RI high school football media poll: Where did Patriots, Islanders land after big wins?

There are ebbs and flows during the season in every high school sport, though they seem more roller coaster-like in football because of the small number of games — league games especially.

Look at where we were in Newport County just a few weeks ago. Portsmouth was coming off a 20-14 loss to South Kingstown on Sept. 30 when Patriots coach Dustin Almeida said his team "can't compete consistently" because of injuries and a lack of execution.

Middletown was flying high before being brought back to earth via a 6-0 loss to Tolman on Sept. 23. Since then, both teams have established themselves as division contenders sitting atop the standings.

Both the Patriots and Islanders are coming off rousing victories last weekend, and each made a leap in the statewide media poll to their highest positions of the season.

The Patriots jumped from No. 10 to No. 6 after trouncing previously unbeaten Woonsocket 28-0 on the road. Portsmouth's highest position before this week was No. 7. Middletown was No. 18 before cruising to a 34-6 victory over Toll Gate. Now the Islanders are at No. 15.

Here's how the state Top 20 looks after Week 6 results:

Rank Team Points Last Week

1. Hendricken (10) 200 1

2. La Salle 190 2

3. North Kingstown 179 3

4. Central 169 4

5. St. Raphael 157 t-7

6. Portsmouth 140 10

7. Cranston West 127 t-11

8. Woonsocket 124 6

9. Cumberland 116 5

10. South Kingstown 108 t-7

11. Westerly 102 15

12. West Warwick 84 t-11

13. Moses Brown 81 14

14. Barrington 77 9

15. Middletown 47 18

16. Lincoln 40 16

17. Chariho 38 17

18. Mount Pleasant 33 19

19. Shea 28 NR

20. East Providence 26 13

First-place votes in parentheses

Dropped from poll: Ponaganset (20).

Also receiving votes: Smithfield 14, Rogers 8, Classical 4, Central Falls 3, Ponaganset 3, Davies 2.

How The Daily News voted

1. Bishop Hendricken, 2. La Salle, 3. North Kingstown, 4. Central, 5. Portsmouth, 6. St. Raphael, 7. Cranston West, 8. Woonsocket, 9. Cumberland, 10. South Kingstown, 11. Westerly, 12. Moses Brown, 13. West Warwick, 14. Middletown, 15. Barrington, 16. Lincoln, 17. Shea, 18. Smithfield, 19. Rogers, 20. Mount Pleasant.

I continue to have faith in the local teams, and that faith is being rewarded on the football field. Portsmouth likely won't crack the top four (those spots appear to be locked in with state championship division teams), though it can maintain its spot with a victory over No. 14 Barrington this weekend.

In Division III, expect some big movement in the poll next week. Unbeaten teams West Warwick (No. 12) and Moses Brown (No. 13) will face off in West Warwick, while Middletown hosts No. 16 Lincoln.

And don't forget about Rogers. Barring anything unforeseen, the Vikings should dispatch Narragansett to improve to 4-2 in Division III-B. That could be enough for John Horsman's team to enter the Top 20 for the first time this season.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: RI high school football media poll: Week 6