William Monroe (1-1) at Charlottesville (1-1), 7:00 p.m.
The basics: Both teams dropped their opener. Both teams bounced back to win their second game. Both teams want to make some serious noise in their district. Both teams have playmakers like the Dragons’ Malique Shackelford and Charlottesville’s Sabias Folley. This one should be fun. Shackelford got going in a big way last week against Broadway, getting it done with 95 yards on the ground and 162 yards through the air. Containing Shackelford is no easy task especially because he’s protected by a big, seasoned offensive line and he has weapons in the passing game like Jordan Gray, Kam’ron McCain and Kyle Kruszewski. While Shackelford was getting going, Folley found his rhythm against Harrisonburg, rushing for more than 150 yards and four touchdowns. The Dragons are going to have to find a way to stop Folley without letting the Black Knights’ other dangerous threats like Lorenzo Louderback, Tre Durrett and Rakeem Davis hurt them. That’s a tall task. Neither defense has it easy, which is why if either of those units can create a turnover or two those plays have the potential to be gamechangers.
Key matchup: Charlottesville’s defensive backs contend with Monroe’s fleet of pass catchers. The Black Knights have an array of potential playmakers in the secondary including Louderback who can a do a little bit of everything — the guy is just a football player. Keeping McCain, Gray and Kruszewski under wraps will be a challenge though and Charlottesville struggled in its opener with Dominion’s speedy skill players at times. Can the Black Knights’ Camden Brown, Durrett, Davis and Mitchell Temple rise to the occasion? McCain, Gray and Kruszewski are both dangerous after the catch so getting them down right after receptions is a top priority, which means sound tackling is a must. For their part, that trio knows what they’re capable of and they’ll be looking to get loose early and often.
Who to watch: Charlottesville’s Sadarius Folley. While his brother was the headliner last week, Sadarius Folley is a critical part of the Black Knights’ defense and has some big play potential that he flashed in week one against Dominion with a scoop and score. He’s also a tremendously versatile defender, capable of impacting the run and the pass. If Folley reads like he usually does and can do his job effectively, it’ll go a long way toward keeping Shackelford in check, forcing Monroe to turn to less immediate options.
The line: Charlottesville by 1. This one could come down to the wire, but the Black Knights’ refreshed ground game should be enough to get the job done.
Spotswood (1-2) at Monticello (2-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Blazers continue their tour of the Jefferson District after beating Western Albemarle 28-14 last week at home, they hit the road. The Mustangs continue to host Shenandoah Valley schools, with their last minute win off a defensive touchdown in a 26-19 win over Turner Ashby sets up this meeting with Spotswood. After the Mustangs win over Cesar Chavez in week one, the offense garnered a lot of attention. With the way this Monticello defense played last Friday, it begs the question, what would it look like if both units played their best on the same night? We’ll learn a lot about the state of the Jefferson from this game, as after this game, Monticello faces a Western team coming off a bye.
Key matchup: The Monticello and Spotswood special teams. The Mustangs had the kind of breaks that turned what, at least statistically, should have been a relatively comfortable win into a nail-biter. The Mustangs gave up two scores to TA, a blocked punt scoop-and-score and a kickoff return for 87 yards to the house. There’s little doubt that coach Jeff Lloyd hammered home the point this week in practice that those kind of things can’t happen. Monticello clearly has talent on both sides of the ball, and as such, it seems like a foregone conclusion that special teams would be okay. But remember that the Mustangs opening possession of the season was a fumbled opening kickoff. Sometimes the football Gods have a way of evening the tables — and in these first two weeks, it hs been on special teams for the Mustangs.
Who to watch: Monticello quarterback Kevin Jarrell. The Mustangs’ signal caller is showing that’s he durable, versatile and good about maintaining possession of the ball. He’s not gun-slinging and throwing interceptions. He’s not fumbling on drawn up runs or improvised ones. He’s not getting sacked a lot. In all, he’s put together two very solid starts for a team that needed that as the skill positions were the area this program was hit hardest. As that group starts to get into midseason form, Jarrell should flourish even more.
The line: Monticello by 10. The Mustangs have responded well to any and all adversity they’ve seen so far and Spotswood has been inconsistent.
King George (3-0) at Louisa County (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Well, wow, just wow! This is one heckuva meeting between two out-of-district opponents. The Foxes are coming in hot after a 40-7 win over Liberty (Bealeton). Louisa responded well to their bye week with a resounding 36-14 win over Courtland, a team that’s been their nemesis going back to 2012. We’ve got two offenses that are clicking and two, very, very mean defenses. Expect a lot of punts in this one. This is going to be an old-fashioned war if the matchup on paper plays out on the field.
Key matchup: King George’s offensive and defensive line against the Louisa platoon system. The Lions are living clean on those two sides of the ball, getting their top producers on both lines to play exclusively there. That means these units are getting coached up on the sidelines, they’re both getting air and they’re staying fresh for four quarters. That is huge in this day and age. Can King George find a way to respond to the energy level that the Lions have thrived behind both on offense and defense. Louisa has always had that workman-like mentality to it under coach Mark Fischer and this year, maybe as much as in their big years, 2006 and 2010. If ever there was a time to find out what both units are made up of, this is it as Louisa jumps into Jefferson District play with Albemarle next week. The task this week? Beating a squad that’s outscored three opponents 132-7 combined. The Lions were tested in week one against Sherando and came up with the win. A win in the trenches would give them another opportunity for yet another huge victory.
Who to watch: Louisa defensive back and receiver Jordan Cherry. Shifty. Smart. Efficient. Cherry is fun to watch. He’s a fearless defensive back in Fischer’s system that sniffs out contact and serves a variety of roles. He can be a safety valve, he can blitz and he finishes his tackles. On the other side of the ball, the former quarterback is now thriving at receiver where he takes advantage of defenses that have no choice but to throw everything but the kitchen sink at quarterback Malik Bell and running back Job Whalen. Cherry is an outstanding blocker, but when he gets a pass out of the slot, he can turn it into a slippery 25-yard gain fast.
The line: Louisa by 1. And it’s a narrow point. This is going to be tough, but the Lions have momentum, their fan base and a hard fought win already. King George has yet to be tested.
Albemarle (1-1) at Patrick Henry-Roanoke (3-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Patriots came up with a crucial win over Kettle Run two weeks ago and got all of last week and this one to prepare for these other Patriots from Roanoke. Patrick Henry held off William Fleming 28-14 for a third straight win. With wins by 17, 3 and 14, Patrick Henry looks like they’re already in mid-season form with a challenging schedule to open up their 2016 campaign. For Albemarle, this is two things — firstly, maybe the perfect opportunity to get ready of a physical Louisa County team waiting for them the next week, but more than anything an opportunity to collect a ton of power points. A win here for Albemarle sends a very clear message to the big players in the JD.
Key matchup: Albemarle’s rush defense against the Patrick Henry running back duo of Brandon Smith and Sammy Trusclair. The two led the way for 185 yards on the ground last week and have been heavily featured the first three weeks. The Patriots saw a solid running team in week one against Brookville and managed to answer the call. They’ll have to channel that performance this week to pick up the W.
Who to watch: Albemarle defensive back Kris Anderson. The buzz coming out of training camp from the Patriots’ senior leaders was that they were impressed by the sophomore. His pick-6 against Kettle Run was huge. This is not a pass heavy offense, so if Anderson can shed blocks, be a sure tackler on the short passing game and find a way to influence the game there, that’d be huge. If he can come up with another turnover like he had last week? Well that’s game changing stuff. There are so many skilled athletes on this team, and with Anderson emerging as one of them now, the Patriots have to be excited about their team speed, athleticism. Making of the most of it is now the challenge.
The line: Albemarle 1. We’re not homering it up here. Patrick-Henry’s opponent’s records so far? 2-7. Albemarle went into overtime against a 3-0 Brookville team that’s blown out their next two opponents. Tough game, but certainly one that this team could win coming off a bye.
Orange County (1-1) at Spotsylvania (0-3)
The basics: Perhaps no team is more eager to take the field this week than the Hornets who had a bye week to stew on a 40-0 loss to Eastern View. The Knights are reeling after a third straight loss, last week a 55-28 defeat at the hands of Culpeper. Transitive properties are hard at work here. Orange beat Culpeper 43-0. The Hornets, given the time off, given the way Culpeper handled Spotsylvania, they’re going to expect to win big here. But you can’t take anything for granted. Orange has to come ready, tune up against a team they should roll against and get ready for a road game with tough Jefferson District opener with Powhatan all at the same time. So while on paper this game should be simple, there’s a lot more going on underneath the surface.
Key matchup: Spotsylvania’s defensive line against Orange County’s offensive line. The Hornets struggled up front two weeks ago, but expect senior Cameron Rickett and the crew to rebound and put forth a strong performance. The Knights have to come up with something creative here because if the Hornets are solid on the offensive line, running backs DeAngelo Hunt and Tre Smith aren’t just going to be good, they’re going to be great. They don’t need a whole lot to work with. And the wear and tear those two deal to teams that are playing so many players both ways like Spotsylvania does, well, it’s a recipe for disaster if the Knights aren’t solid up front.
Who to watch: Orange’s receiving corps. Because of the nature of the Eastern View game, we got to see a lot from quarterback Kenyon Carter and the passing game. There were some good flashes there, and some opportunities that came so close to fruition. Dayvon Greene and Tyrone Warren have big plays in them. All three are going to get a chance to develop some chemistry here with the defensive front that Spotsylvania has to throw up at the line of scrimmage. The more this Orange passing game heats up, the easier it’s going to be for the Hornets going forward because everyone is going to sell out against the run. Defenses don’t really have a choice. Eastern View made that clear. Can Orange show that they’re ready to break out a passing game that we haven’t seen since from them since 2009 and 2010?
The line: Orange by 24. An angry windshield meets a tired bug here.
Fluvanna County (1-2) at Culpeper (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: As fate has it, two teams coming off much needed wins, and go figure — against the same team! So which one learned the most from it? The Flucos ended their nearly two-year drought with a 26-13 win over Spotsylvania. The Blue Devils came off a bye to handle Spotsylvania 55-28. Considering the beating that Orange put on Culpeper, the week off for the Blue Devils, and their turnaround win against the Knights there’s an obvious question here. Which Culpeper team will we be getting here? The Flucos had two weeks to prepare for this game and so they’re hoping that time was well spent.
Key matchup: Fluvanna quarterback Mark Grooms against Culpeper’s defensive front. His 265 yards rushing against the Knights is going to draw the defense in, stack eight or nine in the box. His 65 yards passing in that win two weeks ago might be the key for Fluvanna to win. If Grooms can create things on misdirection, play-action or by simply dropping back in the pocket and get the time to throw down field, the Flucos offense should continue to develop into a more multi-dimensional one. The big break against Spotsylvania came through the air with a stacked box. So you have to believe that the Flucos have worked in a number of wrinkles into their playbook, had the time to iron it out and now sit ready to roll it out. These are the kind of things you want to see out of a bye week.
Who to watch: Fluvanna tight end Joey Van Dyke. A quarterback’s best friend, right? Grooms will be the focal point for the Flucos and the Blue Devils’ defense. If Van Dyke can turn short passes into first downs, or like he did against Spotsylvania, into pay-dirt? Well that’s going to change the nature of this game.
The line: Fluvanna by 1. This is going to be a hard fought battle between two very similar squads. But the two weeks of preparation should help the Flucos, not to mention the confidence boost they got two weeks ago. They want a different kind of streak to be talked about.
R.E. Lee Staunton (2-1) at Goochland (3-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Goochland’s out-of-district schedule gauntlet picks back up again with another tough battle at home against R.E. Lee. Goochland stepped into district play last week against Amelia after winning against Essex and Fork Union and the Bulldogs shut out the Raiders 21-0. Goochland’s defense is proving to be a formidable unit, and that’s in large part because they’re getting off the field when they need to. The Bulldogs have held opponents to just a 17 percent conversion rate, stopping them on all but five third down conversion attempts. That’s less than two third conversions per game. Considering the fact that the Bulldogs’ offense is busy playing keep away, that’s a harrowing statistic for the opposition, you have to be able to sustain drives against Goochland. Otherwise you’re rarely going to have the ball. Lee beat Rockbridge last week and also pounded Wilson Memorial, but a 35-0 loss to Riverheads, another power running squad, could be an indicator of the problems Lee may face Friday. Goochland knows how big things one is too for momentum heading into the heart of the James River schedule, and they’ll be ready.
Key matchup: Goochland’s defense tries to contain multi-tooled threat Garrett Lawler. Lawler made plays all over the field in the second half of R.E. Lee’s come-from-behind win over Rockbridge last week. The running back hauled in a long screen pass and had a touchdown run. The Bulldogs are no strangers to trying to shut down do-it-all running backs and they’ll have a sound defensive plan going into this one. Look for leading tackler Sam Brooks to keep stepping up.
Who to watch: Goochland’s Marqual Chennault. The Bulldogs knew they’d be young in the interior on the defensive line but Chennault, a sophomore, has been fantastic so far. He’s second on the team in total tackles and with nine solo stops actually leads the squad. On a team with seasoned veterans like Clay Brooks, Marcus Burton, Calvin Martin and Cordell Mattox, that’s impressive.
The line: Goochland by 7. The Bulldogs are simply finding ways to win right now and this one shouldn’t be any different.
Nottoway (1-2) at Buckingham County (0-3), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: It has been nearly a decade since Buckingham County’s football team started a season 0-3. Back in 2008 in fact. We can officially term this a rebuilding year now, and the Knights are hoping to end that losing streak against Nottoway Friday and get some positive momentum headed their way. That’ll start on defense where Buckingham is simply giving up too many points right now, including 56 last week in a 56-52 shootout loss to William Campbell. That’s two games with more than 50 points allowed, a trend that simply can’t become one if the Knights want to get back on track.
Key matchup: Buckingham’s front seven takes on Nottoway’s two running backs Jordan Coles and Nathaniel Dickens. Coles and Dickens are splitting carries pretty evenly and combined they’re averaging 129 yards per game. A week after Buckingham struggled to stop Josh Rosser of William Campbell who scored five touchdowns, limiting Coles and Dickens will be a top priority.
Who to watch: Buckingham’s Daniel Brickhill. Last week Brickhill threw for a score a and rushed for another out of the quarterback slot, taking some offensive pressure off of Rajheem Holman. If Brickhill continues to emerge as a viable dual threat, it’ll give the Knights’ offense an added dimension and could help Buckingham control the ball more and take some pressure off a defense that’s still trying to get its footing.
The line: Buckingham by 1. Knights can end slide here with a renewed sense of defensive direction.
Nelson County (0-3) at Parry McCluer (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: For the Governors, last week’s 64-0 loss to a winless Covington was a tough pill to swallow and it marks three straight weeks of the margin of victory getting larger. It’s also, unfortunately, another week without a touchdown or field goal. The Fighting Blues showed well in a 21-14 to Rockbridge, suffered a 20-0 loss to Buffalo Gap and then bounced back with a 47-0 over Stonewall Jackson (Quicksburg). So it’s been a little bit of everything for McCluer. For Nelson, it’s not about wins and losses right now. It’s about finding a rhythm on offense, avoiding turnovers in the redzone and developing young talent. The Governors are up against solid opponent so there are a lot of learning opportunities here.
Key matchup: Nelson County’s defensive front against McCluer running back Jeremy Nelson. The Governors have seen some big backs in the first three weeks and there’s no rest for the weary here. With 6-foot-2 senior Jeremy Nelson who weighs in at 225 pounds, the Fighting Blues have a hammer here. Nelson has to continue to learn how to penetrate up front, create lanes for their linebackers and wrap up. It’s the nitty-gritty of the game and the first brick of the foundation for a program looking to make a climb.
Who to watch: Nelson running backs Drai Taylor and KJ Vaughan. The respective senior and freshman need to find a way to keep the McCluer offense on the sideline. That means churning up first downs. If the Governors can block up front and on the edge, these two are able to make something happen. They just needs the breaks to do so.
The line: The Fighting Blues by 21. Tough matchup here, but still a great chance for this team to figure things out.
Bullis (Maryland) (2-0) at Woodberry Forest (1-1), Saturday 2 p.m.
The basics: The Bulldogs are coming into this contest hot after a win, 28-6, against St. Mary’s. The Tigers fell to a large North Carolina powerhouse in Pinecrest, 47-43. Of interest is that the Tigers might have played that Patriots team better than last year. This meeting was maybe on of the best football games of the year on the east coast last season, a 66-65 overtime win for the Tigers. Gone for Bullis is now Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, but with a reloaded roster, this battle should be every bit as good as the last. If Woodberry comes out of this three game stretch at 2-1, their VISAA opponents should be on the lookout.
Key matchup: Woodberry’s linebacking corps against Bullis running back Devin Darrington. The Bulldogs back has 19 offers, including Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Indiana and pretty much all of the Ivy League schools. At 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds, he packs a load and has some speed to go with it. The Tigers led by Joe Stephenson need to make sure he doesn’t wear out this defensive front and allow Darrington to get to the next level where he can do some real damage. With tough games against Bishop McNamara and Pinecrest, this Woodberry defense has pretty much seen everything, so they should be sharp, but it’s yet another tough runner to keep quiet. And the Bulldogs have the playmakers on offense like Virginia Tech-bound receiver Aiden Brown to keep this Tigers defense from stacking the box. So it’s all about this linebacking corps making the right reads and rushing to the ball when Darrington gets his number called.
Who to watch: Woodberry receiver Dequece Carter. Let’s start out by saying that Tigers quarterback Lindell Stone is only 113 yards from clearing his first 1,000 yards… in two games. That’s insane. Carter has emerged as a reliable receiver for Stone with his 10 catches for 172 yards. Terrell Jana is going to lead the team in targets. Khalid Thomas is going to get plenty of his own. Having Carter, just a sophomore, play this well in just two games is huge. You just don’t see a quarterback this good get paired with receivers this good all that often. Woodberry is never out of a game with this passing attack that is by far the best Central Virginia has ever seen in a two year stretch.
The line: Woodberry by 3. The Tigers don’t get the respect they do by losing two in a row. It’s a rarity and while Bullis is good, this isn’t the 2015 team. The Bulldogs first two opponents are 1-4. Woodberry’s? 4-2. That’s important here.
St. Anne’s-Belfield (1-1) at St. Christopher’s (0-2), 1 p.m. Saturday
The basics: A week ago, St. Anne’s-Belfield looked ready to put the game away against Randolph Macon Academy and then the final three minutes or so everything came unraveled, opening the door for RMA to swipe one from a young STAB squad that couldn’t find the answer in the closing minutes. Now STAB has to pick itself up against a tough VISAA Division I foe in St. Christopher’s, which despite an 0-2 record is a tough foe. St. Chris lost a low-scoring battle with defending VISAA D2 state champion Trinity Episcopal 10-9 to open the year and then took it on the chin from a talented Benedictine squad last week.
Key matchup: STAB’s secondary tries to contain Justin Jasper. Jasper is a tall threat at 6-foot-3 and St. Christopher’s wants to get him the ball. St. Chris quarterback John Damgard threw for 358 yards in the opener, but interceptions cost them as he threw four on the night. Can STAB come up with some similar big plays to slow down that attack?
Who to watch: STAB’s Nicholas Reese. Reese caught a touchdown and came up with six tackles on the other side of the ball. Can he develop into the kind of two-way playmaker on the boundary that the Saints are used to having?
The line: St. Christopher’s by 7. STAB has its hands full here on the road.
Covenant (2-1) at Hargrave Military (0-2), 2 p.m. Saturday
The basics: This is just about an ideal start for Covenant’s football program this year considering the circumstances. Nic Sanker has emerged as a talented option at quarterback capable of playing within the Eagles’ system. Donavan Jackson is the area’s second-leading rusher. The Eagles’ defense is allowing less than 19 points per game. In fact, the Eagles could easily be 3-0 if things had gone a little better against Christchurch. This is another winnable contest here against the Tigers, who continue a three-game tour of Central Virginia private schools after absorbing losses to STAB and Blue Ridge in their first two weeks.
Key matchup: Covenant’s front seven tries to hem in Hargrave’s Darrell Smith. The Tigers’ quarterback has the potential to do some serious damage and he fought valiantly against Blue Ridge last week despite the Barons’ athleticism on the edge creating a lot of havoc. Look for the Eagles to play smart on Smith and force him to win from the pocket. When he escapes he can be dangerous.
Who to watch: Covenant’s Jonas Sanker. While his brother Nic is doing big things at quarterback, Jonas Sanker is helping him get there, catching a long touchdown last week to give Covenant a spark in the passing game. That’ll help take some of the pressure off the Eagles’ strong rushing attack and perhaps open up even more running lanes with defenses having to stay honest while marking Sanker.
The line: Covenant by 7. Hargrave presents a physical challenge for the Eagles, but Covenant’s confidence and offensive rhythm should be a difference maker.
Flint Hill (1-0) at Blue Ridge (1-0), 2 p.m. Saturday
The basics: Blue Ridge got their feet wet last week but now they’ll jump into the deep end as they take on a Flint Hill team that was No. 3 in VISAA’s Division I last season. That’s a huge challenge for Blue Ridge, who powered past Hargrave Saturday on a steamy day. Now they’ll face a Huskies squad that’s loaded with weapons coming off a 7-3 season that included a first round playoff exit. Flint Hill’s beat Paul VI to open the year, and they’ll bring an array of athletes including a top notch young running back and senior Gage Herdman at wideout who hauled in 700 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. Throw in another wideout in Zach Garcia and there’s a lot of skill players in the mix. For Blue Ridge, they’ll counter with Justin Armwood and Jamison Harrison in the backfield, a potentially devastating one-two punch. Tariq Gough, Jahlil Puryear and Cameron Carr can also carry the rock, so the Barons have a ton of options too. This one could have some serious firepower.
Key matchup: Blue Ridge’s front seven takes on Flint Hill running back Jordan Houston. Houston is just a sophomore but he already boasts an offer from Penn State. He rushed for 1,800 yards last season and the Barons are going to have to be on top of things from the opening kickoff in order to contain him. Last week after Blue Ridge built an early lead, it forced Hargrave to go to the air and the Barons collected six sacks. A similar strong start would be a huge against the Huskies.
Who to watch: Blue Ridge’s Cameron Carr. Carr made a pair of interceptions last week against Hargrave, including one on the Tigers’ first drive that gave Blue Ridge a ton of momentum early, allowing them to build a sizeable lead. On a team stocked with athletes at the skill spot, Carr is a welcome addition to the backfield. Each of the Barons’ defensive backs have the potential to be a ballhawk, and Carr has now laid down the gauntlet for the others. Who’s going to step up next?
The line: Blue Ridge by 1. This should be a fun one, Barons get the edge because they’re at home, but it should be a tossup.
Bishop O’Connell at Fork Union, 1 p.m. Saturday
The basics: Fork Union faces a big-time schedule to start the year that started with Goochland, continued with Georgetown Prep and now keeps going with a home game against Bishop O’Connell. Quite simply, there aren’t any gimmies for the Blue Devils, though O’Connell, coming off a 1-9 campaign and off to a 1-2 start, are a more manageable opponent than last week’s juggernaut of Georgetown that shut out FUMA. Of course that’s going to involve the offense finding a little more of a rhythm like they did in the second half against Goochland with a solid mix of the run and pass. The more unpredictable Fork Union can be against a fast opponent like O’Connell, the more the Blue Devils can make them think, the better off they’ll be.
Key matchup: Fork Union’s offensive line looks to contain Nate Smith. Bishop O’Connell’s 6-foot-3 defensive end can be extremely disruptive and the Fork Union offensive line will have to be ready to keep him from getting in the backfield or tailor their play design away from him. Fork Union has added several linemen in the last couple of weeks, giving them some depth up front, and it may take that depth to contain O’Connell.
Who to watch: Fork Union’s Zach Pace. The 6-foot-5, 287-pound lineman is agile for his size and can cause some havoc. Against Goochland he had five tackles, two of them for a loss. If he can get some push in the interior again, that’ll be a big boost for the Blue Devils as they try and clamp down against Bishop O’Connell.
The line: Fork Union by 1. The Blue Devils have a shot at home to pull this one off and get the first win of the Mike Hooper era.
