Sherrard’s James Stratton (56) takes down Rockridge running back Brandon Stufflebeam (44) during first half action Friday at Sherrard High School. A 33-0 decision by 3-0 Sherrard has the Tigers knocking on the Top 10 door of this week’s Quad Cities Prep Football Power Poll.
By Steve Tappa, stappa@qconline.com
Moline Dispatch/Rock Island Argus prep football writer
Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2009, 11:03 p.m.
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After graduating Mississippi Athletic Conference rushing champ Connor Dahlstrom, North Scott was never expected to repeat an 8-2 season by voters in the Quad Cities Prep Football Power Poll.
However, thanks to a dominating 3-0 start, the Lancers have steadily risen up the local rankings, presented by WQAD-TV 8, Mediacom Connections 22, WFXN-AM 1230 and The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus newspapers.
From the No. 12 spot in the preseason poll, Coach Kevin Tippet’s club has climbed to No. 4 with a bullet in this week’s vote by local sportswriters and broadcasters.
North Scott even managed to wrest away one of the 15 first-place votes cast from the incumbent No. 1 and 2 duo of Bettendorf (10.5) and Geneseo (3.5). The Bulldogs have been the consensus No. 1 now for 23 weeks and counting.
Mercer County remained No. 3, and was the only other team to hold off the surging Lancers, who finished off a 126-30 sweep of the Davenport Public Schools with last Thursday’s 45-24 victory over then-unbeaten Davenport Central.
True, North Scott pulled the same trick just last season, but even with Dahlstrom and a bevy of other experienced players around him, the Lancers only managed to outscore the Davenporters 80-28 in the three-game series.
Also moving up in the local Top 10 this week are Clinton (8th to 7th), Alleman (9th to 8th) and Davenport Assumption (10th to 9th).
Orion (5th) and Rock Island (6th) held their ground.
Bureau Valley, fourth last week locally and No. 1 in Illinois Class 2A, dropped out of the QC Top 10 thanks to a 23-14 loss to Amboy-LaMoille, No. 11 in last week’s 2A statewide poll.
Big Rivers Conference rival Morrison, also state-ranked in 2A, replaced the Storm in the local Top 10. The Mustangs, a fixture in last season’s QC Top 10, took over the No. 10 spot, moving up from 14th in last week’s local rankings.
In all 15 teams received voting consideration this week, down from the season-high 18 of the last few week’s. Falling off ballots this week with losses were AlWood & ROWVA, Central DeWitt and the aforementioned Davenport Central.
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QC Prep Football Power Poll
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 (3-0) 144.5 (10.5) 1
– Comment: No more wondering about how good are these rebuilt Bulldogs. We’ll certainly find out the next two weekends, with the unbeaten pair of Clinton and North Scott both visiting the “Dog Pound.” Sure to be tested is a 21-game Mississippi Athletic Conference winning streak. Next: Friday hosts No. 7 Clinton (3-0).
2. Geneseo (3-0) 137.5 (3.5) 2
-– Comment: The Maple Leafs can begin getting fitted for the NCIC Reagan crown if they win this weekend at state-rated Morris. A stingy defense made the difference at arch-nemesis Sterling last Friday, holding the hosts to 121 total yards and seven points while forcing three turnvoers, notching three sacks and registering five other tackles for loss. Next: Friday at Morris (1-2).
3. Mercer County (3-0) 100 3
-– Comment: Incumbent quarterback Brett Anderson not only was 17-for-17 passing over the weekend, but added four more throwing scores to his season total of nine. But now comes the big test, Illinois Class 3A’s top-rated team, Carthage Illini West, the only team to beat the old Aledo powerhouse all of last season, and doing so twice at that. Next: Friday hosts Carthage Illini West (3-0).
4. North Scott (3-0) 948 6t
– Comment: Cody Manthe has become a serious contender for MAC Player of the Year honors. The first-year starting quarterback is hitting 61-percent of his passes, for 438 yards and 8 TDs vs. 3 INT. Plus, Manthe has rushed for a team-leading 227 yards and a score. Next: Friday hosts No. 13 Pleasant Valley (2-1).
5. Orion (3-0) 83 5
-– Comment: The highest-scoring team in the state continues to pile up the points, turning 50 again in a 56-22 win at Kewanee. The Super-Chargers are averaging a whopping 52.3 points-per-game with new QB James Matson at the controls. But this week comes the only team that prevented another perfect regular-season by Orion last season. Next: Friday at Macomb (1-2).
6. Rock Island (2-1) 78 6t
-– Comment: Nikko Watson has a Western Big 6 Conference-leading 338 yards rushing, but another great defensive effort told the weekend tale for the state-ranked Rocks. A week after shutting out state-rated Crete-Monee, Rocky allowed Chicago Heights Bloom no points through three quarters of a blowout, and just 43 yards on 23 total rushes. Next: Friday hosts United Township (0-3).
7. Clinton (3-0) 72 8
-– Comment: The under-rated River Kings are off to their first 3-0 start since 1988. But the preseason is over now for QB Jake Mangler, major-college recruited RB David Johnson and the rest of the MAC’s highest-scoring team. If Clinton wants to win its first league crown since 1991, the River Kings need to reign this and next weekend at MAC powers Bettendorf and Assumption. Next: Friday at No. 1 Bettendorf (3-0).
8. Alleman (2-1) 44.5 9
-– Comment: The Pioneers defense continues to shine, allowing an average of 110 yards and just four touchdowns total through three games. But now comes a big test in Galesburg QB Andrew Steck, who burned Alleman for 147 rushing yards and 3 total TDs last year in a 21-14 decision that cost the Pioneers a playoff spot. Next: Friday hosts Galesburg (2-1).
9. Davenport Assumption (2-1) 20.5 10
-– Comment: An emphatic rebound from a Pleasant Valley upset the week before included the Knights becoming the first opponent to shutout Muscatine since 2005. Assumption’s defense forced five turnovers, including four interceptions, with two of the picks by Tim Kilfoy in the 31-0 victory. Next: Friday vs. Davenport Central (2-1) at Brady Street Stadium.
10. Morrison (3-0) 16 14
– Comment: Josh Vos has proven there are still horses in the stables in Mustang-land despite heavy graduation losses from last year’s playoff qualifier. Vos leads the area in rushing with a whopping 473 yards on 63 carries for 9 TDs and a 7.5 per-tote average. Next: Friday hosts Riverdale (2-1).
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ALSO RECEIVING VOTES:
11. Alexis United (3-0) 14 17t
– Next: Friday at Abingdon (1-2).
12. Sherrard (3-0) 9 14t
– Next: Friday at Farmington (2-1).
13. Pleasant Valley (2-1) 8 12t
– Next: Friday at No. 4 North Scott (3-0).
14. Bureau Valley (2-1) 3 4
– Next: Friday at Peru St. Bede (0-3).
15. Stark County (2-1) 1 12t
– Next: Friday hosts Cuba North Fulton (2-1).
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INDIVIDUAL VOTES
Marc Nesseler, mnesseler@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus sports editor/Geneseo beat writer
1. Geneseo (3-0)
2. Bettendorf (3-0)
3. North Scott (3-0)
4. Mercer County (3-0)
5. Orion (3-0)
6. Rock Island (2-1)
7. Clinton (3-0)
8. Alleman (2-1)
9. Sherrard (3-0)
10. Morrison (3-0)
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Matt Randazzo, Matt.Randazzo@WQAD.com
WQAD-TV 8 sports anchor
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. Clinton (3-0)
4. North Scott (3-0)
5. Mercer County (3-0)
6. Rock Island (2-1)
7. Orion (3-0)
8. Alexis United (3-0)
9. Pleasant Valley (2-1)
10. Davenport Assumption (2-1)
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Steve Tappa, stappa@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus Big 6/Moline beat writer
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. Rock Island (2-1)
4. Mercer County (3-0)
5. Clinton (3-0)
6. North Scott (3-0)
7. Alleman (2-1)
8. Orion (3-0)
9. Alexis United (3-0)
10. Stark County (2-1)
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Dan Burich, DRBurich@aol.com
MC22 broadcast analyst
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. Clinton (3-0)
4. North Scott (3-0)
5. Alleman (2-1)
6. Rock Island (2-1)
7. Orion (3-0)
8. Mercer County (3-0)
9. Morrison (3-0)
10. Sherrard (3-0)
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Pete Ivanic, pwivanic@mchsi.com
MC22 broadcast play-by-play
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. North Scott (3-0)
4. Orion (3-0)
5. Mercer County (3-0)
6. Clinton (3-0)
7. Rock Island (2-1)
8. Alleman (2-1)
9. Sherrard (3-0)
10. Morrison (3-0)
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Bill Horrell, BillHorrell@clearchannel.com
WFXN-AM 1230 play-by-play
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. Mercer County (3-0)
4. North Scott (3-0)
5. Orion (3-0)
6. Clinton (3-0)
7. Rock Island (2-1)
8. Pleasant Valley (2-1)
9. Alleman (2-1)
10. Davenport Assumption (2-1)
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Daniel Makarewicz, Danmak@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus UT & Alleman beat writer
1. Geneseo (3-0)
2. Bettendorf (3-0)
3. Mercer County (3-0)
4. Orion (3-0)
5. North Scott (3-0)
6. Alleman
7. Rock Island
8. Clinton
9 Davenport Assumption
10. Morrison
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Matt Veto, mveto@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus Rock Island beat writer
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. Mercer County (3-0)
4. Rock Island (2-1)
5. Orion (3-0)
6. Alleman (2-1)
7. North Scott (3-0)
8. Davenport Assumption (2-1)
9. Clinton (3-0)
10. Bureau Valley (2-1)
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Dan Tomlin, TomlinDanielD@sau.edu
Dispatch/Argus special contributor
1. North Scott (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. Bettendorf (3-0)
4. Orion (3-0)
5. Mercer County (3-0)
6. Alexis United (3-0)
7. Clinton (3-0)
8. Rock Island (2-1)
9. Davenport Assumption (2-1)
10. Alleman (2-1)
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Tom Johnston, tjohnston@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus college beat writer
1 (tie). Bettendorf (3-0)
1 (tie). Geneseo (3-0)
3. Mercer County (3-0)
4. Orion (3-0)
5, Rock Island (2-1)
6. Morrison (3-0)
7. North Scott (3-0)
8. Clinton (3-0)
9. Davenport Assumption (2-1)
10. Alexis United (3-0)
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Terry Duckett, tduckett@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus area beat writer
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. Mercer County (3-0)
4. Orion (3-0)
5. Morrison (3-0)
6. Rock Island (2-1)
7. North Scott (3-0)
8. Alexis United (3-0)
9. Sherrard (3-0)
10. Alleman (2-1)
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Jeff Wendland, jwendland@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus lead sports layout
1. Geneseo (3-0)
2. Bettendorf (3-0)
3. Mercer County (3-0)
4. North Scott (3-0)
5. Rock Island (2-1)
6. Orion (3-0)
7. Alleman (2-1)
8. Clinton (3-0)
9. Sherrard (3-0)
10. Davenport Assumption (2-1)
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Ryan Sergeant, rsergeant@qconline.com
Dispatch/Argus prep reporter
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. Mercer County (3-0)
4. Orion (3-0)
5. North Scott (3-0)
6. Rock Island (2-1)
7. Clinton (3-0)
8. Alleman (2-1)
9. Davenport Assumption (2-1)
10. Bureau Valley (2-1)
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Chris Steele, SteeleChristopherK@sau.edu
Dispatch/Argus prep reporter
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Geneseo (3-0)
3. Clinton (3-0)
4. Rock Island (2-1)
5. Alleman (2-1)
6. Davenport Assumption (2-1)
7. North Scott (3-0)
8. Mercer County (3-0)
9. Orion (3-0)
10. Bureau Valley (2-1)
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Steve Campbell, CampbellStevenE@sau.edu
WQAD-TV 8 sports associate
1. Bettendorf (3-0)
2. Clinton (3-0)
3. Geneseo (3-0)
4. North Scott (3-0)
5. Mercer County (3-0)
6. Orion (3-0)
7. Rock Island (2-1)
8. Pleasant Valley (2-1)
9 (tie). Alleman (2-1)
9 (tie). Assumption (2-1)
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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.
