With apologies to the teams that have played as well (or as poorly) as expected, here are some ...

SURPRISES

Thirty-six metro teams are 2-0. Many, such as Eden Prairie and Wayzata, were expected to be undefeated at this point.

However, at least five teams have opened eyes with their early-season performances.

The biggest surprise could be Elk River. The program, which suffered through a winless 2010 season marred by a well-publicized hazing incident, defeated Big Lake in the season opener and upset Cambridge-Isanti 44-36 Friday night.

Cambridge-Isanti had won five consecutive games over the Elks, including two victories last year by a combined score of 89-14.

The Elks have won largely because of a strong rushing attack led by running back Moses Saygbe, who rushed for three touchdowns against Cambridge-Isanti, and slippery QB Corey Collins, who set up the Elks' first touchdown with a 59-yard run.

Also sitting nicely with pleasantly surprising 2-0 records are Red Wing, which has not won more than two games in a season since 2004; Centennial, expected to be a middle-of-the-pack team in the Northwest Suburban but fresh off victories over Osseo and Coon Rapids; Holy Angels, which has rolled up 77 points in two games; and St. Francis, which also started fast in 2010 by winning its first three games before losing five of its final six.

SLOW STARTERS

It would be easy to classify Eastview's 0-2 start as a sign of difficulties to come, but the Lightning has been in this position before. Recently, in fact.

Eastview was 0-2 in 2010 before winning seven of eight games and advancing to the Section 3, 5A championship game, where it lost to Rosemount.

Eastview could be primed for a repeat. The Lightning should be favored to win its next four games -- at Eagan, at home against Bloomington Kennedy and Apple Valley and at Burnsville.

Others who are unexpectedly winless are Maple Grove, which is attempting to re-establish itself under new coach Matt Lombardi; Chanhassen, which had high hopes with a team loaded with third-year starters; and Andover, expected to be in the top half of the Northwest Suburban with eight starters back on defense.

OUTSTATE UPDATE

 • Long Prairie-Grey Eagle moved from the West Central to the Prairie Conference in hopes of becoming more competitive. The move paid off Friday as the Thunder broke the state's longest losing streak with a 21-14 victory over West Central Area. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle's last on-field victory came in 2005; there was a victory by forfeit in 2006.

• Sauk Rapids scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a 23-yard field goal by backup kicker Brock Jeppeson with 12 seconds left, to beat rival Sartell 25-22.

THE WEEK AHEAD

A look at some of the key metro matchups between undefeated teams this week:

• Champlin Park at Blaine: the Northwest Suburban's most heated rivalry.

• St. Thomas Academy at Mahtomedi: a rock 'em, sock 'em tussle between two undefeated Classic Suburban powers.

• St. Michael-Albertville at Rogers: for control of the Mississippi 8.