Braden River, IMG Blue hold top spots in Week 8 Power Poll

Note: These are power rankings, meaning hypothetical head-to-head matchups aren’t considered. Actual head-to-head games, how the team is trending and recently performed are weighed. Considerations to keep teams where they were after a loss are based on the opposition’s strength and how close a game was.

Public

1. (1) Braden River, 2-1

Without starting QB Bryan Gagg or RB Cam White, the Pirates relied on a heavy dose of Deshaun Fenwick (204 rushing yards) and Knowledge McDaniel (10 catches for 217 receiving yards) in a key 31-24 district victory at Palmetto on Friday.

Up next: at Sarasota

2. (2) Palmetto, 3-2

The Tigers took Braden River’s best punches, and hung with the Pirates. A late score closed the gap to one score, but they couldn’t recover the onside kick.

Up next: vs. Lakewood Ranch

3. (3) Manatee, 3-1

Keyon Fordham kept up his ferocious running for a Hurricanes team that is unbeaten in district play. Manatee routed Palm Harbor University on homecoming this past week. Now the Canes turn their attention to what figures to be the Class 8A-District 6 championship game this week.

Up next: at Sarasota Riverview

4. (4) Southeast, 4-0

Head coach Rashad West isn’t ready to say the Seminoles are back, but his team is off to a fast start and looking like a playoff-caliber squad behind Alex Taylor’s passing and a hard-hitting defense.

Up next: vs. Englewood Lemon Bay

5. (5) Lakewood Ranch, 3-0

The Mustangs were off this week and should have studied Venice’s game against IMG Academy’s Blue squad as a makeup game with the Indians on Monday will determine Ranch’s status as a 7A-District 11 contender or pretender.

Up next: at Venice, Monday

6. (6) Bayshore, 0-4

Another poor offensive showing and another loss for a Bruins team searching for their first regular-season win in the John Biezuns era. It doesn’t get easier with 5A-District 11 title-contender Wauchula Hardee coming to town this week.

Up next: vs. Wauchula Hardee, Thursday

Private

1. (1) IMG Blue, 5-0

In an intriguing matchup, the Ascenders needed all of their depth to outlast one of Class 7A’s very best. IMG ran away from a Venice team, 38-12, that held a 9-0 lead in the first half.

Up next: Off

2. (2) Saint Stephen’s, 4-0

It’s starting to look like 2016 all over again. The reigning Sunshine State Athletic Conference champions are the class of the Coral Bay Division, and are getting production from many players in several routs this season.

Up next: vs. Bradenton Christian, Thursday

3. (3) Cardinal Mooney, 1-4

The record is deceiving. The Cougars were forced to forfeit two early season victories on Thursday after self-reporting using an ineligible player, who didn’t posses the minimum grade-point average to play. Then this week, the Cougars ran into a strong Southeast team. They must rebound quickly to salvage the 2017 season.

Up next: at St. Petersburg Catholic, Thursday

4. (6) Bradenton Christian, 3-3

No need to shout. BCS did lose to ODA head-to-head, but the Panthers lost by a point earlier this season and trending high. They won three games in a week and are heading into a huge game with rival Saint Stephen’s.

Up next: at Saint Stephen’s, Thursday

5. (5) Out-of-Door Academy, 2-1

The Thunder didn’t play as their game with St. Petersburg Shorecrest was postponed due to an issue with the referees. So they’ll stay put and should hold or move up following next week’s games.

Up next: vs. St. Petersburg Shorecrest Prep, Monday

6. (6) IMG White, 1-2

The Ascenders second varsity team are going through some growing pains as a first-year team. A visit to Ocala to face Trinity Catholic saw IMG White squander a fourth-quarter lead as the Celtics scored 17 points in the final frame for a narrow victory.

Up next: Off

This story was originally published October 7, 2017 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Braden River, IMG Blue hold top spots in Week 8 Power Poll."