Football Power Poll: Week 9
Gonzaga has a chance to win the WCAC with a win against Good Counsel Saturday
Week 9 GamedayMD Football Power Poll
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This upcoming weekend should bring some finality to the rankings, but then again we could really have a hard time, especially if Good Counsel has enough to beat Gonzaga on the road and any of the top four public's are upset. Before we get that far ahead, we need to make special mention of Landon and Bullis who will square off for a shot to make out top 5 for the first time this year. Also, on the public side, Churchill falls out of our top 10 for the second time this year along with Rockville who we just can't justify being ahead of our number ten team B-CC who rounds out a very strong Montgomery County group. Special shout out to Rayshawn Taylor, running back from Wheaton High School. After a season long strangle hold on the Washington area rushing lead, Rockville's Crusoe Gongbay has fallen to number two behind Mr. Taylor. An impressive duo to say the least.
The private school top 5 ranks the private schools only in Montgomery County, Washington D.C., and Prince Georges County.
Private:
1. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) - (7-1) The Eagles have the opportunity to win the WCAC outright, and make our Power Poll a little easier to finalize, against Good Counsel this Saturday. The lore of Kevin Hogan could become that much bigger a few days from now.
Next Up: Home - Good Counsel 2:00pm Saturday
2. Dematha (Hyattsville, MD) - (6-2) Like most Dematha teams this squad seems to be getting better and better as the season goes on. Early injuries may have been a benefit in the long run as this team seems to have a tremendous amount of seasoned players now to rely on.
Next Up: Home - Carroll 2:00pm Saturday
3. Good Counsel (Olney, MD) - (6-2) The Falcon's have a chance to get some retribution from their loss a few weeks ago against the Stags. With a win at Gonzaga, Good Counsel would be back in a three way tie for first in the WCAC.
Next Up: @Gonzaga 2:00pm Saturday
4. St. Albans (Washington, D.C.) - (7-0) A very tough game against Bullis challenged St. Albans in the annual "Bulldog Bowl." This week a matchup against Prep will finally give us some clarity between the MIAA and IAC powers.
Next Up: Home - Bullis 1:00pm Saturday
5. Georgetown Prep (Bethesda, MD) - (6-2) If there is a more exciting team in the area I don't know who it would be other than the Little Hoyas. One week after upsetting the number one ranked team in the state of Maryland, Prep wins a game on a blocked extra point with ten seconds left. Can't wait to see who comes away with bragging rights this Saturday at St. Albans.
Next Up: @St. Albans 1:00pm Saturday
Outside Looking In: Landon and Bullis
The Public School rankings are for Montgomery County only:
Public:
1. Damascus (Damascus, MD) - (8-0) Surprising halftime score against Northwood Friday, but Damascus bounced back and finished strong. All the makings of a State Championship team, we expect the Hornets to make it all the way to the playoffs undefeated.
Next Up: @Clarksburg 6:30pm Friday
2. Sherwood (Olney, MD) - (7-1) Very impressive performance against an up and coming Churchill squad. Quince Orchard game in two weeks will prove whether the Warriors are a part of the pack behind Damascus or ahead of the class.
Next Up: Home - Springbrook 6:30pm Friday
3. Gaithersburg (Gaithersburg, MD) - (7-1) This team will be an incredibly tough matchup to prepare for in the playoffs, especially if they get out the region. It's a shame we don't get to see the Trojans faceoff with Damascus this season, but hey both of those teams have had a challenging enough schedule I suppose.
Next Up: Home - Northwest 6:30pm Friday
4. Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, MD) - (7-1) Quince Orchard now has two very impressive wins on their resume, Whitman, and now Seneca Valley as well. Injuries in the backfield would be a concern for most, but the Cougars are loaded with athletes. Senior linebacker Alex Twine has really impressed in the second portion of the season.
Next Up: Home - Blake 6:30pm Friday
5. Seneca Valley (Germantown, MD) - (6-2) They could not quite get back into last week's game against Quince Orchard, after two early special team's gaffes. But it was quite evident there was no quit in this squad, and still in solid playoff shape Seneca could be the sleeper pick to get out of this 3A region.
Next Up: @Whitman 6:30pm Friday
6. Whitman (Bethesda, MD) - (6-2) The Vikings got a must win victory over Springbrook and will now still have to finish strong with both B-CC and Springbrook still nipping at their heels. Michael Flack back on the field will demonstratively improve Whitman's chances for holding on to a much coveted 4A playoff spot.
Next Up: Home - Seneca Valley 6:30pm Friday
7. Springbrook (Silver Spring, MD) - (6-2) Springbrook seems to beat everyone except the really top end teams this year. That is no slight, in fact a compliment in our eyes, meaning that they are able to play consistently well, but may lack the depth of talent of the select few ahead of them. They trail B-CC by a whisker and still have a solid chance to make the 4A playoffs.
Next Up: @Sherwood 6:30pm Friday
8. Paint Branch (Burtonsville, MD) - (5-3) Mike Nesmith's team has improved throughout the year and now sit with an outside shot at the playoffs. Seems like an awfully long time ago back in week one when Paint Branch lost in a surprise. Something tells me Paint Branch will be a team to watch in 2011.
Next Up: Home - Magruder 1:30pm Saturday
9. Clarksburg (Clarksburg, MD) - (4-4) We continue to rank Clarksburg higher than their record would indicate because we are convinced that this team could beat anybody, any given week. Heartbreaking loss to Paint Branch saw their playoff hopes likely postponed until next year.
Next Up: Home - Damascus 6:30pm Friday
10. B-CC (Bethesda, MD) - (6-2) The Barons are the surprise of the season, sitting today with the fourth and final playoff spot in the 4A. They will need to finish strong holding off a combination of Springbrook and Whitman, but the Barons unheralded stars, DeAndre Cooper and Terrence James are capable of making big time plays against anyone.
Next Up: @Churchill 6:30pm Friday
Outside Looking In: Rockville, Churchill, Walter Johnson, Blair, Watkins Mill, Wootton
