Gameday Power Poll - Week 10
Oakton's Jonathan Meadows falls head over heels as he enters the endzone during his team's 38-13 win over Herndon. Heading into the playoffs this Friday, Oakton will be seeded as the number one seed, giving them homefield advantage throughout the regional playoffs...
Photo By: Dave Bernhardt / Gameday Magazine
Handley's Jeremiah Wilson came up huge during his team's 17-10 win over #9 James Wood, as he found the endzone twice. Now Handley has an opportunity to head into the Division 3 playoffs as the number one seed
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday Magazine
Time has flown by rather fast as we now enter the "Second Season". Some teams are still finishing out their regular season, but we finally do know who the contenders are, who will be their challengers, and who is still fighting just to make the playoffs.
We saw two ranked teams lose last week, James Wood and Chantilly, but it was the Chargers who were the ones to drop out of the poll while Colonels fell just one spot to #9. In fact, Chantilly came in as our #10 ranked team, and fell victim to the "Curse of #10" as they lost on a last second touchdown to #5 Edison. For those counting at home, that now makes seven out of nine teams who were ranked in the tenth spot to have lost.
Our one newcomer to the poll, the Fauquier Falcons, enter into the #10 spot, where they will be trying to not only avoid the curse, but also the Liberty Eagles as they try and fight for a playoff spot.
Will Fauquier fall victim to the curse as they did in Week 6 of the Power Poll? Or will there be another monster first round playoff upset like there was last year with Chantilly and Robinson?
We'll wait and see, as for now, here is this week's Power Poll, our first of the Second Season.
1. STONE BRIDGE (10-0)
Previous: 1
Last Week: 42-14 win over Woodson
This Week: vs. Jefferson
As the Bulldogs have done all year, they cruised to yet another win, this time winning their tenth on the year and securing the Liberty District championship. Yet in the process, Stone Bridge lost two more key players to injury in linebacker Travis Hannam and lineman Jimmy Bradford. Stone Bridge was already missing starting quarterback Patrick Thompson, making this team reach into its bench at a crucial point in the year.
2. WOODBRIDGE (9-0)
Previous: 2
Last Week: 45-20 win over Freedom-Woodbridge
This Week: at Gar-Field
Woodbridge came one step closer of securing a perfect finish to their regular season after they easily dispatched of visiting Freedom. So far this year, the Vikings have plowed on through every opponent they've been matched up with, and look as ready as any team to make a serious state title run. Right now, Woodbridge appears to be in a direct collision course with #3 Battlefield, another team which has been flawless so far on the year.
3. BATTLEFIELD (9-0)
Previous: 3
Last Week: 45-0 win over Culpeper
This Week: vs. Loudoun Valley
Battlefield beat up on lowly Culpeper last week to improve their record to 9-0 on the year, and extend their regular season win streak to 18 games. Should the Bobcats beat visiting Loudoun Valley this week, they would be able to lock up a #1 seed in the Northwest Region Division 6 playoffs, which would be key considering they would more than likely face #2 Woodbridge.
4. OAKTON (10-0)
Previous: 4
Last Week: 38-13 win over Herndon
This Week: vs. South County
Avoiding a mental hangover after their victory over Westfield, the Oakton Cougars took care of business as they went out and notched a decisive 38-13 victory over Herndon. The win gave Oakton the #1 seed in the Division 6 Northern Region playoffs, where they will be matched up against South County, a team which has been known to give some of the better teams in the area all they can handle.
5. EDISON (10-0)
Previous: 5
Last Week: 20-17 win over Chantilly
This Week: vs. R.E. Lee
With a come-from-behind win on the road against Chantilly last week, which was orchestrated in the final seconds of play, Edison was able to lock up the #1 seed in the Northern Region Division 5 playoffs. Seeing as all roads point to Stone Bridge, the homefield advantage Edison gained could prove very fruitful. For now, however, the Eagles must focus on cross-town rival Lee in the first round of playoffs this week.
6. BROAD RUN (9-0)
Previous: 6
Last Week: 44-22 win over Freedom-South Riding
This Week: at Park View
The Broad Run Spartans enter this week in very familiar territory where a win against Park View would not only give them a record of 10-0, but also their second straight outright district title. Also to keep in mind is the chance for Broad Run to be playing for homefield advantage throughout the regional playoffs should they win on Friday against their rival, the Park View Patriots.
7. HANDLEY (8-1)
Previous: 7
Last Week: 17-10 win over #9 James Wood
This Week: at Brentsville
Facing a chance to win the Northwestern District title, the Handley Judges delivered, as they defeated James Wood by a score of 17-10 to give them their first district championship since 2005. The rights to the district crown also should ensure the Judges the #1 seed in the Region II Division 3 playoffs, which makes them an instant threat to challenge for a region title.
8. WESTFIELD (8-2)
Previous: 9
Last Week: 58-40 win over Centreville
This Week: vs. Herndon
Yes, you read that right. The Westfield Bulldogs did beat rival Centreville 58-40 last week in a game which nearly saw one of the most miraculous comebacks achieved by any team in this area. Up 33-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Bulldogs withstood a furious comeback effort from their rivals, which saw them bring the game to within a touchdown in the third quarter. Westfield eventually prevailed, and with James Wood losing, they move up a spot and also get to exact a little revenge this week against Herndon, a team which snapped their nearly three year regular season unbeaten streak.
9. JAMES WOOD (8-2)
Previous: 8
Last Week: 17-10 loss to #7 Handley
This Week: BYE
Despite losing to #7 Handley by a touchdown, the Colonels manage to still stay in the Power Poll as they slip back one spot in the rankings. James Wood should still qualify for the playoffs, but would most likely go on the road for the first round. Luckily for head coach Mike Bolin and staff, they get a whole week to rest and prepare for the playoffs, which is something that could favor the Colonels in a big way down the stretch.
10. FAUQUIER (7-2)
Previous: NR
Last Week: 37-18 win over Osbourn Park
This Week: at Liberty
Entering the dreaded #10 spot are the Fauquier Falcons. So far on the year, our #10 ranked team has lost seven out of nine times the poll has been released, while the two teams which have gone on to beat the curse are no longer in the Power Poll. Yet the Falcons have to look past any curses because their annual rivalry with Liberty in the "Bird Bowl" carries with it enormous playoff implications. If either team wants to have a shot at making the playoffs, they must win. Simple as that. Keep in mind too that in the past couple of years, Liberty has had Fauquier's number in this annual backyard brawl, which doesn't bode too well for Falcon fans.
HONORABLE MENTION:
11. Potomac Falls (8-1): No team could have used a win more so than Potomac Falls. After getting drubbed by #6 Broad Run, the Panthers came out and grabbed a crucial district win against upstart Briar Woods by a score of 42-27.
12. Chantilly (7-3): Chantilly was the latest victim to fall to the "Curse of #10" as they lost on a last second touchdown from Edison. Nonetheless, the Chargers enter the playoffs as the #3 seed and still stand as a legitimate region title contender.
13. West Springfield (7-3): This is certainly not the team anyone wants to face in the playoffs. With their deadly offense, which has put up 50+ points on some of the area's best teams, the Patriot District champs could very well make quite a run in the "Second Season."
14. Mount Vernon (8-2): If there was a team to challenge either Edison or Stone Bridge, then this would be the team to do so. So far on the year, the Majors have exceeded expectations, and could make the season complete with an upset in the playoffs.
15. Liberty (7-2): If Liberty wants any shot at making the playoffs, they must beat their arch-rival Fauquier in the annual "Bird Bowl". The Eagles have had a great deal of success in this game, which should somewhat reassure Eagle fans.
