AP Football Poll

The October 12, 2004 Associated Press football poll has been released. The top 10 football teams in the Virginia prep poll are selected by sports writers and broadcasters from around the state, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Saturday, Oct. 9 and total points received on a 10-through-1 voting system. For the second straight week Gate City has a commanding first place spot. The Blue Devils have held the number one position through 2003, and for the first two weeks of this year. Following behind them is second ranked Sussex Central. The Tigers are the 2003 Group A, Division 1 champions. In forth place is Bull Run district rival Manassas Park, who are fresh off their 30-20 over Strasburg. Another Region B team, William Campbell, holds down the number eight spot.

    TEAM                     REC  PTS  PRV
01. Gate City (10)           7-0  100  1
02. Sussex Central           5-0  85   2
03. George Wythe-Wytheville  6-0  72   3
04. Manassas Park            6-0  51   6
05. Powell Valley            5-1  49   4
06. Essex                    6-0  46   7
07. Floyd County             5-0  44   5
08. William Campbell         5-1  33   9
09. James Monroe             5-0  29   8
10. Lebanon                  6-0  25   10

Others receiving votes: Franklin 7, Honaker 3,
Massanutten Military 3, Giles 3.

All Associated Press members in Virginia are eligible to participate in the prep football poll. Those who voted this week are: Bristol Herald Courier; The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg; The News & Advance, Lynchburg; Manassas Journal Messenger; Daily Press, Newport News; The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk; Richmond Times-Dispatch; The Roanoke Times; The News Leader, Staunton; Potomac News, Woodbridge; Virginia News Network.

VHSL Rankings Top 10

The VHSL rankings determine how playoff teams are seeded by region. From each division, the top four teams from each of the four regions (A, B, C, D) receive playoff spots. One noteable change for the 2004 season is district champions do not get priority when being seeded.

High School         Region District      Rating
Franklin            A      Tri-Rivers    16.600
Campbell, Wm.       B      Dogwood-A     16.333
Sussex Central      A      Tri-Rivers    14.400
Strasburg           B      Bull Run      13.833
Jackson, Stone (Q)  B      Shenandoah    13.400
Hurley              D      Black Diamond 13.000
McCluer, Parry      C      Pioneer       12.800
Burton, J.I.        D      Lonesome Pine 12.333
Riverheads          B      Shenandoah    11.400
Narrows             C      Mtn. Empire   11.400
Craig Co.           C      Pioneer       10.833