Power Poll: Week 8
Week 8 GamedayMD Football Power Poll
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Last weekend brought a little bit of clarity for the first time this year to which teams belong at the top of our public and private power polls. Gonzaga, with a win over Carroll becomes our clear cut number one team on the private side, after rising to the top spot one week ago. The Eagles still have a regular season clash with Good Counsel upcoming that could throw a huge wrench into the entire poll, but we will wait until we get there to handle that situation. On the public side it was Damascus defeating Sherwood to become the only undefeated program in any division. The 3A power has now beaten one-loss teams in Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, and now Sherwood, who are all in the GamedayMD top 5 public schools, an impressive feat 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.) - (6-1) The Eagles dominated Carroll to secure their hold on first place in the WCAC. Running back D'Lante Martino missed this weekend's game but is expected back and should be at full strength against Good Counsel in two weeks.
Next Up: @Paul VI 7:00pm Friday
2. Dematha (Hyattsville, MD) - (5-2) Just to think that there was talk about the Stags being .500 in the week leading up to their big victory against Good Counsel. That seems a while ago already and the Stags are getting closer to have their star running back Delonte Morton back in action.
Next Up: @O'Connell 2:00pm Saturday
3. Good Counsel (Olney, MD) - (5-2) The Falcon's will have their chance at a regular season share of the WCAC title if they can win out. Getting Wes Brown back on the field will go a long way to helping that cause.
Next Up: @St. John's 2:00pm Saturday
4. St. Albans (Washington, D.C.) - (6-0) The Bulldog's keep rolling. Balance on both sides of the football is why this team still has a slight edge over a Georgetown Prep team that may have more impressive wins so far, but these two will meet in two weeks to really decide supremacy.
Next Up: Home - Bullis 2:30pm Saturday
5. Georgetown Prep (Bethesda, MD) - (5-2) Prep beat Maryland's top ranked team in Calvert Hall, which may have been the biggest surprise of the 2010 season thus far. Although the win was very impressive, the Little Hoyas still have yet to get the passing game going, but will have the opportunity to prove themselves further in the weeks to come.
Next Up: @McDonogh 3:00pm Saturday
Outside Looking In: Landon and Bullis
The Public School rankings are for Montgomery County only:
Public:
1. Damascus (Damascus, MD) - (7-0) A battle between the two remaining undefeated teams decided the number one spot once and for all. The Hornets have proven themselves this season to be the class of Montgomery County.
Next Up: @Northwood 6:30pm Friday
2. Sherwood (Olney, MD) - (6-1) No shame in a very close loss on the road to a very good Damascus squad. The Warriors will need to avoid any letdowns in a tight 4A race for playoff spots and seeding.
Next Up: @Churchill 6:30pm Friday
3. Gaithersburg (Gaithersburg, MD) - (6-1) A huge win on the road at Whitman has proven that our Gameday staff had G'burg pegged correctly when they made the season's largest rise after a loss to Sherwood.
Next Up: @Magruder 6:30pm Friday
4. Seneca Valley (Germantown, MD) - (6-1) Seneca has rolled along this season only being tripped up against undefeated Damascus. Fred Kim's team will face their next toughest challenge of the season in a home contest against Quince Orchard, in a game that could have major playoff implications.
Next Up: Home - Quince Orchard 6:30pm Friday
5. Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, MD) - (6-1) Quince Orchard has consistently beaten opponents by double digits this season, but they will have to play with consistency on both sides of the football this week on the road at Seneca Valley.
Next Up: @Seneca Valley 6:30pm Friday
6. Whitman (Bethesda, MD) - (5-2) A very tough game against an underrated Gaithersburg program saw Whitman give up the most points allowed on the season. This talented squad should bounce back and hold on to a playoff spot, but it won't be so easy.
Next Up: @Springbrook 2:00pm Saturday
7. Springbrook (Silver Spring, MD) - (6-1) Pestano remains a one-man wrecking crew and Springbrook is great position to earn a playoff spot. The concern has been the same all season, can the team find help for their star running back.
Next Up: Home - Whitman 2:00pm Saturday
8. Clarksburg (Clarksburg, MD) - (4-3) A huge bounce back game against Kennedy has continued to show our staff that the Coyotes are a tough team to play regardless of record.
Next Up: Home - Paint Branch 6:30pm Friday
9. Rockville (Rockville, MD) - (5-2) Playing an out of county opponent, on a short week, with super-star running back Crusoe Gongbay nowhere near 100% has us holding off judgment any further than a slight drop in ranking.
Next Up: Home - Kennedy 6:30pm Friday
10. Churchill (Potomac, MD) - (4-3) We decided to keep Churchill at number 10 following a surprising loss to Wootton. One of the biggest reasons to not discount the Bulldogs is that a formerly winless Wootton squad had tremendous motivation with Coach Eddie Tolliver back with the team, so we will give them a pass for another week...against Sherwood.
Next Up: Home - Sherwood 6:30pm Friday
Outside Looking In: Paint Branch, Walter Johnson, B-CC, and Watkins Mill
