Loyola Blakefield (2-1) at Fork Union (2-2) 4 p.m.
The Basics: And just like that the Blue Devils are back to .500. Following up its big win over Powhatan to avoid an 0-3 start, Fork Union’s offense kept its motor running in a 33-14 win over Paul VI. One thing is becoming increasingly clear — stopping quarterback Christian Hackenburg from hitting receiver D.J. Randle-el is something not many teams have been able to figure out. Yet, Fork Union’s creatively insane schedule will keep both on their toes as the Blue Devils welcome Loyola out of Maryland into town. With a close loss to DeMatha and a big win over Valley Forge (Pennsylvania) this is a Dons team that looks it’s usual intimidating part.
Key matchup: Fork Unions rush defense against Loyola running back Ryan Black. The Blue Devils still have some shoring up to do. Stopping a multi-faceted offense like the Dons’ is no easy task, but a good way to start is to force this into a shoot out, because that’s a game that FUMA can keep up with.
Who to watch: Blue Devils running backs Jay Gafford and T.J. Dudley. The tandem has had a bit of tough sledding, but both are averaging more than five yards per carry and Dudley’s been a help in the red zone. With Randle El at 18 receptions, 341 yards and seven touchdowns in just four games, the duo needs to take advantage of the pass coverage the big receiver demands.
Line: Loyola by 4. What an opponent, Fork Union could easily lose this game and still come out a winner with the competition the Dons offer. Consider this another building brick for a team that’s gotten noticeably better each week.
Paul VI (0-4) at Woodberry Forest (1-2), 4 p.m.
The basics: This just isn’t a good time for 0-4 Paul VI to run into Woodberry. The Tigers are reeling after falling to Liberty Christian Academy out of Lynchburg 10-9 last week and odds are good Woodberry will work out its frustration against Paul VI, who got knocked around by Fork Union last week.
Key matchup: Paul VI tries to contain Woodberry’s big-play machine C.J. Prosise. The Notre Dame-bound safety is scary good in all phases of the game. He’s a constant interception threat (he had one last week against LCA), a scoring threat in the passing game (he hauled in a 26-yard pass against LCA) and the return game (he already has two touchdown returns on the year). Prosise comes at a team from so many different angles that even keeping track of him is a tall task.
Who to watch: Woodberry quarterback Heys McMath. McMath threw for 186 yards last week, but as the leader of the Tigers offense — and it’s lone true returning starter — McMath has to continue to expand his role and play as loose as he did in 2010 as a sophomore.
The line: Woodberry by 14. The Tigers get back on track against and several Tigers who also play lacrosse get a measure of revenge after last year’s state quarterfinal loss to the Panthers.
Appomattox (4-1) at Nelson (0-4) 7 p.m.
The basics: Nelson County plays a challenging schedule and it doesn’t get any easier against Appomattox this week. With the offense still looking for consistency, facing an Appomattox team that’s looked solid to start the year after falling to Buckingham in the opening week isn’t likely to be the remedy the Governors would like.
Key matchup: The Governors’ run game against a stingy Appomattox defense. Appomattox pitched a shutout at home against Chatham last week, so if the Nelson ground attack is going to get going it will have to work fast against Appomattox.
Who to watch: Appomattox quarterback Josh Wilson. The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 16.3 yards per carry on 10 attempts against Chatham last week in a 48-0 blowout. Containing him will be a tall task for Nelson.
The line: Appomattox by 14. The Governors still need to find an identity, and establishing it this week against the Raiders won’t be easy.
Goochland (4-0) at Bluestone (0-4) 7 p.m.
The basics: Goochland deliberately loaded up its out of district schedule because of games like this one. Bluestone went 0-10 in 2010 and hasn’t scored yet this season. Now the Bulldogs have to go on the road in this one, but odds aren’t good Bluestone can hang with Goochland. The Bulldogs are disciplined enough to handle this kind of matchup and not overlook Bluestone.
Key matchup: The Bluestone defense versus Goochland’s run game. As usual, Goochland’s opposition faces a unique task trying to contain the Bulldogs’ wing-T. Bluestone hasn’t stopped anyone else this year, and trying to get going against Goochland is not the time to find a defensive strategy that works, the Bulldogs are just too tough.
Who to watch: Goochland’s Cody Johnson. The Air Bulldogs attack is back after a couple of weeks off. Johnson threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns last week against Central Lunenburg. Being able to turn to that kind of secondary option in key games will only make the Bulldogs tougher to contain.
The line: Goochland by 28. The Bulldogs should easily stay on a roll in this one.
Nottoway (1-1) at Buckingham (3-1) 7 p.m.
The Basics: Losing to Amelia to start the week on Monday both hurts and helps. Nobody likes to lose, but when the loss stings like that, it’s nice for this Buckingham team to get a chance just four days later to come out and make amends. In Nottoway they don’t have a slouch of an opponent so the Knights had better get back to the basics that have made them so successful the last two seasons — playing quality defense. The Cougars threw down a 46-0 win over Bluestone last week.
Key matchup: Buckingham’s outside linebackers take on the speed of Cougars running back Coby Branch. The track and field star can motor in open space. The Knights need to keep him in front of them because it’s hard to chase down last year’s Region I champion in the 100 meter dash. Also, Buckingham will want to atone for its rush defense that imploded on Monday.
Who to watch: Knights running back Kenneth Johnson. Buckingham got its only score on Monday on a 58-yard run from Johnson. Against Nottoway’s defense that has shown strength so far, establishing the ground game is a sound way to set up its dangerous passing attack.
Line: Buckingham by 4. This isn’t Amelia, but playing a game four days after the last is a real challenge and Nottoway has a few weapons to work with. Still, the Knights get back on track.
Madison (2-3) at George Mason (1-3) 7 p.m.
The Basics: Madison had just about everything that could go wrong actually go wrong against Manassas Park. The Mountaineers still had their chances, remarkably, but every time they put a leg up, they fell right back down. That’s sort of a microcosm for the season so far. Against a Mason team that’s managed just two touchdowns in its three defeats, this is a solid chance for the Mountaineers to bounce back to .500. But to do so, they can’t be so mistake prone.
Key matchup: Mason’s front seven takes on Madison’s rotation of running backs. If the Mountaineers are without Travis Warren or have him at less than his usual strength, they can still lean on Maurice Gentry, Logan Carpenter and LJ Ward. The three all had their moments last Friday but miscues on offense hurt them from having a really big night on the ground. Mason’s struggled against the rush, particularly in its last two losses. This trio has a chance to pile up the yards.
Who to watch: Madison quarterback Dustin Farmer. If he has Warren to throw to, its no secret what Madison can do. In the second half against Manassas, he didn’t have his favorite target but established a strong relationship with Sam Taylor. Farmer can only make his team better by being diverse about spreading the ball around.
Line: Madison by 2. This is going to be a closer game than Madison would like, but the Mountaineers have the tools to pull out a win here and even up their record.
Strasburg (5-0) at William Monroe (4-1) 7 p.m.
The Basics: While Monroe was resting on its bye week, Strasburg came up with one of the big shockers of the season this year with a convincing 50-21 win over perennial Bull Run District bully Clarke County. If that’s not a shot across the bow to the other contenders in the BR like Monroe than what is? The Dragons should be ready for this big game given the time to prepare. The winner here stays tied with Manassas Park at the top of the standings.
Key matchup: Monroe’s defensive front clashes with Strasburgs offensive line. The boys up front got the job done for Strasburg last week allowing running back Rakwon White to finish with a career high 240 yards on 26 attempts. It’s up to Dragons defenders like Stacey White and Zach Duprey to create havoc so that White can’t run hog wild. Thus far, this unit has shown it’s up to that task.
Who to watch: Monroe wide receiver Jordan Gentry. The senior and sophomore quarterback Jack Morris know each other well from baseball, but they had it going on against East Rockingham two weeks ago when they last played. Whether it was on the fly route or against softer zones, the duo got the job done. With the way running back Doug Sizemore moves the chains, both Morris and Gentry will likely have their shots this week. Strasburg was up to the challenge of being balanced on defense against a varied Madison County attack three weeks ago.
Line: Monroe by 3. The bye proves big here as its not only a chance to practice for two full weeks for one opponent, but also to get healthy. Monroe actually played better than the score showed against East Rockingham. Here, they send a BR message of their own.
South Lakes (0-4) at Louisa County (3-1) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: How would you like to be a winless team heading into Mineral against a Lions squad coming off an unreal close loss? Tough break for the Seahawks here as they get to bare the brunt of an angry Louisa team that will be awfully eager to get back to that familiar winning feeling.
Key matchup: The South Lakes linebacking corps against Lions fullback/lineman J.D. Dennis. To keep Andre Mealy from stiff-arming and running through defensive backs, the middle of the Seahawks defense has to keep Dennis from rolling up field and dropping pancakes. It’s that simple or this is going to being an ugly game.
Who to watch: Louisa wide receiver Peanut Johnson. Don’t be surprised if Lions coach Jon Meeks tries to work on a little passing game this week and that should open the door for quarterback Zack Jackson to find the big target. Louisa doesn’t have to throw to win games, but if they show that they’re comfortable doing it, that makes life tough on coordinators looking to stack the box with nine defenders. The more Johnson and Jackson get comfortable, the harder that decision becomes.
Line: Louisa by 17. The Lions do have to be a little bit careful considering the schedule South Lakes has run through so far, but they’ve already handled one Group AAA team (Orange) and after last week, they won’t come out soft here.
Albemarle (1-3) at Mountain View (4-1) 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Albemarle capitalized on a bye week two weeks ago, coming back together and thrashing Orange County in the programs’ first meeting as Commonwealth District opponents. But making it two in a row against Mountain View, a serious contender for the Commonwealth title won’t be easy even with the Wildcats facing a short period of preparation after a Monday game against Massaponax.
Key matchup: Albemarle’s defensive backs try to contain Mountain View’s DaeSean Hamilton. Earlier this week, Hamilton had six catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the win against Massaponax. How well the Patriots’ secondary keep tabs on Hamilton could play a big role in the outcome Friday night.
Who to watch: Albemarle’s Micah Rivers returned from injury and broke off a huge touchdown run. Can Rivers and fellow running back Niko Troche continue to power the Patriots’ run game?
The line: Mountain View by 3, the Patriots get a shot at building on last week’s momentum with a huge Commonwealth victory, but Mountain View is very tough.
Charlottesville (1-4) at Fluvanna County (1-4) 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Both teams’ records are 1-4, but the vibe around each squad couldn’t be more different. The Flucos seem frustrated with the way things have gone so far as injuries have made life tough on an already thin lineup. Charlottesville, on the other hand, is rebuilding in Eric Sherry’s first year at the helm, and the Black Knights’ victory over Culpeper two weeks ago combined with an admirable performance against powerful Liberty Bealeton has Charlottesville feeling good.
Key matchup: Fluvanna’s linebackers try and contain Charlottesville running back Wynter Warren. Warren has jumpstarted the CHS offense the last two weeks at fullback in the Black Knights’ triple option offense. Warren has been able to pound the ball between the tackles, which opens up a lot of other offensive options for Charlottesville.
Who to watch: Charlottesville’s Daquan Jones. The power-forward-turned-wideout is a challenge for any defensive back on the fade route. Look for the Black Knights to try and find Jones on it at least once or twice against the Flucos.
The line: Charlottesville by 7. The Black Knights have a little momentum going right now while Fluvanna appears to be a frustrating quagmire.
Monticello (3-1) at Western (2-2) 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Last season, Monticello came into their annual battle with cross-county rival Western on the heels of a narrow, thrilling victory over a key Jefferson District opponent (Goochland). Sound familiar? The Mustangs won a thriller over Louisa last week in one of the most impressive games of the year while the Warriors got back on track with a win over Spotswood. Both squads’ offenses looked great next week, with the Mustangs’ Isaac Robinson leading the charge with 183 yards on the ground and earned Athlete of the Week honors. Monticello suffered a let down against the Warriors in 2010 after the Goochland win when Abbot Wallenborn ran wild on a nightmare night for the Mustangs on the turf at Monticello. Can the Mustangs avoid a similar misstep this year?
Key matchup: Western’s passing game versus the Monticello defense. Containing Western Albemarle’s speedy, diverse offense led by quarterback Kent Henry won’t be an easy task. With T.J. Tillery leading the charge, the Mustangs will have to limit the Warriors big play potential and come up with a couple of game-changing plays of its own.
Who to watch: Western Albemarle’s Austin Ellis. Ellis is now the Warriors’ leading receiver and the squad’s top tackler. The dynamic senior athlete is taking advantage of an increased role this year, and he’ll be tough for the
The line: Monticello by 7. The Warriors should be able to hang on early, but the Mustangs’ run game has the potential to wear down a Warriors’ defense with a lot players playing on both sides of the ball.
Orange County (1-3) at Brooke Point (3-1) 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Orange County has a tough task ahead of it again this week. The Hornets are reeling from a 55-6 loss to Albemarle that continued a difficult start to the year and now they began a series of games against Commonwealth District juggernauts.
Key matchup: The Hornets’ offense led by Eric Washington and Isaiah Ferguson tries to get going against a talented Brooke Point defense. Despite surrendering 26 points to Colonial Forge last week, Brooke Point’s defense is giving up just 13.5 points per game. Orange is going to have to find some consistency early to crack the Black-Hawks’ unit.
Who to watch: Brooke Point quarterback Zach Deutel, who has thrown for 1,333 yards on the year already and has an offer from Virginia Military Institute. The 6-foot-2 signal-caller could give the Hornets fits.
The line: Brooke Point by 21. The road just gets tougher for the Hornets.
St. Anne’s-Belfield (2-2) at Flint Hill (3-0), 2:30 p.m. Saturday
The basics: STAB’s challenging schedule continues against Flint Hill, a squad that knocked off Division I Episcopal already. The Saints are coming off a hard-fought win over Trinity Episcopal last week where STAB’s usual October transition into a run-dominated, possession-oriented squad began a week early. If the Saints can maintain that formula of stout defense and a dynamic ground attack, they’ll likely be in great shape as October progresses.
Key matchup: Flint Hill’s defense tries to slow down the STAB run game. Stopping the Saints on the ground isn’t an easy task. The offensive line and fullback Shane Palmateer clear the way nicely and then bringing down Branford Rogers is tough. Last week in the rain and mud he went for four touchdowns and more than 200 yards.
Who to watch: STAB quarterback Jake Allen. Allen, a freshman, won’t be asked to win a bunch of games on his own by the Saints. But if he can keep the offense clicking and minimize his mistakes like he’s done so far this year, STAB is going to be in great shape.
The line: St. Anne’s by 7. The Saints continue a long stretch of road games and pick up another critical victory.
