contributed by Jimmy McDonald The Richmond Senior football team improved to 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the Southeastern Conference with its 30-17 victory over Lumberton.

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ROCKINGHAM — The top three schools remained the same in this week’s Associated Press poll.

Richmond was third in the balloting following its 30-17 victory over Lumberton. The Raiders will look to move to 9-0 on the season Friday against Pinecrest.

Butler continued its stranglehold on the No. 1 ranking, earning all 12 first-place votes. The Bulldogs moved to 8-0 with their 45-14 win over Providence. New Bern (8-0) held steady at second with a shutout win against Ashley.

Five teams jumped up a spot after last week’s No. 4 team, Porter Ridge, was upset. Coming off a 42-0 victory against Hopewell, Mallard Creek (7-1) inched up to fourth, while Garner (9-0) rounded out the top five.

East Forsyth improved to 9-0 with a 69-13 rout of Southwest Guilford to take sixth in the rankings. Scotland, the only other Southeastern Conference team in the poll, came in at No. 7 after its come-from-behind 34-19 win at Hoke County. North Davidson remained undefeated in nine games with its 37-7 win over West Forsyth to claim the eighth spot.

Porter Ridge (7-1) fell to ninth following its 7-0 loss to Weddington. E.E. Smith (8-1) checked in at No. 10.

In this week’s NCPreps.com poll, the top six teams held their positions. Butler snagged all nine first-place votes to stay at No. 1. New Bern, Richmond, Mallard Creek, East Forsyth and Garner were ranked second to sixth, respectively.

The next three teams moved up one spot from last week. Scotland jumped to seventh, followed by Leesville Road (8-0) and North Davidson. New Hanover (7-1) returned to the rankings after its 45-14 against Laney.

Richmond dropped to third in the CarolinaPreps.com rankings this week. Butler, once again, grabbed all 13 first-place votes to stay atop the poll. New Bern edged the Raiders for second by two points. East Forsyth and Mallard Creek flipped spots, with the Eagles moving to No. 4, while the Mavericks fell to fifth.

Scotland is sixth, followed by Garner, North Davidson, New Hanover and Independence (8-1).

Richmond stayed steady in the Maxpreps.com rankings this week, remaining at No. 4. New Bern was still in the top spot, followed by Butler and East Forsyth. Mallard Creek, Porter Ridge, North Davidson, New Hanover, Scotland, Porter Ridge and Garner completed the top 10.

Unlike the other polls which tabulates votes from writers across the state, Maxpreps.com uses computer-based rankings. The program takes into consideration quality wins against other highly-ranked opponents as well as strength of schedule.

— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com.