The topic of area high school rankings is a hot one (check out Stefen Lovelace's story 'The numbers game' in today's edition) and there will no doubt be a debate next week in the boys soccer Top 15 poll after No. 3 Marriotts Ridge knocked off No. 1 River Hill, 3-1, on Tuesday.

Should the Mustangs, who got the deed done of knocking off the top-ranked team, make the jump to No. 1? Or should No. 2 McDonogh, which has rolled off nine straight impressive wins since losing early to Perry Hall (and thus losing its preseason No. 1 ranking) regain the top spot?

Here's a quick look at the two teams' body of work to date:

• Marriotts Ridge is 9-0 with an 8-0 mark in Howard County play. The Mustangs have scored 32 goals and allowed seven. Their win over River Hill was the second ranked opponent they've defeated this season. Last week, they knocked off Mount Hebron, 2-0.

• As for McDonogh, the Eagles were upset by Perry Hall, 2-1 in overtime, in their third game, but have played near flawless ball since. They are 10-0 in the powerful Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and nine of their 12 wins have come against an opponent that is or has been ranked in the poll.

Who do you think deserves to be No. 1?

-- Glenn Graham