No. 1 Goochland (13-0) at No. 1 East Rockingham (13-0), Class 2A semifinal, Saturday 1 p.m.
The basics: For the second time in three seasons the Bulldogs are in the state semifinals. Goochland met up with Poquoson for the second time in as many playoff campaigns and this time avenged their 2017 loss with a come-from-behind 21-14 win. The Eagles took care of Central Woodstock 44-29 to punch their first ever ticket to a state final four after launching their football program in the fall 2010. This is a fantastic matchup of number one seeds. Goochland is bringing a real deal defense to line up against an Eagles offense that nobody has remotely tamed. It’s strength on strength here. Hopefully the weather cooperates and the field conditions are alright, but both these teams have slopped around in the muck multiple times so that wouldn’t be new.
Key matchup: Goochland’s defensive front against the East Rockingham offensive line. Led by 6-foot-4 tackle Logan Dofflemeyer, the boys up front are no joke for the Eagles. Of course, between Jacob Massey, Khalil Holman and Jamal Carter, the Bulldogs have a great group of defensive lineman to get an initial push up front. Then in Sam Brooks, Kindrick Braxton and Justin Woodson, Goochland has a swarming set of linebackers that’s been nothing short of menacing all season long. Lost in the mix but not to be forgotten is this secondary that can chip in against the ground game with Devin McCray leading that unit. In the end, all three groups make a cohesive defense that is tasked with trying to stop a ground game that features J’wan Evans and Trenton Morris. This offense has scored 28 or more in every contest this season and has scored 44, 51, 43 respectively in their three playoff wins. Goochland’s defense has allowed 22 points in the last three contests. So something will have to give here. If the Bulldogs can keep the Eagles rushing yards to 200 below they’ll have an edge here.
Who to watch: Goochland’s McCray. So while the East Rock offense has steamrolled its opponent, the defense has been slightly vulnerable, albeit, not that it’s mattered much. McCray’s ability at quarterback should open up the playbook a bit here for the Bulldogs. He can run himself, hand off to Quincy Snead, Connor Popielarz or Dkahri Burgess. He can look for Perry Snead-Johnson on the sweeps or in the passing game. Goochland’s versatility is its strength offensively. The Bulldogs just need to find a way to be their methodical selves in the ground game while getting the occasional big play to keep pace with East Rock’s scoring ability. McCray’s got a lot more experience than most juniors at quarterback, and especially in the playoffs. Goochland needs a big game from particularly on offense, and the way he’s been playing lately, it’s likely to get one from him. The Eagle’s have allowed three or more touchdowns in their last two games. If McCray can lead three or four touchdown drives and the defense plays behind him like they have, again, another plus for Goochland.
The line: The Bulldogs by 1. While this is totally a pick ‘em, we can’t cop out and just say push here. The opportunities are there in cold weather football for the better defense to win. That said, we’ll side with Goochland here for one reason alone, playoff experience. This senior class has played in 11 playoff games in the last three years. The Eagles haven’t been this far before, but this will be an absolute battle.
