This week’s breakdown of high school football action.
St. Anne’s-Belfield (0-0) at Fork Union (1-0) 3:30 p.m. ESPN 840
The Basics: St. Anne’s brings the speed and Fork Union brings the size in this clash of area private school powers. The Saints have a two-headed monster at tailback in Willie McGhee and Aaron Clark. But that tandem faces a vaunted front seven for the Blue Devils, and the Saints will have to be at the top of their game in order to avenge after last year’s loss in a 32-29 thriller at STAB. The Saints will break in a new quarterback to replace Howie Long, and it’ll likely be Jacob Rainey, a sophomore. Expect him to feed Clark and McGhee. FUMA also has a new quarterback, Canadian Richard Quittenton who went 6-for-11 for 135 yards in FUMA’s 40-0 win over Norfolk Academy last week.
Key Matchup: FUMA’s offensive line versus STAB’s defensive line. With the graduation of All-State honorees John Chambers and Bryan Stinnie, how will the Saints’ new crop of linemen handle Fork Union’s overpowering size up front led by Russell Bodine and Mark Shuman. They’ll clear the way for running backs Antonio Markland and Andre Parker, a Madison transfer.
Player to watch: STAB’s Clark. Clark rushed for 179 yards on 21 carries last year against Fork Union in one of his better performances of the season. Can he duplicate last year’s numbers behind a revamped offensive line?
Line: FUMA by 1.5. This one should be a classic if STAB can find a way to match or at least offset the Blue Devils’ size.
Flint Hill (0-0) at Covenant School (1-1)
The Basics: Covenant takes on another tough opponent in the Huskies, a squad that upset Liberty Christian Academy in the 2008 playoffs. Flint Hill lost the athletic Arlandis Harvey to graduation and James Madison’s football program, but odds are good the Huskies will be primed for another strong run this year. Covenant has to recover quickly after a 49-14 loss to defending state champions Atlantic Shores last week.
Key Matchup: Flint Hill’s new backfield against Covenant’s linebackers. If Fred O’Connor and Kyle Hamilton can help the Eagles keep Flint Hill’s run game in check, Covenant could find itself in the thick of a battle.
Player to watch: Covenant’s Sam Dale. Dale is a natural athlete who has the ability to change the game on one play despite his lack of experience on the gridiron. He or Sam Patterson will have to give the Eagles a spark in the passing game.
Line: Covenant by 1.5 because the Eagles have homefield advantage.
Western Albemarle (2-0) at Albemarle (0-1) 7:30 p.m. WINA
The Basics: Western started the season hot with wins over Waynesboro and Turner Ashby, and the Warriors now face a wounded Albemarle team that lost to Monticello last week after two long third quarter touchdowns were called back. Albemarle needs Mayn Francisco and Jervon Speller to pair for a lot of yards in the rushing game to neutralize a talented Western offense. But they’ll have to do it against the Warriors defense, which has surrendered just one touchdown, and that score came with the game against T.A. all but in hand.
Key Matchup: Albemarle’s offensive line taking on Mitchell Parks and company. Parks is a relentless linebacker, and he’s averaging more than 15 tackles per game already this year. If Albemarle can’t keep him from disrupting the run game, it’s going to be a long night for the Patriots.
Player to watch: Western’s Hunter Mitchell. Mitchell has emerged as a fumble recovery machine with three already this season. Can he and the Warriors keep forcing turnovers at the rate they have so far (four per game in two wins)?
Line: Western by 7.5. The Warriors are heating up, and the Patriots are reeling after a loss to Monticello.
Prince Edward (0-2) at Buckingham County (1-0)
The Basics: A vastly-improved Buckingham squad shocked a number of observers last week with a 14-0 shutout win over Nelson County. The Knights should be able to keep that rolling with Prince Edward coming to town in their home opener. Coach Craig Gill has clearly found the right mix for the Knights so far, and a 2-0 record would set the Knights up nicely moving forward.
Key Matchup: Prince Edward’s offense against Buckingham’s front seven. The Knights gave their fans a shutout last week, and they’ll be looking for more of the same against Prince Edward.
Player to watch: Buckingham running back Maurice Taylor. Can he give a fitting encore to last week’s explosive two-touchdown, 167-yard performance?
Line: Buckingham by 7.5. The Knights have to show some sustained success, but there’s little doubt last week’s win was a big one and they should have a lot of confidence moving forward.
Riverheads (0-1) at Nelson County (0-1) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Riverheads fell to Stuarts Draft last week 27-10, while Nelson dropped a 14-0 slugfest with Buckingham County. That means both teams are hungry and ready to make some noise. Expect Mark Wells to try and establish Trey Barnett and the run game early — he won’t shy away from that after one frustrating week. Nelson ran well against the Knights in the first half, and if they can do it for four quarters things should get better fast.
Key Matchup: Riverheads’ sizeable offensive front takes on Nelson’s defensive line. The Gladiators’ front five clear the way for a multi-faceted rushing attack led by Cory Sandridge and Daniel Weekley.
Player to watch: Nelson quarterback Matt Simpson. The Governors obviously need some offensive help after a scoreless first game, and Simpson or the slippery Barnett needs to give it to them.
Line: Riverheads by 1.5, but Nelson recovers from last week’s loss and hangs in a tight one with a frustrated Riverheads team that isn’t used to losing.
Madison County (1-0) at William Monroe (0-1) 7:30 p.m. ESPN 840
The Basics: Madison appears to be loaded, and last Friday it held off a resilient Fluvanna squad in triple overtime. Now the Mountaineers head into DragonFest to take on heated rival William Monroe. The Dragons struggled against a powerful Spotswood squad with a number of key returners last week, and now they face another test against a seasoned team. Madison’s Logan Terrell should see time at a number of offensive positions, including snaps as a wildcat formation quarterback Friday. When he does, Monroe will have its hands full.
Key Matchup: Monroe’s linebackers against Madison’s playmakers. The Dragons’ linebacking group is supposed to be their strength, but they’re facing a tough task with Terrell, tight end Dylan Shifflette and a number of other rugged Madison players in the mix. Monroe will have to play smart football against Madison to be in it late.
Player to watch: Madison running back Jerod Williams. With the sophomore’s impressive first game against Fluvanna, there’s yet another tailback on the Mountaineers’ squad to account for.
Line: Madison County by 4.5. The Mountaineers are shaping up awfully well already this season, and they shouldn’t have a hiccup against Monroe.
Charlottesville (0-1) at James Monroe (0-1) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Charlottesville enters week two of a brutal early season stretch that kicked off with R.E. Lee and continues with the defending Group AA, Division 3 champions tonight. The bad news for the Black Knights is that they’ll likely be facing an angry James Monroe team coming off a bye week that followed a season opening loss to Mountain View back on Aug. 28. They dropped that game on a last second, game-winning field goal.
Key Matchup: Charlottesville’s defense against James Monroe’s new cast of playmakers. Quarterback Farkeem French, wideout Greg Edwards, and perhaps most of all, running back Mike Latney, will challenge Charlottesville’s defense in much the same way R.E. Lee did last week — lots of players coming from different angles.
Player to watch: Charlottesville’s Xavier Porter. Porter has to be a playmaker for the Black Knights.
Line: James Monroe by 2.5. The Jackets are the defending state champions, but Charlottesville shows progress after loss to R.E. Lee.
Amelia County (0-2) at Goochland (1-0) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Goochland had an early bye week after rolling past Benedictine. Amelia has a talented running back in Tyrell Banks, but after piling up over 1,000 yards last year he’s started the season off in a funk. Things won’t get much easier against the Bulldogs.
Key Matchup: Amelia’s front seven against Goochland’s fleet of running backs. If the Raiders can’t contain Desmond Athey (111 yards against Benedictine) and Dustin Plummer (91 yards against the Cadets), it’s going to be a long night for Amelia.
Player to watch: Goochland’s Willie Ezell. A great compliment to Plummer and Athey, Ezell had six carries for 64 yards against Benedictine and he’s a force at linebacker. He should make life tough for Amelia tonight.
Line: Goochland by 7.5. Bulldogs should keep rolling this week.
Spotsylvania (0-2) at Louisa County (1-0) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Louisa had to battle with Eastern View to snag a 23-21 victory over the Cyclones and Spotsylvania has been struggling mightily, dropping its first two contests by a combined score of 125-0. The Freelance-Star in Fredericksburg is reporting that the Knights are set to receive a transfer at quarterback, but there isn’t a good chance that’ll have any impact Friday night. Louisa quarterback Dylan Hollins should trigger a strong offensive performance against the Knights.
Key Matchup: Spotsylvania’s offensive line against Louisa’s defense. If the Knights’ line can’t keep the Lions from disrupting plays, the Louisa front seven could create some big-time turnovers and perhaps even some points.
Player to watch: Louisa County’s Glen Cosby. Expect a heavy dose of Cosby and several other Louisa backs tonight against the Knights. Cosby piled up 114 yards on just 17 carries against Eastern View. In a 69-0 win over the Knights, Massaponax put together 326 yards on the ground. That doesn’t add up well for Spotsylvania.
Line: Louisa by 10. The Lions should roll against the Knights.
Orange County (0-1) at Culpeper County (0-2) 7:30 p.m. ESPN 840
The Basics: Culpeper made some significant improvements in the offseason, but the Devils’ have lost 14 straight dating back to 2007. Orange strolled past Culpeper last season in a runaway victory, but the Hornets looked vulnerable against Chancellor last Friday.
Key Matchup: Orange’s defensive backs, including Tyler Seal, take on Culpeper wideout John Lezcano. Lezcano hauled in 185 yards and three touchdowns against Fauquier last week. The Hornets have to contain him to keep control of the game.
Player to watch: Orange’s Tyrone Ellis is lightning in a bottle, and if he can make a few plays to kickstart the Orange offense, the Hornets could get rolling again.
Line: Orange by 3.5. The Hornets are too talented to struggle like they did against Chancellor. Expect big improvements this week.
Huguenot (0-0) at Monticello (1-0) 7:30 p.m.
The Basics: Huguenot opens the season with a Monticello squad that still has a lot to prove after working over Albemarle 38-7 last week. Albemarle is in a major transition period with a new coach, and while Monticello rolled, the Mustangs’ inexperience is still a question mark.
Key Matchup: Huguenot’s front four and Monticello’s young, large offensive line. If the Mustangs establish a downhill running attack anything like what they did against Albemarle, it could be a long night for Huguenot.
Player to watch: Monticello’s Thomas Estepp. Estepp hauled in a 33-yard catch last week for a touchdown, and he’s one of several players that could give Monticello opponents a reason not to stack the box against running back CJ Page.
Line: Monticello by 3.5. Huguenot went 2-8 last season, and the Mustangs looked solid against Albemarle.
Blue Ridge (0-0) at Hargrave (0-1) 2 p.m. Saturday
The Basics: Blue Ridge starts the year with a Hargrave squad that just took a 30-0 shot to the chin last week at the hands of Isle of Wright. Hargrave relies on senior running back Danny Smith, an All-VIC selection last season, to make the offense go, but a single wing system installed this year should give the Tigers a lot of options. The Barons will also have to contend with an offensive line that averages around 250 pounds.
Key Matchup: Blue Ridge’s linebackers against Hargrave’s new single wing base. The single wing puts a lot of responsibilities on the linebacking corps to sniff out fakes and play good responsibility football. While the Barons plan to get more aggressive this season, the single wing can neutralize that with misdirection. Roderick Holloway will need to be at the top of his game.
Player to watch: Blue Ridge running back David Coe. Stepping into Denzel Wilson’s shoes wouldn’t be easy for anyone, but Coe showed some significant promise last season and should be ready for the Barons in the opener.
Line: Blue Ridge by 7.5. The Barons should get 2009 started right with a win on the road.
