Gameday Power Poll: Week 13
STERLING, VA - The theme in the Power Poll, as it has been all year is to WIN. Lose, no matter the score or opponent, and you will drop. All of that couldn't be exemplified better than in the playoffs these past two weeks. The way the Power Poll has played out, we see Woodbridge back in the Power Poll for the first time since the first weeks of the year while Chantilly, the pre-season #2, is on the outside looking in with three losses.
So go ahead and take a look for yourself, and see just how important winning in the playoffs can be to a team's spot in the Power Poll. Remember, two more weeks until we release the final Power Poll, so enjoy what's left!
1. WESTFIELD 13-0
Previous: 1
Next Up: at Oscar Smith
Westfield flexed their muscle for the whole Northern Region to see on Saturday after they beat down the Spartans to the tune of 58-34. They've been #1 throughout the entire season but now that ranking gets put to the ultimate test when they go up against Oscar Smith, a team regarded as the state's next best team outside of Westfield.
2. SHERANDO 12-0
Previous: 2
Next Up: at Powhatan
Last Friday night was the perfect example of why Sherando deserves our #2 ranking. They played near-flawless on defense and offense, and flashed to everyone their explosive playmakers. They haven't quite caught up with the likes of Westfield, but Sherando has proven to be the next best team around these parts.
3. STONE BRIDGE 12-1
Previous: 3
Next Up: vs. Phoebus
Despite shutting down a solid Edison team, Stone Bridge is forced to stay put at the third position thanks in part to Sherando and Westfield being so dominant in their respective region title games. With strong and fast Phoebus coming to town this week, Stone Bridge sure has their hands full, but a win against the defending state champs would greatly impact their ranking.
4. POTOMAC 12-0
Previous: 4
Next Up: vs. Hanover
Potomac has quietly been in the #4 spot for much of later part of the season. Last Saturday, they put down a great George Washington-Danville team that had been scoring 42 points a game. They now have a great chance to continue their perfect season when they go up against Central Region champion Hanover.
5. WOODBRIDGE 8-4
Previous: NR
Next Up: at Hermitage
Make that two straight upsets for Woodbrige. First, they knocked off the one seed of Battlefield, then proceeded to beat rival Gar-Field to become Northwest Region champs despite being the four seed. At this point, it's hard for us at Gameday to ignore Woodbrige any longer as their glass slipper has fit perfectly and taken them for quite a ride. One more win for the Vikings and this team will find itself playing for a state championship.
6. WEST SPRINGFIELD 10-3
Previous: 6
Next Up: Season Finished
West Springfield is able to stay at #6 in the poll thanks in part to other teams losing big in their region championship games. Of the teams not playing anymore, West Springfield emerges as the best of the bunch, and the way their offense sliced through Westfield's defense helps prove that. A whole host of playmakers return for West Springfield next year, and they will undoubtedly be a top contender for next year's season.
7. EDISON 10-3
Previous: 5
Next Up: Season Finished
Edison's season came to a close at the hands of #3 Stone Bridge and as a result, they slipped two spots to #7. While most of Edison's big-time players will graduate this year, Stephon Robertson and Corey Washington do return for the Eagles as they aim to get back to the top of the Northern Region.
8. PARK VIEW 10-2
Previous: 7
Next Up: Season Finished
After their 38-0 loss to Sherando, Park View slips one spot in the Power Poll. Next year Park View will have Kenny Smith returning as well as receiver Tommy Sedeski, who racked up close to 1,000 yards receiving. There's certainly plenty to look forward to in 2008 as the Patriots try and continue their tradition of winning.
9. BROAD RUN 10-1
Previous: 9
Next Up: Season Finished
In this week's Power Poll, Broad Run stays in the #9 spot behind all the region finalists. There is still some potential for Broad Run to be shifted a few spots depending on the outcome of several state semi-final match-ups, but they will more than likely stay put in the #9 position.
10. BATTLEFIELD 9-2
Previous: 10
Next Up: Season Finished
Despite losing to Woodbridge in the playoffs, that loss now doesn't look as nearly detrimental now that Woodbridge has advanced all the way to the state-semifinals. As with Broad Run, Battlefield will more than likely finish at the season at the #10 spot in the Power Poll.
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
CHANTILLY 8-3: With three losses, it looks less than likely that Chantilly can climb back into the Power Poll, but again, we have to wait for this weekend to fully play out.
MILLBROOK 9-3: Millbrook falls out of the Power Poll after they fell to Monticello in the Division 3 Region II championship. Like so many other teams this year, Millbrook came in as a "sleeper" but went out with a bang. Look out for this team and program in the years to come.
FAUQUIER 8-3: Fauquier's season ended after they lost to #4 Potomac, and their fate looks as if they will stay put outside the Power Poll.
JAMES WOOD 8-3: In all of James Wood's losses, there wasn't one game where they were clearly out of it and they also nearly upset #2 Sherando in the opening round of the playoffs. That's all certainly enough to still get them recognition for the Power Poll.
