Week 5 GRC Power Poll

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

Gallatin and North Andrew maintain the top spots in the GRC Power Poll.

11-Man Power Poll

1. Gallatin (5-0; 3-0 GRC; Last Week #1; d. Maysville 35-12; Week 6 - at Milan)  Unlike prior weeks, Gallatin got off to a slow start fumbling the opening kickoff.  Maysville was able to capitalize on a short field to go up 6-0.  But they started settling in by the 2nd quarter to go up 21-6 at intermission, with Baker scoring on a QB keeper with 9.5 left in the half.  The Bulldogs were able to extend the lead to 28-6 on a Payton Feiden 73-yard TD run late in the 3rd and finished it off with Draven Wright's second TD of the night.  Maysville scored late to make it 35-12.  Bottcher also added a TD run.

2. Trenton (5-0; 3-0 GRC; Last Week #2; d. Milan 21-7; Week 6 - at Polo) Trenton knocked off Milan in an ugly game filled with turnovers and penalties.  Both Gabe Novak and Sam Gibson had over 130 yards rushing for Trenton.  Gibson had a 65-yard TD run in the first half to get Trenton on the board and scored from 3 yards out for the final TD in the 2nd half.  Trenton led 14-0 at the half with Novak scoring from 2 yards for the other TD.

3. Putnam County (4-1; 2-1 GRC; Last Week #4; d. Princeton 40-16; Week 6 - vs. South Harrison) After falling behind 8-0, the Midgets got on the board with just under 7 minutes left in the first with a 44-yard TD pass from Trace Riediger to Jake Rouse to make it 8-7.  Chase Tomlin put Putnam County on top 14-8 with 2 minutes left in the half.  The Midgets fumbled on the 2nd half kickoff, but stopped Princeton.  Blaine Perkins answered with a 48-yard TD to make it 20-8.  The Midgets got out to a 40-8 lead before a late touchdown by Princeton to make the final score 40-16.

4. Maysville (3-2; 2-1 GRC; Last Week #3; lost to Gallatin 35-12; Week 6 - vs. Princeton) Maysville was able to recover a fumble on the kickoff and score on a short field to go up 6-0 early, but was not able to stop Gallatin.  The Wolverines fell behind 35-6 before adding a touchdown late to make the final 35-12 Gallatin.

5. Milan (2-3; 1-2 GRC; Last Week #5; lost to Trenton 21-7; Week 6 - vs. Gallatin) Milan couldn't overcome a multitude of penalties and a strong Trenton defense.  Carlos Cotto was able to break free for a 73-yard TD, but Milan could not sustain drives and fell to Trenton 21-7.

6. South Harrison (1-4; 1-2 GRC; Last Week #7; d. Polo 16-8;  Week 6 - at Putnam County) After allowing a first quarter TD, South Harrison answered late in the first quarter.  Hunter Ackley scored from 2 yards out to tie the game at 8 after the conversion by Cornett.  It remained tied at 8 until just under 7 minutes left in the 3rd when Jad Cornett scored on a QB keeper.  The Bulldogs converted the 2-pt conversion to go up 16-8.  That is where it would end.

7. Polo (2-3; 0-3 GRC; Last Week #6; lost to South Harrison 16-8; Week 6 - vs. Trenton)  Polo got onto the board via a 2-yard TD run by Maverick Gentry with 6 minutes left in the first to go up 8-0, but that was all of the scoring that the Panthers would do on the night.  South Harrison would score 16 unanswered to win the game.

8. Princeton (0-5; 0-3 GRC; Last Week #8; lost to Putnam County 40-16; Week 6 - at Maysville) Andrew Rhoades got the Tigers on the board first with an 11-yard TD run with 8:50 left in the 1st quarter.  The drive included two 4th down conversions including the touchdown.  Princeton fell behind 14-8 at the half.  They caught a break on the 2nd half kickoff as Putnam County fumbled.  But they weren't able to take advantage.  Putnam County ultimately pulled away 40-16.  Kelby Thomas scored on 15-yard TD pass late in the game for Princeton's other score.

8-Man Power Poll

1. North Andrew (4-0; 3-0 GRC; Last Week #1; d. St. Joseph Christian 86-30; Week 6 - vs. Stanberry) Braxon Linville was involved in 8 touchdowns as North Andrew knocked off St. Joseph Christian 86-30.  Linville had 4 TDs through the air throwing for 238 yards.  He also scored 4 on the ground with 143 yards rushing.

2. Albany (5-0; 2-0 GRC; Last Week #2; d. Platte Valley 36-34; Week 6 - at St. Joseph Christian) Albany defeated the #2 team in the state 36-34 for the second straight week, but they had to come from behind down 14 to win this one.  Platte Valley went up 28-14 with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, but Albany answered with a Kemper Cline 3-yard run to make it 28-22 with 1:30 left in the 3rd.  After Albany got the ball back, a Cline to Troy Popplewell 34-yard TD pass put the Warriors up 30-28 with 8:21 left.  Platte Valley answered to go up 34-30, but Cline found Porter Davis from 3 yards out with 2 minutes left to make it 36-34.  The Warriors were able to stop Platte Valley on a 4th down at the 4-yard line to secure the win.

3. Worth County (4-1; 2-1 GRC; Last Week #3; d. King City 42-8; Week 6 - vs. Knox County) Worth County rebounded from their loss to Albany with a big win over King City.  They got out to a 42-0 lead at the half on their way to a 42-8 win.

4. King City (3-2; 2-2 GRC; Last Week #4; lost to Worth County 42-8; Week 6 - at Rock Port) King City ran into a motivated Worth County team.  They fell behind 42-0 at the half and were only able to salvage one score losing 42-8.

5. Stanberry (3-2; 2-2 GRC; Last Week #5; d. Pattonsburg 84-48; Week 6 - at North Andrew) Stanberry was able to score at will against Pattonsburg taking a 52-34 lead en route to an 84-18 win.

6. Pattonsburg (1-4; 0-3 GRC; Last Week #6; lost to Stanberry 84-48; Week 6 - vs. Rich Hill) Like most games this year, Pattonsburg was able to put points on the board, but couldn't stop their opponent.  A 52-34 halftime deficit ballooned to 84-48 loss.

7. St. Joseph Christian (0-5; 0-3 GRC; Last Week #7; lost to North Andrew 86-30; Week 6 - vs. Albany) The Lions were able to put together a few drives and put 30 points on the board, but couldn't stop the Cardinals.  They fell behind 74-18 at the half and lost 86-30.