Region II, Division 3 semifinals: No. 3 Monticello (9-2) at No. 2 Western Albemarle (10-1), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: It’s a little like we’ve hit the reset button. This was supposed to be one of the games of the year back in the first half of the regular season. The Mustangs were coming off a narrow win over Louisa while the Warriors were unbeaten too after surviving a few close calls early in the season. It turned out pretty one-sided though as the Western defense unleashed perhaps its finest performance of the season, picking off four passes and snuffing out Monticello’s ground game to the tune of a 28-0 victory. It was a nearly flawless defensive performance. It was the low point of Monticello’s season and the Mustangs didn’t recover until two weeks later after a subsequent loss to Charlottesville took them out of the Jefferson District title race. But everything changed after that as Monticello got on a roll and beat three straight JD opponents and R.E. Lee to move into the playoffs at 8-2. The Warriors, meanwhile, stumbled against Louisa in their regular season finale before dominating Charlottesville in a much-improved outing against the Black Knights last week. Now this matchup, again, looks to be one of the premier clashes of the year, with a red-hot Monticello team facing the JD champs. But have the Mustangs found an answer for the Warriors’ defense? If Monticello can’t run the ball again and has to take to the air, that’s where Western shines with a talented group of defensive backs who are all ball hawks. This one will be a chess match from the opening kick.
Key Matchup: Monticello’s offensive line takes on Western’s Tommy Mullin. Mullin, the Warriors’ first team All-Jefferson District linebacker, essentially set up shop in the Mustangs backfield in the last meeting. The challenge is clear for Austin Mays, Sam Marshall, Adam Hill and the rest of the Mustangs’ offensive line — keep Mullin contained while still not allowing Dom Christmas or Patrick Maupin to shut things down. But as clear as it is, that’s much easier said than done.
Who to watch: Western’s Nic Drapanas. It’s apparent at this point that Drapanas, a junior wideout/defensive back, is at his best when the lights are brightest. His three picks against Monticello in the last matchup will weigh heavily on the minds of each member of the Mustangs offense. But even if they avoid throwing at him, Drapanas could turn around and get them on offense where he went for 170 yards and three receiving touchdowns on six catches last week against CHS.
The line: Western by 7. This is a completely different Monticello squad that the Warriors are facing, but Western still gets the job done with its stout defense.
Group A, Division 2 East Section quarterfinals: Buckingham at Goochland, 7 p.m.
The basics: These two squads’ last matchup was worth of a district title game, which it essentially was. It took an overtime stop on a Buckingham two-point conversion attempt by Goochland to get the 28-27 victory in an absolute classic. It was strength-on-strength, just like this one will be, with the Bulldogs and Knights both trying to pound it out over the opposing defense. Last time around, Goochland focused on trying to slow down Kenneth Johnson and got a big dose of Kyree Koonce, who gashed them for 191 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. But Goochland presents its own set of problems with its incredibly deep backfield that could get big-time production from any of five backs. These two teams aren’t likely to change up the gameplan much, so look for another classic out in Goochland.
Key Matchup: Goochland’s defense and special teams track Buckingham’s Koonce. It’s hard enough to bottle Koonce up on offense where he’s been absolutely electric while rushing for more than 1400 yards to stay even with backfield mate Kenneth Johnson’s own 1400+ yard season. But Koonce has also taken six different returns to the house this year on kickoffs and punts, where his field vision and speed can take over in the open field. Goochland will be all over making sure Koonce doesn’t a chance Friday.
Who to watch: Goochland’s Reid Chenault. While Buckingham hasn’t found a counterpunch to its run game through the air, the ground-and-pound Bulldog have found one when they bring their crafty freshman Chenault off the sidelines for a change of pace. Look for Chenault to potentially give the Bulldogs an edge as he’s thrown for 569 yards this year coming off the bench. He’s got the ability to change things up and force Buckingham’s defense into some uncomfortable situations.
The line: Goochland by 3. The Knights may be looking for revenge, but the Bulldogs know how to handle themselves in the playoffs and they’re at home. That’s enough to get the edge.
VISAA Division 2 title game: No. 4 Nansemond-Suffolk (8-3) at No.2 Blue Ridge (8-2), Saturday 1 p.m.
The basics: For the second time this year the Saints took down Trinity Episcopal, this time in the first round of the playoffs behind a monster fourth quarter where they took a one-possession game and turned it into a convincing victory. The Barons, on the other hand, were down by six going into halftime but scored 20 points in the second half and shutdown the defending VISAA Division 2 champs in Christchurch despite the absence of two of their best players period. It’s a rematch of the 2009 championship with Blue Ridge’s Cody Pegram the only member of this Barons team that was there when his team came up short. Will it be different this time around?
Key matchup: The Blue Ridge front seven against NSA running backs David Gough and Addison Peake. This is a run-happy Saints team and this sophomore duo has delivered the 1-2 punch on the ground with Gough over 1,000 yards on the year and Peake just a few yards back at 800. The Barons’ run defense is coming off a great second half performance against Christchurch where there was simply nowhere to go for the Seahorses. It seems unlikely that NSA will be able to do a lot in the passing game with the return of Leon Strauss at safety and Darryl Smith and Shawn Steen anchoring the corners. Both of the latter two had interceptions last week with Smith taking his to the house to draw first blood. If this defensive line gets the kind of penetration they got late last week, Gough and Peake are in for a rough go.
Who to watch: Smith. The senior just seems to make one critical play week-after-week. His interception return last week was his team’s saving grace in the first half. With Strauss back on the field at safety, Smith isn’t on an island anymore. That’s also true on offense. Last week Smith went toe-to-toe with one of the best corners in the private ranks in Ashby Lewis who also had safety help behind him. With Strauss on the other side of the field, NSA likely won’t be able to offer safety help on both sides, or if they do, it could be a big day for Pegram and Steen in the backfield. But the bottom line is that if Blue Ridge finds itself in a bind on either side of the field, Smith will find a way to make something big happen.
The line: Blue Ridge by 3. The Barons’ balance on offense gives them the edge here as these are two staunch defenses and Blue Ridge has been able to take down physical teams dedicated to the ground.
VISAA Division 1 title game: No 2. Fork Union (10-2) at Liberty Christian (10-1) at Liberty University, Friday 7:30 p.m.
The basics: This is the matchup that most everyone thought would or should happen. The Blue Devils simply blew up at the end of the third quarter and all of the fourth to runaway with its first round game against Benedictine. The Bulldogs routed Collegiate behind an offensive explosion in both the running and passing games to the tune of 29 first quarter points. So now we have a rematch of a game that was 36-33 in LCA’s favor exactly a month ago where FUMA just missed a last second field goal to force overtime. So the 2010 champs are on the road against the 2011 champs. This is what happens when the two most talented teams in the state handle their business like they should. It’s the perfect setting for Fork Union coach Micky Sullivan who will be retiring after the season.
Key matchup: Just like last time, it’s FUMA’s linebacking corps against LCA’s brusing back, Carrington Mosley. He’s not going to break to the edge and disappear for 80-yard runs, but there’s no back at the Division 1 level that can move the chains and wear down a defense like Mosley who’s just a moose to try and bring down. Whether he’s spinning out of tackles, running through them, or just turning his back and falling down for 4-5 yard gains, Mosley sets up everything for the Bulldogs offense as they rely on teams selling out to the run and then look to the big play in the passing game to break things open. The hardest part about getting to Mosley though is that he’s got one of the most talented offensive lines you’ll see. Fork Union will likely be without Dale Richardson who hurt his ankle last week, but seniors Dondre Wright and T.J. Dudley pile up tackles and the Blue Devils will need those two to be on their A-game this week.
Who to watch: Fork Union quarterback Christian Hackenberg. It’s the last high school game for the nation’s most highly-touted quarterback. Last week he showed off his athleticism on the ground and that could be a big factor this second go-around with LCA. He’s got a receiving corps between Chrystian Brown, Austin Stone, Roma Michael and Michael Guerci that can stretch defenses and also make big plays on short passes. He’s already got a state title to his name as he helped guide this team to the 2010 championship, but that was a team led by Andre Parker (now at Kent State) and John Tu’uta (now at NC State). This is the last crown jewel for Hackenberg before he heads up to Happy Valley to play for Penn State. Look for him to leave it all out on the field here.
The line: Push. Could you pick this game comfortably? Football fans are the winners here. What was one of the best games of the year the first time around should be just the same and then some now with the state title on the line.
