GAMEDAY POWER POLL - WEEK 12
One of the most intriguing championship games will most definitely be when Woodbridge hosts Osbourn. The Eagles just knocked out the top seed Battlefield Bobcats, but the job is much tougher this week as Rocket Williams and the defending state runner-up Vikings are hungry for more hardware....
Photo By: Mark Rogers / Woodbridge Football
If Chantilly is going to have any chance to win the regional championship against Oakton, they will have to get another solid performance from quarterback Roger Strittmatter. The Chargers and the Cougars play Saturday in what should be a great game for all to watch and listen to on the Gameday Radio Network......
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine
The first time Potomac Falls saw Broad Run, the outcome was 38-0. If the Panthers want their season to continue, they will need a big game from senior Greg Woodlief. The Panthers will travel to Ashburn in another rematch game to be played Friday night at Broad Run High School. Our live coverage will begin at 7pm with Bruce Bornarth and Tom Whipple on the call.
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine
STERLING, VA - The Second Season is fully underway and that means that from this point out, fewer changes to the Power Poll will occur. However, this past weekend of football proved to be one of the most turbulent of the 2008 football season with regard to who moved up in the Poll, and who moved out of the Poll. The biggest fall came with Battlefield who entered last week ranked #4 and undefeated. The Bobcats took it on the chin to the upstart Osbourn Eagles 22-20 in an opening round playoff thriller.
The top dawgs (Stone Bridge) held onto their spot at #1, but things get a little tougher for them this week as they travel to Thomas Edison (12-0) Friday. The curse of the #10 ranked team in the Gameday Power Poll was destroyed this week with Liberty crushing William Flemming. So that means Osbourn who enters the poll at #10 this week can relax right?
Not so fast there Osbourn, #2 ranked Woodbridge is next on the schedule. This week is regional championship week, and that should mean the best match-ups of the year. With a few more surprises, the Power Poll could once again look different next week, so stay tuned!
1. STONE BRIDGE (12-0)
Previous: # 1
Last Week: 42-0 win over Mount Vernon
This Week: at #4 Edison
The Stone Bridge Bulldogs beat up on Mount Vernon who entered the game 9-2 with hopes of shocking the state with a win. It didn't happen primarily because of the stifling Stone Bridge defense, which continues to make it hard on every opposing offense to score. The Bulldog defense will be under the microscope this week with a 12-0 Edison club awaiting their arrival in Alexandria Friday night. This will be the game of the year in Division 5, at least in the Northern Region.
2. WOODBRIDGE (11-0)
Previous: # 2
Last Week: 34-10 win over C.D Hylton
This Week: vs. #10 Osbourn
The Woodbridge Vikings started slowly against the Hylton Bulldogs, but pulled away for a big 34-10 win to advance to the Northwest Region Division 6 Final. The Vikings will see the 7-4 Osbourn Eagles this week, a team that just beat previously undefeated Cedar Run power Battlefield. This game could be close, and whether or not Woodbridge is prepared for a dogfight remains to be seen. Keep an eye on this one.
3. OAKTON (12-0)
Previous: # 4
Last Week: 49-43 win over West Springfield
This Week: vs. #8 Chantilly
The Oakton Cougars held on for a win against West Springfield 49-43 to improve to 12-0, the best record in Cougar history. However, with the red hot Chantilly Chargers coming to town on Saturday, Oakton needs to get ready for another close game. The first time the two teams met Oakton narrowly held on for a 17-15 win over the Chargers. It should be a great game for the fans to watch, and with the regional title on the line, the intensity will be amped up.
4. EDISON (12-0)
Previous: # 5
Last Week: 47-7 win over Madison
This Week: vs. #1 Stone Bridge
The Edison Eagles have finally made it to the game they wanted most this season, a rematch with defending champ Stone Bridge. This game however will be played on Edison's home turf, and that has many thinking it could be one of the best games of the year. Edison dismantled Madison on Friday 47-7, but they will need to play the game of their season if they want to dethrone the top dawgs in the region.
5. BROAD RUN (11-0)
Previous: # 6
Last Week: 47-28 win over Loudoun County
This Week: vs. Potomac Falls
The Broad Run Spartans handled Loudoun County as expected with a little Breon Earl and T.J Peeler, mixed in with some tough defense. The Spartans host the Group AA Division 4 regional title game this Friday night in a rematch with Potomac Falls (10-1). The Panthers were victorious over James Wood last week 26-17 to earn another shot at Broad Run. Expect a better game than the 38-0 Spartan win that took place in the regular season....
6. HANDLEY (11-0)
Previous: # 7
Last Week: 24-13 win over Millbrook
This Week: vs. Briar Woods
It is always tough to beat a team twice in one season, and Handley knows that as well as anyone. Their first meeting with Millbrook ended with a 28-26 win, but this time it was better for the Judges. They won the game 24-13 and put away any doubt that they are the favorite to win the division 3 regional championship. A tough Monticello team comes up route 81 this Saturday to take their shot at knocking off the Judges.....
7. LIBERTY (9-2)
Previous: # 10
Last Week: 35-6 win over William Fleming
This Week: vs. GW-Danville
I guess it is safe to say that if you have already been cursed in the #10 spot of the Gameday Power Poll, you become immune to the curse if you are ranked there again. The Liberty Eagles proved this true this past Saturday when they traveled down to Roanoke and put a thumping on the #2 seed William Flemming. The Eagles received 3 touchdown passes from quarterback Nick Potts, and the Eagle defense scored once to help Liberty advance to the regional championship game. The Eagles will host GW Danville this week in Bealeton in what will be the biggest game Liberty has played in over 4 years.
8. CHANTILLY (9-3)
Previous: NR
Last Week: 35-28 win over Westfield
This Week: at #3 Oakton
If you didn't catch the performance Charger tailback Torrian Pace put on this past week against Westfield, then you missed out. Pace ran for 351 yards on 36 carries and 5 touchdowns to help end Westfield's season. The Chargers now will get another shot at Oakton, a team they narrowly lost to 17-15 earlier in the season. Chantilly is by far one of the hottest teams in the Second Season.....
9. POTOMAC FALLS (10-1)
Previous: NR
Last Week: 26-17 win over James Wood
This Week: at #5 Broad Run
Moving back in the poll this week is Potomac Falls, winners over previously ranked James Wood in the first round of the Group AA playoffs. The Panthers played exceptional defense and hit some big plays in the passing game to earn another shot at Broad Run this week. The first contest between the Panthers and the Spartans wasn't great for Potomac Falls, but all they wanted was another chance, and now they have it. Let's see if the mulligan works out for this scrappy Panther squad.
10. OSBOURN (7-4)
Previous: NR
Last Week: 22-20 win over Battlefield
This Week: at #2 Woodbridge
The one team beside Chantilly that nobody wants to see in the post season is Osbourn. The Eagles proved that to be true on Friday when they took down the previously #4 ranked and unbeaten Battlefield Bobcats 22-20. Osbourn received a tremendous performance from star tailback Jerrell McFadden, who accounted for 210 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. Osbourn gets a tougher task this week in slowing down the Rocket (DeAntwan Williams) from Woodbridge. From one unbeaten to another this week, can the Eagles do it again? We'll find out this weekend.
HONORABLE MENTION:
11. Briar Woods (9-2): The Briar Woods Falcons ended their season on Friday against Monticello, losing 30-13 in the first round of the playoffs. It was the second straight season Briar Woods fell in the opening round of the post-season, but for a program just 4 years old, to be playing in the Second Season year after year is impressive. The future looks even brighter for the Falcons with quarterback Edwin Mends returning as just a sophomore next fall. Look out Dulles District!
12. Battlefield (10-1, Season Over): The Bobcats fell to Osbourn 22-20 this past Friday in a game that was close until the end. Battlefield again put together a great season, but fell short in the post-season. The good news for the Bobcats is they return quarterback Bo Revelle next season, and that should mean plenty of wins once again.
13. Westfield (9-3, Season Over): Few expected Westfield to be in the mix for a regional title appearance after losing over 40 seniors a year ago, but the Jordon Anderson led Bulldogs were right there again. Westfield fell to Chantilly 35-28 in one of the best games of the year, and Anderson finished out his career on a high note, totaling 200 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. Westfield will return quarterback Danny Fenyak next fall and several other promising players, giving the Bulldog faithful reason again to think playoffs in 2009.
14. West Springfield (8-4, Season Over): The Spartans did everything they could to keep their season alive, but in the end, they fell short to 12-0 Oakton 49-43. With the loss comes the end of the Bryn Renner era. Renner lived up to the hype as one of the great quarterbacks to ever play in this region. West Springfield will have some big shoes to fill next year, but doubting head coach Bill Renner is never a good idea. The Spartans will once again be a force in the region.
15. James Wood (8-3, Season Over): Mike Bolin's first year as head coach proved to be a successful one for the Colonels. However, James Wood couldn't get past that first round playoff hurdle, falling to Potomac Falls 27-16. The Colonels return quarterback Trae Tinsman next year, and that should give James Wood a great chance at having another stellar season. This program is here to stay......
