Geneseo running back Collin Akers (22) runs around diving Moline defender Ethan McGuire (11) in action last Friday. Akers rushed for 120 yards, and the Maple Leafs were 31-12 winners. That performance earned Geneseo 4.5 of a possible 15 first-place votes in this week’s Quad Cities Prep Football Poll. That allowed the No. 2 Leafs to knock Bettendorf from a unanimous perch and climb within 6 voting points of the No. 1 Bulldogs. (Photo by Gary Krambeck, Dispatch/Argus)
By Steve Tappa, stappa@qconline.com
Moline Dispatch/Rock Island Argus prep football writer
Posted Online: Sept. 7, 2009, 6:34 pm
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Not since holding sway in the very first Quad Cities Prep Football Power Poll in 2007 has the pride of Geneseo been closer to the No. 1 spot in the local rankings.
In this week’s poll of local sportswriters and broadcasters, the “Green Machine” ended up six voting points shy of overtaking Bettendorf, the consensus No. 1 now for 22 weeks and counting. The pair occupied the top two spots on every ballot.
Geneseo, also No. 2 in last week’s poll, closed the gap by earning 4.5 of the 15 first-place votes available in the presentation by WQAD-TV 8, Mediacom Connections 22, WFXN-AM 1230 and The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus newspapers.
Bettendorf, a unanimous No. 1 last week, and for the first time since the final ballot of 2007, lost voters over the weekend thanks to finding itself in a game with lowly regarded Muscatine.
While the Bulldogs (145.5 points) needed to rally from a halftime deficit, Geneseo (139.5 points) built a 24-0 lead by intermission before having to hold off a Moline comeback.
Besides the top two, Alleman (ninth) was the only other team holding its ground in the local Top 10.
None of the teams slipped out of the Top 10, but there was a shakeup with Davenport Assumption (third to 10th) losing to Pleasant Valley, and Rock Island (10th to a share of sixth) stopping state-rated Crete-Monee.
Also moving up are Mercer County (fourth to third), Bureau Valley (fifth to fourth), Orion (seventh to fifth) and North Scott (eighth to a share of sixth).
Despite pitching a defensive shutout, Clinton somehow got caught in the shuffle, dropping from sixth to eighth.
In all, 18 teams received voting consideration again this week with PV rejoining the picking party. Alexis United and AlWood & ROWVA are new this week. Moline, Galesburg and Annawan-Wethersfield fell from the others-receiving-votes category.
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QC PREP FOOTBALL POWER POLL
— Note: These rankings are determined on a descending points system, with a first-place vote receiving 10 points, a second-place vote receiving 9 points, and so on. For how the individual media members voted, see www.qconline.com or The Dispatch/Argus sports blog (www.qconline.com/bloggers/sports). Presented by WQAD-TV 8, MC22, WFXN-AM 1230 and The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus.
Rank. Team (Record) Pts. (1st) Prev.
1. Bettendorf (2-0) 145.5 (10.5) 1
— Comment: The Bulldogs used a big second half to dust off pesky Muscatine last week, 40-19. Running back Chris Sanders leads the Mississippi Athletic Conference in rushing with 295 yards, three touchdowns and a gaudy 10.9 yards-per-carry. Iowa’s seven-time state champs have 20 straight league wins and counting and are two victories away from the mind-blowing 100-win mark this decade. Next: Friday at Davenport North (0-2).
2. Geneseo (2-0) 139.5 (4.5) 2
— Comment: The Leafs looked great in breezing out to a 24-0 halftime lead at Moline, but allowing 273 second-half yards to their Western Big 6 Conference foes was a little less assuring for the “Green Machine” faithful. Especially so with the four-time Illinois champs heading into NCIC Reagan head-knockers the next two weekends at Sterling and state-ranked Morris. Next: Friday at Sterling (1-1).
3. Mercer County (2-0) 96 4
— Comment: Incumbent quarterback Brett Anderson is off to a sizzling start to his senior season, accounting for four rushing and five passing scores thus far in a combined 81-8 beginning for the Golden Eagles. Included was a 16-for-22 passing performance, for 218 yards and two scores against formerly rated Annawan-Wethersfield (33-0). But looming Sept. 18 is Class 3A’s top-rated team, rival Carthage Illini West. Next: Friday hosts No. 17 (tie) AlWood & ROWVA (2-0).
4. Bureau Valley (2-0) 78 5
— Comment: The Storm troopers marched to the 100th win in their school’s brief 15-year history by handing River Valley its 32nd straight setback. In the 53-12 shellacking over the weekend, the defending Big Rivers Conference champs rolled up 434 offensive yards and all of their points in the first half. Next: Friday at Amboy-LaMoille (2-0).
5. Orion (2-0) 70 7
— Comment: Arcola gave state-rated Salt Fork a first-week fight but proved no match for Orion in an impressive 55-0 road win for the state-ranked Chargers. New QB James Matson has seven aerial TDs thus far and is making Orion fans forget all about two-time All-Area passer Josh Hutton. Next: Friday at Kewanee (0-2).
6 (tie). North Scott (2-0) 68 8
— Comment: The Lancers have roughed up a pair of patsies thus far in West (39-0) and North (42-6), but a Davenport Public School sweep will be harder than in the past this week at resurgent Central. The matchup features two of the area’s top passers in North Scott’s Cody Manthe (300 yards, six TDs vs. two INTs) and Central’s Nick Bakeris (416 yards, four TDs vs. three INTs). Next: Thursday at No. 14 (tie) Davenport Central (2-0).
6 (tie). Rock Island (1-1) 68 10
— Comment: The Rocks avoided their first 0-2 start since 1991 by exhibiting the kind of defense (145 yards and eight first downs allowed) missing in their opener, a 32-0 loss to Oak Park Fenwick. In a sharp 14-0 shutout, the Western Big 6 Conference favorites forced four turnovers from a state-rated Crete-Monee crew that includes three of the state’s top 100 college recruits. Next: Friday at Chicago Heights Bloom (0-2).
8. Clinton (2-0) 56 6
— Comment: After routing the Davenport doormats, North (57-6) and West (33-0), the River Kings have a great chance at their first 3-0 start since 1988. The winning recipe so far has been to get the ball to major-college recruit David Johnson (eight TDs), pass a little with QB Jake Mangler (159 yards) and play defense (142 total yards allowed). Next: Friday hosts Burlington (0-2).
9. Alleman (1-1) 40 9
— Comment: Rallying from a 12-0 halftime deficit at Byron over the weekend, the Pioneers finally may have found their offensive game. In a 17-12 victory, Alleman rushed 52 times overall for 243 yards and the comeback scores courtesy of Sean McGuire. The defense was good again, too, posting a second-half shutout and a late safety to secure the win. Next: Friday hosts Rich South (1-1).
10. Davenport Assumption (1-1) 19.5 3
— Comment: Pleasant Valley pulled a 20-14 upset last weekend to get back into poll position for its coach, Augustana College and QC Steamwheelers great Rusty VanWetzinga. But Assumption deserved this week’s biggest drop in the local rankings by helping plenty, frittering away scoring chances, including a last-minute pass dropped by a wide-open receiver. Next: Friday at Muscatine (0-2).
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ALSO RECEIVING VOTES:
11. Morrison (2-0) 11.5 14
– Next: Friday hosts Ottawa Marquette (0-2).
12 (tie). Pleasant Valley (1-1) 8 –
– Next: Friday hosts Davenport West (0-2).
12 (tie). Stark County (2-0) 8 14
– Next: Friday at No. 17 (tie) Alexis United (2-0).
14 (tie). Central DeWitt (2-0) 5 15
– Next: Friday hosts Marion (2-0).
14 (tie). Davenport Central (2-0) 5 18
– Next: Thursday at No. 6 (tie) North Scott (2-0).
14 (tie). Sherrard (2-0) 5 16
– Next: Friday hosts Rockridge (1-1).
17 (tie). Alexis United (2-0) 1 –
– Next: Friday hosts No. 12 (tie) Stark County (2-0).
17 (tie). AlWood & ROWVA (2-0) 1 –
– Next: Friday at No. 3 Mercer County (2-0).
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INDIVIDUAL VOTES:
Marc Nesseler, mnesseler@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus sports editor/Geneseo beat writer
1. Geneseo (2-0)
2. Bettendorf (2-0)
3. Mercer County (2-0)
4. Orion (2-0)
5. Rock Island (1-1)
6. Bureau Valley (2-0)
7. North Scott (2-0)
8. Sherrard (2-0)
9. Alleman (1-1)
10. Morrison (2-0)
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Matt Randazzo, Matt.Randazzo@WQAD.com
WQAD-TV 8 sports anchor
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. Clinton (2-0)
4. North Scott (2-0)
5. Alleman (1-1)
6. Mercer County (2-0)
7. Orion (2-0)
8. Rock Island (1-1)
9. Bureau Valley (2-0)
10 (tie). Davenport Assumption (1-1)
10 (tie). Morrison (2-0)
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Steve Tappa, stappa@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus Big 6/Moline beat writer
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. Rock Island (1-1)
4. Mercer County (2-0)
5. Bureau Valley (2-0)
6. Clinton (2-0)
7. Alleman (1-1)
8. Orion (2-0)
9. Stark County (2-0)
10. Alexis United (2-0)
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Dan Burich, DRBurich@aol.com
MC22 broadcast analyst
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. Clinton (2-0)
4. North Scott (2-0)
5. Orion (2-0)
6. Rock Island (1-1)
7. Alleman (1-1)
8. Mercer County (2-0)
9. Central DeWitt (2-0)
10. Bureau Valley (2-0)
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Pete Ivanic, pwivanic@mchsi.com
MC22 broadcast play-by-play
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. North Scott (2-0)
4. Orion (2-0)
5. Bureau Valley (2-0)
6. Mercer County (2-0)
7. Clinton (2-0)
8. Central DeWitt (2-0)
9. Davenport Central (2-0)
10. Rock Island (1-1)
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Bill Horrell, BillHorrell@clearchannel.com
WFXN-AM 1230 play-by-play
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. Mercer County (2-0)
4. North Scott (2-0)
5. Bureau Valley (2-0)
6. Orion (2-0)
7. Clinton (2-0)
8. Pleasant Valley (1-1)
9. Rock Island (1-1)
10. Davenport Assumption (1-1)
____________
Daniel Makarewicz, Danmak@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus UT & Alleman beat writer
1. Geneseo (2-0)
2. Bettendorf (2-0)
3. North Scott (2-0)
4. Mercer County (2-0)
5. Bureau Valley (2-0)
6. Alleman (1-1)
7. Rock Island (1-1)
8. Orion (2-0)
9. Davenport Central (2-0)
10. Davenport Assumption (1-1)
____________
Matt Veto, mveto@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus Rock Island beat writer
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. Bureau Valley (2-0)
4. Mercer County (2-0)
5. Rock Island (1-1)
6. Orion (2-0)
7. Alleman (1-1)
8. Davenport Assumption (1-1)
9. Clinton (2-0)
10. North Scott (2-0)
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Dan Tomlin, TomlinDanielD@sau.edu
Dispatch/Argus special contributor
1. Geneseo (2-0)
2. Bettendorf (2-0)
3. Rock Island (1-1)
4. Mercer County (2-0)
5. Bureau Valley (2-0)
6. Orion (2-0)
7. Pleasant Valley (1-1)
8. Alleman (1-1)
9. Morrison (2-0)
10. AlWood & ROWVA (2-0)
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Tom Johnston, tjohnston@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus college beat writer
1 (tie). Bettendorf (2-0)
1 (tie). Geneseo (2-0)
3. Mercer County (2-0)
4. Orion (2-0)
5. Bureau Valley (2-0)
6. Rock Island (1-1)
7. Morrison (1-0)
8. North Scott (2-0)
9. Clinton (2-0)
10. Davenport Assumption (1-1)
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Terry Duckett, tduckett@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus area beat writer
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. Mercer County (2-0)
4. Bureau Valley (2-0)
5. Orion (2-0)
6. Stark County (2-0)
7. Morrison (2-0)
8. Rock Island (1-1)
9. North Scott (2-0)
10. Davenport Central (2-0)
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Jeff Wendland, jwendland@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus lead sports layout
1. Geneseo (2-0)
2. Bettendorf (2-0)
3. Mercer County (2-0)
4. North Scott (2-0)
5. Rock Island (1-1)
6. Orion (2-0)
7. Clinton (2-0)
8. Bureau Valley (2-0)
9. Sherrard (2-0)
10. Davenport Assumption (1-1)
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Ryan Sergeant, rsergeant@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus prep reporter
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. Davenport Assumption (1-1)
4. Mercer County (2-0)
5. Bureau Valley (2-0)
6. Clinton (2-0)
7. Orion (2-0)
8. North Scott (2-0)
9. Alleman (1-1)
10. Rock Island (1-1)
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Chris Steele, SteeleChristopherK@sau.edu
Dispatch/Argus prep reporter
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. Bureau Valley (2-0)
4. Clinton (2-0)
5. Rock Island (1-1)
6. Alleman (1-1)
7. Davenport Assumption (1-1)
8. North Scott (2-0)
9. Mercer County (2-0)
10. Stark County (2-0)
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Steve Campbell, CampbellStevenE@sau.edu
WQAD-TV 8 sports associate
1. Bettendorf (2-0)
2. Geneseo (2-0)
3. North Scott (2-0)
4. Clinton (2-0)
5. Mercer County (2-0)
6. Alleman (1-1)
7. Rock Island (1-1)
8. Orion (2-0)
9. Bureau Valley (2-0)
10. Pleasant Valley (1-1)
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CONVINCE US:
Instead of decrying who”s in the poll, tell us who should be in our rankings. Negative comments about teams and players won”t be tolerated, and will be deleted.
