Buckingham (7-1) at Goochland (6-2), 7 p.m.
The basics: This should be a classic. The James River District title is on the line in Goochland. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in the James River and Buckingham has lost just a single matchup, to Central Lunenburg. This one, in all likelihood, will determine the champion, and should be a quality game with two of the state’s top-rated Group A squads going at it. It’ll also move fast, as both teams are heavily reliant on the run game, with Buckingham boasting a 1,000-yard rusher in Kenneth Johnson and nearly another in Kyree Koonce (881 yards). Goochland leands on leading rusher Mitchell Brice (524 yards and six touchdowns) but he’s far from the lone option. Three players have more than 300 yards rushing under their belt (Jordan Jefferson, David Dyer and Nathan Mattox) and Mason Engel and Connor Saunders can also tote the rock. It’ll be up to Buckingham’s defense to take on the challenge every team faces against Goochland — stay disciplined and stay at home against the Wing-T. Because anybody in the backfield could have the ball on any play.
Key matchup: Goochland’s front seven takes on the Koonce/Johnson combo package. There aren’t too many squads that boast the combination of speed and power in one back, let alone two, that Buckingham does. Goochland defensive coordinator Dan Summit, however, is adept at coming up with schemes to shut down opposing attacks that are nearly-entirely reliant on the ground game. Look at what Goochland did against a Wilson Memorial team last year that also had a pair of big-time backs running the ball. But even stops on defense might not be enough. As if dealing with them in the run game wasn’t enough, Kyree Koonce unleashed a kick return and a punt return for a touchdown last week in the first few minutes against Cumberland, and Johnson can take it to the house too. He had one called back on a block in the back.
Who to watch: Buckingham’s Devin Smith. Smith had two defensive touchdowns last week for the Knights, and as stingy as the Goochland defense has been, a gamebreaking play from the defense would be huge Friday night. Smith is the Knights’ second leading tackler too with 52.5 total tackles including 14.5 tackles for a loss (Tariq Bartee leads the charge with 74 tackles), so he’ll be a key part of disrupting the Goochland backfield as well.
The line: Goochland by 1. Based on common opponents (Goochland beat Central Lunenburg, Buckingham lost to Central) and homefield advantage, the Bulldogs get the edge here.
Nelson County (2-6) at William Campbell (1-7), 7 p.m.
The basics: William Campbell finally got in the win column last week, but Nelson dropped its fourth straight as the defense continues to struggle to contain opposing offenses. That might change this week against Campbell, one of two teams Nelson beat last season, but Campbell has the momentum coming into this one.
Key matchup: Nelson’s defense takes on Campbell quarterback Damiun Lockett. Lockett is explosive in the ground game, ripping off a 60-yard touchdown last week against Chatham. The Governors will need to contain him and keep him off the edge.
Who to watch: Nelson quarterback Tyler Vest. While Vest leads the area in rushing, the pounding he’s taken has forced the Governors to open the passing game a little bit. Vest has thrown for more than 100 in each of his two outings. Campbell will have to respect that balance.
The line: Nelson by 3. The Governors can end a 4-game skid on the road against the Generals.
Christchurch (6-2) at STAB (0-8), 7 p.m.
The basics: Two years ago, this was the state semifinal matchup in Division II. While Christchurch, the defending state champion, is in position to be a factor in the title race again this year, the Saints are just trying to scratch out some kind of momentum in the last two games of the season against Christchurch and archrival Blue Ridge. STAB was an extra point away last week from knocking off Covenant, and Christchurch can’t expect the Saints to go away easily this week either.
Key matchup: STAB’s ground game tries to slip past Christchurch’s defense, led by Parker Byrd. Byrd averages 7.8 tackles per game as a stalwart linebacker for the Seahorses. The Saints are banged up in the running back department, and Byrd won’t make it easy for whoever carries the load.
Who to watch: STAB’s Will Eppard. Eppard made a huge play in the fourth quarter of the Covenant contest, coming up with a big-time touchdown catch that tied the game at 13-13 with under 30 seconds to play. Getting the ball in Eppard’s hands as much as possible would be wise for a team that is in desperate need of a spark.
The line: Christchurch by 10. Saints may have a few more tricks in their bag, but the Seahorses present a pretty stiff challenge.
Riverbend (4-4) at Albemarle (1-7), 7 p.m.
The basics: Albemarle continues to search for answers, as a defense that looked promising early has surrendered 37 or more points in three of the last four Commonwealth games. Of course, the offense hasn’t been putting them in the best situations either with an inability to control possession and move the ball. On the other hand, Riverbend has lost three of its last four, with the lone win coming against Orange County. If Albemarle can rally the troops on senior night, they’ve got an opportunity here to find another win and get some momentum going into the offseason.
Key matchup: Riverbend’s defense takes on Albemarle running back Niko Troche. Troche is the engine that powers the Albemarle offense and the Bears will likely load up against the Patriots’ running back. The Albemarle passing game needs to keep Riverbend honest.
Who to watch: Riverbend’s Zach Sims. Sims rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries last week in a losing effort against Massaponax. The Patriots will have their hands full trying to contain the explosive threat.
The line: Riverbend by 3. Albemarle is running out of chances to snag a second win, and, as usual in the Commonwealth, this one will be a challenge.
Western Albemarle (8-0) at Fluvanna County (2-7), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Western Albemarle is rolling along right now, still unbeaten and rated in the top spot in Region II as they enter the home stretch of the regular season. Fluvanna couldn’t turn the momentum from an incredible win over Louisa County into any more momentum, falling to Powhatan and Monticello the last two weeks. This is actually the regular season finale for the Flucos, so expect Fluvanna to pull out all the stops to try and get some momentum going into the offseason on senior night. Quarterback Dashon Tibbs needs to have a huge game for the Flucos to be in position for an upset. He’s thrown for 738 yards and rushed for another 639 on the year.
Key matchup: Fluvanna’s secondary takes on the area’s deepest wide receiving corps. Western’s group of wideouts will challenge the Flucos’ depth in the defensive backfield and if there’s a weakness, quarterback Kent Henry will find it by going to Daniel Kuzjak, Nic Drapanas, Steven Hearn or Isaiah Cowan. Henry leads the area in passing with 1,600 yards while Kuzjak and Drapanas are second and third in receiving. The Flucos will need players like cornerback Joey Shaheen to put together big time games.
Who to watch: Fluvanna’s offensive approach. Sure, it’s more of a “What to watch,” but the Flucos have proven capable of unleashing some surprises by dipping into a new offensive set or approach without any warning. Western’s success this year has been built partially on a refreshed approach to preparation, so a curveball could be effective, at least early. Charlottesville’s single wing-style change at halftime gave Western some fits. But with the Warriors’ explosive offense, halftime may be too late for a change for Fluvanna.
The line: Western Albemarle by 13. Warriors should keep rolling here.
Powhatan (4-4) at Monticello (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Indians fell in the last minutes of play on the road last week in a close contest against Louisa County, saddling Powhatan with its second Jefferson District loss in three weeks. The Mustangs broke the 40-point mark for the second straight week as they went on the road to best Fluvanna County. Before the season began and just a few weeks into it, it looked like these two would be playing this game once again for a defacto JD championship as they did last year. Now both are trying solidify playoff standings and avoid an ugly first round matchup.
Key matchup: Powhatan’s pass rush takes on Jhalil Mosley. The Indians have to get to Mosley and they can’t miss if and when they do get him in their sights. There’s no question the running back TJ Tillery is the engine driving the Mustangs offense, but they can’t completely sell out on him and let Mosley create massive plays with his arm or his legs.
Who to watch: Tillery. He nearly broke the 1,000-yard mark last week with a 176-yard performance. He’s averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Monticello’s history of running backs is impressive and Tillery has a chance to vault himself all the way up to fifth on the school’s career rushing list if he can put up some big numbers in these final two games of the regular season. That’s impressive when you consider the list and that this is Tillery’s first season starting as a feature back and he’s just a junior.
The Line: Monticello by 7. The Mustangs snap a 4-game skid against Powhatan and show they’re completely back to their September form.
Louisa County (3-5) at Charlottesville (3-5), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Lions got what they needed badly last week, a close win against a quality team like Powhatan. Meanwhile, the Black Knights got a week of rest after coming out on the short end of a thrilling meeting with Western Albemarle two weeks ago. Charlottesville really needs a win here to solidify their Region II standings. They sit in the eighth and final playoff spot, and a victory here would likely cement it.
Key matchup: Both defenses face elite athletes at the quarterback position. The Lions have to find a way to keep Rashard Davis from blowing up for big plays, something few defenses have been able to do. Charlottesville has the same problem with Louisa’s Zack Jackson. There’s a reasonable chance here that the last quarterback with the ball in his hands will get a chance to put together a game winning drive.
Who to watch: Charlottesville running back Chris Thurston. The junior was next to unstoppable against a talented Western defense two weeks ago. With the chance to heal up any bumps and scrapes he’s acquired, it’s going to be interesting to see what kind of numbers he puts up this week. In the redzone he’s deadly. There might not be a more violent and hard-to-bring-down runner in Central Virginia than Thurston.
The line: Charlottesville by 1. Both these teams are better than their records indicate. The Lions have lost four games by eight or fewer points, making them particularly deceptive. But with the way the Black Knights have played against Monticello and Western, it’s hard not to give them the edge here.
Madison County (4-4) at Central Woodstock (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Last week the Mountaineers were in it for most the game, but couldn’t keep Strasburg from pulling away. Their reward for playing the best team in the Bull Run District is getting to play the second best team now in Central Woodstock, a squad coming off a bye. The Falcons established that position by edging Clarke County in a defensive struggle two weeks ago.
Key matchup: Madison’s front seven takes on Woodstock quarterback Hayden Bauserman. He was a first team All-Bull Run selection as just a sophomore. He’s a year older, stronger and wiser now. The Falcons have scored 30 or more points in three of their last five weeks. Madison’s linemen and linebackers were solid, especially in the first half against a talented and experienced Strasburg team. If this front can get after Bauserman, Madison should be able to make this an outstanding game.
Who to watch: Madison wide receiver Ashton Weakly. With 21 catches for 305 yards and four touchdowns, the Mountaineers likely need his big play ability in a game that could turn into a shootout. Should he have a big game here, that should also open up wider running lanes for Logan Carpenter.
The line: Woodstock by 3. The Falcons get the nod here for their close win over Clarke, but this should be an interesting game because against the same Bull Run opponents, the results are strikingly similar so far.
William Monroe (1-7) at Manassas Park (5-3), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Dragons finally got that elusive first win and did so with a huge first half offensively against George Mason. The Cougars put up a big number in a win on Clarke County last week, a true surprise as not many teams in the Bull Run have been able to that, whether the in victory or defeat.
Key matchup: Monroe’s front seven take on running backs Chuck Moorman and Nick Johnson. The Cougars used to pack it tight and run a WWII-era offense. No more. This team spreads the field now but still likes to get the ball in the hands of its backs. That’s problematic for a Monroe team that’s struggled mightily against the run. The bad news here is that the Dragons have to play somewhat honest against this spread look. That means that if Monroe’s going to have a chance in this one, the defensive line is going to have to step up big here.
Who to watch: Monroe wide receiver Dustin Knight. With the way quarterback Jack Morris and receiver Dakwan Morris connect for big plays, Knight has emerged as great matchup receiver on the other side to exploit the kind of double-coverage that his fellow wideout gets. To be in this game, Monroe’s going to have to pour on the points, and if Knight can provide the kind of play he did last week against Mason, that will be a huge help.
The line: The Cougars by 14. Manassas’ offense is just too much here for the young and still undersized defense.
Mountain View (5-3) at Orange (1-7), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Wildcats are coming off of a bye to follow up their beating of Stafford. The Hornets ran into another Commonwealth District buzzsaw in Colonial Forge. The Eagles handed Orange their fifth shutout of the year.
Key matchup: The Hornets secondary takes on the Wildcats passing attack. Quarterback Elijah Burrus knows how to get the ball down field and has the personnel to do it. Whether its star receiver Daesean Hamilton or Quinton Gray or Dillon Smith, the Mountain View receiving corps gives its quarterback plenty of options. Stopping Burrus is going to be a real challenge.
Who to watch: Hamilton. He has offers from Miami, Virginia Tech, Penn State and Michigan State just to name a few suitors. If you didn’t get a chance to see Hamilton last year, here’s your opportunity. He runs a 4.57 40-yard dash at 6-foot at 182 pounds. Orange has its hands full trying to keep him out of the endzone. If you want to see what a collegiate wide receiver looks like, look no further.
The line: Mountain View by 21. The Wildcats are just too explosive for the Hornets here.
Blue Ridge (6-1) at Liberty Christian (7-1), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: A big second quarter from the Barons propelled them to a win over a top-ranked VISAA Division 3 team in VES last Saturday, just four days removed from the team’s first loss of the season at the hands of Christchurch. After beating Fork Union two weeks ago, the Bulldogs took down Hargrave with ease. The bottom line here for Blue Ridge is that LCA is the most talented team it will see all season. The Bulldogs are ranked at the top of Division 1 for a reason. A good showing here will let everyone else in Division 2 know what to expect in just a few weeks from the Barons.
Key matchup: Blue Ridge’s run defense goes after Carrington Mosley. The Bulldogs running back is big, strong and piles up the yardage after contact. Mosley isn’t going to break off a bunch of long runs to the edge with the kind of speed that Blue Ridge has, but he does have more than enough to plow through for a heavy dose of 10 and 20-yard runs that require gang tackling. The Barons have to find a way to slow him down. It’s not easy as he runs behind a massive offensive line that creates great holes for Mosley to exploit.
Who to watch: Barons receiver Darryl Smith. As if life wasn’t tough enough for opposing secondary’s facing athletic and physically gifted receivers PJ White and Leon Strauss, now Smith, an elite basketball talent is playing football again after sitting out more than half the season. If Tristan Allen can deliver the deep ball and his line can give him time, there’s simply no way to contain all three of these guys. Last week Smith’s only two catches were bombs for touchdowns. The Barons will need that added production badly if they find themselves in a shootout, arguably the best way to beat the Bulldogs as they take time to move the ball downfield.
The line: LCA by 6. The Bulldogs physicality up front is a problem as they have a pair of ACC-bound linemen that can play on both sides of the ball. That’s the difference in this game. But this could be a great learning experience for the Barons going forward.
Fork Union (7-2) at Benedictine (7-1), 3:30 p.m.
The basics: The Blue Devils dug themselves out of a good sized hole against Collegiate to pick up a big road win last week. In a FUMA-esque move, Benedictine jumped into the public ranks and took down a quality Midlothian team. Just like the matchup with LCA two weeks ago, this meeting could well just be a precursor to another meeting in November. The Cadets’ lone loss this year came to the team that Fork Union just took down in Collegiate.
Key matchup: Fork Union middle linebacker Dondre Wright takes on Benedictine running back Corey Downey. The Cadets back is coming off a 188-yard 25-carry showing last week and all season long, he’s been the work horse for this team offensively. Wright is the Blue Devils tackling machine that averages 8.9 take downs a game. Something has to give here between these two. If the Cadets cannot run the ball, they’re in trouble because the Blue Devils have a much more diverse and flexible offense to win a battle of the defenses.
Who to watch: Blue Devils safety Malcolm Cook. He gave Fork Union life when they needed most last week. The senior has seven interceptions and nine passes defended so far this year. He’s third on the team in tackles averaging 6.2 per contest. Against a run-heavy team like Benedictine, Cook is the kind of center fielder that every coach wishes they had because he’s doing a little bit of everything right now.
The line: Fork Union by 6. Benedictine’s defense is the difference here as they’ve surrendered 20 or more in the last two outings.
Woodberry (5-2) at St. Christopher’s (5-4), 2 p.m. Saturday
The basics: Woodberry has put together a three-game win streak since falling 23-3 to Charlotte Country Day, and the Tigers have yet again established they’re one of the top private school teams in the state. St. Christopher’s has also picked up a little steam with back-to-back wins over Pope John Paul the Great and Episcopal High. This should be a big-time Saturday clash in Richmond.
Key matchup: Woodberry’s secondary takes on St. Christopher quarterback Giles Thompson. Thompson torched Episcopal High for 286 yards last week, and just a couple of weeks ago, Collegiate’s Wilton Speight had a big outing against Woodberry’s defense. Then again, it didn’t amount to much as Collegiate lost 23-15. Look for players like Ben Pugh and Ty Abdul-Karim to step up for the Tigers.
Who to watch: Woodberry’s James Hewell. Hewell had a big-time game last week for the Tigers, ripping off 76 yards on just six touches and also threw a 40-yard touchdown pass. The Tigers always have multiple actions at running back and this year is no exception as Hewell joins H.T. Minor and Christian Asher as threats out of the tailback spot.
The line: Woodberry by 14. St. Christopher’s doesn’t have the depth to contend with the Tigers, even at home.
Covenant (4-4) at North Cross (4-4), 2 p.m. Saturday
The basics: It’s going to be hard to follow up next week for Covenant, but if the Eagles want a shot at the postseason, this is a must-win game. Covenant beat STAB for the first time ever last week on a thrilling overtime touchdown and subsequent interception by Gus Rose that sealed it up. North Cross has picked up some momentum after a 1-4 start, beating STAB, Atlantic Shores and Hargrave Military.
Key matchup: Covenant’s front seven takes on North Cross Max Revercomb. Revercomb has thrown for 1,371 yards and 17 touchdowns on the year. When the Eagles were getting to STAB quarterback Jake Allen in the first half of last week’s game, Covenant held a big advantage. But once some of Covenant’s key defenders wore down, Allen had time to operate and threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to tie up the game. Getting pressure on Revercomb, a sophomore, will be key, especially since he’s not a huge threat to run (1.21 yards per carry).
Who to watch: Covenant quarterback Brady Doyle. While Jaime Gaston has been the Eagles’ rock in the run game, Doyle has emerged as a calm, confident threat who can come up big in the clutch, like he did with the touchdown toss to Peter Gould and a two-point conversion to John Meade in overtime against the Saints. He’s also the fifth-most productive passer in Central Virginia with 993 yards.
The line: Covenant by 1. North Cross has struggled to finish games and the Eagles can ride last week’s momentum against the Raiders.
