Each week, The Washington Post asks a small group of local coaches to provide their own Top 20 rankings. See their picks and comments below:
Falls Church Coach Said Aziz
1. DeMatha (4-1)
2. Wise (5-0)
3. Damascus (5-0) – The Swarmin’ Hornets are doing some big things. I saw one of their players (defensive end Brian Bresee) on TV during the Virginia Tech game.
4. Gonzaga (4-1)
5. St. John’s (2-2)
6. Stone Bridge (5-0) – The Bulldogs continue to look impressive. Big game with Broad Run coming up soon!
7. Westfield (5-0) – The Bulldogs’ game against Madison will be interesting!
8. Madison (5-1) – Big win for the Warhawks against a South County team that is always tough.
9. Good Counsel (4-1)
10. Centreville (5-1) – Coach Chris Haddock has the Wildcats on a roll!
11. North Point (5-0)
12. C.H. Flowers (5-0)
13. Friendship Collegiate (3-2)
14. Spalding (2-2)
15. H.D. Woodson (3-2)
16. South Lakes (4-1) – The Seahawks are looking to get back on track this week!
17. Quince Orchard (4-1)
18. Bullis (4-0)
19. Broad Run (5-0) – Every game is a rivalry game when the Loudon teams start playing each other.
20. Freedom-Woodbridge (5-0) – The Eagles are good – really good! Interested to see how the game goes when they play Woodbridge.
Football Top 20: C.H. Flowers is on the rise, while Freedom-Woodbridge joins the rankings
Lackey Coach John Lush
1. DeMatha (4-1) – The Stags enjoyed a week off after dismantling Friendship Collegiate Academy and will now host a dangerous Gonzaga team.
2. Wise (5-0)
3. Damascus (5-0) – The Swarmin’ Hornets look like a team destined to cement themselves as one of the best public school programs in a long time.
4. Gonzaga (4-1) – The Eagles believe they have the weapons to compete with a talented DeMatha team.
5. St. John’s (2-2)
6. Stone Bridge (5-0)
7. Westfield (5-0)
8. Madison (5-1)
9. Good Counsel (4-1) – The Falcons are excited for the opportunity to upend a St. John’s program that is off to a disappointing 2-2 start.
10. Centreville (5-1)
11. North Point (5-0) – The Eagles have been among the elite teams in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference for the past several years. And after a strong performance against Calvert, they are making a case for being one of the elite teams in the DMV.
12. C.H. Flowers (5-0) – The Jaguars had an impressive win over a talented Gwynn Park squad and will look to continue their dominance against Largo this weekend.
13. Friendship Collegiate (3-2)
14. Spalding (2-2)
15. H.D. Woodson (3-2)
16. South Lakes (4-1)
17. Quince Orchard (4-1)
18. Bullis (4-0)
19. Broad Run (5-0)
20. Freedom-Woodbridge (5-0)
Centreville Coach Chris Haddock
1. DeMatha (4-1) – Classic Washington Catholic Athletic Conference matchup coming against the Eagles.
2. Wise (5-0)
3. Damascus (5-0)
4. Gonzaga (4-1) – Possibly toughest game of the season vs. the Stags.
5. St. John’s (2-2) – The Cadets’ coming opponent, Good Counsel, is improving by the minute.
6. Stone Bridge (5-0) – Continues to show dominance.
7. Westfield (5-0) – Big Concorde matchup with Madison.
8. Madison (5-1) – Big Concorde matchup with Westfield.
9. Good Counsel (4-1) – St. John’s is battle-tested.
10. Centreville (5-1) – Survived a dangerous West Potomac team.
11. North Point (5-0)
12. C.H. Flowers (5-0)
13. Friendship Collegiate (3-2)
14. Spalding (2-2)
15. H.D. Woodson (3-2)
16. South Lakes (4-1)
17. Quince Orchard (4-1)
18. Bullis (4-0)
19. Broad Run (5-0)
20. Freedom-Woodbridge (5-0) – Athletes, athletes, athletes!
Bullis Coach Pat Cilento
1. Wise (5-0) – Another shutout. I don’t think anyone else is going to score on them in the regular season.
2. DeMatha (4-1) – League play starts off with a bang vs. Gonzaga.
3. Damascus (5-0) – They are probably bored. Starters are only playing a quarter of games right now.
4. Gonzaga (4-1) – Opened up league play with a shutout, triggered the running clock in a 38-0 win over Bishop McNamara.
5. Stone Bridge (5-0) – Continues to play great defense and score at will.
6. St. John’s (2-2) – Good to see them play a local team. No easy task to open up league play against Good Counsel.
7. Westfield (5-0)
8. Good Counsel (4-1)
9. C.H. Flowers (5-0) – Will have to wait for the playoffs to play Wise.
10. Madison (5-1)
11. North Point (5-0) – Can score in a hurry.
12. Centreville (5-1)
13. Broad Run (5-0)
14. Freedom-Woodbridge (5-0)
15. Bullis (4-0)
16. Quince Orchard (4-1)
17. St. Mary’s Ryken (6-0) – Coach Aaron Brady has the Knights undefeated, and they have a great quarterback with weapons on the outside.
18. South Lakes (4-1)
19. Landon (4-0) – Unbeaten and put the beatdown on St. Christopher’s in a 42-0 win.
20. Flint Hill (4-0) – The Huskies are dominating opponents.
Landon assistant coach Charlie Harley
1. DeMatha (4-1) – Rubber meets the road this weekend. Stags welcome the purple people eaters.
2. Wise (5-0)
3. Damascus (5-0)
4. Gonzaga (4-1) – Do the purple people eaters have the same magic from two years ago? Can – or will – freshman signal-caller Caleb Williams play above his grade?
5. Stone Bridge (5-0)
6. Westfield (5-0) – Will be headed to heartbreak hotel Friday night. Madison will be ready.
7. North Point (5-0)
8. C.H. Flowers (5-0) – Don’t let the name fool ya. Nothing flowery about this squad. All thorns and rocks. They bring it on D.
9. Bullis (4-0) – Will rest be just what the doctor ordered?
10. Good Counsel (4-1)
11. Oxon Hill (4-1) – They say what’s hard to endure is sweet to recall. Clippers hope this is true as Potomac ended their state title hopes last year. Will be a physical contest. This is where you will find me this weekend.
12. Centreville (5-1)
13. St. John’s (2-2)
14. Broad Run (5-0) – You have to see the Spartans play offense. They score lots of points.
15. Madison (5-1)
16. Friendship Collegiate (3-2) – Hard to put a two-loss team in the Top 20 this early in the game, but two losses to two very good teams count.
17. Quince Orchard (4-1)
18. South Lakes (4-1)
19. Freedom-Woodbridge (5-0)
20. Douglass (5-0) – Toss-up between Eagles and Suitland at this spot. That they play this weekend will make it easier for next week.
