Christchurch (0-0) at Covenant (1-0), 4 p.m.
The basics: Covenant got the year started off on a good foot with a 40-22 win after a long road trip to Portsmouth Christian. Now they welcome Christchurch to Charlottesville for the Eagles’ home opener. This will be a significant test for the Eagles as Christchurch was a VISAA Division III finalist last year, though they haven’t played a game yet and Covenant has. Can the Eagles use that edge, control the clock with their option and wear down a Christchurch team that will likely have a size advantage with at least one 260-pound lineman on the roster in Cameron Partee? The Eagles have done it in the past. Two years ago, Covenant beat Christchurch at TCS 42-14. Last year on the road, Covenant fell 33-14. If Covenant’s secondary can step up and help against the run and the front seven disrupts things for the Seahorses, that would go a long way toward allowing Covenant to pick up its second win of the year.
Key matchup: Covenant’s defensive line takes on Christchurch’s offensive line. Traditionally, the Seahorses have had a solid offensive line with a mix of big bodies and technically sound players. Covenant’s defense surrendered 22 points to a Portsmouth team that was winless in 2014, and Christchurch will be a much more stout test for the Eagles.
Who to watch: Covenant’s Sam Lapage. Lapage was one of six Covenant players to get at least five touches against Portsmouth Christian and he did a lot with his six carries, piling up 77 yards and a touchdown for an average of 13 yards per carry. Lapage’s exploits on the edge are a key part of the mix for Covenant because if he’s keeping defenses honest or making them pay, it’ll really open up the dive for the Eagles’ group of beefier backs.
The line: Christchurch by 10. The Seahorses were state finalists in 2014, and the Eagles are still working with a lot of new pieces.
Bishop McNamara (1-0) vs. Woodberry Forest (0-0), 7 p.m. at Porterfield Park in Orange
The basics: Woodberry’s gauntlet starts Friday night under the lights at Porterfield Park in Orange, and this should be a monster matchup to open the year for the Tigers. Woodberry boasts a lot of speed, a lot of quickness and a seasoned signal-caller in Lindell Stone who is primed and ready to put together what could potentially be his first complete season as a high school quarterback. Woodberry’s partially rebuilt defense that includes standout Joseph Stephenson will get tested against the Mustangs who have employed a hurry-up attack that opened the year with a 48-22 win over a solid Riverdale Baptist squad. Running the hurry-up against a Woodberry team that platoons for the most part and carries a lot of players on the roster might not be quite the advantage that it usually would. This one has the makings of a chess match that should be fun to watch from start to finish.
Key matchup: Woodberry’s loaded secondary goes toe-to-toe with Bishop McNamara’s quarterback-wideout combination of Ramar Williams and Camari Murray. With Michael Davenport, Logi Portugal and newcomer Bebe Olaniyan, Woodberry’s defensive backs are a talented, frighteningly athletic group. They’ll be tested right out of the gate by Willams and Murray. Williams (who threw for 278 yards and five touchdowns against Riverdale Baptist) was an All-Met selection last year and the dual threat signal-caller has interest from colleges ranging from Maryland to East Carolina to Air Force with 55 career touchdowns through the air. Murray, who is quick, but checks in at 5-foot-9 has caught a lot of those touchdowns.
Who to watch: Woodberry’s running backs. Between Evans Riviere, Lionel Johnson, Jameel Wilson and others, the Tigers have some options at running back. But while Johnson, who also plays outside linebacker, is 195 pounds, nobody is bringing quite the load that James Sewell did as the Tigers’ big back the last couple of years. What’s lost in pure power can be made up for in quickness and vision though, and this new group just needs a crease and they should be hard to find behind guys like 6-foot-6, 284-pound Stanford commitment Clark Yarbrough.
The line: Woodberry Forest by 10. The Tigers are strong, fast and quick. Look for the offense to find an early rhythm and the defense to make enough plays on the back end to seal it.
Fluvanna County (0-1) at Spotsylvania (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: We learned a lot about Fluvanna County despite the Flucos’ narrow loss last week to Freedom High. For one, Mark Grooms and Jay Amos are both going to be tough for tacklers to handle one-on-one this year. Amos is also emerging as a talented defensive back who could help Fluvanna keep opposing aerial attacks from burning the Flucos over the top. He was part of a clearly focused, renewed effort by the Fluvanna defense to prevent big plays and make the offense work for it. So far, so good on that front, Freedom had to march and drive and nip and tuck all night to make any progress against Fluvanna. Spotsylvania, who absorbed a 42-0 drubbing at the hands of Eastern View knows this is a key chance at a win in the early going for them as well. Who can rise to the occasion?
Key matchup: Spotsylvania’s defense contends with Grooms. Whether he’s at quarterback with fellow captain Gavin Patrick on the shelf or at his typical spot at running back, Mark Grooms is exactly the kind of presence Fluvanna has needed, a player who can make something out of nothing and help members of the supporting cast like Amos take advantage of their own skillset. The Knights will have their hands full trying to hem in the Flucos’ versatile threat.
Who to watch: Fluvanna’s Duquan Anderson made a number of solid tackles against Spotsylvania, a key part of that effort to play more sound defense. If Anderson can take care of business at linebacker, it’s going to go a long way toward helping the Flucos improve.
The line: Fluvanna by 7. The Flucos have a playmaker in Grooms and another in Amos. They’ll help make sure Fluvanna snags its first win of the season Friday.
Page County (0-1) at Nelson County (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: Things didn’t go exactly how Page and Nelson would’ve liked in week one. Luray beat Nelson County 34-12. Page County just took a 62-14 loss to East Hardy High out of West Virginia. But make no mistake, both these squads know that this week is a crucial chance for a victory and they both need some momentum as they keep progressing.
Key matchup: Page’s front seven contends with the Nelson option. When the Governors’ offensive system starts clicking, the misdirection can be very difficult to keep track of. Page could have its hands full if they have to keep track of a Governors offensive that gets some flow going.
Who to watch: Nelson’s Corey Mays. The Governors need a lot out of Mays, especially at linebacker. If Mays can make some key stops and prevent big plays by Page, that’ll be a big help as Nelson looks to pick up a win.
The line: Nelson by 7. The Governors take advantage of a key opportunity.
Brookville (1-0) at Western Albemarle (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Western Albemarle didn’t just get the season started with a solid first win last week. The Warriors blew the doors off of Broadway, exploding for 55 points as the offense showed that it has an early rhythm and a level of dynamism that it perhaps didn’t even have last year during the state semifinal run. Western coach Ed Redmond has been committed to strengthening the Warriors’ run game and offloading more carries on the squad’s running back in order to make the Warriors’ one-back backfield a more dynamic presence. The Broadway game may have been the best example yet as the tandem of Oliver Herndon and Sam Hearn both piled up yardage and helped Western control the pace of the game while pouring on the points. There’s some familiarity here too as Brookville coach Jon Meeks returns to Central Virginia. Meeks’s Louisa squad in 2012 spoiled the Warriors unbeaten run in the regular season finale of Redmond’s first season at the helm. A little bit of familiarity. A lot of talent. Two teams on a mission. Those are a lot of the ingredients for a thriller.
Key matchup: Western’s offense takes on the Brookville defense. These may be two of the best units in Group 3A, a true case of strength-on-strength. Western’s skill position players are nearly back in tact from 2014 and the offensive line looked strong last week while clearing the way for a big night on the ground. On the flip side, the Warriors’ defense is also stout but Brookville’s offense struggled a bit against Albemarle in week one. That could put a premium for the Bees’ on stifling Western’s aggressive, tempo-based attack as winning that battle may be a necessity if they want to snag a road win.
Who to watch: Western running back Oliver Herndon. After a 300-plus yard performance against Broadway last week it’s hard not to keep an eye on the Warriors’ talented senior running back. Against Brookville of course, he’ll face a much stouter test Friday night. Brookville all but shut down Albemarle last week, and the Bees’ signature is their defense. If Herndon gets going again this week it’ll be proof that the Warriors are primed and well on their way to a big-time 2015 season.
The line: Western by 3. The battle of strength-on-strength when Western has the ball should lead to an electric early season clash.
Brentsville District (0-0) at William Monroe (0-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: William Monroe is intent on competing year-in and year-out, and for a program to do that, it means taking care of business in games like this one, a home opener against an opponent that lost eight straight games to end last season. The Dragons have moved to a flexbone, option style attack and in their first scrimmage against Skyline the system, as it’s designed to do, looked better as the game went on, wearing on the opposing defenses. Suddenly 3-yard bursts were 10-yard bursts and possessions that petered out were touchdown drives as the live period wore on.
Key matchup: Brentsville’s front seven takes on the Monroe option. Without seeing the Dragons’ particular brand of option football, Brentsville’s players are going to have to trust their reads and instincts and play assignment football. Meanwhile, an array of potential weapons are gearing up to try and get Monroe going, with Malique Shackleford leading the way at quarterback. Accounting for Shackleford’s ability on the ground and through the air may be more than Brentsville is capable of handling.
Who to watch: Monroe’s Malik Mallory. With the flexbone option, the big back is a huge piece of the puzzle, and Mallory is big enough to take a pounding between the tackles but fast and agile enough to get things going if he gets to the second level. Expect the Dragons to get the ball in his hands and move the chains. And his shiftiness could pose problematic should he find the open field.
The line: Monroe by 6. The Dragons are young, most new, but this group has been waiting for this opportunity and they have the tools to pick up the win at home here.
Fork Union (0-0) at Goochland (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: For the fourth straight season, the Blue Devils and Bulldogs square off in Goochland. Last year the Blue Devils came away with a 33-14 victory and they’ve taken two of the previous three meetings with the Bulldogs. Fork Union will look to improve upon its efforts defensively from last year, the team’s Achilles heal. And for Goochland, the same could be said, particularly in the second half of their season opening loss on the road at Essex. The Bulldogs were up 21-14 in the second half but gave up 15 unanswered, thanks in large part to the Trojans’ outside ground game.
Key matchup: Fork Union’s defensive line takes on Bulldogs quarterback Reid Chenault. There’s no question that Chenault showed that Air-Goochland is alive and well. On top of that he showed off his ability to launch the ball down field. On top of that, the Bulldogs had a handful of second half plays just barely broken up or dropped. So the Blue Devils have to get after Chenault, apply pressure and not give him time to connect on the big play. Fork Union’s always had athletes in its secondary, but they only mean so much when a play gets extended for a quality quarterback like Chenault.
Who to watch: Fork Union’s Taurus Carroll. The Woodbridge transfer comes to Fork Union with a pair of offers in hand already between James Madison and Towson. The junior is looking to build up that offer list and the 6-foot-1 162-pound speedster has all the tools to physically change the game at both cornerback and wide receiver. Goochland’s secondary will have its hands full trying to keep him quiet, but they did pick up valuable experience against a skilled Essex squad. On the other end of the field, it will be interesting to see how much the Bulldogs shy away from him in the passing game.
The line: Fork Union by 3. The Blue Devils have had the Bulldogs’ number and they’ve had more than enough time to prepare for this game. That paired with what they have skill position-wise make them dangerous here, even on the road.
Kettle Run (0-1) at Albemarle (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Cougars gave up 33 unanswered points to Loudoun Valley to fall 33-6 in the debut of first year coach Scott Woodlief’s tenure. The Patriots were shutout on the road in Lynchburg by a stingy Brookville defense. Both teams come into this one looking to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole to start off the year. Considering the way both squads lost, it will be interesting to see which, if either squad, gets off to a fast start to try and move past last week.
Key matchup: Kettle Run’s secondary against Albemarle’s receiving corps. The Patriots obviously have to establish a stronger run game than they did against Brookville, but the Cougars’ secondary had its struggles in the second half with the Vikings’ passing game. Albemarle has young playmakers to make things happen in the air, they might want to give it a shot against this group, especially after one if it’s key players, Tony Rocco, was sidelined with injury in the first quarter of last week’s contest.
Who to watch: Albemarle offensive lineman Jesus Lazo. It takes the big fellas up front to get this offense churning and Lazo is definitely big, but he’s also a technician. Look for him to ignite his fellow linemates to help establish the run, something the Patriots were adept at last year. This defense played well enough to win last week, it just needed help. There is no greater friend to a defense than a strong ground game on the other side of the ball. Don’t be surprised if Lazo and company find a way to get things rolling in their first game at home.
The line: Albemarle by 3. Few Central Virginia teams respond more to their home crowd than the Patriots do, that plus the overall defensive play from last week provides the difference here.
Buckingham (0-1) at Chatham (0-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Knights will look to shake off their loss to Appomattox in overtime while the Cavaliers are set to take the field for the first time this season. With seven starters back on offense and defense, this is a Chatham team capable of building on its 5-6 record last year, but they’ve got a tall task out of the gate with a Buckingham team that will be chomping at the bit to get rid of the taste of losing.
Key matchup: The Cavaliers defense plays the guessing game with Buckingham County’s Leon Ragland. That’s right, he played at quarterback, running back and wide receiver last week. And that was just offensively. Now the argument could be made that the Knights need to settle in a bit more on how they want to use their biggest playmaker if they want to build any continuity on offense. But with that said, it was pretty clear last week that when Ragland was lined up at running back and receiver the offense clicked best with BJ Gough showing his ability to run and throw as a quarterback. Regardless of what Buckingham decides, wherever Ragland is on the field, the Cavaliers will need to have a game plan for him.
Who to watch: Buckingham defensive lineman Michael Mabry. To say that Mabry was disruptive at the line of scrimmage last week against a really good offensive line, running game and against an athletic quarterback is putting it lightly. Mabry’s hit in the second quarter last week brought the crowd to a roar, let alone his teammates. This is a big kid on the playground out there. Chatham will have to find away to double him up and keep him from being the force he was last week. Also, it would be interesting to see if he gets any carries. While he’s a tight end, one has to wonder what kind of hammer he might bring to the Buckingham goal line package, which struggled last week against Appomattox.
The line: Buckingham by 4. The Knights’ defense can carry this team. They stood tall on fourth down four times, forced four more turnovers last week. Look for the offense to rebound this week.
Madison County (0-1) at Luray (1-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Mountaineers will look to bounce back after a tough showing in their season opener at home with King William. Luray handled Nelson County on the road last week. These two always seem to play it close with the Bulldogs edging out the win 25-20 last year and 26-23 in overtime the year before. Madison had their struggles on both sides of the ball against a really good King William squad and will need to find more in their passing game to avoid an 0-2 start to the year.
Key matchup: Madison’s defensive front takes on the Luray running game. The rushing defense was a focal point for the Mountaineers coming into the season and they will need to step up to the plate against a team that ran for 267 yards last week against Nelson. In years past, Madison had the size up front, particularly on the defensive line to make things tough, but without Dylan Berry and Kenyon Smith, that task is all the tougher this year. If the Mountaineers can load up in the trenches and figure out the ground game, it will go a long way, give them a shot to finally slip past the Bulldogs.
Who to watch: The Mountaineers’ passing game. Madison receiver’s Dre Twyman and Isaiah Smith had a combined five receptions for 30 yards. That can’t happen this week, or really any week for the Mountaineers to thrive on offense. The good news of course is that the ground game that struggled last year, saw improvements last week with Gabe Farmer taking 13 carries for 63 yards and the team rushing for 119 yards on 30 carries. That area will need improvement too, but if quarterback Chris Smith can establish a connection with either Twyman, Smith or both, it will make all the difference. The team’s top two playmakers have to get the ball in their hands.
The line: Luray by 1. The Bulldogs get the edge based on home field advantage and their history. But Luray is not King William and this is a winnable game for the Mountaineers.
Lake Taylor at Monticello (0-0), 7:30 p.m. Radio: WINA
The basics: A juggernaut from the Tidewater, the defending Division 4A champions, now still the second ranked team from Virginia, the 25th ranked team in the nation according to Maxpreps — that’s Monticello coach Jeff Lloyd’s reward for his season debut. The Titans hammered Heritage 54-0 and suffice it to say, the Mustangs will be getting all they can handle in their home opener. While it’d be easy to say that all Monticello needs to do here is survive and advance from a physical, health stand point, that’s not Lloyd’s style. He built a winner at Kettle Run. Monticello’s been a winner since Brud Bicknell launched the program back in 1998. This is a program with a state title to its name (2007) and a runner up finish (2003). Add to that all the playoff appearances since those glory days and you’ve got an underdog Monticello team that’s playing for its pride, no matter how you chop it up.
Key matchup: Monticello’s defensive front takes on Titans running back Dazmine Palmer. The Lake Taylor back came out of the romp against Heritage as the bonafide back behind a beefy line to lead the way for an offense that piled up 370 yards. The Mustangs had their troubles against the run last year, and will need to be a lot better this year to have a chance in this one. Heritage’s poor tackling was exposed last week, and it would have been a lot worse were the Titans not been called for 10 penalties in the first half for 134 yards. The task is not easy, but that’s what happens when the No.2 team shows up to your house, right?
Who to watch: Mustangs running back Darian Bates. If ever a school has produced running backs in Central Virginia on a seemingly effortless level, it’s been Monticello. Running out of Lloyd’s spread, it will be interesting to see what Bates can do against a defense that is so big, fast and just generally talented. The Titans gave up 70 yards last week. If Bates can find a way to through the melee, chalk up some first downs and move the chains, it will go a long way — especially if it happens early on. Lake Taylor blew the doors off of Heritage in the first half, and Monticello can’t play from behind in the same way.
The line: Lake Taylor by 21. This is a tough draw for a program that has a new coach, but there’s a lot the Mustangs can learn from this meeting, especially if they play four full quarters.
Orange County (1-0) at Eastern View (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: That sound in Orange County is a team starting to feel a bit different about itself, and justifiably so. The Hornets are not far removed from being major players in the Jefferson District, and their win over Culpeper in the season opener is important on a number of levels. With that said, the Hornets’ tour of the Culpeper County school district continues and the Eastern View team they face this week is a lot different than the Blue Devils team they powered past last week. The Cyclones flattened Spotsylvania 42-0 in their home opener.
Key matchup: Orange’s linebacking corps takes on running back Justin Pollard. On 15 carries last week he ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on a light night of first half work. The Hornets have to bottle him up and find a way to bring him down, both easier said than done. The good news? Orange was all over the run last week against Culpeper, and we mean all over it, the -61 kind. This is going to be a different game, but if the Hornets linebackers step up to Pollard and slow him down, it’s going to make a big, big difference.
Who to watch: Thunder and thunder? Trevon Smith and DeAngelo Hunt were the storyline for Orange going into the Culpeper game and they remain just that coming out. The big-bodied Hunt ran for 122 yards on 20 carries and two TD’s while Smith — who’d be lightning if not for the fact that he’s a downhill runner too — ran for 107 yards and two TD’s on his 16 touches. When the ground game works that means the offensive line is getting it down. To have the backs and the line clicking in game one is a big deal for this team. It’s a foundation for them to build upon, and it’s one that needs to keep Eastern View’s offense on the sidelines as much as possible.
The line: Eastern View by 4. Not to rain on Orange’s parade, but this is a really tough road game. The Cyclones have the weapons, and Orange did give up 300+ yards passing last week.
St. Anne’s-Belfield (0-0) at Hargrave Military Academy (0-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: St. Anne’s-Belfield’s season finished on a sour note with a state championship game loss, but there are a ton of key holdovers from the state runner-up squad and the Saints should be in good position to take on the Tigers in the opener, even with a new starter at quarterback. STAB has a wealth of options at the skill spots and whether it is Bobby Nicholson, Logan Lucas or Campbell Miller or even Jalen Harrison in spots, whoever is lined up at quarterback will have a lot of help. The Saints’ re-tooled offensive line is likely going to be tested by an aggressive 3-4 scheme by Hargrave, but STAB coach John Blake will adjust for that and build some things to help out his new signal-caller.
Key matchup: STAB’s seasoned secondary takes on Hargrave’s new strong-armed quarterback Riggs Jordan. Jordan transferred to Hargrave during the second semester last year and he has the arm to test defensive backs. Lucky for the Saints that despite the graduation of Brodie Phillips, Jalen Harrison and Kareem Johnson are back roaming the secondary, and having a pair of all-state defenders is a big step in the right direction toward clamping down on Jordan and the pass-heavy Tigers.
Who to watch: STAB’s John Woodson. With Hargrave likely intent on trying to limit Harrison and Johnson in the passing attack and the Saints breaking in a new quarterback, the Saints’ leading returning rusher will likely be looked to as a key option. Blake has always leaned on the run and with a speedster like Woodson who appears to have put in the work in the offseason, he’ll likely choose to control the clock with a heavy dose of Woodson.
The line: STAB by 10. The Saints are simply too potent on the boundary for the Tigers to cover their standout wideouts.
