Perhaps it’s time to stop doubting the Darien football team.

The Blue Wave are back atop The Day's Top 10 state high school coaches’ poll after they choked out then-No. 1 St. Joseph on Saturday, 22-7.

One could argue that Darien (3-0) should have been ranked No. 1 in the first place.

The Blue Wave tied Xavier’s record when they won their third straight CIAC Class LL title last season. They ended the season as the top-ranked team in The Day's poll for a third straight year and gone 37-1 during that run.

It was St. Joseph, not Darien, that started this year ranked No. 1. St. Joseph wowed voters by routing New Canaan in Week 1, 28-0, the latter which has four FBS-bound recruits and was the top-ranked team in the GameTimeCT/New Haven Register media preseason poll. The Blue Wave were second and received three of 13 first-place votes.

There were understandably some questions about Darien headed into this year because it graduated 16 of 22 starters. That included its entire defensive line, three offensive linemen, and quarterback. Even head coach Rob Trifone didn’t know what to expect.

St. Joseph opened Saturday’s anticipated No. 1 vs. No. 2 clash with a touchdown, gaining five first downs on that drive.

The Blue Wave defense put a stop to that quickly. They allowed only four first downs the rest of the game, none in the second half. The Cadets managed just 148 yards of total offense.

Darien received 11 first-place votes. No. 2 Greenwich earned the other two first-place votes, but lost one to the Darien.

No local teams received any votes. Killingly (2-1) is the only Eastern Connecticut Conference teams that received votes. The defending Class M champions were ninth, but dropped out of the Top 10 after losing at New London last Friday, 25-24.

n.griffen@theday.com