Charlottesville (1-1) at William Monroe (0-2), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Two local squads with very different early season trajectories face off in this one as the Black Knights enter coming off an impressive win over Harrisonburg while Monroe has dropped two straight including last week’s loss to Broadway. The Dragons are banged up too with a rash of injuries to key defenders complicating matters for Monroe. Both squads are leaning heavy on the option offensively, which means this one will be won in the trenches, and that leans in the Black Knights’ favor after the way they dominated the line of scrimmage against Harrisonburg. With Rakeem Davis starting to get his footing at quarterback, Charlottesville should only get better and better as the year progresses, particularly if they can stay healthy.
Key matchup: William Monroe’s offensive line takes on a rabid Charlottesville defensive front. The Black Knights exploded for eight sacks against Harrisonburg last week, wreaking havoc all over the Blue Streaks’ backfield. Monroe’s line has several experienced players up front, but the Black Knights are fast, aggressive and relentless when they’re at the top of their game. If they’re coming after the Dragons’ option offense, things could get difficult quick for Monroe.
Who to watch: Charlottesville’s Rashad Brock. Brock ripped off a 99-yard run for a touchdown last week and had a critical sack, but the Black Knights’ senior star left the game with what first appeared to be cramps but was eventually identified as an ankle injury. If he can’t go, it’ll be up to Rakeem Davis, Tre Durrett and others to carry the load.
The line: Charlottesville by 10. The Black Knights defense is playing really well right now and with Monroe banged up, CHS should be in good position to move above .500.
St. Christopher’s (2-0) at St. Anne’s-Belfield (2-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: St. Anne’s-Belfield is off to a fast start after cruising past Hargrave and Christchurch in the first two games of 2015. Patrick Blake’s emergence at quarterback answered a huge question for STAB, and helped them avoid a number of other potential questions as everyone else, for now, can stay in place. But the competition level is about to take a leap up with St. Christopher’s coming to town. St. Christopher’s brings a solid defensive start to the mix after allowing just 10 points in their first two games, and quarterback Jeb Bemiss has already thrown for 400 yards. Can STAB keep things rolling against a tougher defensive matchup? They’ll need a little more explosiveness from their key players than they’ve gotten the last two weeks, but they haven’t needed it yet, so expect that group to be ready to answer the bell.
Key matchup: St. Christopher’s secondary takes on Kareem Johnson, Jalen Harrison and Campbell Miller in the passing game. At some point you just run out of players who can cover well, and STAB’s pass catchers test the limit of most any squad they face. Clarence Jenkins and Will Thomas have combined for six pass breakups on the year for St. Chris but the Saints will need some other defenders to step up to clamp down on STAB. With Patrick Blake throwing efficiently so far in his first two starts, that will be an even taller task than it already was.
Who to watch: STAB’s Kareem Johnson. While the Saints’ all-purpose standout has been solid so far with 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just two catches, it feels about time for Johnson to have a huge, breakout type game. In a home opener under the lights against a traditional opponent for the Saints? That feels about right for Johnson to shine.
The line: STAB by 3. Saints snag a huge win at home with too much speed on the boundary for St. Chris to handle.
Woodberry Forest (1-1) at Bullis-Maryland (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Tigers were in it against Pinecrest, the defending 4A state champions from North Carolina, but a 22-point burst in the fourth gave the home team the 56-42 win and handed Woodberry their first lost of the season. With that said, if ever there was an eye-popping performance in a loss, it was Tigers quarterback Lindell Stone’s passing line of 35 completions on 43 attempts for 430 yards and four touchdowns. Now Woodberry faces it’s third straight out-of-state opponent in Bullis, which comes off it’s season opening loss 35-21 loss to Mount St. Joseph.
Key matchup: The Bulldogs’ secondary versus Stone. This one is pretty straight forward. To say that the Tigers have a passing game now is so much of an understatement. Never in the Clint Alexander era have the Tigers had this kind of aerial assault, at least not in the first two games of the year and the numbers support that. Stone’s 480 yards last week and 746 yards in just two games against two quality opponents is just crazy. He’s got a favorite receiver in Zach Roderick who has 17 receptions for 305 yards and a close second in Terrell Jana who has 17 catches and 230 yards. Bullis has it’s hands full here. The bottom line right now is that Woodberry has one awfully talented quarterback — something that was obvious the day Stone set foot on the field as a freshman — but also two gifted receivers and an offensive coaching staff that is all too happy to let these three cut loose and play.
Who to watch: Woodberry’s Ryan Grady. He and fellow linebacker Joseph Stephenson are the leading tacklers right now, and while Bullis has just one game under it’s belt, it looks like the Tigers are facing a much different animal in Bullis than Pinecrest. While last week the Tigers defense gave up 325 yards against a run first offense, this week they’ll be tasked with trying to stop quarterback Dwayne Haskins who threw for 351 yards on 25-for-44 passing in a loss. The Bulldogs ran for just 28 yards last week. What Woodberry is going to need is a pass rush and right now Grady is tied for the team lead in sacks at 1.5. With a gifted secondary behind it, the Tigers front seven need to get after Haskins. Given their experience with a pass-happy Collegiate in years past, this challenge suits this defense, but that’s always easier said than done. A big game from Grady would go a long way to making it happen.
The line: Woodberry by 9. The Tigers are explosive on offense and this matchup fits them well, even if it’s another long road trip out of state. This is a program that hardly ever loses two games in a row.
Buckingham (2-1) at Nottoway (1-2), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Knights simply ran over William Campbell to the tune of a 55-12 win, their second straight blowout in a row. The Cougars bounced back from their 0-2 start to beat Prince Edward 58-26. In some ways, this is a trap game for Buckingham as Nottoway’s two losses are to Petersburg and Park View, a pair of big schools that haven’t lost yet. With that said, to say that Buckingham has a head of steam coming into this road game is putting it lightly. The Knights are on a tear offensively, but this game should be tighter than the last two.
Key matchup: The Nottoway linebacking corps versus the Buckingham read-option. The only way to beat Buckingham is to some how slow down the rushing offense that looks like as though it’s now in mid-season form after a slow start in week one. Nottoway has to key on Buckingham running back Leon Ragland — no small task. Last week William Campbell couldn’t do that. The week before, Chatham struggled keeping quarterback B.J. Gough from gashing them. For a defense that’s allowed more than 20 points in all three games, solving the Buckingham running game is the top priority.
Who to watch: Buckingham rover Hunter Edwards. As one Buckingham assistant put it before the season began, even if the families have no relation, having number 20 on an Edwards is important if not fitting as John Edwards had a big impact in his time in Dillwyn wearing that jersey. Hunter Edwards has been great the last three weeks on defense, making plays in the running and passing game. With a great defensive line in front of him, Nottoway has to be ready for the versatility that Edwards brings to the field.
The line: Buckingham by 4. The Knights are on a roll right now, and betting against Ragland after two straight 200-plus rushing games is unwise, even though this is a quality opponent.
Hargrave (0-2) at Covenant (1-2), 4 p.m.
The basics: Covenant’s season started with a big road win, but a series of injuries and a step up in competition have sent the Eagles on a two-game skid. Covenant will get a chance to right the ship against the Tigers who are also reeling after back-to-back losses to St. Anne’s-Belfield and Blue Ridge. The Eagles haven’t been able to get the offense going since the opener, though they’ve moved Jamison Steljes back to the line from fullback and they’re hoping this week the line can gel and start creating some running lanes. Another way to open the ground game up is for quarterback John Huemme to connect on a couple of deep balls that Covenant has just missed on the last couple of weeks. If one or two of those goes for big yardage, the opposing secondary will have to take a step back rather than flying forward in run support.
Key matchup: Hargrave’s front seven takes on the Covenant option. While the Eagles haven’t been moving the ball of late, the Tigers will have to play assignment football to keep that trend going. After facing multiple formation attacks from STAB and Blue Ridge the last two weeks, Hargrave will be facing a drastically different brand of football.
Who to watch: Covenant’s Rick Weaver. The option requires a pounding presence at fullback and Weaver is built for the job. He scored a touchdown and a 2-pt conversion last week against Virginia Episcopal. If he can come on strong and give the Eagles more of that, it would go a long way toward jumpstarting the ground game.
The line: Hargrave by 7. Tigers bounce back from a pair of losses and finish their tour of Albemarle County private schools with a win.
Patrick Henry-Roanoke (2-1) at Albemarle (1-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: This one is yet another battle of the Patriots as two of the state’s more isolated 5A squads square off for the third straight season since VHSL realignment. Albemarle dropped their opener on the road but bounced back nicely with a victory over Kettle Run. Now they face a rare regular season test against another Group 5A opponent in Patrick Henry. This is a crucial game on the schedule because most of the rest of the way outside of a battle with Orange, AHS will face opponents a step below them in classification, so the Patrick Henry clash that Albemarle has lost the last two seasons is a good measuring stick. Albemarle’s offense hasn’t been electric so far but the defense has been stout and Tyquan Rose has emerged as a dynamic weapon after a 77-yard kick return for a touchdown on the opening kick against Kettle Run. If he keeps making plays like that and the defense stays locked in, Albemarle is going to be a tough out for any opponent.
Key matchup: Albemarle’s defense takes on Patrick Henry’s dual-threat quarterback Quishon Calfee. Calfee rushed for a pair of scores and threw for another in Patrick Henry’s victory over William Fleming last week. That’s going to force Albemarle to contain him and lock down on receivers for a second or two longer than usual because Calfee can buy time in the pocket. With key defenders like J.T. Shorten and Nemo Lesesane manning the heart of the defense, Albemarle should be well-equipped to handle an athlete like Calfee.
Who to watch: Albemarle’s Jamal Thompson. While Rose is electric, he’s probably best used in small doses for maximum impact. AHS needs to have some other players emerge as regular ball-carriers and chains movers. Enter Thompson, who has 92 yards on 17 touches in the win over Kettle Run. If Thompson can continue to carry a big chunk of the load and be effective, it’ll open things up for the rest of the Albemarle offense.
The line: Albemarle by 1. Patrick Henry has a long road trip and the Patriots get to play in front of one of the most supportive home crowds in the area. That gives the slight edge to AHS.
Culpeper County (1-1) at Fluvanna County (0-2), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Fluvanna is searching for its first win, but the Flucos got a chance to work on things during the bye week and that could be a big difference maker against Culpeper as the Blue Devils come in after a seven-point win over Spotsylvania. When Fluvanna last took the field it was also against Spotsy with the Flucos falling in overtime 29-28 on the road. It’ll be crucial for Fluvanna this week to get off to a good start because Culpeper’s offense is going to score some points as they put up 27 against Orange in the Blue Devils’ season opener. Play big-time football early and Fluvanna should have a shot down the stretch.
Key matchup: Fluvanna’s secondary takes on Culpeper’s wideouts. Eli Marks and Malik Roy are a formidable one-two punch for Fluvanna as wide receivers. The Blue Devils will likely look to test Fluvanna’s defensive backs early, but with Jay Amos roaming back there that might be a problem. Amos has proven an adept cover man and if he could manage a big play it’d be a huge lift for the Flucos.
Who to watch: Fluvanna’s Gavin Patrick. While the Flucos lost to Spotsylvania two weeks ago on the road, Patrick threw an overtime touchdown pass to Amos. Patrick’s return to the lineup after missing the opener is important because he was a productive signal-caller last year and it frees Mark Grooms up to do some more things in the Fluvanna offense. With Patrick back and a bye week, the Flucos’ offense should be ready to roll.
The line: Fluvanna by 3. The Flucos have been right on the cusp of a win the last two weeks. A homecoming crowd should put them over the edge.
Parry McCluer at Nelson County (1-2), 7 p.m.
The basics: Nelson County is clearly improving by leaps and bounds, but they were unable to string together a second win last week after beating Page County, falling to Covington 29-21 in overtime. Facing Parry McCluer is a major step up in competition as the Blues were a playoff squad last year that went 12-1 with that first and final loss coming to eventual state champion Altavista. The Governors certainly have their work cut out for them as Parry McCluer lost just 24-12 to a powerful Buffalo Gap squad that gave Nelson some fits in an early scrimmage.
Key matchup: Nelson’s defense takes on Parry McCluer’s two-headed monster in the ground game. Last week against Stonewall Jackson, K.J. Cook rushed for 202 yards for the Blues and Marcelius Dawson had another 105. Can Nelson’s defense that has been prone to getting gashed on the ground take a step forward and contain a squad with multiple threats? This is a big opportunity to find out.
Who to watch: Nelson County’s Bryce Adkins. If the Governors are going to consistently gain an edge in the trenches it’s going to be because Adkins, 289-pound junior with good feet, leads the way. Whether it’s clearing lanes for Drai Taylor and Devante Rose or disrupting the opposing backfield, when Adkins is in a groove it solves a lot of problems for Nelson on both sides of the ball.
The line: Parry McCluer by 10. The Governors will make the Blues fight for it, but there’s a little too much firepower at play here for Nelson to handle.
Blue Ridge (1-0) at Flint Hill (1-0), 2 p.m. Saturday
The basics: Blue Ridge got the season off on the right foot last week by pulling apart Hargrave on the road, and with three-straight business trips to start the year, the Barons are going to have to be road warriors if they want to eye a return to the state playoffs. Flint Hill knocked off Paul VI last week, but both teams posted losing records in 2014. If Blue Ridge’s offense is clicking and the Barons get another solid defensive effort, this is a great chance for a second-straight win for the Barons.
Key matchup: Flint Hill tries to contain Blue Ridge quarterback Justin Armwood. It has been a while since Blue Ridge had a true dual threat quarterback, and while Tristan Allen and Trevor Eaton put up solid numbers, neither was the kind of huge threat to run that makes defenses think and respect the quarterback on the ground. Armwood’s five-touchdown explosion in Blue Ridge’s opener made it clear that the Barons’ dual threat drought is over. Look for the Huskies to spy Armwood or try and deny him the edge.
Who to watch: Blue Ridge’s Tae Watts. As Armwood starts to get in gear, it’s only going to open up more opportunities for Watts, the Barons’ speedy running back who finished with 96 yards on 13 touches. On the flip side, part of the reason Armwood was so productive against Hargrave is because defenses have to account for Watts’ gamebreaking speed. It’s becoming a little bit of a pick-your-poison game for Blue Ridge opponents.
The line: Blue Ridge by 14. The Barons are dangerous offensively and the defense should continue to come along. Big chance for a second straight road win against the Huskies.
Goochland (1-2) at R.E. Lee (2-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: And just like that, the Bulldogs are on the board after facing two tough opponents to start the year. The 38-6 win over James River District opponent Amelia County is the first stepping stone in what looks like a Bulldogs run. We say that because you don’t have to wind back the clock too far to see the similarities between this team and the 2012 squad that also started out 1-2. While philosophically speaking these are different teams, there’s little doubt that Goochland has the ammunition offensively to be one of the best teams in Group 2A. So it will be interesting to see how they fare against a Lee team that’s won two straight. Since getting dropped by Riverheads hard in week one, the Leeman have beaten the Group 2A runnerup in Wilson Memorial and then came through for a 34-19 win over Rockbridge last week.
Key matchup: The Bulldogs’ front seven versus Leeman running back Brandon Liverspoon. He had 117 yards and a touchdown on 17 touches last week. Goochland’s defense rose to the occasion against Amelia, and another strong showing would go a long ways for this team. At the Group 2A level, if you can’t stop the run, you’re in for a long week. Goochland’s best seasons attest to that. Keeping Liverspoon quiet would give them a huge advantage as their multi-dimensional offense is more than most teams can handle.
Who to watch: Goochland receiver Scott Carter. He has eight receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Reid Chenault can sling it, and has 309 yards in a primarily rushing offense. When the Bulldogs connect on the jugular passes, they thrive. Carter is the big threat so far as he accounts for nearly half the team’s passing offense so far.
The line: Goochland by 3. This won’t be easy but with the competition the Bulldogs have faced so far, they should be ready for this opponent, this kind of game. Of course, the same can be said of the Leeman. This should be a good one.
Fork Union (1-1) at Bishop O’Connell (0-2), 1 p.m. Saturday
The basics: Okay, which Fork Union team will show up to Arlington — the one that rolled Goochland in week one or the one that fell hard against a solid Georgetown Prep team. While GP has been a thorn in FUMA’s side for a number of years, it will be interesting to see how FUMA bounces back against an opponent that was rolled by McDonogh in a scrimmage in week one and then just barely lost to Bishop Ireton last week, 23-21.
Key matchup: The Knights rushing defense takes on the FUMA rushing attack. The Blue Devils aren’t a team looking to air it out. O’Connell has struggled against the run. That opens the door for Adisa Gitten-Smith, Hunter Lewis, and Iosefa Puaauli to try and keep that theme going. FUMA has size up front and will look to establish the run after their showing against Georgetown, as would any team. Confidence matters, and running the ball effectively is football 101 in the confidence building game. O’Connell has to get after the Blue Devils rushing attack and force them into passing situations.
Who to watch: Fork Union linebacker Adam Hackenberg. The leader of this defense, Hackenberg can stuff the run and move around in pass coverage. The Blue Devils will look to him to provide a spark defensively for a unit that was overmatched last week. This defense played really well against Goochland and if Hackenberg leads the way like he did in week one, don’t be surprised if his teammates rally behind him.
The line: FUMA by 4. Not an easy road trip, but there will be a bus full of Blue Devils eager to put last week behind them against a team that’s struggled out of the gate, particularly on defense.
Spotsylvania (1-2) at Orange County (1-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Hornets are coming off a bye week after falling to Eastern View on the road. Spotsylvania lost last week to a team the Hornets saw in their season opener — Culpeper County. Of course transitive properties apply here, Orange worked over Culpeper, therefore Spotsylvania should not pose too much of a threat. That’s a slippery slope and there’s no question that first year coach Jesse Lohr has been beating that into his players’ heads, especially since this team struggled offensively against Eastern View. The Hornets would do well to take the Knights seriously here and get back above .500.
Key matchup: Orange’s front four against Spotsylvania’s Michael Shelton. The Knights running back is just a game removed from a 215-yard three touchdown performance against Fluvanna County. The Hornets gave up 182 yards on the ground in week two to Eastern View. They’ll need to keep Shelton from piling up the yardage. Or course a lot of Orange’s problems came from Eastern View’s dual threat ability that Josh Stallings brings at quarterback. Spotsylvania doesn’t have a Stallings. That should allow the front line for Orange to get after Shelton.
Who to watch: The quarterback situation. Matt James was 3-for-7 passing for 55 yards for the Hornets against Eastern View. There’s little question that the running back tandem of Trevon Smith and DeAngelo Hunt are going to be the focal point offensively, and for good reason — those two can wear down a defense as we saw against Culpeper in week one. But as the season progress the Hornets will have to show that they can come from behind, pick up some substantial yardage in the passing game as defense key in on their run game. Keep an eye on James as he could have a good opportunity to air things out a bit against Spotsy.
The line: Orange by 6. The Hornets are rested, healthy, and most importantly, ready to forget about Eastern and pick up another home win.
Monticello (1-1) at Spotswood (1-2), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Mustangs were staring down the barrel of an 0-2 start as they trailed by 11 with eight minutes to go against Turner Ashby. However, a 21-point fourth quarter burst launched them to Jeff Lloyd’s first win as the team’s coach. That fourth quarter is a potentially huge pivot point for Monticello, especially coming off the loss to Lake Taylor. Spotswood is coming off a tough loss to Western as the Warriors rolled in the second half. The Trailblazers moved the ball well against Western and capitalized on turnovers — they also did a great job with their rushing defense wise in the first half. This has the makings of a relatively high scoring game, not one that looks all to different from the game that the Mustangs just had with Turner Ashby. From Monticello’s perspective, this a great tune-up game before the Thursday night game next week with Western.
Key matchup: Monticello’s secondary takes on receiver Kobe Davis. The Blazers wide out can stretch the field and were it not for a few errant throws, the outcome against Western could well have been different, certainly closer. The Mustangs strength coming into the year defensively was its talent at corner and safety. They’ll need that here as Spotswood has a talented quarterback in Zach Polgase and a big time target in Davis. Monticello has to account for where Davis lines up.
Who to watch: Monticello defensive back Braxton Clay. He had two picks in the win over TA. He’s got experience around him in the secondary but he made the big plays there. Monticello’s offense can ran against this Spotswood defense, definitely can pass on it as Western threw for over 300 yards on it, so the key elements for this team rests on how it’s defense responds to a second straight game where it gave up 30 more points. Now, Lake Taylor and Turner Ashby are steps above Spotswood, but this is no slouch of a team. And this game is in the Valley at Penn Laird. Clay will be needed, especially since the Blazers running game has not been clicking out of the gates.
The line: Monticello by 6. The Mustangs ride their momentum from last week’s fourth quarter and all the experience they’ve gained over the last two weeks.
Louisa County (0-2) at King George (1-2), 7 p.m.
The basics: The Lions came off a bye week and faced a tough Courtland squad and fell to 0-2, despite some late game progress. The Foxes have dropped back-to-back games against Essex and Liberty-Bealeton, both quality opponents. So the bottom line here is both losses for both teams are against good playoff teams. And the bottom line beyond that is that neither team will be looking forward to a third straight loss. For the Lions, it would leave them in a vulnerable spot as they open up with a road game at Albemarle in their Jefferson District slate. King George likely has two wins in a row coming its way with Norcom and Spotsylvania. Those are very different positions to be in, and while coaches don’t look ahead on the schedule, we do. Louisa probably can’t afford a loss here.
Key matchup: The King George front seven against Job Whalen and the Single Wing offense. You’ve got to get the read right and then you’ve got to find a way to get after the sophomore. He had 174 yards on 39 carries and has all the making’s of a typical Louisa County bell cow running back. If the Foxes slow him down they bring down the engine that drives this Lions offense. While Louisa will look to diversify with a young roster offensively, Whalen is the nuts and bolts and the Foxes will have to keep him to a quiet day.
Who to watch: Louisa quarterback Jordan Cherry. The junior is critical to the Lions offense and he’s going to have chances to throw the ball deep with all the attention that Whalen draws. He’s also going to have chances to tote the ball himself. While the Lions defense obviously has to be better than it has been the previous two weeks, a breakout performance from Cherry would likely spark both the offensive and defensive units. As the mantra goes, when you’re quarterback plays well, you play well. Look for Cherry, still in his first year at the position, to adjust as the weeks go along and find a way to make big plays here and there.
The line: The Lions by 3. This is the third straight Battlefield District opponent for Louisa, but hardly what they’ve faced the previous two weeks. Louisa scratches and claws its way to their first win of the year here.
