RI high school football Week 1 media poll: Islanders move closer to gaining a Top 20 spot

Scott Barrett, Newport Daily News
·3 min read

After one week of the high school football season in Rhode Island, there wasn’t much movement near the top of the state’s media poll.

The top four teams — all in Division I — held their positions from last week after playing non-league games. Portsmouth, coming off a 20-0 loss to No. 4 North Kingstown, experienced a significant drop, falling from No. 7 to No. 11.

East Providence, meanwhile, certainly caught the attention of media members with its 47-0 trouncing of Pilgrim. The Townies leaped from No. 16 to No. 9.

Opening statement: Here's how Middletown finally got over the hump and beat rival Rogers

It appears most voters are sleeping on Middletown, which has outscored its opponents 48-6 through six quarters, including a 27-7 win over Rogers last Friday night. The Islanders still haven’t cracked the Top 20, but are getting votes.

That’s more than OK with Middletown coach Matt Kestler, who told me he doesn’t mind flying under the radar ahead of this week’s game against No. 18 Classical.

Here’s how members of the media voted after Week 1:

Rank    Team                        Points  Last week

1.         Hendricken (8)            197      1

2.         La Salle (2)                 192      2

3.         Central                        179      3

4.         North Kingstown        173      4

5.         St. Raphael                 153      6

6.         Cumberland                146      5

7.         Westerly                     132      8

8.         Barrington                   118      9

9.         East Providence          111      16

10.       South Kingstown        103      10

Quarterback Julian Delacruz and Middletown have put up 48 points through six quarters this season.
Quarterback Julian Delacruz and Middletown have put up 48 points through six quarters this season.

11.       Portsmouth                  92        7

12.       Woonsocket                85        15

13.       Mount Pleasant           59        14

14.       Narragansett               58        13

t-15.     Coventry                     44        NR

t-15.     Moses Brown              44        NR

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17.       Burrillville                  40        11

18.       Classical                     34        12

19.       West Warwick            33        NR

20.       Ponaganset                  25        17

First-place votes in parentheses

Also receiving votes: Middletown 22, Burrillville 13, Cranston West 13, Lincoln 12, Mt. Hope 12, Davies 3, East Greenwich 3, Tolman 2, Chariho 1, North Smithfield 1, Smithfield 1

Dropped from poll: Shea (18), Cranston West (19), Tolman (20)

How The Daily News voted

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

There's little doubt I had Middletown ranked the highest, but I'm growing more confident in the Islanders, especially in their offense. But Classical will provide a stern test, and we'll see where Middletown lands after this weekend.

Speaking of tests, Portsmouth can get back on track, and regain the faith of voters, with a home victory over No. 8 Westerly. Not only that, but a victory here would go a long way later in the season as the Patriots try to claim a playoff berth.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: RI high school football Week 1 media poll: Portsmouth falls to No. 11