Woodberry (0-0) at Benedictine (0-1), 4 p.m.
The basics: Woodberry gets the season started with a ton of returning starters and players stepping up to bigger roles on the varsity that should be big-time contributors. But, as usual, the Tigers face a challenging schedule that starts with a solid Benedictine squad that’s particularly stout on defense. That starts with Raymon Minor, a 6-foot-2 linebacker with offers from Clemson, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State and a host of others. Of course, the Tigers have their own star linebacker, Greer Martini, the Notre Dame commitment. Don’t read to much into Benedictine’s loss to McDonogh last week, a lot of teams lose to McDonogh, particularly when the Eagles take on local squads. In fact they were the lone blemish on the 2010 Woodberry squad’s record when the Tigers went 8-1.
Key matchup: Woodberry’s re-built offensive line takes on Cornell Urquhart and Clelin Ferrell (offers from Virginia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina, South Carolina). The Cadets tall, talented defensive line anchors. Urquhart is bound for James Madison and they both can create all kinds of trouble. It’ll be up to Florida target Andrew Shofner to anchor the Tigers’ offensive line and contain Benedictine’s talented front. Expect Clark Yarborough and Brady Logan to be major factors.
Who to watch: Woodberry running back H.T. Minor. Minor will still likely be splitting carries with James Hewell again, but it’s an excellent partnership as Minor provides the lightning to Hewell’s thunder. But with Spencer Bibb clearing the way at fullback, Minor may be even tougher to find for opposing defenders and that could make him a dangerous weapon against the Cadets’ stacked defensive line.
The line: Woodberry Forest by 1. The Tigers have to find an answer for Urquhart and Ferrell, but may have enough to steal the win on the road.
Fluvanna County (0-1) at Spotsylvania (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: Turnovers killed Fluvanna County last week against William Fleming, a game that they otherwise are likely in the mix to win. Instead, the Colonels left Palmyra with a 32-13 win. Against Spotsylvania, a team reeling from a second half blowout loss to Louisa County, the Flucos will have to do a better job of holding onto the ball if they want to pick up a win. Hopefully Fluvanna has settled in this week and found a little more of a rhythm so that things go smoother against Spotsy.
Key matchup: Fluvanna’s front seven takes on Spotsylvania’s Darius Carter. Carter rushed for 32 yards on just seven touches last week, so odds are good the dual threat quarterback will take to the ground more often this week. Fluvanna has to contain Carter while also monitoring his ability to throw.
Who to watch: Fluvanna’s special teams. The Flucos surrendered a punt return for a touchdown at a critical moment last week. Look for Fluvanna’s attention to that phase of the game to improve drastically this week to prevent a similar problem.
The line: Fluvanna by 3. The Flucos realize that wins are going to be at a premium for them going forward, and this is a big chance to get in the win column.
Western Albemarle (1-0) at Waynesboro (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: Western Albemarle didn’t get off to the start the squad wanted except in one category — the win column. The Warriors fought off a tenacious Spotswood squad to pick up a season opening victory, but it was far from easy as the Warriors needed a huge performance from Holland Corbett that included three touchbacks and a game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter. Western may have gotten some help though as the matchup showed a lot of the gaps in their armor without wounding them with a loss. Now Western has had a week to work out those problems, and they face the Little Giants in the informally named Battle for Afton Mountain. Waynesboro got blown out 35-15 against Wilson Memorial last week, so the Little Giants are looking to get their season back on track.
Key matchup: Waynesboro’s secondary takes on Western’s receiving corps. The Warriors boast a variety of weapons at wideout with Chase Stokes, Nic Drapanas and Steven Hearn out there. The Little Giants will likely have a difficult time matching up with the fleet-footed Western wideouts.
Who to watch: Western’s Justin Haws and Oliver Herndon. The Warriors’ running back tandem has the ability to give Western some semblance of a run game and take some of the pressure off Kent Henry. But they combined for just 28 yards while Henry continued to carry the ground game’s load. The matchup with Waynesboro could be a great place to get Haws and Herndon going.
The line: Western by 14. The Warriors should make some strides this week and should be a squad that improves consistently throughout the season. Look for a more polished performance across the mountain.
Page County (0-1) at Nelson County (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: Nelson County didn’t get quite the results they wanted against Luray in a 41-22 loss, but the Governors certainly have made some strides under new head coach Mark Poston. There’s still a long way to go on both sides of the ball though, and that process will continue this week against Page. Page fell in a shootout to Easy Hardy High out of West Virginia.
Key matchup: Page’s defense takes on Nelson’s revamped offense. The Governors want to push the tempo this year, and that could wreak havoc on a Page team that gave up 37 points to East Hardy last week.
Who to watch: Nelson’s Kelly Kirby. Kirby emerged as a dynamic playmaker for the Governors in the loss to Luray on the road last week. He scored all three Nelson touchdowns, all of them on returns. Twice he took kickoffs back for touchdowns and he also had an early punt return for a touchdown early in the game.
The line: Nelson by 3. The Governors have to get something going on offense, but should be able to do that against a Page team that went winless in 2012.
Virginia Episcopal (1-0) at St. Anne’s-Belfield (0-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: STAB has an entirely new look this year, a wise move after a frustrating 2012 that should inject some excitement and enthusiasm into the program beyond the strategic benefits. The Saints get a good chance to get off on the right foot against VES, who knocked off North Cross and managed to contain Raiders quarterback Max Revercomb. If the Saints’ new tactics have had time to set in, the Saints could be in position to make some noise.
Key matchup: The Saints’ revamped defense takes on VES’s Ronnie Stringfield. Stringfield piled up 124 yards and four touchdowns for the Saints last week against North Cross in a 43-21 victory. The Saints are using some unconventional sets that should allow their speedier but small defense to make plays against the run and pass. Stringfield will be a unique early test.
Who to watch: STAB’s Brodie Phillips. Phillips will be a key part of STAB’s defense. The Monticello transfer should be a major impact player in the secondary for the Saints and help slow down the onslaught STAB endured last year.
The line: STAB by 1. The Saints’ new look should give STAB enough of an element of surprise and the Saints are hungry to reverse last year’s troubles.
Massaponax (0-0) at Albemarle (0-0), 7 p.m.
The basics: Yes Albemarle is out of the Commonwealth District and now playing a Jefferson District slate, but remember that when it comes to the postseason, the Patriots will be going up against Division 5 opponents just like in the past. So why not stick with an old foe from the CD? On top of that, Massaponax runs a wing-t offense that requires a very specific defensive game plan, something that changes practice for that week dramatically. Albemarle had the last week off after going up an outstanding Kettle Run team the week before in a benefit game. The Patriots had a tough showing at times, but it was a great learning opportunity for a mostly veteran team. The Panthers, on the other hand, already kicked off their season with a 42-26 win over Courtland, a Division 4 opponent.
Key matchup: Albemarle’s senior linebacking corps takes on the backfield of AJ Forbes, Javonte Latney and Alphonzo Trice. The trio combined for 289 yards and five touchdowns against Courtland with Forbes leading the way going 12 for 122 and two scores. This is a methodical offense that grinds away on the clock and piles up the first downs. As such, Albemarle has to play assignment football, particularly at linebacker where Drake Bryant and Jordan Shelton are senior leaders. Playing contain and holding the edge is the key here. The constant two and three yard gains are something you just have to live with.
Who to watch: Albemarle quarterback D.G. Archer. How coach Mike Alley decides to use the athletic signal caller is going to be interesting to see. Archer comes from a football family and his older brother R.J.’s success is well documented. How many snaps will D.G. see and can he offer some big play ability to counter the slow but steady nature of Massaponax’s offense?
The line: Massaponax by 3. This is a Panthers team coming of a playoff performance with a lot of that talent still on the field. The Patriots are a bit undersized defensively with exception of Ryan Londree and so this is a tough matchup out of the gate.
William Monroe (0-0) at Spotswood (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: While the Dragons are kicking off their season with a short trip over the mountains to Penn Laird, the Trail Blazers will be anxious to build on the momentum from their outstanding game against Western Albemarle, one in which they fell 17-14. This is still an incredibly young Monroe team, but one that’s one year stronger and more experienced. Playing at Spotswood is a tough first test, but one that should help out greatly before the Dragons play their Bull Run District slate.
Key matchup: Spotswood’s front seven versus Monroe running back Cody Perkins. With the absence of Jack Morris at quarterback, the Dragons won’t be able to lean as heavily on the pass as they did the previous two years. While coach Mark Sanford always favors the run, so much of his offense was predicated on Morris being able to connect for big plays through the air. That said, Perkins established himself as a shifty back last year capable of piling up plenty of lengthy runs. Slowing him down is priority number one for Spotswood, and thus, keeping him rolling is of chief concern for the Dragons.
Who to watch: Monroe’s Austin Batten. Only Sanford knows what to expect from him. The senior has more state tournament experience between baseball, basketball and golf than seems plausible, and now he’s giving football the old college try. His speed and strength make him a standout on the diamond and on the court. How he translates as a two-way player as Sanford intends to use him will be fascinating to see how it unfolds because he’s never played on a team that wasn’t a playoff contender and his own ability has a lot to do with that. Can he be a transformative piece for the Dragons?
The line: Spotswood by 7. The Dragons are in a tight spot going up against a defense that played so strong last week against a Western offense that is so highly regarded. The Trailblazers’ ability up front on both sides of the ball creates trouble here.
Madison County (0-0) at Luray (1-0) at 7 p.m.
The basics: The Bulldogs have been the source of many a Madison early season victory in years past, six straight to be exact but with a 41-22 win over Nelson the week before, the Mountaineers hit the road suddenly facing a team with a bit of confidence in its favor. Of course, Madison should feel good despite falling to Orange County in its benefit game, a truly rare meeting between Division 2 and Division 5 programs (formerly Group A versus Group AAA). The Mountaineers held a 20-7 lead before falling 34-21. Considering the gap in school size, that seems fair. Anyways, Madison will be looking to play like they did in the first half against Orange while Luray will be eager to keep its offense rolling after cruising the week before.
Key matchup: Luray’s secondary versus Madison County’s receiving corps. The Bulldogs didn’t see a pass happy or pass friendly team last week. That’s going to change with the Mountaineers who have the personnel to whip the ball around the field between quarterback James Graves and receivers Ashton Weakley, Sam Taylor and Colin Shifflett. But the Bulldogs will also have to respect Madison’s proud tradition for pounding the ball with the run, that being this program’s calling card for so many years. That makes the one-on-one matchups in the secondary all the more important.
Who to watch: Graves. Out of the gate, all eyes will be on how much Graves drops back, how much he hands off and how much he tucks and runs himself. Given the depth at receiver, he should have a pretty busy day throwing, but there’s no question that Madison is going to want to try and run the ball and show they still have no trouble doing that against an out-of-district opponent.
The line: Madison by 10. Luray may have gotten off on the right foot against Nelson, but Madison is primed and ready for a strong 2013.
Fork Union (0-1) at Goochland (0-1), 7 p.m.
The basics: The third meeting in as many years and a private/public clash where both programs played for a state title the year before. Well add to it that neither program is happy about their showing the week before with the Blue Devils falling in coach Brian Hurlocker’s debut with a 54-24 loss and the Bulldogs falling in their state title rematch with Essex, 42-28. After this week, one of these vaunted programs is going to be really unhappy, but in all truth, by VHSL and VISAA rules, this is really a regular season exhibition game, albeit one that’s been a true measuring stick game for both programs the last two years.
Key matchup: Fork Union’s defensive line versus Goochland’s offensive line. Going up against this Bulldog offense you have to get penetration and finish and, conversely, Goochland is very green up front and looking to establish some confidence for its bevy of playmakers. The Blue Devils are new up front defensively too after last year’s amazing class, so which ever unit hear perseveres should have things swung in their favor.
Who to watch: Fork Union’s Rashon Torrence. He accounted for all three Blue Devils TD’s aginst GT Prep, a 65-yard run, a 33-yard reception and a 4-yard rush. His versatility is key to this offense already and something that the Bulldogs have to keep an eye on after going up against an onslaught of playmakers from Essex last week.
The line: Push. The similarities between these two programs, the results last year and the season openers last week, the differences between a small public school and a large private school (by comparision to the rest of the private schools) and both programs renowned for being successful … who really knows how this is going to turn out.
Liberty-Bealeton (0-1) at Orange County (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The Keita Malloy era begins in Orange County officially tonight a week after the Hornets hosted Madison County in a benefit game. The benedit matchup may have been just the spark Orange needed too as they ralleied from being down 21-7 in the first half to pick up a 34-21 victory over the Mountaineers. But playing a Division 2 team in a benefit matchup is a far cry from playing Liberty, who just went toe-to-toe with Handley before falling 45-42 on the road against the Judges. Orange County is going to need to play big-time football at home against the Eagles if they want to get off on the right foot in the regular season.
Key matchup: Orange’s new-look defense takes on the Liberty ground attack. The Eagles rushed for 327 yards and five touchdowns against a strong John Handley squad and lost last week. The Hornets will have their hands full with Jaquan Sinclair and Martin Parker among others.
Who to watch: Orange’s secondary. The Hornets came up with a pair of pick sixes last week against Madison. Those kind of game changing plays could be big difference makers for Orange against a deep, talented Eagles squad.
The line: Liberty by 3. This could easily become a shootout with the way both teams scored points in bunches last week.
Charlottesville (0-1) at Culpeper County (0-1), 7:30 p.m
The basics: Charlottesville continues its tour of Culpeper County after playing at Eastern View last week. The Black Knights will be eager to shake off last weeks 24-6 loss to the Cyclones in a game that was marred by the absence of Chris Thurston at running back and in the secondary, turnovers, penalties and team wide case of cramps. Culpeper fell 20-15 in tough fashion to Central Lunenburg, giving up a TD to squander its lead in the fourth quarter. This is a team that’s won just one contest in the last two years, but staying close to a Lunenburg squad that was highly competitive last year in the James River District is a sign of progress, so Charlottesville shouldn’t tread lightly here. There’s a big difference to getting back to .500 and falling to 0-2, especially in a game in which the Black Knights are considered solid favorites.
Key matchup: Charlottesville’s offensive line takes on Culpeper’s defensive front. Lunenburg almost exclusively ran against the Blue Devils last week and while Culpeper bent at times, you can’t say that it broke. The Black Knights need to eliminate the holding calls that held them back last week. It seems unlikely that Charlottesville would turn the ball over eight times again, and in the absence of that, should this group shine up front led by senior standout center Wade Kammauff, the Black Knights will likely bounce back from last weeks tough sledding on offense.
Who to watch: Black Knights running back Chris Thurston. Not having him on the field makes a huge difference on both sides of the ball. If he’s healthy and suited up, it will be interesting to see how many snaps he gets either way. If he’s not in uniform, the baton falls to sophomore Rashard Brock to put together another strong showing. Brock was one of the bright spots in last weeks loss.
The line: Charlottesville by 7. Thurston or not, the Black Knights have too much experience and speed not to bounce back in a big way. But slow starts were a problem last year, so this number would probably be higher in their favor if not for that, the injury question and the turnovers and penalties last week.
George Wythe (Richmond) (0-0) at Monticello (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
The basics: The third installment of Wythe playing at Monticello in as many years marks the kickoff for the Jeff Woody era for the Mustangs. While Monticello is coming off a strong postseason run, Wythe won just twice last year and was held to a touchdown or less in seven of its first eight games. The Bulldogs are going to have to find a way to score to make this interesting because all signs point to this Mustangs offense being all too ready to cater to Woody’s system.
Key matchup: Monticello’s offensive line versus the Wythe front four. This is the one question mark for this team as losing Sam Marshall and Austin Mays up front isn’t something that’s easy to overcome. If the Mustangs play well up front, the rest of Jefferson District is in trouble because the weapons around the field are top notch between receiver Alex McNair and running backs Kyree Koonce and TJ Tillery.
Who to watch: Tillery. What the Mustangs decided to do with Tillery is going to be fascninating because the addition of Koonce makes Tillery a true x-factor. He’s an exceptional safety on defense, he can tote the ball with strength inside, but also has killer speed on the edge. He can play receiver. He has all the makings of a true utility player on defense, and on offense as a slot or H-back type. Don’t be surprised if he’s used like Alex Higuchi was at Powhatan two years ago when the Indians won the JD title. But from an athletic standpoint, Tillery brings a lot more to the table making his role all more intriguing.
The line: Monticello by 17. The Mustangs cruise behind Tillery and Koonce while quarterback James St. Hill gets his feet wet and establishes some confidence.
Blue Ridge (0-0) at Hargrave Military (0-1), 2:30 p.m. Saturday
The basics: And so Blue Ridge’s title defense begins. The Barons hit the road as the defending VISAA Division 2 champs, and, as such, now have a target on their back. There are enough returning starters and new additions like Torian Pegram to make the Barons a contender again this week, but they won’t be flying under anyone’s radar. Hargrave will be the first team to give the Barons a try, and the Tigers are smarting from a season opening loss to Chatham High. Expect former Fork Union assistant and current Hargrave head man Ben Paris to have the Tigers ready for the Barons.
Key matchup: Hargrave’s run game takes on Blue Ridge’s front seven led by Ryan Etheridge. Etheridge is a monster outside linebacker/defensive end and can really create havoc from the edge against the run or pass. The defending champs should be able to put the clamps on Hargrave’s run game.
Who to watch: Blue Ridge’s Tristan Allen. Allen didn’t have a remarkable season last year at quarterback for the Barons but he was effective in spots and showed some promise. He’s reportedly taken some steps forward in the offseason and seems primed to carry more of the load for the Barons.
The line: Blue Ridge by 10. The Barons have a lot of questions on the roster, but the answers they already have should be enough to take care of Hargrave.
