Both teams are 8-1 on the season, and unbeaten in two Massanutten District games.

Now Harrisonburg and Turner Ashby, who meet for the district championship in Friday night's regular season finale, are both ranked in the AP's Virginia AA Top Ten poll.

The Knights, who beat Spotswood 29-12 at home last Friday, entered the poll for the first time this season at No. 10.

Harrisonburg stayed at No. 7 after winning 41-7 at Broadway.

Both teams were on the practice field Monday afternoon, prior to the release of the AP poll.

Even without the added fuel of the state rankings, both coaches talked about the magnitude of Friday's showdown at Turner Ashby.

"Anybody that says that they don't enjoy the bigger games, I'm not sure what's in them," said Harrisonburg coach Tim Sarver. "Sure, the adrenaline flows in the coaches, just like it does in the players."

"I think it's just going to be a tremendous atmosphere. The kind of stuff that you'd like to see every night," said TA's Charlie Newma. "Friday Night Lights, Friday football.

"I mean, this is the big game," added Newman. "I can't imagine a much bigger game in the state of Virginia than that game on Friday night."