GAMEDAY POWER POLL: FINAL RANKINGS
The Broad Run Spartans storm the field after last Saturday's State Championship win over Amherst. Broad Run finished the season 14-0 and ranked #1 in the Gameday Power Poll Final Rankings....They are the only unbeaten team in Northern Virginia....
Photo By: Dave Bernhardt / Gameday Magazine
Zach Thompson and the Stone Bridge Bulldogs finished the 2008 season as our second ranked team. The Bulldogs were 13-1 and won the Northern Region for the second straight season....
Photo By: Tom Casella - Gameday Magazine
Many believe that if Chris Coyer hadn't been injured, we would be talking about Oakton winning their second state title. The Cougars finished the year ranked 3rd behind Stone Bridge and Broad Run...
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine
STERLING, VA - The 2008 football season is now complete and that means the Gameday Power Poll final rankings are out. As we entered the season, we expected a team from Ashburn to be on top when it was all said and done, and our prediction was correct, sort of.
The Broad Run Spartans completed the 2008 season undefeated on Saturday with a 13-0 state championship win over Amherst. It was the first state title for the Spartans in school history. Head Coach Michael Burnett took over the program in 2006, and in just 3 years he has compiled a record of 29-6, winning two district championships, one regional championship, and now a state championship.
The Osbourn Eagles entered Saturday's final game hoping to bring the hardware back to Manassas for the second time in the last three years, but it wasn't meant to be. They ran into a nationally ranked powerhouse in Oscar Smith, and fell 54-24.
So as we tie a bow on the 2008 Gameday Power Poll rankings, the top two teams in the poll reside in Ashburn, and the Concorde's king Oakton finishes in the top 3. It was a tremendous year for football in the Northern Virginia area, and it has everyone looking forward to the 2009 season. Stay tuned for the first Basketball Gameday Power Poll due out in the coming weeks.
1. BROAD RUN (14-0)
Previous: 1
Last Week: Defeated Amherst County 13-0
2008 Group AA Division 4 State Champions
The Broad Run Spartans finished off their magical season with a 13-0 win over two time defending champion Amherst in the state championship game. The game was played in the snow at Liberty University, and the Broad Run defense was playing lights out football. The Spartans shut out the Lancers and quarterback Chris Jessop threw a touchdown to Adrian Flemming in the win. Senior tailback Breon Earl added the final score of the game to help Broad Run improve to 14-0 and claim their first title in school history.
2. STONE BRIDGE (13-1)
Previous: 3
Last Week: Season Over
After spending 13 full weeks as our number one ranked team, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs took a fall from their top spot after losing to Phoebus 38-8. Stone Bridge, a team which had been ranked nationally by numerous publications, finds their season complete and unable to successfully defend their state title. The Bulldogs had defeated Phoebus last year in Ashburn where they went to then beat Potomac for their first-ever state title.
3. OAKTON (13-1)
Previous: 4
Last Week: Season Over
The Northern Region's other region champ, Oakton, who also went through the year undefeated, lost in the state semi-finals as well. The Cougars fell in the final quarter of the state semifinals to Oscar Smith on a field goal, losing 10-7 and effectively ending their season. Oakton ended their season with a Concorde District and Northern Region championship.
4. OSBOURN (9-5)
Previous: 2
Last Week: 52-24 loss to Oscar Smith
This Week: N/A (Season Complete)
The Osbourn Eagles fell short to a talented and nationally ranked Oscar Smith team last Saturday to finish the season 9-5. The 52-24 loss was the first for the Eagles in the last 8 weeks, but Osbourn has much to be proud about. The Eagles finished in the top 5 of the Gameday Power Poll and put together one of the most memorable post-season runs in recent history. Osbourn will be tough again next year with Thomas and Timmy Keith returning...
5. LIBERTY (10-3)
Previous: 4
Last Week: Season Complete
After winning the Division 5 Northwest Region final, the Eagles fell to Dinwiddie, which ended their season. After this season, the Eagles will move back down to the AA level, where they will become a member of the Northwestern District. Their brief two year stint in AAA ended with a combined 17-6 record, one playoff appearance and a region championship.
6. WOODBRIDGE (11-1)
Previous: 6
Last Week: Season Complete
For all of this year, things had gone perfectly for Woodbridge. They failed to lose a game, and they in fact won every game by a rather sizeable margin. The Vikings had done a great job of establishing themselves as a state title contender as they looked nearly unbeatable. Yet when in the region championship game against Osbourn, their dream of a state title came crashing down as they lost 24-20. Woodbridge will manage to finish at #6 in the Power Poll on the year due in part to their stellar play throughout the year.
7. EDISON (12-1)
Previous: 7
Last Week: Season Complete
Edison's run to a region championship came to a screeching halt when they lost to #1 Stone Bridge 35-6. Up until that point, Edison had been undefeated on the year, and had even claimed the number one seed entering the playoffs. While the Eagles were unable to claim a region championship, they were able to have an undefeated regular season, including a district title. Edison finishes out the year as our #7 ranked team.
8. HANDLEY (10-2)
Previous: 8
Last Week: Season Complete
Despite riding an eight game winning streak and having home field advantage, it still wasn't enough to overcome the defending region champs in Monticello. The Judges fell by a score of 27-14, but on the year they were able to capture a Northwestern District title. The silver lining in all of this for Handley is that many key players return next year, making this team a likely favorite to repeat as district champs.
9. CHANTILLY (9-4)
Previous: 9
Last Week: Season Complete
The script was written perfectly for Chantilly up until the very end. After upsetting rival Westfield a few weeks ago, they advanced to the championship game with a chance to win their second region title in three years. Workhorse running back Torrian Pace, who had taken the region by storm, seemed poised to take this team on his back all the way to the promise land. It wasn't meant to be though but Chantilly does manage to finish out the year at #9 in the Power Poll despite four losses.
10. POTOMAC FALLS (10-2)
Previous: 10
Last Week: Season Complete
Serving out revenge is said to be sweet, but unfortunately for Potomac Falls, they instead received another bitter loss to Broad Run in the regional championship game a few weeks ago. Losing 33-6, Potomac Falls' season ends at 10-2, with their two lone losses coming to hands of their Ashburn rivals. The Panthers end the season at #10 in our Power Poll, a spot no one could have predicted at the beginning of the year.
HONORABLE MENTION:
11. Battlefield (10-1, Season Over)
12. Westfield (9-3, Season Over)
13. Briar Woods (8-3, Season Over)
14. West Springfield (8-4, Season Over)
15. James Wood (8-3, Season Over)
