Football Power Poll: Week 2
Sherwood still tops the public ranks, but a new private school number 1 this week
Week 2 GamedayMD Football Power Poll
Brought to you by Potomac Valley Orthopaedic Associates
BY ADAM CHASEN AND JEREMY MORELAND:
What a weekend of action. We saw public school football open with scoring galore, and an overtime thriller for good measure. The inaugural I-95 classic was a success, but a 1-2 record for the D.C. area's best playing Baltimore's elite is not what everyone had expected, especially Good Counsel. Now that every team, (outside of the IAC) has had a chance to at least perform in a regular season contest, we start to get a better understanding of where each team stands.
The private school top 5 ranks the private schools only in Montgomery County, Washington D.C., and Prince Georges County.
Private:
1. Dematha (Hyattsville, MD) - (1-0) Impressive win in opener over a strong Loyola squad has this Stags team making the jump from a number 2 ranking into the number one spot. Power running with Delonte Morton and offensive lineman Cyrus Kouandjio is a force to be reckoned with. Luckily we get to see the top two privates square off soon enough.
Next Up: @Friendship Edison (Being Played at Bishop McNamara) 1pm Saturday
2. Good Counsel (Olney, MD) - (1-1) Loss to Gilman, Baltimore's best team, without star Wes Brown, one week after national television win in Ohio. Good Counsel falls from top spot, but will have at least one shot at Dematha to regain number 1 ranking, more of a 1B ranking for now then a number 2.
Next Up: Idle (Home - State College (PA) September 17th)
3. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) - (1-1) The District's highest rated private fell to 1-1 on the season after traveling to play McDonogh in Baltimore. A much anticipated matchup at Georgetown Prep on September 18th should solidify the rankings one way or another.
Next Up: Idle (@Georgetown Prep September 18th)
4. Georgetown Prep (Bethesda, MD) - (1-0) The Prep running game overwhelmed a strong Fork Union squad on Friday afternoon. Preps size and increasingly versatile offense, has many intrigued to see if they can upset some tough teams on the upcoming schedule.
Next Up: @Paul IV 7pm Friday
5. St. Albans (Washington, D.C.) - (0-0) Coach Schnell returns a capable squad that went undefeated in the IAC last season. With an extra week to prepare, the Bulldogs will open with O'Connell Saturday, and face possibly the team's toughest challenge in Bishop McNamara on the 18th of September.
Next Up: @Bishop O'Connell 1pm Saturday
The Public School rankings are for Montgomery County only:
Public:
1. Sherwood (Olney, MD) - (1-0) Week 1's 38-3 victory over Wootton was an impressive performance, but not a surprise. A coaching change just weeks before the start of the season has not adjusted the expectations for this powerful veteran team.
Next Up: Home Richard Montgomery 6:30pm Friday
2. Damascus (Damascus, MD) - (1-0) The Brandon Phelps and Connor Frazier led squad came out strong against Magruder in Week 1, but we expect a much tougher contest this week. The Hornets definitely have the talent to reach number 1 in the power poll; a win on the road this Friday certainly would make us examine the number 1 spot.
Next Up: @Quince Orchard 6:30pm Friday
3. Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, MD) - (1-0) Coach Mencarini's team used the running game for four quarters and opened game 1 with ease, but will need Drew Murphy and the passing game to balance the attack against Damascus. An impressive win could launch the Cougars right to the top of the week 3 power poll.
Next Up: Home Damascus 6:30pm Friday
4. Whitman (Bethesda, MD) - (1-0) Vikings cruised to a 35-7 victory in game 1. Henry Kuhn and the offense will need to keep scoring against a Walter Johnson team that has won four straight. Whitman may be the quiet giant on the power poll as they made the playoffs in '09 and return a strong portion of the team. I would not be surprised in the least to see the Vikings rise to the top in '10.
Next Up: Home Walter Johnson 6:30pm Friday
5. Seneca Valley (Germantown, MD) - (1-0) Strong overtime statement made against Clarksburg. Ed Cunningham showed off his big play ability as well as his short yardage aptitude. With Cyrus Britt unfortunately out with injury there remains plenty of talent at the skill positions. On the road this week we could see Coach Kim's crew jump out to the start they had envisioned a season ago at 2-0.
Next Up: @Churchill 6:30pm Friday
6. Paint Branch (Burtonsville, MD) - (1-0) a close game against Blair to start the season and a dangerous B-CC squad in week 2, should test the new group of Panthers. Last year the defense was the team's unsung hero, this year it could be the key for Coach Nesmith and Co.
Next Up: Home B-CC (Played at Blair) 6:30pm Friday
7. Clarksburg (Clarksburg, MD) - (0-1) Tough loss in overtime to start things off. Twice in two years the opener against Seneca was decided in mere seconds, tough to think any less of Coach Hurd's team because of it. Track record shows Clarksburg will remain in the hunt throughout.
Next Up: Home Northwood 6:30pm Friday
8. Gaithersburg (Gaithersburg, MD) - (1-0) Shocking result to get out of the gates, not because of the win, but 45-0 over Churchill was not what we saw coming. The Trojans set off the alarms, showing off dangerous speed, home against Wootton now being looked at as a "should win" game. Consistency could see this group climb up the chart.
Next Up: Home Wootton 6:30pm Friday
9. Springbrook (Silver Spring, MD) - (1-0) An under the radar win against Blake, with all of the high scoring affairs in game 1. A one spot drop for Springbrook on the poll should be seen more as a jump by Gaithersburg then a slight. Devon Pestano and his Blue Devils will face a hungry Northwest team and a chance for a good start.
Next Up: Home Northwest 6:30pm Friday
10. Walter Johnson (Bethesda, MD) - (1-0) A barnburner of a game last Friday night, the Wildcats scored more points in the 4th quarter (27) then most scored in a full game. A 4-game win streak dating back to last season, and 492 yards of offense, has convinced our crew that a top-10 spot was deserved. As tough a matchup as they come, Whitman will be in the way of a 5th straight victory.
Next Up: @Whitman 6:30pm Friday
