GAMEDAYNRV POWER POLL: Week 5
Pulaski County's Nubian Peak and his Cougar teammates continue to hold down the No. 2 spot in the GamedayNRV Power Poll after a hard-fought 10-7 win against Jefferson Forest Friday night.
Photo by David Grimes
Radford quarterback Dontae Carter has the Bobcats off and running this season. Radford has won eight straight games dating back to last season and are looking to make it win number nine this week against Rural Retreat.
Photo by David Grimes
Fall happens this morning a bit before noon and with it the halfway point of the high school football season is upon us. Teams are embarking on their last couple of chances to pick up some VHSL Power Points just in case they do not win their respective districts. With that in mind a potential game of the year candidate involving top three teams happens this week. So here is autumn's first issue of the Power Poll.
1 - William Fleming Colonels (4-0)
Last Week: Ranked #1 Off.
This Week: vs. #3 Salem (3-1)
The Colonels took last week off and now start preparations for the always tough and formidable Salem Spartans visit to the Colonels home field. Salem roughed up Fleming a bit last year in Salem by the score of 27-14. This definitely looks to be the Colonels toughest contest until a visit to G.W. Danville on October 17th that will likely decide the Western Valley District champ.
2 - Pulaski County Cougars (4-0)
Last Week: Ranked #2. Win 10-7 @ Jefferson Forest
This Week: Off. Next Game: 10-6 @ Lord Botetourt (1-4)
Things are definitely looking very positive for the Cougars in 2008. Luke Watson has stepped in nicely at quarterback. Pulaski County took a very tough and hard fought road win at Jefferson Forest on a late fourth quarter field goal. They take a week off before hitting the road to Daleville to face an injury ravaged Lord Botetourt team in two weeks.
3 - Salem Spartans (3-1)
Last Week: Ranked #3. Win 14-12 vs. Northside
This Week: @ #1 William Fleming (4-0)
One wonders if the Spartans were looking ahead to the game with the Colonels last Friday as Northside was two conversions away from forcing overtime against the Spartans in a game they should have won handily. Coach Stephen Magenbauer needs to get his troops refocused in a hurry.
4 - Floyd County Buffaloes (4-0)
Last Week: Ranked #4. Win 28-25 vs. Fort Chiswell
This Week: @ Tunstall (3-2)
Are the Buffs a team of destiny? This is two straight weeks Floyd County has needed some late heroics by quarterback Luke Harris to remain unbeaten against a much improved Fort Chiswell team from last year. This Friday the Buffs warm up the bus for a long ride to the outskirts of Danville to face Group AA Tunstall, who the Buffs ran all over in a 41-0 rout last year. A potential Three Rivers District unbeaten showdown with Glenvar looms to open October.
5 - Blacksburg Bruins (3-0)
Last Week: Ranked #5. Off
This Week: @ Lord Botetourt (1-4)
This week's game for the Bruins comes on the heels of some legal matters involving a player on the team. But Blacksburg comes into the game healed up after an off week to face a Lord Botetourt team picked to win the Blue Ridge District this year, but has the longest line at the ER on this side of the state. The Cavs can score points, but also have given up at least 30 in all four losses. This game could be an aerial show as the Bruins Trey Gresh and the Cavs star sophomore running back turned quarterback Dalton Hargrove can air it out. Hargrove threw for nearly 400 yards last week and Gresh is about 900 yards from setting the career passing yards mark for the Bruins.
6 - Radford Bobcats (3-0)
Last Week: Ranked #7. Off
This Week: vs. Rural Retreat (1-3)
Quick who has the longest current regular season winning streak in the Roanoke and New River Valley? The Radford Bobcats are the owners of eight straight victories under Coach Matthew Saunders, and are the hottest team going in the New River Valley. Radford has won two straight games over playoff teams in reigning MED champ Grayson County and Group A, Division 2 semifinalist George Wythe. Now comes another playoff team from last year in the Rural Retreat Indians. Rural Retreat is a bit down this season and Radford should have no problems extending the streak to nine straight games. They have to stay healthy as trips to Christiansburg and their TRD opener at Giles happen in the next two weeks.
7 - Christiansburg Blue Demons (2-1)
Last Week: Ranked #6. Loss 21-14 @ Bassett
This Week: vs. Patrick Henry (1-3)
That is two straight years the Blue Demons have suffered a tough loss to Bassett, this one coming 21-14 after a late interception in Bengal territory as the Blue Demons were driving to tie the score in the final seconds. Coach Tim Cromer has the leadership ability to help his team get over the loss a chance to get some decent VHSL Power Points comes on Friday with a visit from Group AAA Patrick Henry, who is fresh off their first win of the season. Last year the Blue Demons took a 23-7 road win and are favored to do the same at home before a big rivalry game with Radford happens the following Friday.
8 - William Byrd Terriers (2-2)
Last Week: Ranked #8. Loss 49-34 vs. Brookville
This Week: @ Carroll County (1-3)
The brutal part of the Terriers schedule is now complete and Byrd is probably the state's best .500 team in Group AA. A two touchdown loss to the top team in Group AA and scoring 34 points to boot makes Coach Jeff Highfill's Terriers the midseason pick to win the Blue Ridge District this year. Now comes a long drive down both Interstates 81 and 77 to Hillsville to face Carroll County. Expect Byrd to pull back over the .500 mark in a big way.
9 - Giles Spartans (2-2)
Last Week: Honorable Mention. Win 44-34 @ George Wythe
This Week: Off. Next Game: 10-3 @ Lebanon
The Spartans have now found their offense and the rest of Region C better take note as Coach Jeff Williams and company won a revenge game against a George Wythe team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Cody Journell and Justin Gautier combined for over 300 yards rushing in the game. This comes at the right time as coming off the Spartans off week is a trip to the coalfields to face Region D, Division 2 power Lebanon. Giles squashed Lebanon 49-21 in Pearisburg last year thanks to a 35 point third quarter. This one looks to be much closer.
10 - Glenvar Highlanders (3-0)
Last Week: Ranked #10. Win 45-26 vs. Covington
This Week: vs. James River (1-3)
Glenvar continues their improvement from last year's forgettable season by staying perfect on the year. But lots of question marks come from the win against a Covington team that barely has enough players to field a team. How did a winless team come back from 19 points down to take a lead in the fourth quarter? The Highlanders have some time to answer those questions before TRD play begins in a couple of weeks as another Pioneer District team comes to Salem Friday night. Glenvar should remain perfect against one win James River.
Honorable Mention:
11 - Northside Vikings (2-3) - If not for some PAT woes, Northside had a shot to possibly upset Salem. A test against Roanoke County rival Hidden Valley beckons for the Vikings.
12 - Narrows Green Wave (3-1) - The Green Wave rebounded nicely from their loss to Giles with a big win over Twin Valley. The Mountain Empire District opener is next against 2007 champ, but winless in 2008, Grayson County in Independence.
13 - Cave Spring Knights (2-2) - Cave Spring let one slip away in a 14-7 loss to Patrick Henry last Friday. An off week happens before the Knights final non district game against William Byrd.
14 - Auburn Eagles (2-1) - Coach Phil Collett has found a star in JC McPeak who ran for over 300 yards against Craig County last week. Defense is a big question as the Eagles gave up 29 points to a winless Rockets team that had scored just seven points on the season going into the game. A trip to Buena Vista to face winless Parry McCluer happens on Friday.
15 - Eastern Montgomery Mustangs (2-2) - The Mustangs had a chance to make some noise in Group A, Division 1 last week but laid a goose egg on the road at Bland County. East Mont gets this week off before facing what should be a 0-5 Parry McCluer team in two weeks.
