Blue Ridge (3-0) at Covenant (3-1), 4 p.m. Thursday
The basics: This one should be good. Both Covenant and Blue Ridge have gotten off to fast starts, with the Eagles’ getting a major boost from Brady Doyle’s emergence at quarterback while the Barons have found a different way to win each week while building a 3-0 record. This could be a statement game for either squad. Covenant took Christchurch to the brink, and the Seahorses are the only team that sits above Blue Ridge in the state rankings, so the Barons need to prove they’re worthy of that initial lofty ranking. A win over Covenant would do just that. Covenant has looked like a contender in Division III already, but they need a quality win over a quality opponent to go with three lopsided victories in the last three weeks. Blue Ridge would fit the bill. So both squads need this one.
Key matchup: Covenant’s front seven tackles Blue Ridge’s power run game. The Barons’ three-headed attack of Shawn Steen, Cody Pegram and Jared Arntzen got it done against North Cross with 41-unanswered points after falling into a 14-0 hole.
Who to watch: Covenant’s Jamie Gaston. He’s the engine for the Covenant offense and if he can get it going on the ground the Eagles should be in good shape. Gaston is currently the area’s second-leading rusher with 609 yards, behind only Nelson’s Tyler Vest.
The line: Blue Ridge by 1. This one is a tossup. But the Barons’ power run game might be the difference-maker. Either team would make a big statement with a win here.
Western Albemarle (4-0) at Monticello (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: The Warriors and Mustangs both survived last week to keep their perfect records intact. This is the first time that these teams have met this late with undefeated records. While Western overcame an early push from Fort Defiance, Monticello was able to move past a gritty and physical Louisa team that never gave up. Here we have arguably the two most athletic quarterbacks going to battle in Jhalil Mosley and Kent Henry. All things considered, as good as those two are, look for the defense to provide the difference here. One of those two units has to step up to secure the win here. Look up the last three meetings between this two dating back to 2010, they’re all great games. This one looks to be even better.
Key matchup: Monticello’s receiving corps against Western’s secondary. The Warriors are one of the few teams with athletes on the edge of the field like Daniel Kuzjak and Nic Drapanas that can matchup with the Mustangs’ James Banks, Chase Phillips and James Malm. Monticello has a good running game, but this offense thrives off the threat of the big play downfield and Western has to be ready for it. It’s going to a battle of wills in the passing attack. The winner in this aspect of the game gets a big advantage.
Who to watch: Henry. If ever there was a way to describe the Western quarterback’s style it’s that he’s a gamer. The stats back up his play, but there’s something about the way he evades the pass rush and gets the ball down field or decides to tuck and run that makes him something of an enigma. Solving Henry has been a problem dating back to last year. Can Monticello do it, or will Henry put together one of those games that has crowds buzzing?
The line: Monticello by 1. The Mustangs have won two of the last three took last years playoff game. TJ Tillery’s physical running and play at secondary looks to the be the straw that breaks the camel’s back here. The bottom line though is that this game should come down to who has the ball last.
Charlottesville (1-4) at Fluvanna County (1-4), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Charlottesville and Fluvanna share similar out-of-district slates, gauntlets filled with tough squads that make wins hard to come by. But both have, at times, shown significant promise. The Black Knights’ Rashad Davis has piled up 559 yards on the ground out of the quarterback spot, good for third overall in the area. Chris Thurston isn’t far behind either as the junior has piled up big numbers while playing a key role in all three phases of the game for Charlottesville. But, R.E. Lee, Liberty-Bealeton, Eastern View and E.C. Glass proved to be a murderer’s row for CHS. Fluvanna has had some bright spots like Jalen Harrison’s play at wide receiver and Devin Goode’s consistent effort at linebacker. But opponents like Kettle Run, Goochland and Buckingham have made life tough for the Flucos in the early going. Both could use a victory in this one, especially with the playoffs still a possibility for the winner.
Key matchup: Fluvanna’s secondary tries to contain Charlottesville’s Darius Watson. The Black Knights’ tall receiver has emerged as a key threat in the passing game who won’t allow defenses to load up the box against the Black Knights. The Flucos face a tough task trying to contain Watson while also keeping an eye on Rashad Davis and Chris Thurston on the ground.
Who to watch: Charlottesville’s Gary Nelson. With six tackles for a loss and three fumble recoveries, Nelson has had the biggest impact so far with regards to game-changing plays for the Black Knights. But the CHS defense has been suspect so far, and Nelson is going to have to come up with more plays and get some help.
The line: Charlottesville by 3. The Black Knights have a little too much offensive firepower for the Flucos.
Bluestone (1-3) at Goochland (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Goochland got the James River District slate off on the right foot with a solid victory over Central Lunenburg, a Division 1 state final four team in 2011. The Bulldogs got it done with an early defensive touchdown from Akai Timberlake and a second quarter 50-yard toss from Jordan Jefferson to Mason Engel. They held on from there with a terrific defensive effort. Bluestone ended a long losing streak with a 66-0 thrashing of Rappahanock earlier this year, but the Barons have dropped their other three matchups, including last week’s 21-13 loss to Nottoway in Bluestone’s James River opener.
Key matchup: Bluestone’s front seven takes on the Goochland ground game. Mitchell Brice is just as dynamic as he was last year when he wasn’t banged up. He’s averaging nearly 11 yards per touch. He’s also due for a few touchdowns with only three on the year, so Bluestone may have its hands full.
Who to watch: Goochland’s secondary takes on Bluestone’s passing game. The Barons aren’t necessarily dynamic, but they involve a lot of receivers in the passing game. Look for Engel, a safety on defense, to play a key role in getting the Bulldogs’ defensive backs into position to put the clamps down.
The line: Goochland by 31. The Bulldogs proved last week they’re already battle-tested and Bluestone shouldn’t trip them up.
Charlotte Country Day (5-0) at Woodberry Forest (2-1), 4 p.m.
The basics: This is an intriguing matchup, particularly for Woodberry’s large population of North Carolina natives. There’ll be a lot of personal bragging rights on the line for players like Woodberry quarterback Hunter Etheridge. The Tigers are picking up a lot of steam right now, riding the momentum of an incredible rally against Blair Academy to a trouncing of Paul VI last Friday. Country Day has blown out the last three teams they’ve faced, most recently beating Ravenscroft 41-7 on the road.
Key matchup: Woodberry’s secondary takes on Charlotte Country Day quarterback Michael Radford. The Wake Forest-bound senior signal-caller is averaging more than 200 yards per game and completing nearly 60 percent of his passes. Last week he was 9 of 15 for 188 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Ravenscroft, a quality program out of Raleigh, NC.
Who to watch: Woodberry’s wide receivers. In their last two wins, the Tigers have opened the passing game up a little and found a rhythm. Matty Sheehan, Ty-Abdul Karim and Wylie Mendecino are reliable pass catchers and the more they can get involved, the more things open up for a potentially dynamic Woodberry run game. Throw in Greer Martini’s occasional cameos on offense and Charlotte Country Day could have their hands full.
The line: Woodberry by 3. The Tigers are going to be fired up for this one and the Woodberry student section can make life tough on opposing squads.
Nelson County (2-2) at Appomattox (3-2), 7 p.m.
The basics: Nelson County got back on track last week with a pair of 180+ yard rushing performances from Tyler Vest and Devonte Turner against Hargrave in a 50-18 win. That’s a huge step in the right direction, but the Governors need to put all the pieces together against a quality opponent. Appomattox kicked off 2012 with a loss to Buckingham, but in the last two weeks they’ve gotten the job done on the ground with wins over Chatham and Randolph-Henry.
Key matchup: Nelson County’s front seven takes on the Appomattox ground attack. Kendall Blankenship has kickstarted Appomattox’s rushing resurgence, going for 110 last week on 16 touches and 232 the week before on just eight carries. Halting Blankenship will be job one for the Governors.
Who to watch: Nelson’s wide receivers. The Governors need some type of passing threat to develop in order to keep defenses from loading the box against Vest and Turner. A breakout game from someone on the boundary would be huge against the Raiders.
The line: Appomattox by 7. The Raiders have a lot of momentum swinging in their favor right now.
Mountain View (3-2) at Albemarle (1-3), 7 p.m.
The basics: Albemarle has to be feeling better now. After two strong defensive efforts to open the year against cross-county rivals Monticello and Western, Albemarle struggled in a shutout loss to Colonial Forge on the road. But the Patriots bounced back against Orange, rolling 37-0 with a dynamic first half. Now Albemarle can re-calibrate its focus on making some noise in the Commonwealth.
Key matchup: Mountain View’s defensive line battles Albemarle’s Niko Troche. Toche exploded against Orange County last week. He had 202 yards of total offense last week to go with four touchdowns.
Who to watch: Mountain View’s DaeSean Hamilton. Hamilton is a three-star athlete with offers from UVa, Virginia Tech, Miami, Duke and a host of others. Last week he broke loose for three touchdowns, two receiving and one on the ground as the Wildcats find a lot of different ways to get the ball in his hands.
The line: Albemarle by 1. The Patriots finally latched on to an offensive identity last week, pounding it out with Troche. They’ve got to win at home if they want to be a factor in the Commonwealth.
Buckingham (4-0) at Nottoway (2-2), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Knights are in a groove and got James River play started the right way with the win over Amelia, a critical victory for Buckingham’s hopes for a district title. That title might be within reach with the one-two punch of Kyree Koonce and Kenneth Johnson in the backfield. Now the Knights face a Nottoway team that beat a solid Appomattox club and Bluestone, but leans almost exclusively on the ground game.
Key matchup: Buckingham’s defense takes on Tre Burtt. The Cougars’ senior running back is averaging 224.3 yards per game including a 181-yard output against Bluestone last week.
Who to watch: Buckingham’s Tariq Bartee. Bartee has already come up with 23 solo stops on the season, and has picked up right where he left off in from a sterling 2011 campaign. Look for Bartee to make some big plays early to spark the Knights past Nottoway.
The line: Buckingham by 21. The Knights’ win over Amelia established them as a contender for the James River title. They shouldn’t get tripped up against Nottoway on the road.
George Mason (0-4) at Madison County (2-2), 7 p.m.
The basics: After a pair of solid wins over Page and Luray, Madison stumbled against Manassas Park in a 48-14 loss to open Bull Run District play. Now the Mountaineers host George Mason, who largely hasn’t been in the games they’ve played, falling 42-19 most recently to Central Woodstock. Madison should bounce back this week.
Key matchup: Mason’s front seven takes on Madison’s Logan Carpenter. Carpenter went for over 100 yards on the ground. If he gets going the Mustangs will have a problem slowing down the Mountaineers.
Who to watch: Madison County’s Ashton Weakley has 208 receiving yards on the year and is the Mountaineers top passing target. With James Graves’ arm, Weakley has a chance to energize the Mountaineers passing game and open things up for the run.
The line: Madison County by 7. The Mountaineers get above .500 with a key win over Mason.
Flint Hill (1-2) at STAB (0-4), 6:30 p.m.
The basics: The Huskies had a rough go of it against John Paul the Great while the Saints had a similar problem with Trinity Episcopal. It’s been a long time since STAB started out 0-4 but they got creative last week with trick plays. Saints coach John Blake will likely pull out all the stops to beat a Flint Hill team that’s had some issues on defense, albeit against a pair of quality opponents.
Key matchup: The Huskies secondary against the reverse/statue of liberty/hook and latter/running back pass. Trust us, John Blake has a commitment to running the ball, but when his team is starving for points or the big play, he’ll break out what few defenses can ever prepare for. Flint Hill needs to be ready for a little bit of everything against St. Anne’s because it’s going to happen.
Who to watch: Saints receiver Connor Healy. He has 15 receptions for 278 yards on the year. STAB needs big play ability and Healy has been the answer there so far. If the Saints can get him in some space they’ll be in good shape.
The line: STAB by 1. Flint Hill’s schedule has been rough so far, so this team is better than advertised. But don’t underestimate how badly the Saints want this first win. Playing at home should help, but this will be a battle.
Louisa County (2-3) at South Lakes (1-3) 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Lions fought and clawed but came up short against Monticello last week. The Seahawks had a tough fight with Fairfax and coming out on the short end too. Louisa has its hands full here as it steps out of district to play a team that’s been playing legit Group AAA programs. Add to it that an already battered lineup suffered another loss last week in Deon Johnson, and the Lions are heading into the beef of their season facing a good chunk of adversity. That said, is there a program that’s dealt with adversity better over the last three years than the one in Mineral?
Key matchup: South Lakes’ linebacking corps against Louisa quarterback Zack Jackson. The one thing that was clear against Monticello is that when Jackson is asked to put the team on his back, he has no issue doing it. He’s remarkably quick, more physical than anyone gives him credit for and throws downfield with confidence. Jackson is a game changer, and since the ball gets snapped to him on every play, the Seahawks have to figure him out first before they move on to anything else.
Who to watch: Louisa receiver Peanut Johnson. He had a huge touchdown late against Monticello, but he was unable create a lot of big plays outside of the fourth quarter score. He’s fast enough, tall enough. Jackson and Johnson have to connect on a regular basis to open up the traditional Louisa ground-n-pound style.
The line: Louisa by 3. The Lions ride a bit of late momentum from last week and flex some muscle defensively against an offense that’s been inconsistent.
Prince Edward (1-4) at Powhatan (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Prince Edward continues to struggle coming off at 71-point thrashing from Liberty Christian while Powhatan bounced back nicely to return to .500 by beating Greenville. The Indians poured in on last week offensively both on the ground and in the air. The passing part was all about Joe Lewis going under center and providing some much needed stability at quarterback. The Eagles defense has stuggled in every game except against Cumberland. They’ve got their handsful coming into Powhatan to play a physical team all over.
Key matchup: Prince Edward’s front seven versus the Powhatan offensive line. The Indians are going to look to establish the run as they always do and the Eagles have to be ready for play in the tackle box. And Powhatan’s not going to stop pounding it up the middle until Prince Edward can stop it.
Who to watch: Powhatan running back LJ Jackson. The sophomore continues to get more comfortable into a featuring role. His breakaway speed makes him a particular problem behind an offensive line that is overpowering.
The line: Powhatan by 21. The Indians have no trouble getting above .500 at home.
Brooke Point (0-4) at Orange County (1-4), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Orange County struggled offensively against Albemarle, but a strong second half defensive effort gives the Hornets a reason to look forward to a matchup with winless Brooke Point. But the Black Hawks are coming off a bye week and have played a brutal slate that included Patriot, Riverbend and Colonial Forge close throughout.
Key matchup: Brooke Point’s front seven takes on Orange’s ground game. Albemarle held the Hornets to just seven yards of rushing. The Hornets have to get it going on the ground against Brooke Point.
Who to watch: Brooke Point’s Alex Cox. If the Brooke Point quarterback can cut down on interceptions — he threw three two weeks ago — the Black Hawks can give a green Orange County secondary issues.
The line: Brooke Point by 7. Orange has a shot here, but the offense has to jump on Brooke Point fast or the Black Hawks’ physicality is going to take over.
William Monroe (0-4) at Strasburg (5-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Dragons had a week to work out the kinks after a tough start to the year. The Rams, they confirmed their status as the front runners for the Bull Run District by getting past Clarke County, an annual flag barer for the BRD. Monroe’s going to have to be clicking on all cylinders to keep pace with what’s coming from Strasburg, and that means in all three phases of the game.
Key matchup: Monroe’s entire defense against Strasburg running back Todd Dean. The bottom line here is the Dragons have to slow down the versatile back somehow behind a strong offensive line. It’s going to take all 11 to do it in some form or another. Putting up a valiant showing against this offense is something Monroe can build upon going ahead.
Who the watch: Dean. He was a beast last year. He’s back for more. He runs downhill, makes cuts to miss defenders. There’s not a lot of argument in the Bull Run that this is best running back around.
The line: Strasburg by 21. Awfully tough task for a young Monroe team to go up against this kind of size.
Valley Forge (0-3) at Fork Union (4-1), Saturday 1 p.m.
The basics: The Trojans are winless coming into Fork Union after falling to Mt. St. Joseph (MD), and that’s rare. The Blue Devils are only allowed to have so much fun, so after finally stepping up to play a private opponent on their level and beating Christchruch, it’s back to the gauntlet againt against a team that will likely play a healthy handful of post graduate players. But consider what Fork Union’s gone up against the last five weeks. This team isn’t thinking they’re underdogs doing into any game from here on out. And the results back it up, the Blue Devils are arguably the favorite team from here on out on their schedule.
Key matchup: Fork Union’s rushing attack against Forge’s front seven. It doesn’t matter if it’s Jeremy Bell, Nick King or TJ Dudley. The one thing this team needs to show against a quality opponent is that they can run the ball so that quarterback Christian Hackenberg isn’t getting blitzed out of his mind. If any one of those three has a big game, the passing game should open up. And the way this team has played on defense, it doesn’t take much on offense to get on the winning end of things.
Who to watch: Blue Devils defensive lineman Brett Seigel. He gave Christchurch fits last week. If he gets into the backfield to rush the passer or tackle running backs for a loss like he has lately, expect nothing short of excellence from this defense again. This secondary is so talented in getting turnovers that when Seigal penetrates, it’s as good as the offense being on the field.
The line: FUMA by 4. Honestly, something is up with this group. The Prep League is going to have its hands full with this team come next week starting with St. Christophter’s.
