Goochland (6-4) at Monticello (6-4) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: It’s a rematch of one the two best Jefferson District games of the year, with game between the Bulldogs and Orange County taking the top spot. In the last meeting, it looked like a blowout for Goochland but a turnover on what looked like was going to result in a scoring drive left the door open for Monticello. The Bulldogs were then mauled by Mustangs running back Jesse Ayres, and after Monticello got within a point of lead on a touchdown, coach Brud Bicknell opted to put it all on the line with a 2-point conversion. Jhalil Mosley made Bicknell’s decision pay off and the Mustangs stole one. Since that game though, Goochland has played well against some of the best teams in the JD and finished the regular season off by narrowly edging Western Albemarle on a late 2-pointer of its own. The Bulldogs have played in one close game after another, and this rematch looks to be no different.
Key matchup: Monticello’s linebacking corps against David McKenna and Dustin Plummer. Back in October, the Goochland running back was taking dive plays for seven yards a pop despite being gang tackled. With fellow tailback David Plummer now in better health than in the previous game, the Mustangs’ linebackers have to play honest to Plummer’s sweep runs while making sure they don’t allow McKenna to run wild up the middle. If they can limit one or both running backs to under 100 yards the Mustangs will be in solid shape.
Player to watch for: Monticello’s Deno Robinson. Expect Goochland to be a little more sound against the run this time and throw everything they have at Ayres. If Robinson and quarterback Jhalil Mosley can connect on one or two big throws, that could well be the difference maker in the game.
Line: Bulldogs by 1. As great as Monticello played last game, were it not for a handful of Goochland mistakes, this game would have swung in a very different direction.
Fork Union (5-5) at Liberty Christian Academy (9-1) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: So the Blue Devils’ reward for their insanely difficult schedule is the bottom seed in the playoffs and a showdown on the road with top-seeded LCA. The Bulldogs rolled FUMA for the first three quarters of thier regular season meeting, but the Blue Devils exploded in the fourth to make it interesting. Both teams were nearly identical in the yardage departments — LCA had 201 yards passing and 111 on the ground while FUMA had 228 in the air and 95 on the ground. So not surprisingly the difference was turnovers. If Fork Union can keep it even, this could be a slobber knocker. If not, the Bulldogs will run away with it.
Key matchup: Fork Union quarterbacks Christian Hackenburg and Richard Quittenton against the LCA secondary. The two Blue Devil signal callers have to be accurate and on point and make sure they don’t lend the Bulldogs any more possessions. FUMA’s defense is capable of winning this game, but it needs the offense to be on point.
Player to watch for: FUMA kick returner, defensive back and running back Richie Dyer. For the Blue Devils to succeed, their going to need a big play from the shifty playmaker. Whether that’s in the return game, on a carry, screen pass or in the defensive backfield in pass defense, an electric play from Dyer early in the game would give this team the spark it needs.
Line: LCA by 3. Fork Union’s incredible season battling one goliath after another comes to an end, but not without a fight first.
Christchurch (7-2) at STAB (9-1) in VISAA Division II semifinals 7 p.m.
The Basics: Goochland-Monticello and Fork Union-LCA aren’t the only rematches in the playoffs. STAB already dispatched Christchurch once — on the road, without Branford Rogers and by seven points. Now the Saints go toe-to-toe with the Seahorses again. This time the season is on the line with STAB hosting.
Key matchup: STAB’s offensive line knocks heads with Christchurch’s tackling tandem of Bryan and Ryan Ransom. If the Saints corral the Ransoms, the offense should have a big-time outing.
Who to watch: STAB cornerback Pierce Woodsmall. Blue Ridge went at Woodsmall too much last week, underestimating the cornerback to the tune of a pair of interceptions, one returned more than 50 yards for a touchdown. Woodsmall’s recent playmaking could deter the Seahorses from taking chances against him. Christchurch’s explosive wideout Ashby Lewis could test the STAB secondary.
Line: STAB by 10. With Rogers back in the fold, STAB’s offense is back at its full potential. That should be enough to punch a ticket to the state final.
Central Lunenburg (7-2) at Buckingham (8-1) 7 p.m.
The Basics: Turnovers and special teams errors — including surrendering two punt returns for touchdowns — cost Buckingham a shot at an unbeaten season with a loss at Amelia County last week. The Knights get another tough test this week in a game they need to win to get the best playoff situation possible at that
Key matchup: Central Lunenburg’s offense takes on the opportunistic Knights defense. Caleb White had a pair of interceptions last Friday. If he can repeat that and Buckingham can manage to cut down on their own turnovers, Buckingham should nip Central.
Who to watch: Buckingham quarterback Tarian Ayers. Ayers had a rough outing against Amelia. He’s a critical piece of the puzzle for Buckingham. If he’s completing passes, that opens things up for tailback Maurice Taylor.
Line: Buckingham by 14. The Knights get back on track after the stumble against Amelia.
James Wood (6-4) at Louisa County (10-0) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: What better way to cap off the regular season than with a shutout. The Lions are 10-0 for the first time since they went all the way to the Group AA Division 4 championship back in 2006. After spending the last two weeks on the road at Monticello and Fluvanna County, it’s home sweet home again. The last time this team played at home the T.C. Williams squad that inspired “Remember the Titans” watched the Lions. Rumor has it that they were so impressed with the show that Louisa puts on that they’re coming back, and this time with their families to watch the circus that will be this Region II playoff game. James Wood comes in after having lost to the top seed in the Region II Division 3 playoffs, Handley. The colonels are going to get as riled up of a Louisa bunch as there has been in a long time.
Key matchup: Wood’s front seven against running backs Rayshawn Jackson and Anthony Hunter. It’s been true for everyone of the Lions’ opponents, but nobody’s been able to do it — if you can slow the Louisa rushing attack, you’ve got a chance. If you can’t, it’s nearly impossible to keep pace because the defense is so stout.
Player to watch for: Lions linebackers Chris Colvin and Brandon Ornduff. It will be interesting to see how the interior of the Lions 3-5-3 defense handles this game. Wood likes to run the ball just as much as Louisa, and its fair to say that these two linebackers have been practicing against one of the best running back stables in Group AA. Keep a close watch on how these two fly to the football and wrap up the ball carrier.
Line: Louisa by 6. Lions win first playoff game since 2006, the similarities between these two Louisa teams continue.
Orange (7-3) at Briar Woods (8-2) in Region II, Division 4 quarterfinals 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Orange had a frontloaded schedule with a tough out-of-District slate and Monticello, Goochland and Louisa in three straight District games. But getting those early battles out of the way — and topping Goochland and Monticello — allowed the Hornets to build a major head of steam going into the playoffs. They’ve won four in a row and scored 44 or more points against each opponent. But Briar Woods is hot too, with six straight wins dating back to an 8-7 loss to Martinsburg High out of West Virginia in mid-September. They also got star running back Michael Brownlee back from an early season injury, stacking the odds against the seventh-seeded Hornets.
Key matchup: Orange’s linebackers Eddie Ellington and Terry Mack go head-to-head with Brownlee and a suddenly explosive Briar Woods run game. Brownlee ripped Dominion for a school record 238 yards and two touchdowns last week in his first full four quarters of action since suffering a broken leg in the Falcons’ season opener.
Who to watch: Orange County’s Amir Waller. If the Hornets are going to pull off the upset, their star is going to have to put together a monster game — on both sides of the ball. There’s a good chance Waller is ready to rise to the occasion.
Line: Orange by 3. Hornets pull off the upset.
Altavista (8-1) at Nelson County (1-8) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Nelson’s season comes full circle. Having faced one Group A contender after another to start the year, now it faces last year’s Group A Division 1 champion that still has the bulk of that roster intact. The Colonels have won four straight since their only loss of the year against Gretna and are coming off of a bye after topping William Campbell in the previous week 55-32. Last week Nelson fell to that same Campbell squad, 40-12.
Key matchup: The Nelson offensive line looks to stop Altavista defensive end Jerrell Jordan and linebacker Chris Clark. The two Colonel defenders each earned first team honors on the All-Dogwood District team and have been wreaking havoc in their opposition’s backfield. The Governors need to keep one or both at bay or else bad things are going to happen.
Player to watch for: Altavista’s Clark. He’s a hard-nosed linebacker, and he’s the same thing as a running back. The senior jack-of-all-trades was a big reason why this team was successful last year and is doing it again in 2010. Don’t be surprised if he has a 10-tackle, 100-yard-plus performance to close out his regular season.
Line: Altavista by 14. Tough way to end the year for the Governors, but the younger players can learn a lot from the team they’re lining up against.
Madison County (8-1) at Clarke County (8-1) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Everything changed but nothing did. It’s fairly obvious that Madison coach Stuart Dean’s current crop of players is relishing its underdog mode. Last week’s win over Manassas Park was the signature win of the year for this Mountaineer team. If they go on the road and beat Clarke — a team who lost its last game two weeks ago to Manassas — Madison is surely staring at a home game to open up the Region B playoffs. Clarke’s been a yearly thorn in the Mountaineers’ side, but there’s something different about this Madison team, and its not just the personnel. That said, to get the job done, the Mountaineers need Travis Warren to be on the field.
Key matchup: The Eagles interior offensive line versus Madison animal/linebacker Bradley Meadows. Manassas Park learned this last week at the goalline. If you don’t account for the senior leader of this defense, he will kill your drive. Meadows is a tackling monster right now and nobody seems to be able to keep him from getting to the ball.
Player to watch for: Warren. As a returner and receiver, the Mountaineers have to have his output. He and fellow receiver Rashad Bolden make this one of the most diverse offenses in the area. But if Warren’s ankle injury last week against the Cougars keeps him sidelined, the Eagles can focus on doubling up Bolden and stacking the box against the Madison rushing attack. A healthy Warren would negate or exploit all of that.
Line: Madison by 1. If Manassas is the barometer — and its hard to not use them as one given that they played these two teams in the last two weeks — then you’ve got to give this Mountaineer teams some props.
Western (4-6) at Handley (6-4) in Region II, Division 3 quarterfinals 1 p.m. Saturday
The Basics: The Warriors slid into the playoffs on the strength of a three-game midseason winning streak that turned around what seemed to be a season of frustration. Their pay-off? A tough road matchup with No. 1-seeded Handley in the region quarterfinals. Still this one is winnable for the Warriors, particularly if the edition of the squad that dismantled Monticello makes an appearance.
Key matchup: Western’s defense takes on Handley playmakers Trae Peck and Jawaun Gyones. A few weeks ago, the Warriors struggled to slow down the dynamic Orange offense, can they contain Handley’s athletes?
Who to watch: Western quarterback Abbot Wallenborn is the only area signal-caller that has rushed for more than 1,000 yards, largely because that is awfully hard to do. If Handley lets Wallenborn get in the open field, things could get interesting.
Line: Handley by 3. The Warriors will bounce back from the tough loss last week, but Handley will have enough to get the edge.
Episcopal (3-4) at Woodberry (7-1) 2 p.m. Saturday
The Basics: Woodberry has erased any doubts about just how good the 2010 edition could be. The Tigers have matched last season’s record to this point, and a win over archrival Episcopal would complete the run. But there’s a reason they call this one “The Game.” Last season Woodberry had to eek out a 10-3 win on the road despite being 7-1 and Episcopal being 4-4. The old cliché is “throw out the records”, but it holds here. These two teams just reach another level against each other at what is a massive event with a football game at the center. This one could get interesting.
Key matchup: Woodberry’s dominant defense takes on a sputtering Episcopal offense. Unless the Maroon get things going against Woodberry’s defense — and few have been able to accomplish that — this one could get rough on Episcopal quick.
Who to watch: Woodberry’s Rue Hockensmith. The senior plays so many roles for the Tigers, he can’t help but have an impact on Saturday’s game. Look for him at linebacker, in the backfield and at punter.
Line: Woodberry by 10. The Tigers are certainly the favorite before kickoff. But this matchup is always settled on the field.
