How do you gauge a loss to another ranked team?

That's the big question this week. How far should Skyline fall after losing to top-ranked Eastlake (Class 4A), 28-21?

How far should Olympia drop after a 15-14 loss to No. 2 Bellarmine Prep?

And, how far should Seattle Prep slip after O'Dea, ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, edged the Panthers 21-20?

The answers to these questions are not easily answered. There is no set rule to determine where these teams should be situated.

On Friday night, I thought I knew exactly what I was going to do this week. However, as I type this Sunday afternoon, I changed my mind.

For the first time in a long time, the Spartans fall out of the rankings. It was either keep them in the top 10 and leave out Skyview from Vancouver or drop Skyline in favor of the Storm.

Both teams had early season losses against top-ranked programs, and only a touchdown separated the Spartans and the Wolves, so it's clear Skyline can play with the best teams in the state.

However, the Spartans' three losses, combined with the way Skyview has played recently, put the Storm back in the rankings this week.

Now, Olympia went to the wire with Bellarmine Prep -- a two-point conversion was the difference, so I kept the Bears at No. 5.

As for the Panthers in 3A, they only drop one spot, from No. 8 to 9, allowing Oak Harbor to climb one place heading into this week's showdown with Meadowdale Thursday.

Watching the way things are unfolding in 4A, the playoffs will be wide-open. I also think there's plenty of parity in 3A -- after Bellevue and Lakes.

It should make for an exciting finish to the season.

Here are this week's Class 4A and 3A rankings:

Class 4A

1. Eastlake (Sammamish) (8-0) beat No. 3 Skyline 28-21

2. Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma) (8-0) beat No. 5 Olympia 15-14

3. Chiawana (Pasco) (7-0) idle

4. Ferris (Spokane) (7-1) beat Lewis & Clark 24-21

5. Olympia (7-1) lost to No. 2 Bellarmine Prep 15-14

6. Kentlake (8-0) beat Emerald Ridge 58-26 Thursday

7. Federal Way (8-0) beat Spanaway Lake 49-0

8. Woodinville (8-0) beat Roosevelt 31-0

9. Lake Stevens (8-0) beat Stanwood 47-0

10. Skyview (Vancouver) (6-2) beat Columbia River 36-29 Friday

Keep an eye on: Bethel, Central Valley, Eisenhower, Gonzaga Prep, Lewis and Clark, Mead, Skyline, Union.

Class 3A

1. Bellevue (8-0) beat Mount Si 35-3

2. Lakes (Lakewood) (8-0) beat Auburn Mountainview 63-7 Thursday

3. O'Dea (Seattle) (8-0) beat No. 8 Seattle Prep 21-20 Thursday

4. Kamiakin (Kennewick) (8-0) beat Hanford 28-14 Thursday

5. Meadowdale (Lynnwood) (8-0) beat Lynnwood 42-7

6. Camas (7-1) beat Fort Vancouver 58-6

7. Peninsula (Gig Harbor) (7-1) beat Decatur 48-3

8. Oak Harbor (8-0) beat Marysville Getchell 69-0

9. Seattle Prep (7-1) lost to No. 3 O'Dea 21-20 Thursday

10. Mercer Island (6-2) beat Sammamish 45-6

Keep an eye on: Auburn Mountainview, Bonney Lake, Kennedy Catholic, Kennewick, Mount Si, Mountain View.