Fork Union (0-1) at Goochland (1-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: For the fourth year in a row these two step out of their respective private and public ranks. Goochland has won two of the previous three meetings including last year where it was an offensive showcase. Expect a bigger and better version of that this time around. The Blue Devils lost by just a point to a good Georgetown Prep team last week. The Bulldogs defeated a good Essex team by 10 in their season opener. Both of these offenses bring a lot of versatility and firepower to the field. Goochland has its strength up front on the offensive line. Fork Union’s skill position players all back from last year. While this is essentially an exhibition game in terms of playoff standings for either squad, it’s a chance for two programs that have similar prospects as far as the post season goes. This is a great looking game on paper any way you cut it.
Key matchup: Goochland’s front seven takes on FUMA running back Rashon Torrence. The Bulldogs had trouble bringing down Essex running back Leo Gaskins last week before he was sidelined with cramps. Torrence is as nifty and strong on his feet as Gaskins. With a young secondary, the Goochland defense up front has to wrap up the FUMA back who is the driving force in this offense when they make first contact.
Who to watch: Bulldog wide receiver Jordan Jefferson. He was sick last week, but played through it and is the best weapon that Goochland quarterback Reid Chenault has. The two connected once for a TD bomb against Essex and just missed on a few others. If Chenault and Jefferson have a big day, it’s going to be tough for Fork Union to key in on the always potent Goochland rushing attack.
The line: Goochland by 3. Offensively, this is probably a push. Defensively though, the Bulldogs showed they could bend and not break against Essex.
Albemarle (0-0) at Massaponax (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Patriots open up their season while the Panthers come off a 42-3 beating of Courtland in their debut last week. Massaponax is coming off an exceptional 2013 season. Albemarle is coming off a break through year where it finally earned a trip back to the playoffs. Now under the lead of first year coach Brandon Isaiah, the Patriots have a truly tall task on their hands, but it’s no different than last year where the opening part of their schedule was brutal, but helped to temper them for the great second half of the year they had. If Albemarle shows well against this physical Massaponax team that will go a long way the rest of the year.
Key matchup: The Patriots linebacking corps against the Panthers’ option offense. Massaponax is old school and gets it done on a misdirection run game year after year. In week one, Joey Brenden and Robert Fields combined for 202 yards on 27 carries with Brenden leading the way with his 120 yards on 13 youches and two touchdowns. The Albemarle linebackers have to play assignment football and make the proper reads if they want to slow down a team that knows how to put together lengthy demoralizing drives.
Who to watch: Albemarle quarterback D.G. Archer. The junior is poised to have a big year after earning the starting job last year. The Patriots don’t have the ammunition up front right now that the Panthers do, but that’s because the class of 2014 left a massive void there. It’ll be up to Archer to be creative. He’s got a great arm. He’s a shifty quarterback. If he can get time to make big plays downfield, the Patriots’ chances are greatly improved.
The line: Massaponax by 6. The Panthers are a tough opponent for this Patriots team, particularly after the roster turnover it’s in the midst of figuring out.
Luray (1-0) at Madison County (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Bulldogs opened up their season last week with a drubbing of Nelson County while the Mountaineers fine-tuned things in their exhibition game with Orange County. These two have had some close battles recently with the Bulldogs winning a one-possession game last year and the Mountaineers doing the same the year before. This game should be tightly contested for a third straight time with what both teams have back and what Luray showed in week one.
Key matchup: The Mountaineers defensive line goes after Luray running back Jacob Moyer. After he picked up 111 yards on just six touches in the first half against Nelson, Moyer showed his ability and his offensive line’s ability. The story for Madison over the last few years has been about it’s defense being able to give its offense a chance to win games. With a senior leader in Dylan Berry and a promising newcomer in the 6-foot-5 Dylan Breeden, the Mountaineers have some pieces up front to get penetration into the backfield and make things tough on the Bulldogs offensive line, and on Moyer.
Who to watch: Madison sophomore Dre Twyman. We know he can make a difference defensively as he did that already as a freshman last year. But what kind of pop can he provide for Madison in the passing game with senior quarterback James Graves back in the fold. The Mountaineers are going to miss Ashton Weakley at receiver. Can Twyman step up and help to fill his shoes?
The line: Madison by 1. The Mountainers have won two of the last three meetings here, and the home team has won the last two between these two.
George Wythe (0-0) at Monticello (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Bulldogs are coming off an 0-10 season, a step back from the 2-8 season they had the year before. Coming off a 10-2 season in Jeff Woody’s first season for the Mustangs, this game pits two very different teams against each other. Monticello has a month of home games before it opens up Jefferson District play. It also has that month to work out whatever kinks there might be in their offense as it retools its offensive line and receiving corp. Long story short, for Wythe, the longer the Monticello starters are in, the better it will have played.
Key matchup: The Bulldogs’ front seven versus Mustangs running back Kyree Koonce. Monticello only got a small taste of what Koonce could do last year before he was hit with a season ending injury. If all goes well, Koonce will have a short night. Unfortunately for Wythe, that might be to the tune of the 139 all-purpose yards and a trio of TD’s like he had last year in limited action.
Who to watch: Monticello quarterback Daniel Hummell. The development of Hummell is critical to this offense. His athleticism won’t be the question though. It’s going to be the chemistry he develops with his receivers that matters. This is a good chance for the sophomore to make a big debut and if he does so in the air, the Mustangs will be well on their way to picking up the pieces after a great 2013.
The line: Monticello by 21. Mustangs roll, do what they can to stay healthy before their meeting with Fork Union next week which should offer a much better challenge.
Orange County (0-0) at Liberty (Bealeton) (1-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Hornets come off their exhibition game with Madison County and hit the road to play an Eagles squad that hammered Handley 35-0. Liberty is coming off a playoff appearance last year and a 7-5 season overall. They have a lot back and are poised to be even better this year with all their skill position players back. The Hornets hope to improve upon a 2-8 season in the second year under Keita Malloy, especially defensively. That’s going to be tough in week one, but Liberty could also well be the best team that the Hornets face this year as well.
Key matchup: Orange’s defensive line takes on Liberty’s offensive line. The bottom line in this game is that the Hornets have to step up and get penetration in the trenches or Eagles running back Martin Parker is going to have a big day. This unit man handled Handley. The Hornets can’t let that happen for a second straight week and expect a good outcome here.
Who to watch: Orange’s Keith Ellis’ role in the offense. Whether as a running, receiver or quarterback, what Malloy decides to do with Ellis is key as he’s the most athletically gifted option this team has. They have to create opportunities where he can make big plays if they want to keep pace with Liberty’s offense.
The line: Liberty by 14. Tough draw as far as season openers go here for Orange, much less one on the road.
Christchurch (1-0) at STAB (1-0), 7 p.m.
The Basics: STAB picked up essentially where they left off last year against Norfolk Academy last week, but it was clear the Saints are feeling a little more comfortable than they have in a long time, as the passing game appeared to be in midseason form right out of the gate. The passing attack with Lee Parkhill pulling the trigger seems poised to give defenses fits all season long as the senior quarterback has a wealth of options to lean on. If he gives his wideouts a chance, they’re more than likely to come down with the ball. Christchurch showed some vulnerability to the pass against Blue Ridge in a win last week, and the Barons’ new group of playmakers is still settling in. STAB’s group may be particularly dangerous against the Seahorses.
Key matchup: STAB’s defense takes on Christchurch’s high scoring offense. The Seahorses exploded for 53 points against Blue Ridge last week, and should present an interesting challenge for the Saints, who are undersized but speedy on defense. Fernando Lewis, who had a 61-yard touchdown sprint for the Seahorses, should be a big part of the plan for Christchurch. Look for the Saints to try and clamp down on the speedy tailback.
Who to watch: STAB tight end Campbell Miller. A week ago in our preview of the Saints, we wrote that if Miller emerged as a pass catcher, it would only make the Saints that much more dangerous. That emergence took almost no time as Miller caught a pair of touchdown passes as Norfolk Academy’s safeties tried to take away Kareem Johnson and Jalen Harrison, leaving Miller open down the middle.
The line: STAB by 3. The Saints are simply too explosive offensively through the air for Christchurch to derail STAB.
Culpeper County (0-1) at Charlottesville (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Charlottesville’s defense got largely dismantled by Eastern View last week, with Kendrick Kube unleashing a six-touchdown performance in the Cyclones’ win over the Black Knights. But at times, Charlottesville appeared to find its rhythm and the Black Knights largely refused to go away. Cramps in the second half impacted a host of CHS players, and with the weather set to be warm again, hopefully some of those issues got ironed out this week. If the Black Knights can stay healthy and get into an offensive rhythm, they’re in good position to pick up their first win.
Key matchup: Culpeper’s defense takes on Rashad Brock. Kube lit up Charlottesville in the ground game last week, but Brock was incredibly impressive too, including a play where he fought to haul in a screen pass five or six yards deep in the backfield from one defender and then with another defender draped over him, turned around and burst forward for 10 yards. It was as impressive as a five-yard gain could possibly be. The Blue Devils will have their hands full with Brock.
Who to watch: Charlottesville’s Malik Bartee. Bartee showed a lot of promise at quarterback and now that he’s been in the fire at that spot for four quarters, he should be better prepared for Friday night. Look for Bartee’s decision making — which was already solid for a first time signal caller last week — to improve. If he can make Culpeper respect his ability to get to the edge early, that will open things up inside for Brock.
The line: Charlottesville by 7. Charlottesville should have enough offensive firepower to knock off the Blue Devils.
Spotsylvania (0-1) at Fluvanna County (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Fluvanna has to erase the nightmare that was last week’s clash with William Fleming where the Flucos surrendered more than 60 points and focus on an extremely winnable game against Spotsylvania. If they can accomplish that, they’ll be well within range of a win against a Knights team that was unproductive offensively against Louisa County last week in a 14-2 loss. This is a huge opportunity for the Flucos and while it’s difficult timing coming off last week’s loss, Fluvanna has to regroup quickly and take advantage.
Key matchup: Fluvanna’s defense takes on a Spotsylvania offense struggling to find an identity. It can complicate preparation when a team’s strengths are unclear and Spotsylvania is still searching for its strengths. Fluvanna’s defense is going to have to play instinctual football in order to get the job done against the Knights.
Who to watch: Fluvanna’s Vinny Agee. Agee’s 40-yard touchdown pass was the lone obvious bright spot for the Flucos in the loss to the Colonels. If the Flucos can get the athletic Agee in the mix early, it’ll definitely improve their chances against Spotsylvania.
The line: Fluvanna by 3. Fluvanna will be in this one, and with a few big-time plays they could tip the scales in their favor against the Knights.
Nelson County (0-1) at Page County (0-1), 7 p.m.
The Basics: Things didn’t go as planned for Nelson last week in a 46-0 loss to Luray, while Page lost 38-14 to a squad from West Virgnia. Nelson nearly pulled a win out last year over the Panthers in a 14-9 battle before the wheels came off for the Governors in the 2013 campaign. Look for Nelson to give the power run game out of a single wing style formation another shot this week as they continue to try and find an identity. When it was working against Luray, it worked well, and it worked well with a number of different ball carriers as the offensive line managed to open up some creases. A little more consistency and fewer mistakes would go a long way toward alleviating Nelson’s woes.
Key matchup: Page County’s passing game takes on Nelson’s improving secondary. While the Governors struggled mightily to stop the ground game last week, they showed flashes of success in the secondary including a Malik Turner interception that ended in a fumble on the return. If Turner and the rest of the defensive backs can step up and make plays for Nelson, things could get interesting against Page.
Who to watch: Nelson County’s Ray Chambers. Chambers had three straight runs for 10 or more yards during a first half stretch for the Governors. He’s clearly Nelson’s most dynamic presence on offense, and he’ll need to get going in a big way and give Nelson a spark like he did briefly last week.
The line: Page County by 1. If Chambers can find a rhythm in the Governors’ power sets, Nelson will have a shot to end their current losing streak against the Panthers.
Waynesboro (0-1) at Western Albemarle (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Western Albemarle kicked off a new era Friday with a hard fought 23-15 victory over Spotswood at home, with a stout defense leading the way as the unit clamped down on the Blazers, who’s attack includes the speedy Khalil Davis. If Western’s defense can maintain that kind of effort as the offense continues to try and rebuild its identity with a largely new cast of playmakers, it’ll got a long way toward helping ease the Warriors’ transition into 2014.
Key matchup: Waynesboro’s run defense takes on Western’s ground attack. The Warriors got the job done last week by keeping the ball on the ground, including an eight-play, 90-yard drive that all came in the run game, capped by Henry Kreienbaum’s 43-yard touchdown sprint. If Western can control the clock with some reliable rushing, Waynesboro will have its work cut out for it. The Little Giants struggled against Wilson Memorial’s three-headed rushing attack last week.
Who to watch: Waynesboro’s Chris Baker. Baker was a lot for a young Western defense to handle early on last season. The dual threat quarterback went for 241 yards of total offense last year against the Warriors, but Western’s defense is much more seasoned now. Friday night will give some indication of just how far they’ve come as Baker should serve as an excellent measuring stick.
The line: Western by 14. Warriors can get into a groove against a struggling Waynesboro program, but Baker will be a lot to handle.
Spotswood (0-1) at William Monroe (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: William Monroe has a stout first test in a year that looks poised to be a strong one for the Dragons, and Friday is likely going to come down to how well an experienced defensive unit steps up against a Spotswood squad with some speed. Can this group led by Josh King take a leap forward after an 0-10 campaign? We’ll know a lot more Friday night. Spotswood is coming off another narrow loss to Western Albemarle, much as they were last year when they exploded for 56 points against the Dragons. Monroe has to rise to the occasion to prevent a repeat performance.
Key matchup: Spotswood’s front seven takes on Monroe’s two-headed ground attack. Cody Perkins and Tylek Burley are 1A and 1B for the Dragons at running back and either one of them can make a defense pay. Accounting for both? That’s just a flat out headache for the opposition. If those two can pound it out and control the clock, that’ll only help keep the Dragons’ veteran defense well-rested.
Who to watch: Monroe’s quarterback. The Dragons have the horses at tailback in Perkins and Burley, and if they can scratch out enough production from the quarterback spot from Dustin Knight or Malique Shackelford, Monroe’s offense should be in business. Look for the Dragons’ coaching staff to try and keep their quarterbacks comfortable and not to much on them by getting the ground game going early.
The line: Spotswood by 7. The Dragons have their work cut out for them against a Spotswood team that nearly derailed Western last week, but Monroe could definitely pick up the win here and it’d be a huge boost in the early going.
Hargrave Military Academy (0-1) at Blue Ridge (0-1), 2 p.m.
The basics: Neither team is happy with their season debuts, but neither squad had much time to prepare either. The Tigers fell hard last week against a public school in Chatham. The Barons had just a nine day training camp before they played Christchurch and lost 53-28 in a game that was stopped early in the third quarter because of heat and concern for injury. This week should play out differently and be more competitive and friendly than week one went for either school.
Key matchup: Hargrave’s secondary versus the Blue Ridge receiving corps. The good news for Blue Ridge is that they connected on some big plays offensively last week, and in a style that has always been key for the Barons, getting the playmakers on the edge of the field the ball in their hands. The Tigers struggled defensively last week and can’t let Blue Ridge connect on the jugular type plays that it has thanks to its skill position players in athletes like Malik Johnson who caught a 68-yard TD.
Who to watch: Blue Ridge quarterback Trevor Eaton. He threw for a touchdown, rushed for another. He’ll be the key for the Barons early on. If he can find his receivers in space, this offense has great potential. If he can make the little plays and make sure he manages the game when those athletes are covered, things will bode even better for the Barons as they basically go through a training camp to start the regular season.
The line: Blue Ridge by 3. The Barons have the tools to avenge last year’s loss on the road, and will look to do so with a second week of practice under its belt, and on its home turf.
Eastern Shore Home School Bucks (MD) (0-0) at Woodberry Forest (0-0), 2 p.m.
The basics: One of the oldest programs in the country takes on one of the newest. Woodberry Forest dates back to Reconstruction in the 19th century and has a better winning percentage than any other Central Virginia program over the last seven years. Eastern Shore is in the second year of existence, a school that provides an outlet for home school and private school athletes that don’t have access to a football program in Maryland or Delaware. The Bucks will have their hands full with a Tigers team that is ready to build upon an exceptional 2013.
Key matchup: The Bucks secondary versus Woodberry quarterback Lindell Stone. Woodberry’s offensive line and running game is going to handle its business up front. To keep things from getting ugly too quickly, Eastern Shore can’t let Stone find Nate Ingram and Zach Roderick on the deep to intermediate pass. Stone has the arm and eye well beyond what you’d expect from a sophomore.
Who to watch: Tigers defensive back and special teams standout Nathaniel Tyrell. His playmaking ability on defense and in the kicking game is as dangerous as anything Woodberry has on offense. That’s saying something. The Bucks are better off throwing somewhere else and kicking away from his at all costs. Though Logi Portugal on the other side of the formation at the opposite corner is far from a slouch either.
The line: Woodberry by 21. This isn’t the kind of opponent the Tigers want as they prepare for powerhouse Liberty Christian in a couple of weeks, but such is life when you’re one of the top dogs in the private school game — nobody wants to play you, especially this early in September.
Covenant (2-0) at Virginia Episcopal (0-1), 2 p.m.
The Basics: Covenant is off to exactly the kind of the start the Eagles were hoping for with a revamped offense built around a grind-it-out approach. The Eagles beat Randolph Macon Academy 41-28 on the road last week, with a trio of 100-yard rushers in Austin Llera, Paul Huemme and Quane Washington. Last year when these two squads clashed at Monticello High in a torrential downpour, Virginia Episcopal rolled 34-0. But the group of physically imposing running backs, linemen and linebackers that led the Bishops to back-to-back state titles are gone now, and it’s a completely different squad with a new head coach that’ll host Covenant Saturday. If Covenant can play its game, dictate the pace and control the clock, there’s a chance TCS moves to 3-0.
Key matchup: Virginia Episcopal’s front seven takes on Covenant’s ground and pound option attack. Going into the year, Matt Meadows and Louis Williams, a pair of seniors, were set to lead Virginia Episcopal, and they’ll have their hands full Saturday trying to read keys and make sound decisions against Covenant’s multi-faceted ground game. Whether it’s Llera up the middle or Huemme off tackle or Washington on the edge, Covenant has a built-in counter attack for whatever the defense tries to takeaway.
Who to watch: Covenant’s Stephen Wilder. Wilder emerged as a ball hawk last week for the Eagles against Randolph Macon with a pair of interceptions in the secondary. Along with Bobby Findley who also had a pick, Wilder will need to keep making plays for a defense that is still improving after a challenging 2013 campaign.
The line: Covenant by 7. Covenant is built to stay within striking distance and could certainly steal this one from the re-tooled Bishops.
