Draft, Gladiators Move Up In Power Rankings

The high school football power rankings after Week 7 action saw little change in the positioning of the seven local teams.

Five of the seven remain firmly in the mix to continue their seasons into the playoffs. Four weeks remain in the regular season.

Wilson Memorial slipped one spot to No. 6 in Region 3C despite its 52-0 rout over winless Rockbridge County, which has lost 26 of its last 28 games. Turner Ashby, which was sixth last week, surged past the Green Hornets into a tie for fourth after its victory over No. 3 and previously unbeaten Broadway.

Staunton's once-promising start to the season is falling apart fast, losing its third-straight after a 3-0 start. The Storm fell to No. 13 in Region 3C after their 34-14 setback at Stuarts Draft.

Waynesboro, which had its bye week, moved up one spot in Region 3C to No. 12.

Stuarts Draft climbed to No. 3 in Region 2B after the Cougars' win over Staunton. Fort Defiance, which suffered through getting shutout for the third time in four weeks at Riverheads, hung onto the No. 5 spot. The injury-plagued Indians, who still have a decent margin over No. 6 Madison County, are expected to be without starting quarterback Carter Berry for the rest of the season after he suffered a wrist injury during practice last week.

In Region 1B, Riverheads leapt over Buffalo Gap into the No. 4 spot, which is the last position to host a first-round game. The Gladiators dominated Fort 35-0 on Friday, while the Bison, who slipped to No. 5, gave Region 3C top seed Alleghany all it could handle before falling short 27-11.

Top-ranked Altavista and No. 2 Sussex Central have already clinched playoff berths for the Region 1B postseason.

Region 3C (Top 8 teams qualify)
1. Alleghany (6-0) 26.67
2. Liberty Christian (4-1) 26.20
3. Broadway (6-1) 25.00
T4. Heritage-Lynchburg (5-1) 23.50
T4. Turner Ashby (6-1) 23.50
6. Wilson Memorial (5-1) 22.83
T7. East Rockingham (5-2) 20.14
T7. Spotswood (4-3) 20.14
9. Fluvanna County (3-3) 19.67
10. Western Albemarle (4-2) 19.17
11. Brookville (3-3) 18.83
12. Waynesboro (3-3) 17.83
13. Staunton (3-3) 17.33
14. Rocktown (3-4) 16.57
15. Monticello (2-4) 15.50
16. Rustburg (0-6) 12.00
17. Rockbridge County (0-7) 11.86
18. Harrisonburg (0-6) 11.17

Region 2B (Top 6 teams qualify)
1. Strasburg (5-1) 22.33
2. Buckingham County (6-0) 22.00
3. Stuarts Draft (5-2) 20.43
4. Central Woodstock (3-3) 19.33
5. Fort Defiance (3-4) 16.00
6. Madison County (2-4) 14.33
7. Page County (2-4) 14.17
8. Clarke County (0-6) 11.33

Region 1B (Top 8 teams qualify)
1. Altavista (5-2) 21.00
2. Sussex Central (6-1) 20.71
3. Luray (4-2) 19.00
4. Riverheads (3-3) 15.50
5. Buffalo Gap (2-5) 14.14
6. Franklin (2-4) 13.17
7. Brunswick (1-6) 12.43
8. Surry County (3-4) 12.14
9. Cumberland (2-5) 11.43
10. William Campbell (0-7) 9.29