Charlottesville (3-4) at Western Albemarle (6-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Two weeks ago, Western was rolling but Charlottesville was stumbling. Now both squads have a win streak going with the Black Knights winning back-to-back district games to open Jefferson District play. Now this one is a key part of the JD race as the Black Knights bring an electric run game to Crozet for the Warriors’ homecoming. Western’s defense has been one of the most surprising storylines of 2012 as that unit has allowed the Warriors to win on nights where the offense hasn’t been at its best like the Monticello game. Charlottesville’s defense has been suspect at times, but the Black Knights are getting it done and winning, including the victory over Monticello last week.
Key matchup: Charlottesville’s secondary takes on Western’s how-powered passing game. Kent Henry leads Central Virginia in passing (1,260 yards) and has two of the area’s top three receivers in Daniel Kuzjak and Nic Drapanas lining up on the boundary. Charlottesville has been susceptible to the pass against good quarterbacks. If Western gets it going, the Black Knights could be left trying to play catchup.
Who to watch: Charlottesville’s Rashard Davis. The Warriors haven’t seen a quarterback as fast as Davis is — not many teams have unless they’ve played the Black Knights because Davis can flat out fly and he can also hand off to Chris Thurston. This will be a big time test for a Western defense that has proven pretty stout this year, surrendering just 10 total points the last two weeks against Monticello and Powhatan. Keeping Davis off the edge where he can be electric will take a team effort from key defenders like Tommy Mullin, Drapanas and Kuzjak. Kuzjak has played a Charles Woodson-like role in run support out of the secondary lately, piling up six tackles against Powhatan last week.
The line: Western Albemarle by 10. While the Black Knights got a big boost last week, Western is on a roll and has a quartet of quality wins to its name already and home field advantage.
Fluvanna (2-5) at Powhatan (3-3), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: These two teams couldn’t be coming in with much different momentum if they tried. Fluvanna is coming off the most exciting victory of the Jason Barnett-era, a decisive victory over Louisa County for the first time in a decade, while Powhatan lost a district game for the first time in 61 games. But the Indians’ may have gotten just the wakeup call they needed as they try and get some momentum going again. Barnett pointed out in the wee hours of Saturday morning that he’d know if the Louisa game was a turning point by how his team played against Powhatan. Now they get that shot.
Key matchup: Powhatan’s front seven takes on a suddenly-explosive Fluvanna ground game. Fluvanna quarterback Dashon Tibbs nearly rushed for 200 yards while Jovan Burton went for over 100 as well. The Indians didn’t look good against the run while taking on Western last week as the Warriors picked up more yards between the tackles than they have all season. Still, Western’s aerial attack created a lot of those running lanes as Powhatan played with very few players in the box. Fluvanna likely won’t get that same respect, especially after going single wing last week.
Who to watch: Fluvanna’s Devin Goode. The Indians haven’t been able to get a lot going through the air, leaning heavily last week on sophomore L.J. Jackson. The Flucos will need a monster game from Goode, a senior linebacker, to contain the run game.
The line: Powhatan by 7. The Indians should get back on track this week after the frustrating loss to the Warriors.
Collegiate (3-2) at St. Anne’s-Belfield (0-6), 4 p.m.
The basics: St. Anne’s-Belfield simply hasn’t found its footing yet, but the offensive finally got moving last week with Lee Parkhill in at quarterback and the shift of Jake Allen to running back. It’s a savvy move for a team that’d gotten next to nothing out of the running back slot in an offense that’s been run-centric for years. Allen rushed for 113 yards on 25 carries while Parkhill tossed a touchdown and 98 yards while completing more than 50 percent of his passes in a 27-13 loss to North Cross. Collegiate will prove a more formidable test this week. The Cougars’ playoff hopes (they’re sitting just outside the top four right now) would take a big hit with a loss, so expect them to know the stakes and play accordingly.
Key matchup: STAB’s secondary takes on much-improve Collegiate quarterback Wilton Speight and the Cougars’ spread. Speight threw for 222 yards in the Cougars’ loss to Woodberry last week. Against STAB he’ll face a group of defensive backs that has six interceptions on the year but has still be susceptible to giving up big yardage.
Who to watch: STAB’s Parkhill. Can the sophomore build on his efficient outing in his first start and cut down on the turnovers (two interceptions against North Cross)? Parkhill should continue to benefit from a factor Jake Allen didn’t have working for him when he was under center — having Jake Allen at tailback.
The line: Collegiate by 17. The young Saints are reeling here and Collegiate should have gotten a bit of a wakeup call after the loss to Woodberry.
Goochland (4-2) at Cumberland (1-6), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Goochland continues its tour of the bottom rungs of the James River District, facing a Cumberland team that has struggled to get any momentum going after back-to-back games against Nottoway and Bluestone. So far the Bulldogs have navigated this softer part of the schedule well, playing some players in different spots to help build depth for a potential playoff run. Look for the Bulldogs to take care of business again against the Dukes, who’s lone win came against hapless Randolph-Henry three weeks ago.
Key matchup: Goochland’s front seven takes on Cumberland’s ground game. The Bulldogs have surrendered an average of 10.5 points per game. If they maintain that standard against Cumberland, the Dukes will have a tough time scratching out a win.
Who to watch: Goochland quarterback Reid Chenault. The freshman has come on of late and while he’s been pretty good, the biggest benefit of him moving into the lineup is that it allows the Bulldogs to use early season primary quarterback Jordan Jefferson to play some different roles. Jefferson is now the squad’s second-leading receiver, second-leading rusher and the leading passer. If Chenault can give the Bulldogs a solid effort, Jefferson can continue to be Goochland’s X-factor.
The line: Goochland by 21.
Woodberry (3-2) at Landon (5-1), 4 p.m.
The basics: A week after falling to Charlotte Country day, Woodberry got back on track against Collegiate out of Richmond in the Tigers’ Prep League opener. A combination of a potent ground attack and a playmaking defense got the job done for the Tigers against the Cougars as Woodberry created three turnovers and nearly piled up 300 yards on the ground. Three weeks ago, Landon barely slipped by Collegiate with a nine-point victory, but the Bears are particularly tough at home and currently sit at 5-1.
Key matchup: Woodberry’s staunch defense takes on Landon’s Wing-T approach. The Tigers looked great against a relic offense just a couple of weeks ago when they played Paul VI. But Landon will produce more of a physical challenge. The Bears dropped Woodberry archrival Episcopal 42-14 with an authoritative ground game (Landon threw just four times) that went for more than 400 yards.
Who to watch: Woodberry’s H.T. Minor. Minor’s 161 yards against Collegiate continued his emergence as a legitimate threat on the ground. While the Tigers have options back in the backfield like Christian Asher that will also see touches, Minor carrying more of the load can only be a positive for Woodberry.
The line: Woodberry by 1. The Tigers will have their hands full, but they’re almost always up for the task of playing hard-nosed responsibility football.
Liberty Christian (5-1) at Fork Union (6-1), 3 p.m.
The basics: LCA picked up its third win by 35 points or more by trouncing Perry Traditional. FUMA won its sixth straight by holding off St. Christopher’s on the road. These two are the odds on favorites to meet in the VISAA Division 1 championship right now. From a schedule standpoint, there’s no questioning the Blue Devils’ schedule so while this is a tall task, it’s nothing new. The Bulldogs on the other hand are playing their first VIS opponent of the season. By all accounts, this should be an outstanding showcase of talent.
Key matchup: Fork Union’s front seven take on LCA running back Carrington Mosley and Marcus Alexander. The Bulldog duo has 747 yards combined with Mosley leading the way but neither have gone up against a defense like this. It’s next to impossible to pass on this FUMA secondary so LCA has to get it done on the ground and so far, only Hermitage in the season opener accomplished that against the Blue Devils. This defensive front is a well-oiled machine right now.
Who to watch: FUMA’s Nick King. When King or fellow running back Jeremy Bell is on his game it opens up windows for quarterback Christian Hackenberg to exploit short yardage downs and go downfield. Bell is averaging just under eight yards a carry and if he can move the chains and keep LCA’s offense on the sidelines, the Blue Devils are at a huge advantage in this contest.
The line: Fork Union by 3. This defense is just too much for opposing teams to handle these days and this team’s impressive run against big-time opponents has them all to already for this kind of showdown.
William Monroe (0-6) at Madison County (3-3), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Last week the Dragons couldn’t keep up with Central Woodstock. Madison on the other hand came out on the short end of a close defensive battle with Clarke County. Monroe has won the previous two meetings after Madison had all but a stranglehold on this, arguably one of the most heated rivalries in all of Central Virginia. Playing at home, the Mountaineers will be all too fired up to get revenge for 2010 and 2011. Monroe had better be ready.
Key matchup: Madison’s pass rush against Monroe quarterback Jack Morris. When Morris finds receiver Dakwan Morris downfield, this offense has been able to keep Monroe in games this year. There’s little to suggest that the Dragons defense can hold Madison’s rushing attack to a small number, so it’ll be up to Morris and Morris to turn this into shootout.
Who to watch: Madison running back Logan Carpenter. Given what previous running backs have put up against Monroe, Mountaineers coach Stuart Dean doesn’t deviate much from the kind of game plan he’s won a lot of games with, a misdirection-based ground game. If Carpenter gets to the edge often, it’s going to be a long night for the Dragons.
The line: Madison by 10. Mountaineers defense holds firm, offense gets going.
Buckingham (6-0) at Central Lunenburg (5-1), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Knights continued to roll as they beat up on Randolph Henry last week. The Chargers did the same as they took apart Cumberland. This is the James River District’s second marquee matchup with Lunenburg falling to Goochland a few weeks ago. Buckingham can make the JR a two horse race by taking down the Chargers. Not having a healthy Cam Johnson at quarterback hurts, but the Knights have all the pieces to win what should be a physical battle. Regardless, this is the biggest hurdle for Buckingham so far this year.
Key matchup: Central Lunenburg’s rush defense takes on the two-headed monster of Kenneth Johnson and Kyree Koonce. This defense held a talented Goochland team to just 14 points, so they know how to play assignment football. But both Johnson and Koonce bring more physicality to the run game and the Chargers will have to avoid giving up too much yardage after contact. If Lunenburg can slow this duo down, they’d be the first team to do so. That said, this might be the best defense Buckingham’s faced so far. It’s a challenge they’ll need to ace as they get ready for the Group A playoffs next month.
Who to watch: Kenneth Johnson. He’s got 21 touchdowns on just 88 attempts. Think about that for a second. Roughly every fourth carry for Johnson is a touchdown. It’s crazy to think that any running back could break the 40-touchdown mark, but we are just a little over halfway through the regular season.
The line: Buckingham by 3. The Knights get tested on defense, but pure power on offense pushes them through for a quality road win.
Nelson County (2-4) at Altavista (6-1), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Governors saw Dan River pull away last week while the Colonels came out with a hard fought win over Chatham. Nelson again has its hands full facing two the best teams in the Dogwood District in as many weeks. And just like last week, it’ll be up to the offense to try and make this a game.
Key matchup: Nelson’s secondary against Altavista quarterback Juan Thornhill. He can throw it and he can pick up big chunks on the run. The Governors, particularly at safety, have to make the proper reads against the Colonels offense and not get sucked in on run fakes but also be ready to chip in and help get after Thornhill if he breaks lose from the pocket.
Who to watch: Governors quarterback/defensive back Tyler Vest. The area’s leading rusher needs to have a big game on both sides of the field for the Nelson to make this a game. Vest brings a great combination of speed and power to the running game, but if he can create turnovers or defend the pass on defense that would be a huge help.
The line: Altavista by 10. This is a team that handled defending Group A Division 2 champs Gretna on the road. The Colonels balance on offense and defense is too much here.
Albemarle (1-5) at North Stafford (5-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Patriots suffered a heart breaking loss in the last minutes of play to Stafford last week. North Stafford, after a tough 7-0 loss to Colonial Forge, bounced back to handle Brooke Point. If Forge is the Commonwealth District’s best team, the Wolverines aren’t far off. Albemarle can’t have the miscues they did offensively against Stafford last week if they hope to hang with this week’s opponent.
Key matchup: Albemarle’s front seven against Kwesi Dadzi and Cedrick Watkins. Dadzi is the primary ball carrier for North Stafford and is great at moving the chains. Watkins is the kind of breakaway athlete that gave the Patriots trouble last week. Stafford was creative with Da’Shawn Harris and he provided all but two big plays for his team last week. Here, Albemarle has to play it safe against Dadzi, but also keep Watkins in mind. That’s a true challenge.
Who to watch: Patriots receivers A.J. Willy and Matt Crist. When these two get the ball, they make big plays and that’s exactly what Albemarle needs facing a talented and deep team like North Stafford. Getting the ball to them has been a bit of a struggle. If quarterback Peyton Alley and this duo get a rhythm going, the Patriots will put some points on the board here.
The line: Wolverines by 13. Just too much for Albemarle to have to contain here. This defense has only let Massaponox score more than 20 points. This offense has scored 30 or more three times and against quality opponents.
Monticello (4-2) at Turner-Ashby (2-4), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Mustangs were stunned last week by Charlottesville, falling to 1-2 in the Jefferson District. A lot has changed in two weeks for this squad and a welcome breath of fresh air comes with stepping out of the district to play Turner Ashby. The Knights are coming off a solid win over Spotswood, so Monticello cannot afford to take this game likely as they need to get back to their play in September.
Key matchup: Monticello’s defensive line takes on TA’s offensive line. The Mustangs defense needs to take a big step forward after the last two weeks. The best way for that is to have this line get some penetration and create some disruption in the backfield. The secondary and the linebacking corps would greatly benefit from it and give the offense a chance to get back on its feet.
Who to watch: Monticello quarterback Jhalil Mosley. He sat out the Charlottesville game and his team wasn’t the same without him. The Mustangs offense needs his versatility, but he also needs to avoid the turnovers committed from the week before against Western Albemarle. How he and his team respond this week will set the table for the last month of play. Monticello is a playoff team, but in a funk. When Mosley’s on, the Mustangs are a good playoff team.
The line: Monticello by 4. The Mustangs shake off the last two weeks and get back to basics here. Call it an October house cleaning if you will.
Orange County (1-5) at Riverbend (3-3), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Hornets were overwhelmed by Massaponax last week while the Bears had the week off. Riverbend won its first two CD contests but has fallen in its last two and remains a team battling with consistency on both sides of the ball. But this is a team that fought to win close battles with Mountain View and Brooke Point. Orange on the other hand is looking to get something going offensively after scoring just six points in the last three weeks.
Key matchup: Orange’s front seven versus Riverbend runningback Zach Sims. The Bears running back can churn up some serious yardage and that’s something that has plagued the Hornets so far. The Hornets have to not only find a way to get to Sims, but also bring him down to avoid getting in an early hole and have to throw out of it.
Who to watch: Sims. He looked good in the loss to Stafford and now his team has had a bye week to prep up. Riverbend’s defense has been pretty sound most of the way. If Sims gets rolling they could play spoiler the rest of the way through the CD.
The line: Bears by 21. Hitting the road and facing a team that’s had two weeks to practice is hardly what the Hornets, a dinged up squad, need right now.
Blue Ridge (5-0) at Christchurch (4-1), Saturday 1 p.m.
The basics: Blue Ridge put an explanation mark on the its incredible first half of 2012 with a win over St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, a squad that was ranked No. 1 in Division 1. The dramatic victory vaulted the Barons to a No. 1 ranking in Division 2. But that ranking will immediately be put to the test when the Barons face defending state champion and currently second-ranked Christchurch, a squad that outscored Blue Ridge 77-8 in two games last year including the state semifinals. Christchurch has moved toward a more balanced approach than it employed last year, so Blue Ridge can’t load up against the run this season, they’ll have to play the Seahorses straight up. Last week the Barons’ defense proved they were up for that task against a power-running SSSA team that mixed it up enough with the pass.
Key matchup: Blue Ridge’s front seven against the Christchurch ground game. Jordan Wallace leads the Seahorses’ ground game with 421 yards, but with three runners on the year with more than 20 touches, a fleet of running backs will likely see action against Blue Ridge. The Barons need Jared Arntzen, Ryan Etheridge and Mujahid Fricke to tackle soundly to prevent Christchurch from breaking big runs.
Who to watch: Blue Ridge’s Leon Straus. With P.J. White drawing a lot of attention from the Christchurch secondary based on his unstoppable performance in the closing minutes against the Saints, that may open things up a bit from Straus who is a dangerous, talented threat, as evidenced by a one-handed catch along the sideline last week. Straus is also the rare prep cornerback who can lock opposing wideouts down in coverage. Look for him to have a big impact on both sides of the ball.
The line: Blue Ridge by 1. The much-improved Barons will be looking for payback for a pair of blowouts back in 2011.
Covenant (3-3) at Virginia Episcopal (4-1), Saturday 2 p.m.
The basics: Since a terrific three-game win streak that Covenant put together after a season opening loss to Christchurch, the Eagles have been stumbling. A narrow loss to Blue Ridge, now the state’s top-ranked team in Division 2 and a loss to Division 1 Norfolk Academy, however, are absolutely no reason to panic. The Eagles are a Division 3 squad and while they’re going to have to scratch out some wins against tough opponents, Covenant could still get into the playoffs. A win against VES, the No. 1-ranked squad in Division 3 would go a long way toward putting the Eagles in the postseason mix.
Key matchup: Covenant’s secondary takes on VES big play threat Trevon Fields. The Eagles’ secondary has picked off eight passes already this year, but containing Fields will be a challenge for defensive backs like Boo Agee (three picks). Fields had three catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns last week, one of them from 60 yards out.
Who to watch: Covenant’s Jaime Gaston. VES is clearly susceptible to the run having surrendered 380 yards and 57 points two weeks ago before a bye to Nansemond Suffolk Academy. Expect Covenant, particularly if the Eagles have managed to heal up this week, to turn to Gaston and the ground game early and often. Gaston has rushed for 752 yards and is currently sixth in the area with that total.
The line: Covenant by 1. Covenant has taken it on the chin the last two weeks. Look for the Eagles to work out their frustration down in Lynchburg against a VES team that’s vulnerable despite a 4-1 record.
