Brookville at Albemarle, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Former Louisa County coach Jon Meeks brings the Bees to Albemarle. Just two weeks prior, Brookville was in town to scrimmage Charlottesville. Suffice to say, given that Brandon Isaiah was previously an assistant at CHS, the scrimmage was nearby and he coached against Meeks when he was at Louisa, he probably knows what his team is going up against. Of course, for both Isaiah and Meeks, there’s always last year’s game tape. The Patriots were shutout 21-0, but this battle should be a little more even given Albemarle’s improvements and additions and the graduating talent (26 seniors) for that Brookville squad.
Key matchup: The Patriots’ defensive line against Bees quarterback Tanner Bernard. The Brookville quarterback is the new starter and has a strong receiving corps to work with. Albemarle needs to get in his face and speed up his decisions. Getting to a quarterback early in a game, especially a new starter has a way of rattling the flow of things offensively. But Albemarle needs to play smart and not let Bernard’s legs burn them. He’s a dual threat, and while he’s young, he didn’t get the starting nod for a program that’s pumped out one strong quarterback after another dating back to 2009 just by showing up. Zykal Foster, the Patriots’ pass rushing specialist, is the best candidate to be dialed in against Bernard from the opening kickoff.
Who to watch: Albemarle’s Stephen Yoder. The Patriots coaching staff is excited about moving the senior around the field, almost as an H-back where he’ll get some carries but can also flex out into the slot and play a role as a pass catcher. He’s slippery fast and the extra dimension he adds to a team that’s already loaded with team speed should make things interesting, especially out of the gate for an Albemarle offense that is definitely still experimenting and probably will for the first few weeks before beginning Jefferson District play.
The line: Albemarle by 1. Replacing 26 seniors is tough, and since Albemarle returns the bulk of their talent from last year and they have a pretty solid scouting report to go with home field advantage, they get the edge here. But Brookville is always, always good, so this should prove to be a great game.
Dominion at Charlottesville, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: After a solid team put together a 6-4 record and missed the playoffs by 0.03 points, the Titans have to replace seven collegiate-bound starters. The Black Knights are in the opposite boat, having lost DeAndre Bryan and Rashad Brock but the rest of last years roster back in the mix. This was a one-possession game that Dominion gutted out in a 12-6 defensive battle last year. Charlottesville will be eager to show that a season where the majority of its returning starters are bigger, stronger and faster will be good enough for a 7-point different between last year’s results.
Key matchup: Dominion’s linebacking corps against Charlottesville’s triple-option. With this Black Knights offensive line basically with two years worth of starts across all five spots, the Charlottesville run game via its triple option should be highly effective. The Titans will have to play the guessing game and behind each door is a different problem. Sabias Folley is a load to be reckoned with. Lorenzo Lauderback is a playmaker. Quarterbacks Rakeem Davis and Sam Neale are both savvy and present their own athletic abilities. Dominion has to play stay at home football and work its way through the fog that the option creates. It’s fundamental stuff, not exactly fun or exciting for a defense to work through, but the task nonetheless.
Who to watch: Sabais Folley. We’ve seen it in scrimmages. There’s a buzz about the sophomore bulldozing running back. On a night where the heat is surely to play a role, what kind of debut will Folley put together. Having a hammer like Folley is an easy way to force the issue early and wear down a defense quick. Look for the CHS quarterbacks and Louderback to make the most of the Titans having to throw multiple bodies at Folley to bring him down.
The line: Charlottesville by 3. Five returning starters on the offensive line and all the pieces back in the backfield should allow the Black Knights to reverse last year’s fortunes, provided they take care of the ball.
Broadway at Western Albemarle, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Western Albemarle opens 2016 with a lot of new faces after a group of seniors that made up a lot of the starting lineup for two straight years (Sam Hearn, Oliver Herndon, Stephen Kuzjak, Osiris Crutchfield, Matt Mullin, Sam Carey among them) graduated. This year, players are moving like Derek Domecq from wideout to quarterback or seeing an evolved or increasing role like Luke Tenuta and Robert Sims. The Warriors handled a rebuild two years ago as well as anyone could ever expect when Western clawed its way all the way to the Group 3A state semifinals. For similar results, they’re going to need a lot of young players to take a big leap forward, starting with Friday’s clash with Broadway. The Warriors beat the Gobblers 55-14 last season in the season opener on the road and Broadway managed just three wins last year. They’re also bringing back an extremely young roster, which should make this a manageable matchup for the Warriors, whose defense does have some big-time returning talents. Look for Western to keep things simple out of the gate and try and wear Broadway down. The Warriors have been well-conditioned in the last few years and capable of really bearing down on opponents late in games to pull away. A similar effort Friday would be a huge boost to start the year.
Key matchup: Western Albemarle’s potentially potent pass rush against Broadway senior quarterback Jesse Layne. Layne had his moments last season, but he’ll face a tall task Friday quite literally as twin towers Luke Tenuta and Noah Crutchfield will be looking to wreak havoc whenever Layne drops back. Jarrett Smith also had a big-time sack in the benefit game against Culpeper on what looked like a delayed blitz, so there are other options
Who to watch: Western’s Darren Klein. With a largely revamped set of skill position players, the Warriors’ running back appears to be the most settled in of that group right now. If Klein can carry the load and emerge as a bell-cow type back, that’ll take some pressure off of Domecq and his receiving corps as they look to get their footing. It could also open up some immediate windows for Domecq to run as the defense adjusts to Klein.
The line: Western by 10. Warriors defense and a ground game should be enough to get the job done.
Cesar Chavez Charter, DC at Monticello, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Well, this is a far cry from opening up with Lake Taylor, the eventual Group 4A state runnerup. The Mustangs get the small school from the Nation’s capital. It’s a good trial run for Monticello as outside of a few returning starters on offense, this team is ironing out how all the new pieces, most of them from a junior class that’s been waiting for its turn to make an impact. This Monticello team might be a bit inexperienced, but don’t sell the team’s overall athleticism short.
Key matchup: The Eagles pass rush against Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jarrell. There’s such a big difference between a sophomore quarterback learning a new system and a junior coming in with an entire offseason and all the more polished as a passer. Jarrell has some toys to play with, some solid protection up front, and the athleticism to extends plays or simply carry the ball himself. The Eagles have to get after him early as he’ll look to spread the ball around to streaky receivers like Austin Haverstrom.
Who to watch: Monticello’s Iosefa Pau’auli. If you got the chance to see the Fork Union transfer play as a freshman then you saw a glimmer of what kind of potential he has, particularly on offense. How he plays off of running back Jerrick Ayers will be interesting. And if the Mustangs have a 1-2 punch like they did with Isaac Robinson and TJ Tillery a few years ago, well, this offense is going to be piling up the yardage.
The line: Monticello by 17. The Mustangs might be green in a number of spots, but their depth across the field is going to prove tough for Cesar Chavez.
Madison County at King William, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Mountaineers make a road trip to face a program that’s been playing playoff caliber football since the 2011 realignment. The Cavaliers are inexperienced in the trenches, but they’ve got a slew of playmakers around the offensive and defensive lines. Madison is essentially rolling out the same roster as last year, albeit a year wiser, stronger and deeper. This is a really good test for the Mountaineers out of the gate. If they play well here, it should bode well for their schedule going forward.
Key matchup: Madison’s pass rush against King William quarterback Ryan Huffman. He’s the most dangerous part returning from last year’s squad. The Cavaliers have never been shy to throw the ball around the field. The Mountaineers need to get penetration up front, so look for Dylan Breeden and company to be crucial in that department. If the Mountaineers can force turnovers, they have the speed in the secondary to turn those into six quick points.
Who to watch: Mountaineers quarterback Chris Smith. He’s not going open up the kind of ‘Air-Madison’ approach this team had with James Graves in 2013 and 2014, but that’s largely because he brings a different skill set to the field. Smith is agile and has the ability to create a lot on the ground. With an outstanding receiver in Dre Twyman to work with and a stud running back in Isiah Smith, how Chris Smith winds up managing the game will be key. If he limits turnovers, gets Breeden involved at tight end and can avoid taking too many hits, he can make this offense take a big step forward and help put up some crooked numbers on the scoreboard.
The line: King William by 3. While Madison should fare much better than the 38-3 result last year, this Cavaliers offense presents a lot of problems.
Orange County at Culpeper County, 7 p.m.
The basics: The Blue Devils had better be hydrated. It’s no secret what kind of gameplan the Hornets are going to put together on offense. Orange is coming into this game with a combination of swagger and a chip on its shoulder. This group is confident and eager to prove that the days of 2-8 and 1-9 are long since in the past after a breakout 6-5 campaign last year put them in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. This was a statement game in 2015 for the Hornets and looks to be another, albeit in a different way as this group already believes in itself and what it’s capable of doing.
Key matchup: Culpeper’s front eight take on Orange running backs Tre’von Smith and DeAngelo Hunt. To say that this duo is hungry is putting it mildly. They look like defensive lineman but run like deer. They are big, they are mean and they grind out yardage. The Blue Devils have to be able to slow this running game or its going to be a long night. Can Smith and Hunt out-do what they did last year?
Who to watch: Orange linebackers Ryan Horton and Breeze Fretwell. Horton is the senior leader of this defense and Fretwell has drawn rave reviews from the coaching staff. The Blue Devils have all five starters back on the offensive line back and will try and return fire with a ground game of their own. Look for Horton and Fretwell to be the guys filling the holes and making tackles all over the field.
The line: Orange by 9. This Hornets offense has that 1-2 punch, but watch out for the big plays that the running back duo create for the passing attack. Orange is going to be able to put up some points on the board in this one.
Buckingham County at Appomattox, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: This was a brawl of a game last year, a physical defensive battle that had nearly as many turnovers as points. Buckingham fell late before going on to win out its regular season. The Knights have a lot of work ahead of them in trying to replace so many starters. The Raiders, well they’ve got a ton of pieces back from last year’s 15-0 Group 2A championship run.
Key matchup: Buckingham’s front seven against Appomattox running back Philip Fleshman. This offensive line was mean last year and looks every bit as tough coming into 2016 even with some different pieces. Fleshman can simply make plays and is a versatile runner. This revamped Buckingham defense has to be sure on tackles. But more than that, it needs a push upfront and so Brycen Newby and Nicholas Hartwell will be critical as lineman. If the Knights can slow down this running game, they’ve got a chance to make this a game.
Who to watch: The Buckingham quarterback situation. Whether its Tyrese Ayres or Daniel Brickhill, how either of them adapt to first year coach Josh Wallace’s new system will be important going forward. The Knights need Ayres, who brings a lot of athleticism to the field, to be able to make plays no matter where he lines up on the field.
The line: Appomattox by 10. This might be the best team in the state at Group 2A once again and the Knights have so many wrinkles to iron out early on in the year. Tough game to debut with.
Essex at Goochland, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Goochland versus Essex has become a tradition of sorts lately, as the Bulldogs again square off with the Trojans, a program that has produced four straight double digit seasons since 2012. Essex advanced to the Group 1A state semifinals last season, finishing a game short of a fourth-straight state final trip with a loss to Galax. The Bulldogs enter the game with a lot of impressive top line players, but they displayed some depth concerns early in camp after some injuries forced less experienced players temporarily into some more extensive roles than anticipated. If the Bulldogs are healthy, they’ve got a serious set of running backs capable of controlling the clock or breaking off for big gains. They’ve also got two defensive ends in Ricky Mayfield and Clay Brooks that can lock down on the edge and play sound football as well as a seasoned, experienced secondary. Will that be enough to stop Essex? The Bulldogs are about to find out.
Key matchup: Goochland’s secondary takes on Essex’s junior wideouts Tim Johnson and Terrell Hundley. Hundley and Johnson are both returning starters who earned first team All-Conference honors as sophomores. The Trojans are breaking in a new quarterback and running back with the graduation of Tesahn Nelson and Malik Martin, so they’ll likely look for a spark from their wideouts. That won’t be an easy task with a seasoned Goochland secondary that returns four starters (Cordell Mattox, John King, Cole Nuckols and Calvin Martin) and adds a talented freshman safety in Devin McCray to the mix. Expect the Bulldogs to be up to what is a formidable challenge.
Who to watch: Goochland quarterback Tanner Bradshaw. The Bulldogs’ schedule has in recent years been front-loaded to test Goochland before they enter a more manageable James River District slate. That means too that with a new starter at quarterback for the first time in four years, it’s going to be a true baptism by fire for Bradshaw. The big signal-caller should be able to handle it well and lean on an experienced fleet of running backs.
The line: Goochland by 3. If the Bulldogs are healthy, they’ve got the potential to bring a potent rushing attack to the table this season. That might be enough to knock off the Trojans.
Nelson County at Luray County, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Matt Hicks era gets its official start Friday as Nelson County takes on Luray. The Governors are focused on improving this season as they begin another rebuild, this time under Hicks, a former assistant at Albemarle and Monticello. Nelson gets a chance now to see just how much progress they made in their offseason program and training camp. With a number of key faces back including deep threat Cameron Vaughn and running back Drai Taylor, the Governors could get off to a better start than last year’s 34-12 loss to Luray.
Key matchup: Nelson’s offensive line takes on the Luray defense led by middle linebacker Bryce Ancell. In a zone blocking scheme, the offensive line has to take care of business and Nelson has some of the horses they need up front, like Bryce Adkins. Dealing with Ancell and a Luray defense that helped the Cougars win seven games last year will be a challenge, but Nelson has had a couple of weeks of camp to get in gear up front with a former offensive-line coach in Hicks leading the charge.
Who to watch: Nelson’s Devante Rose. The Governors’ second-year starting quarterback is running a new offense, but he’s had a year under his belt and should be much more comfortable behind center this season. Rose is a dynamic runner and has put in a lot of work in the passing game, which could open up things with Vaughn as a top target. If Rose can connect on a few deep tosses, it’ll take the top off the defense and help Nelson move the ball on the ground.
The line: Luray by 10. Nelson is a work in progress, and a solid showing against a team that regularly makes the playoffs would be a step in the right direction.
Louisa County at Sherando, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Some teams like to ease into their schedule. Louisa County is diving straight into the tough stuff, taking on Sherando on the road to open the year. The Lions are primed for a strong 2016 with a ground attack led by Malik Bell and Job Whalen (more than 1,400 yards last year) that’s loaded with potential. They’ve also got a lockdown corner in on defense in Malik Minor that should be a huge help against the Indians. Sherando is breaking in a new starting quarterback and running back, but the Warriors rarely seem to lose a beat when replacing personnel as they’re one of the most consistent programs in the state over the last decade. Still, the Lions are in good position to make things interesting and they’ve never been a program to shy away from a challenge.
Key matchup: Louisa’s technically-sound offensive line takes on Sherando’s defense, led by Penn State pledge Dylan Rivers, the nation’s No. 22-ranked linebacker. This is far from an easy matchup as Rivers is slated to move to inside linebacker from his usual outside slot. Accounting for the lightning quick standout is going to be tough and running away from him will be tougher with him in the middle, but if the Lions revamped front five can neutralize him enough times, the backs behind them have the ability to get loose.
Who to watch: Louisa County’s Quinton Ragland. Ragland was a force at nose tackle last year and will now move out to defensive end. With Rivers likely to be flying all over the field making plays for Sherando, The Lions are going to need their own potential defensive playmakers to come up big and Ragland could be a game changer on the edge. With sure-tackling Devante Shelton behind him, Ragland should be confident enough to try and make some big-time plays against the Warriors.
The line: Sherando by 7. Louisa County is bound for some big things this season, but this is a really tough first week matchup. If the Lions hang with the Warriors who went 9-2 last year, they’ll be in good shape going forward.
Fluvanna County at Freedom-Loudoun County, 7:30 p.m.
The basics: Fluvanna County gets a big chance here, on the road in South Riding against Freedom. It’s a chance to start the year with a win. Freedom edged the Flucos just 21-20 last season so this is clearly a winnable game, especially with Fluvanna bringing back a ton of key players from last year, led by an offensive line that’s back in tact with a year of experience under its belt. Can the Flucos protect Mark Grooms well enough for the Fluco offense to get clicking and put Freedom on its heels? That would go a long way toward giving Fluvanna its first win since 2014 after a winless 2015.
Key matchup: Fluvanna’s defense tries to keep track of Freedom’s Robert Mayo. Mayo does a little bit of everything for Freedom offensively and trying just to keep tabs on him is going to be a serious challenge. The Flucos’ Cole Craig and Zach Hartzog are the bookend defensive ends and they’ll need to keep contain, preventing Mayo from getting into space where the 6-foot-3 athlete is dangerous on end arounds. When he’s out at wideout, he’ll likely be senior Antonio Washington’s problem and the Flucos’ corner will need to play some big-time football to cover him. Washington has the athleticism to get the job done.
Who to watch: Fluvanna’s Nate Smith. The sophomore running back is a potential gamebreaker for the Flucos, a capable, shifty big back who can take some pressure off do-it-all quarterback Mark Grooms and senior middle linebacker and running back Craig Russo. The Flucos want to get Smith the ball a lot and they’d be wise to start in this one, a winnable game. Look for Smith to get a chance to give the Flucos a jolt.
The line: Fluvanna by 1. The Flucos get a few chances to pick up wins early in the year. This one is on the road, but expect them to be fired up and focused on the opportunity.
Covenant at Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot, 5 p.m. Saturday
The basics: Covenant’s football team is a little bit of an unknown. They graduated several key seniors and injuries have opened the door for some other new faces. Taking on a team that went 3-6 last year is a great chance to ease into that kind of situation. Donovan Jackson moves into the fullback slot, where he’ll be a big, physical force. That’ll be critical for the offense as Covenant leans heavily on the dive-option/sweep-bootleg action that’s such a huge part of the option attack that the Eagles employ. If Covenant’s offense can re-discover the rhythm that helped vault it into the playoffs last year, it’ll go a long way toward giving them the kind of start the Eagles want in 2016.
Key matchup: Covenant’s young, revamped defense takes on Blessed Sacrament quarterback Noah Dowdy. The Eagles are working in some new faces in key roles on the defensive side of the ball and they’ll have contend with dual threat quarterback Dowdy in their first real game test. It’ll really push linebackers like Donovan Jackson, Chris Newton and Connor Poindexter who need to read pass or run in order quickly in order to drop into coverage, pressure Dowdy or fly forward on the run.
Who to watch: Covenant’s Nic Sanker. The freshman quarterback will likely get his first start against the Knights, and it’s going to be interesting to see how he settles in. Sanker is a solid athlete and was going to factor into the lineup probably in some capacity but he’s been pressed into duty as a quarterback now because of injury. Look for Sanker to run the Eagles’ option attack nicely as he starts settling into the role.
The line: Covenant by 7. The Eagles get a tough battle to start the year, but could come up with a road win that would prove critical if things go to plan as the season wears on.
