The Fishers High School football team had quietly been building up its program in textbook fashion — until now.

The Tigers are starting to get some notice, making their first appearance in the state rankings at No. 8 in The Associated Press and Coaches polls following Friday’s 10-6 victory over then-No. 5 Hamilton Southeastern. The Royals, who host Brownsburg (2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday, are still receiving votes in both polls but fell out of the top 10.

“It’s a nice honor,” said Fishers coach Rick Wimmer, whose team travels to Westfield (2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday. “But it’ll mean a lot more if we’re there at the end of the year. Then it means we’ve had a special year. At this point, it’s a nice honor and we’re happy to have it but we know we have to play well this week to stay in there.”

Fishers has steadily improved each season from 1-10 to 6-4 to 7-4 last year with victories over Avon, Zionsville and Lawrence North. Last Friday’s victory was the Tigers’ first over a ranked opponent and against its in-town rival in the school’s four-year history.

“That win was certainly important to us and came at a good time (but) you can’t put too much into one game,” Wimmer said. “There’s too much work left to do and we’re not at all close to where we want to be, but it shows we’re making steps in the right direction.”