By the narrowest of margins, Exeter has regained its place atop the state high school football rankings.

Tied with Pinkerton Academy of Derry after Week 7, Exeter, which entered the season ranked No. 1 and held the spot through the first three weeks, received five of eight first-place votes and 76 of a possible 80 points in this week's New Hampshire Union Leader/WGIR/WMUR Power Poll.

Pinkerton is second, with 75 points, having received three first-place votes. Both of the top two teams are 7-1.

Pinkerton's lone loss was to Exeter, 24-20, in the season's second week. Exeter lost to Winnacunnet of Hampton, 27-24 in Week 4.

Winnacunnet (also 7-1), which dropped to No. 3 last week after suffering its first loss of the season, slipped to fourth after a 7-0 victory over Timberlane Regional of Plaistow. Bedford (6-1) moved up a spot to No. 3 despite having last week off.

Rounding out the top 10 are Bishop Guertin of Nashua (fifth, 5-2), Nashua South (sixth, 5-3), Souhegan of Amherst (seventh, 7-1), Keene (eighth, 6-2), Plymouth (ninth, 8-0) and Manchester Central (10th, 5-3).

Eight of the top 10 teams are classified as Division I or Division II. Souhegan (Division III) and Plymouth (Division IV) are the mid-sized schools in the poll.

Two other mid-sized schools, Division III Plymouth (6-1) and Division IV Trinity (7-1) also received votes.