Woodberry Forest (6-0) at Fork Union (2-7), 3 p.m.
The basics: The Tigers dismantled St. Christopher’s last week while the Blue Devils saw a good early showing against Benedictine end quickly with a rout. Woodberry inches closer to a coveted unbeaten season while FUMA looks to find its form from earlier in the season after back-to-back blow outs. The problem for the Blue Devils here is that Woodberry shutout Benedictine and brings the area’s best defense to the field, regardless of what anyone wants to say about it’s size up front. This Tigers secondary isn’t just the best in the state, it’s the best we’ve seen in years, period. That said, if FUMA can find a way to put points up on the board, it’s defense is capable of slowing down the run and the Tigers rely heavily on that right now.
Key matchup: The Tigers’ offensive line versus the FUMA defensive front. If H.T. Minor and company have a big game here than the Blue Devils are in for a long day. When Woodberry runs the ball well and doesn’t turn the ball over, it wins and wins big. That starts up front in the trenches. FUMA has to win that battle to make this a close contest.
Who to watch: Woodberry freshman Khalid Thomas. Whether on the jet sweep or as a receiver, his jump up to the varsity level these last few weeks has given the Tigers a jump start offensively. He’s fast and he draws attention away from the middle of the field. With Minor in the backfield and Zack Roderick at receiver, he’s the x-factor of this unit right now and if Woodberry executes on offense this team simply blasts opponents.
The line: Woodberry by 10. The Tigers defense continues its dominance.
Fishburne (2-5) at Covenant (5-4), 4 p.m.
The basics: While last week’s clash with North Cross looked to be essentially an elimination game, Covenant’s playoff hopes weren’t completely dashed by their loss to the Raiders. Instead, there’s a slight window of opportunity for Covenant. If they can beat Fishburne and Hargrave (currently sitting at 0-9 on the season) manages to knock off or tie North Cross, the Eagles could slip into the No. 4 seed in VISAA’s Division II. While that remains a slim possibility, it’s a possibility nonetheless, and the Eagles need to hold up their end of the bargain to make it happen.
Key matchup: Fishburne’s defense takes on Covenant’s midline. The Caissons haven’t been gashed on defense very often this year, but preparing for the Eagles’ ground game is no easy task. They’ll have to play responsibility football to slow down the combination of Austin Llera and Paul Huemme.
Who to watch: Covenant’s Bobby Findley. Findley caught a 59-yard touchdown last week against North Cross and could be a big part of whatever sliver of a passing game the Eagles employ against Fishburne.
The line: Covenant by 14. The Eagles’ slim playoff hopes completely unravel with a loss. Expect them to be prepared and take care of business.
Blue Ridge (2-6) at St. Anne’s-Belfield (8-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: This is usually a pretty hotly contested rivalry game, but the last two years the games have been pretty one sided, with Blue Ridge winning easily in 2012 and STAB rolling in 2013. This year the pendulum is still swinging in the Saints’ favor as they have a shot to wrap up VISAA Division II’s No. 1 seed which would mean home field advantage for the semifinals and final. On the other hand, Blue Ridge has been without a run game all year and while they’ve scored points in bunches, stopping anyone has proven to be a challenge. Now they’ll have to contend with a STAB squad that boasts one of the area’s most dynamic offenses that features an array of weapons. Look for the Saints to attack early and often and prevent Blue Ridge from seizing the opportunity to play spoiler against their archrival.
Key matchup: STAB’s secondary takes on Blue Ridge’s aerial assault. The Barons are leaning heavily on the pass with an inexperienced offensive line and that should prove to be an excellent tuneup for the Saints’ defensive backs who are hoping to run into at least one high-flying attack in Bishop Sullivan in the playoffs. The Saints have a lot of playmakers roaming the defensive backfield like Kareem Johnson, Jalen Harrison and Brodie Phillips, but shutting down the Trevor Eaton to Scott Spencer connection isn’t always easy.
Who to watch: STAB’s John Woodson. Every week a different running back has seemingly stepped up for the Saints, and Woodson was that guy against Virginia Episcopal rushing for a pair of touchdowns and 6.6 yards per carry. Woodson makes STAB even more dangerous on the edge, so look for him to be a factor against a Blue Ridge defense struggling against the run.
The line: STAB by 14. Saints keep the momentum going against the Barons.
Buckingham (5-3) at Cumberland (2-6), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Knights got bit by the same Nottoway team that surprised Goochland the week before, but the Knights’ record is a far cry from how talented this team is. Cumberland fell hard to Goochland 42-8 last week and sit poised to be another sacrificial lamb for a Buckingham team that might be frustrated after back-to-back losses. The bottom line here is that Buckingham has two weeks to gear up for the postseason. They’re going to come out fired up for this rivalry, but it’s more important that the Knights stay healthy than anything else in these last two weeks.
Key matchup: Buckingham’s defensive line versus the Cumberland offensive line. The Knights have dealt with two weeks of getting beat up front defensively. Its line backing corps definitely needs to answer the call, but if Buckingham gets the job done up front, the problems end quickly. This a game where this defense can work on technique and polish up for the rough stuff in November.
Who to watch: Buckingham’s Leon Ragland. The playbook will be interesting here. Do the Knights experiment with pass a bit more here? Ragland’s legs are the biggest fear for Cumberland. He should get a good chance here and there to play around with receiver Matrice Foster and company.
The line: Buckingham by 17. The skid ends, but it wasn’t really much of a skid considering the opponents. This is still a really good playoff team here.
Goochland (6-2) at Prince Edward (4-4), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Bulldogs bounced back from the Nottoway loss to trounce Cumberland last week. The Eagles rolled past a Bluestone team that’s simply fallen apart. The Eagles are all over the place. They’ve struggled with Cumberland, given Nottoway trouble, and played Nottoway tough. Goochland might have its injury issues, but it’s won five of it’s last six by double digits, and it’s loss to FUMA has no effect on its playoff standings. The Bulldogs are simply trying to make sure they head into the playoffs with the right mindset and as healthy as possible.
Key matchup: The Eagles’ front eight against the run. Goochland’s not going to waste time here or get cute. They’re going slam things with the run and try and get this game over as quickly as possible. Prince Edward has to simply sell out and stop the run. That’s easier said than done, but the Bulldogs don’t care.
Who to watch: The flags. The Bulldogs have shot themselves in the foot with flags in big games and going forward in a couple of weeks that’s going to be pivotal. If Goochland is more disciplined, particularly on offense, there are few teams that can stop them.
The line: The Bulldogs by 13. Jordan Jefferson leads this offense which is still too fast for the Eagles.
Albemarle (2-6) at Louisa County (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Patriots fell in overtime to Monticello, showing once again that they are far better than their record. The Lions cruised past Orange County last week, punting not once. This is a big game for Louisa as it looks to try and earn a first round home game in the playoffs. The Lions cannot take the Albemarle defense lightly. That said, the Patriots have had their issues against run heavy squads like Louisa. It will be interesting to see how the Lions come out after facing the bottom two teams in the Jefferson District and now have to face a team that is more physical than any team since Louisa faced Powhatan. Albemarle on the other hand, has to find a way to deal with this defense that is playing really well in all three areas, up front, in the middle and in the secondary.
Key matchup: Albemarle’s defensive line against the single wing. The closest thing the Patriots have seen to this is the option that Massaponax runs. Granted that’s a slighty different offense being run by a team that’s clearly ready to win a state title, the Lions are also no slouches and with quarterback Trey Cherry along with backs Deion Jackson and Job Whalen and a physical yet maturing offensive line. The Patriots need to slow down Cherry first and make sure that Whalen doesn’t break things open on the edge. With Jackson, they have to make sure they don’t tackle him high because he was simply a bowling ball last week at Orange.
Who to watch: Albemarle’s Cameron Green. If he and D.G. Archer can pick up from last week it will be a big boost to this offense. Louisa’s going to melt away the clock on offense. To counter that, the Patriots will need big plays from the passing game. Orange was able to find some holes last week, and Albemarle has to do that and more in the passing game and with Archer and Green they have the ability to do that.
The line: Louisa by 3. This should be a really good one. But Louisa is on a roll right now, winners of three straight including a drubbing of Western.
Madison County (2-6) at Central-Woodstock (3-6), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Mountaineers’ comeback efforts fell short last week in a fairly critical game against Strasburg. The Falcons fell flat for the third straight week, this time stumbling against Warren County. For Madison to qualify for the playoffs they have to come away with a win here and probably next week as well, so for all intents and purposes, the Mountaineers postseason begins right here.
Key matchup: Woodstock’s secondary versus Madison’s receiving corps. The Mountaineers have the firepower offensively to expose a defense that’s struggled these last three weeks. With Isaiah Smith and Dre Twyman, look for Madison to try and get their talented duo the ball in space and also pull the trigger on the deep ball down field. When they take over the running game with Larry Turner usually becomes more productive.
Who to watch: Madison linebacker Dalyn Montgomery. The sophomore is the team leader in sacks with four and is also averaging 5.4 tackles per contest. He’s another piece of this sophomore class that has made a huge contribution to this team and is the future for the this program. A big game from him would go a long way to helping the Mountaineers come up with a much needed win.
The line: Madison by 1. This is going to a tight one but the Mountaineers end the 3-game slide with so much on the line.
William Monroe (5-3) at Manassas Park (1-7), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Dragons handled business on the road last week with a 35-14 win over Mason to make it three wins in a row. The Cougars took it on the chin last week on the road at Clarke County. Monroe needs to make sure they don’t get caught looking ahead a week with their regular season finale against Clarke. While Manassas Park has truly struggled offensively, it’s defense has made a couple games closer than the scores and record suggest.
Key matchup: The Cougars front seven take on the Monroe ground game. There are no secrets here, when the Dragons smell blood they give their horses the ball. Expect Cody Perkins and Tylek Burley to be busy early. Manassas can’t let Perkins gash them for yards after contact and can’t let Burley hit the second level of its defense. That’s no small task.
Who to watch: Monroe’s front seven defenders. This is their final tune up before the big dance with Clarke. They’re going to want to head into what will be a physical game looking their best. Manassas might not have the talent Clarke does, but their splits are tight and offer a similar feel line of scrimmage wise. This is a game, not a glorified practice. That said, you pick up every chance to learn that you can and this defense has an opportunity here.
The line: Monroe by 10. Dragons cruise on both sides of the ball for their fourth straight win.
Fluvanna (1-7) at Charlottesville (3-5), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Black Knights’ loss to Western last week may have all but sealed CHS’s chances at a postseason berth, but a .500 season is still within reach and the Black Knights need to get their inexperienced lineup better seasoned and more efficient. On the flip side, the Flucos are well outside the Region 4A North playoff. Can the Flucos bounce back after a drubbing at the hands of Powhatan and step up for a critical chance at a win. The Flucos haven’t been able to diversify the offense much beyond Macen Dahl catching passes and the Black Knights are still relying almost exclusively on the ground game, but whoever can capitalize on their strength early will have a huge advantage.
Key matchup: Charlottesville’s Nick Epps matches up against Fluvanna pass catcher Macen Dahl. Dahl leads the area in receiving but Epps is one of the area’s longest tenured cornerbacks. Something will have to give her in a matchup of two of the area’s best.
Who to watch: Charlottesville’s Malik Bartee. He’s dangerous when he has the ball in his hands, and if CHS is going to end a two-game skid he’ll have be effective.
The line: Charlottesville by 10. The Black Knights have too much speed for the Flucos to handle.
Appomattox (4-4) at Nelson County (2-6), 4 p.m. at Amherst
The basics: Apparently issues with the lights at Nelson’s home stadium are pushing this one up in time and south to Amherst, and Nelson is in dire need of a positive break after suffering its third scoreless loss in the last four outings. Beating a solid Appomattox squad won’t be easy though, the Governors have their work cut out for them.
Key matchup: Appomattox tries to contain Nelson’s Ray Chambers. While the Governors have struggled to move the ball and score, Chambers has been a huge bright spot for Nelson. A rugged, tough runner he can give opposing defenses fits as seen in his 128-yard night against Altavista. Can he make Appomattox pay?
Who to watch: Nelson’s secondary. The Governors’ secondary has made some strong plays at times, but they’ll face an effective passer in Deion Edwards for Appomattox, and that could prove to be a challenge.
The line: Appomattox by 14. The Raiders shouldn’t have much trouble here against the Governors as they try and improve their playoff positioning (currently 10th in Region 2A West).
Western Albemarle (7-1) at Powhatan (7-1), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: One of these teams (Powhatan) we expected to be in this type of clash late in the year. The Indians brought so much talent back, they were certainly going to challenge for a Jefferson District title. But Western is another matter entirely. Replacing the guts of an offense and key members of the secondary were supposed to make life tough on the Warriors. No matter, they sit at 7-1 with a chance to wreak some havoc against Powhatan and potentially grab a share of the title. A win would be huge for the Warriors as they could use a boost to break through the top echelon of Region 3A West. It’s a tall order against Powhatan though as the combination of standout offensive and defensive lineman and running back Logan Allen should give the Warriors all they can handle at this point. Both teams are coming with a full head of steam and something has to give.
Key matchup: Powhatan’s offensive line takes on the Western defensive front including accomplished pass-rusher Osiris Crutchfield. This will be a stout test for a Western defense that has managed to attack and put some pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Disrupting Powhatan isn’t going to be simple as they scheme well and stay on their blocks up front.
Who to watch: Western’s Josh Meeks. His return to the lineup last week was a huge emotional lift for the Warriors who’ve been battling injuries and adversity since the season began, and he played well with six tackles, including four solo stops. Meeks gives an already high-performing defense an extra jolt and frees the players around him to wreak havoc.
The line: Powhatan by 3. Indians move a step closer to the outright Jefferson District championship.
Orange County (1-7) at Monticello (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: It was by the skin of their teeth, but Monticello knocked off Albemarle last week to get back on track after losing to Western Albemarle the previous week while Orange County came apart at the seams a little against Louisa. They’ll be without head coach Keita Malloy tonight because of an ejection against Louisa and according to the Culpeper Star Exponent, the Hornets’ quarterback will also be out of the lineup. Coming together against a Monticello squad that recovered a little of their identity against AHS could prove a tall task for Orange.
Key matchup: Orange’s run defense takes on Monticello’s Kyree Koonce. Look for the Mustangs to try and establish the run early behind Koonce. That means the Hornets will have their work cut out for them.
Who to watch: Monticello’s quarterback Daniel Hummel. Hummel will likely have to return to the lineup after Kevin Jarrell got the nod last week but suffered a late injury. The offensive sputtered a bit against Western, which led Monticello to turn to Jarrell and put Hummel at wideout where his athleticism could cause some damage. Hummel has show flashes of big-time ability, can he settle in against Orange and help the Mustangs roll?
The line: Monticello by 17. The Mustangs should roll at home as they keep building momentum going into the postseason.
