GAMEDAY POWER POLL - WEEK 8
Stone Bridge, Woodbridge, Battlfield, and Oakton round out the Top 4 in the Gameday Power Poll after week 8. The Cougars have the biggest test this week of their season when they travel to #8 Westfield.....
The top ranked Stone Bridge Bulldogs cruised to a 35-0 win over Madison last Friday to hold on to the top spot once again this week. The Bulldogs haven't played a close game yet, but the second season is around the corner, and that could change when the playoffs begin.
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The Herndon Hornets enter this week's Gameday Power Poll in the dreaded #10 spot after upsetting #4 ranked Westfield 29-28. The curse of #10 could once again happen this week with Herndon traveling to Robinson......
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STERLING, VA - With three weeks to go in Group AA, and two to go in Group AAA, the 2008 football season is coming down the back stretch. Many of the horses expected to run out front are still there, and some are falling back to the pack quickly.
The big upsets last week involved the previously unbeaten Westfield Bulldogs, who gambled and lost on a two point conversion in double overtime to Herndon. The Hornets now can win a share of the Concorde district title with two more wins.
The James Wood Colonels also gave fans a tremendous performance against Northwestern District power Sherando. The Colonels held on to beat Ross Metheny and crew 17-14.
The Hornets and the Colonels both moved up in the Gameday Power Poll , while Westfield and Sherando dropped. This week, we will see #6 vs #7, and #4 vs #8 as Judgement night in the Dulles and Concorde unfolds Friday night. Should be a fun week of hype here at GamedayMagazine.com......Here's this week's Gameday Power Poll Top 10.
1. STONE BRIDGE BULLDOGS (8-0)
Last Week: Ranked # 1
Defeated Madison 35-0
Up Next: Thomas Jefferson
The Stone Bridge Bulldogs pounded Madison 35-0 and continued an impressive streak, remaining unbeaten in regular season play in the Liberty District since they joined the league in 2005. Stone Bridge should have no problem with Thomas Jefferson, but a more interesting game looms with W.T Woodson to close the season out as the Cavaliers are also still unbeaten in district play.
2. WOODBRIDGE VIKINGS (8-0)
Last Week: Ranked # 2
Defeated Forest Park 53-19
Up Next: C.D Hylton
The Woodbridge Vikings continued to run parallel with Stone Bridge, rolling past Forest Park 53-19. The Vikings have dominated opponents this year with their outstanding running game, but give credit to their defense, which continues to play lights out. The Vikings get their biggest test in the Cardinal District with C.D Hylton coming to town this Friday...
3. BATTLEFIELD BOBCATS (8-0)
Last Week: Ranked # 3
Defeated Osbourn 17-14
Up Next: Fauquier
The Battlefield Bobcats overcame a hard nosed Osbourn Eagles team last Friday to remain undefeated heading into week eight of the season. The Bobcats play Fauquier who is 6-1 and easily the toughest opponent standing in the way for Battlefield to finish a perfect 10-0. Look for this game to be close for 3 quarters, but the Bobcats are the better team in the end. After the Falcons, the final two opponents for Battlefield have a combined record of 1-13.....
4. OAKTON COUGARS (8-0)
Last Week: Ranked # 5
Defeated Robinson 43-31
Up Next: #8 Westfield
The Oakton Cougars expected to be undefeated when Westfield appeared next on the schedule, and that mission has been accomplished. The Cougars trailed in the first half last week against Robinson, but eventually pulled away 43-31 to stay unbeaten. Friday's game against #8 Westfield sets up the game of the year in the Concorde District. The winner of that game has the inside track to the Concorde title, but the upstart Herndon Hornets will be waiting for Oakton right after Westfield take their best shot at them. We will learn everything we need to know about Oakton in the final two weeks of the regular season.....
5. EDISON EAGLES (8-0)
Last Week: Ranked # 6
Defeated Falls Church 45-6
Up Next: Washington-Lee
After the VHSL's ruling this past week, the Eagles came out and smashed winless Falls Church 45-6. Up next on the schedule is Washington-Lee, an improved team under new coach Josh Shapiro. However, the Eagles are far too explosive to drop this one, and they should be 9-0 when they head to the showdown in Chantilly. The Eagles are for real, but we won't know how for real until they play the Chargers in the season finale.
6. POTOMAC FALLS PANTHERS (7-0)
Last Week: Ranked # 7
Defeated Freedom (South Riding) 54-0
Up Next: #7 Broad Run
The Panthers did what most anticipated, they dismantled Freedom early and often en route to a 54-0 victory. The win gave Potomac Falls their 7th of the season, and they sit atop the Dulles District with the #7 ranked Broad Run Spartans. It just so happens that this week, these two heated rivals will finally see one another on the gridiron. The winner will most definitely win the Dulles District, and the loser will most likely still get in the post-season with power points. With Briar Woods waiting for the Panthers after the Spartans get done with them, it is safe to say toughest stretch for Potomac Falls lies ahead, but they appear more than ready for it.
7. BROAD RUN SPARTANS (7-0)
Last Week: Ranked # 8
Defeated Loudoun County 37-17
Up Next: #6 Potomac Falls
The Spartans exploded on offense last week behind the play of tailback T.J Peeler, who rushed for 249 yards and 4 touchdowns against a good Loudoun County defense. Peeler's emergence comes at the perfect time as the Spartans need to establish a running game against the Potomac Falls Panthers to win. For all intensive purposes, Friday's game against Potomac Falls is for the Dulles District title. A win for Broad Run should wrap things up with the final two Spartan opponents having a 3-13 combined record.
8. WESTFIELD BULLDOGS (7-1)
Last Week: Ranked # 4
Lost To #10 Herndon In Double Overtime 29-28
Up Next: #4 Oakton
The Westfield Bulldogs haven't dropped in our poll in two years, but that changed when Herndon knocked them from their perch last Saturday 29-28. The double overtime thriller was a tough defeat for Westfield, which now must be near perfect to win the Concorde District. A win against Oakton though will erase the memories of Saturday's loss to the Hornets, and put the Bulldogs back in the driver's seat for the title.
9. HANDLEY JUDGES (6-1)
Last Week: Ranked # 9
Defeated Millbrook 28-26
Up Next: Warren County
With a big win over Millbrook last Saturday at the Bowl, the Handley Judges are now just one more big win away from a Northwestern District championship. With James Wood (7-1) taking care of Sherando on Friday night, the Judges and Colonels are headed for a title showdown one week from Friday. However, Handley hasn't crushed anyone in their district. In fact, their last 4 wins have been by a combined 23 points, which means they can't look past 3-5 Warren County on Friday. Bottom line is, they should prevail, and next week's game against James Wood could be one of the best of the year.
10. HERNDON HORNETS (6-2)
Last Week: Not Ranked
Defeated then #4 Westfield 29-28 (2OT)
Up Next: Robinson
Easily the best story of the Concorde this season, the Herndon Hornets pulled the ultimate upset over the Westfield Bulldogs last Saturday. The Hornet's win snapped the Bulldog 17 game winning streak in the regular season, and made the Concorde District title race much more interesting. Herndon only has one loss in district, and that was to Chantilly earlier in the year. However, the Hornets have to travel this week to Robinson in what will be a very close game, and then travel to the Concorde's only remaining undefeated team in Oakton the following week. A win over Robinson would not only give Herndon a chance to win a district title in the season finale, it would also end the #10 ranked curse that has been steady all year long in the Gameday Power Poll.
HONORABLE MENTION
JAMES WOOD COLONELS (6-1)
The Colonels had some votes for entering the top 10, but the fact that they gave up 512 yards of total offense to Sherando, and nearly gave away the game after having first and goal in the final seconds leaves them on the edge of the Gameday Power Poll Top 10. A win this week against Skyline Friday could be enough to catapult them into the elite.
CHANTILLY CHARGERS (6-2)
Mike Lalli's team continues to impress, and they are starting to peak at the right time. A win over Centreville Friday would be the first in 14 years, and it would give Chantilly a great chance to be one of the top 5 seeds in the Division 6 playoffs. A showdown with Edison looms in the week after, but Chantilly is not a team anyone wants to see in the post-season....
SHERANDO WARRIORS (5-2)
The Sherando Warriors did everything they could in the second half to come back and beat James Wood, but it wasn't meant to be. The Warriors still have an outside chance at the post-season, but they will have to be perfect the rest of the way, and hope for some help. Ross Metheny's ankle injury is a major concern for the Warriors, and his health will be key if Sherando can sneak in the second season.
C.D HYLTON BULLDOGS (5-2)
The Bulldogs have rattled off 4 straight wins with the most recent being a 23-3 victory over Freedom (Woodbridge). While optimism is high for Hylton, those 4 wins were against teams with a combined record of 7-21. They get the real test Friday against undefeated and #2 ranked Woodbridge....
BRIAR WOODS FALCONS (6-1)
After Broad Run crushed their spirit some, the Falcons have rebounded to put themselves in contention still for a share of the Dulles District championship. The Falcons put Park View down for the first time in school history last week, and will face 5-2 Heritage this week. A win over the Pride would open some eyes and once again make people believe the Falcons are a legit title contender.
