Football: Week 7 power rankings

By Andrew Conrad
Posted: October 16, 2008

Five of this weekend’s games are between teams that are separated by two spots or less in the power rankings. Only No. 2 Wilde Lake, which is at unranked Oakland Mills, seems like an easy pick. With all those possible upsets, I’m as nervous as a camper in a cheap tent as a thunderstorm approaches: Will my power rankings hold up, or will they be full of holes by next week? We’ll just have to see…

Week 6 saw a big upset as then-No. 9 Centennial knocked off then-No. 6 Glenelg with a tour de force from the ground game: a school record 472 yards. How high did the Eagles climb and how far did the Gladiators tumble? Read on to find out…

1. (1*) River Hill. (6-0, 319 points scored, 22 points allowed)

The Hawks continue to roll, posting 55 points against the league’s sixth-ranked defense, but now they enter the meat of their schedule, with No. 3 Marriotts Ridge and No. 2 Wilde Lake over the next two weeks. I don’t expect them to lose this spot, but stranger things have happened…

Last week: Beat Reservoir (3-3), 55-0. This week: home against No. 3 Marriotts Ridge (5-1), Friday at 7.

2. (2) Wilde Lake. (6-0, 169-92)

The Wildecats finally got the dominant performance against a quality opponent they’ve been looking for, beating the surging Lions by a two-touchdown cushion. Everything is still in line for the Wildecats to face River Hill for the county championship Oct. 25.

Last week: Beat Howard (4-2), 27-13. This week: at Oakland Mills (1-5), Friday at 7.

3. (3) Marriotts Ridge. (5-1, 208-57)

It should be noted that the Mustangs’ No. 2-ranked defense has allowed 38 points over the last two weeks, including 18 to the 12th-ranked offense. But the Mustangs’ offense continues to produce, posting 76 points in that same span. As close as they played Wilde Lake in Week 4, they can run with anyone, as they’ll look to do against the defending state champs Friday night.

Last week: Beat Hammond (0-6), 48-18. This week: at No. 1 River Hill (6-0), Friday at 7.

4. (4) Howard. (4-2, 191-114)

The Lions stayed with Wilde Lake for 24 minutes, then succumbed to the ‘Cats’ running game after halftime. Mark Covington continues to impress, scoring one of his two touchdowns on the opening kickoff return. That pesky Week 1 loss to Centennial could keep them out of the playoffs, though.

Last week: Lost to Wilde Lake (5-1), 27-13. This week: home against No. 6 Reservoir (3-3), Saturday at 2**.

5. (5) Long Reach. (3-3, 115-132)

Don’t look now, but the Lightning’s remaining schedule is all lower-ranked teams. If they can get past Centennial this week, they have a good chance to run the table against No. 10 Mt. Hebron, unranked Oakland Mills and Hammond. A 7-3 record could be good enough to get into the playoffs in the 3A East.

Last week: Beat Atholton (1-5), 27-12. This week: at No. 7 Centennial (3-3), Saturday at 1.

6. (7) Reservoir. (3-3, 89-135)

The Gators’ above-average defense took a blow against River Hill, but they’ll need those guys to play confident if they hope to shut down the Lions high-powered running game.

Last week: Lost to River Hill (6-0), 55-0. This week: at No. 4 Howard (4-2), Saturday at 2.

7. (9) Centennial. (3-3, 103-143)

The Eagles were a juggernaut in Week 6, rumbling over Glenelg for a school-record 472 rushing yards. Can they keep it up against a beefy Long Reach defensive line? I know they lost to Atholton in Week 4, but evidence would suggest that was an anomaly.

Last week: Beat Glenelg (2-4), 42-21. This week: home against No. 5 Long Reach (3-3), Saturday at 1**.

8. (6) Glenelg. (2-4, 159-147)

I was impressed by a few things: their strong finish in ’07, their close losses to high-ranked teams and their positive PF-PA ratio. But I guess I ignored the most important stat: They’ve only beaten No. 10 Mt. Hebron and unranked Hammond.

Last week: Lost to Centennial (3-3), 42-21. This week: home against No. 7 Atholton (1-5), Saturday at 1:30**.

9. (8) Atholton. (1-5, 107-167)

The Raiders are wondering, “When do we get to the easy part of our schedule?” They’ve already played the No. 1, 2, 4 and 5 teams, and they still have No. 3 to look forward to. They also seem to get everyone else’s best effort. It would not be a farfetched scenario for Atholton to be winless right now.

Last week: Lost to Long Reach (3-3), 27-12. This week: at No. 8 Glenelg (2-4), Saturday at 1:30.

10. (9) Mt. Hebron. (2-4, 101-183)

The Vikings defended their position in the Top 10 with a 49-12 win against unranked Oakland Mills, making for a tidy separation between the Top 10 and the bubble teams. Thanks, guys! You could make the case they should be No. 9, since they beat the Raiders, but these last four teams are all tight, and I’ve got to go with my gut.

Last week: Beat Oakland Mills (1-5), 49-12. This week: home against Hammond (0-6), Saturday at 2:15**.

On the bubble: Hammond (0-6), Oakland Mills (1-5).

* Last week’s ranking
** Homecoming

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