Fluvanna County (4-2) at Albemarle (1-5), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: Two weeks ago, this one likely would’ve been easy to predict as an easy win for the Flucos, but a lot has changed since just before the Patriots kicked off against Monticello 14 days ago, and now this one looks a little like a toss up. Albemarle handled a Monticello team easily that edged out a Western team that beat Fluvanna last Friday. Now Fluvanna has to try and prove last week against the Warriors was a fluke and that they’re a playoff team in Region 3C while Albemarle has to prove the Monticello win wasn’t just a flash in the pan and that they’re capable of being a much better team going forward. This one will tell us a lot about who each of the teams are and what trajectory they’re on. Not exactly a must win for either team, but it could play a big part in determining their future paths.
Key Matchup: Albemarle’s run defense takes on Fluvanna County’s Kobe Edmonds. Edmonds has ripped off 482 yards this year at a clip of 9.1 yards per carry. The Patriots know they’ve got to play responsibility football when facing the Flucos’ Wing-T. Accounting for the fullback and both wings is hard enough. When the quarterback suddenly becomes the most potent rushing threat in the mix, it becomes that much more difficult to matchup with the Flucos. Defensive end Jake Rombach who returned just before the bye could play a critical role for the Patriots on keeping track of Edmonds.
Who to Watch: Albemarle’s Mahki Washington. Washington was one of the best power backs in the district a year ago, a load of a running back who’s quick to the hole and a force once he gets through to the second level. He rushed for more than 100 yards in his return from injury against Monticello and if he’s cooking the Patriots could look like an entirely different team in the final four games of the season.
The line: Push. This one is just too hard to call, the results in the bottom half of the Jefferson District have just been too unpredictable.
Charlottesville (0-7) at Western Albemarle (2-4), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: Western Albemarle has become one of the most unpredictable squads in the Jefferson District. They lose to Monticello in overtime, then got beat up a little by William Monroe but they bounced back to beat Fluvanna County, the team that appeared to be the second or third best squad in the district. Western is officially the district’s agent of chaos and now they face a Charlottesville squad that is searching for its first win and has been riddled by injuries. Charlottesville is an interesting matchup for the Warriors because Jaleom Adams-Mallory is a physical runner and Isaiah Washington is fast and can attack the edge. But the Warriors played particularly for a half against Fluvanna’s Wing-T which shares some responsibility similarities with the Black Knights’ triple option. Can the Warriors build on last week and get the kind of big time play out of their offense from the Fluvanna game against the Black Knights? Or will Charlottesville get on track and get a lift from its physical ground game against a somewhat undersized Western defensive front?
Key Matchup: Western’s offensive line takes on Charlottesville’s physical front. With a big effort from Henry Sours that earned him C&G Road Grader of the Week honors, Western’s offensive line took a step forward last week against a big Fluvanna front. Now they face a quick, powerful group for the Black Knights, another test for a unit that is slowly turning the corner. Can Adams-Mallory who doubles as a defensive end create some havoc up front for the Black Knights?
Who to Watch: Western Albemarle’s Teanekuma Atuaia. Atuaia picked off a pass last week against Fluvanna in a critical defensive play that helped spark the Warriors to a 27-7 halftime lead. With a defense that has been looking for playmakers, Atuaia’s pick established that he probably is one, a guy who can provide some gamechanger type plays on that side of the ball. Western needs those and they’ll need them this week against a Charlottesville offense that wants to control the clock.
The line: Western by 10. The Warriors may have found their stride last week against Fluvanna County. We’ll see this week.
Monticello (1-6) at Orange County (2-5), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: Throw out the Louisa County clash (where Orange actually played pretty well early) and it has been a darn good few weeks for the Hornets, who have built some momentum after a brutal first four games. In their two wins, they’ve taken care of business in a big way, beating Albemarle 50-7 and Charlottesville 41-14. If that edition of the Hornets takes the field at Porterfield Park this week, they could pick up a third win and get things rolling even more going into their late season bye week. Monticello, meanwhile, has the huge win in overtime over Western Albemarle but since then they’ve absorbed a tough blowout defeat at the hands of Albemarle and another blowout against Louisa County. The Mustangs are tough to figure out because when Malachi Fields is rolling he’s extremely tough to contain, but opposing defenses have done a decent job of hemming him and forcing the Mustangs to find other ways to win. They’ve struggled to develop those other options, which has led to the recent results.
Key Matchup: Orange County’s secondary looks to lock down Monticello’s wideouts. Between Jason Armstrong and Will Trent, Monticello’s pass catchers have shown flashes of promise. But the Hornets have lockdown defenders like Jireek Washington and Doug Newsome among others on the back end of the defense so they’ll be looking to shut down any other flashes of promise from that group Friday.
Who to Watch: Orange County’s Chance Williams. While Jaylen Alexander was a known entity on offense (and has met expectations with 920 yards already on the year), the Hornets had some question marks on defense coming into the year and haven’t always made the kind of game-changing plays a team needs on that side of the ball. Last week, Williams’ scoop and score from 60 yards out showed that the Hornets have a guy who can make those kind of plays. Can he come up with another spark this week?
The line: Orange by 14. The Hornets have something cooking right now.
Covenant (5-0) at St. Anne’s-Belfield (5-0), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: This clash being a matchup of unbeaten eight-man squads has been a foregone conclusion for some time now as we get to see a rematch of the VISFL title game from last year with a lot of familiar faces lining up against each other again. The two most productive offensive threats are STAB running back Amani Woods and Covenant quarterback Jonas Sanker. But they’re just the tip of the spear for two teams that boast a number of guys who can take it to the house. There’s Nic Reese who’s scored a number of different ways this year for the Saints and can be dangerous as a wideout, running back or quarterback. There’s Nic Sanker for the Eagles who can turn it up in a big way on the edge as a wideout. This one has all the makings of a strong matchup as both offenses in particular have been on a roll this year. One defense is going to have to figure out how to come up with a string of stops or a couple of key turnovers to turn the tide in this one.
Key Matchup: STAB’s Gabe Decker and Joe Ambrosi look to hem in Covenant’s Jonas Sanker. Sanker is no longer on the edge causing damage, now he’s immediately got the ball in his hands and is ready to go to work at quarterback. That makes stopping him even more of a focal point for defenses. In particular, linebackers Ambrosi and Decker, two fundamentally sound tacklers, will have to be at the top of their game in order for STAB to come up with stops against the dynamic Sanker. If they meet the moment, it could be enough to turn the tide for the Saints. But stopping Sanker is much easier said than done. Few have pulled off the feat during his incredible career for the Eagles.
Who to Watch: The unsung hero. Games like this have a way of producing some player who wasn’t written about above as the hero. A game-changing interception from a senior defensive back or a tight end snagging a key touchdown catch to power an offensive surge. When two teams are this close, it always seems like one player you didn’t expect comes through. Who’ll be the unsung hero this week?
The line: Covenant by 1. Eagles get the edge based on last year’s results, but STAB is much improved and this could come down to the final possession.
Strasburg (5-1) at Madison County (0-6), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: Madison County came up just three points short a week ago against Stonewall Jackson, barely missing a chance for the first win in the Jon Rasnick era. Now they’ll host a challenging Strasburg squad who’s defense has been top notch, averaging just 11.7 points per game allowed. That’s a tough matchup for the Mountaineers, who are still building an offensive identity and has a lot of work left.
Key Matchup: Madison quarterback Jeremey Fox takes on the Strasburg secondary. Fox threw for three touchdowns last week, so it’s clear the Mountaineers’ passing attack is making progress. But Strasburg’s defense has been locked in all season and since their offense controls the clock well with a T-formation approach, that’ll put the pressure on Fox to take advantage of what opportunities Madison does get.
Who to Watch: Madison’s Khalid West. Two interceptions and a touchdown catch last week against Stonewall Jackson proved that West is a particularly dynamic playmaker on both sides of the ball. Can he give Madison a spark this week?
The line: Strasburg by 21. The Rams are playing awfully well and that doesn’t bode well for the Mountaineers who are still looking for their first win.
Chatham (5-1) at Nelson County (3-4), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: Nelson County has things figured out on offense, averaging more than 33 points per contest, but two straight losses where the Governors averaged surrendering 54.0 points per game gives you an idea of where that unit stacks up in the Dogwood. There’s just a lot of work left to do, and now the Governors welcome to town a 5-1 Chatham squad coached by former Buckingham assistant Matt Allen who has the Cavaliers moving, winning some tight contests already this year. Can they run their record to 6-1? They’ll likely have to outscore the Governors and the dynamic duo of George Brown and Brice Wilson who have been on fire lately.
Key Matchup: Nelson’s rushing defense takes on Chatham’s Micahel Gunnell. Gunnell is a tough runner and he’s a closer, scoring twice in the fourth quarter to finish off Martinsville in a tight matchup back in September. Nelson has struggled defensively at times, forcing the squad into playing catchup or surviving a shootout. Can the defense take a step forward this week?
Who to Watch: Nelson’s Jamel Rose. A couple of times per game, the Governors seem to find Rose in the passing game, and good things tend to happen. He’s averaging 20.1 yards per catch. If he could keep that going and get more looks from George Brown, it could make an already dangerous Nelson offense that much tougher to stop.
The line: Nelson County by 1. This one is dead even but maybe a must win for Nelson’s playoff hopes, so expect them to bring the intensity.
Nottoway (5-1) at Goochland (5-1), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: A quick glance at the records indicates this might be a major challenge for Goochland it might be. But the Bulldogs thrashed Prince Edward 55-16 a week ago while Nottoway eeked out a 14-6 victory over the Eagles, two weeks ago before jumping into a bye week. Transitive property isn’t everything, but the Bulldogs are seeded No. 1 in Region 3B and they don’t seem to be in any hurry to relinquish that spot, not with a suffocating defense and an offense that seems to get more dynamic by the week. Can the Bullodgs keep things rolling in this one and extend its 29-game James River District win streak that dates back to the middle of the 2015 season with a win over Nottoway at home?
Key Matchup: Nottoway’s defensive line takes on Goochland’s ground game. Whenever a team takes on Goochland, containing the ground game is paramount and after Dakhari Burgess exploded for 93 yards last week on just seven touches while four different Bulldogs including Devin McCray and Quincy Snead scored touchdowns, it may be getting even more difficult to slow down the rushing attack. The Cougars’ defense is giving up less than 10 points per contest, but this is probably their toughest matchup so far this year.
Who to Watch: Goochland’s Khalil Holman. The Bulldogs’ defensive end is a terror on the edge and it showed last week with a tackle for a loss and a sack against Prince Edward. If Holman gets home on the pass rush or knifes into the middle to stuff running backs, Goochland is awfully good defensively. The Bulldogs are extremely sound across the board on that side, Holman gives them an impact playmaker to make all that heady, sound play count.
The line: Goochland by 10. The Bulldogs are just so good defensively, there won’t be much
Randolph-Henry (0-7) at Buckingham (5-1), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: Buckingham rolled past Cumberland in the Battle of Route 60 rivalry game and played well enough early that subs started rolling in off the bench in the second quarter. That’s smart work by coach Seth Wilkerson, who’s rebuilding Buckingham into a James River District and Class 2 power not just for this year but for years to come. Playing young guys against Cumberland will pay off down the road. The Knights just keep clipping along and they’re headed toward a home playoff game in the opening round if they can keep this rolling. Right now the Knights are fourth in Region 2B and with five teams at 5-1 or better, it’s going to take some work to hold on to that home game. That work continues against Randolph-Henry who is still searching for its first win.
Key Matchup: Buckingham’s front seven looks to contain Randolph-Henry’s Tyshaundre Walton. Walton has rushed for 5.1 yards per carry while picking up 453 yards in seven games. The Knights are so stout up front they held the Goochland ground game in check a few weeks back. This should be a mismatch in the Knights’ favor.
Who to Watch: Buckingham’s Xavier Copeland. Copeland hauled in a 65-yard pass from Tae Toney a week ago against Cumberland. While the Knights will be run first, second and third, having a player with the capability to take the top off of the defense with a 65-yard touchdown will at least make future opponents think twice about loading up against Toney and Walter Edwards in the ground game.
The line: Buckingham by 28. Knights have been executing too well not to keep this rolling ahead of a tougher matchup with Amelia next week.
Collegiate (4-2) at Fork Union (3-3), Friday 4 p.m.
The Basics: This one might just determine a playoff spot, the stakes are that high for Fork Union in particular. The Blue Devils sit at No. 6 in VISAA’s Division I and with two winless squads left on the schedule, this is Fork Union’s final shot at a truly quality win. They put themselves back in the playoff conversation with last week’s win over Trinity, and they now can largely control their own fate as a win over No.4 Collegiate and a sweep of Woodberry and Saint John Paul the Great should be enough to get into that coveted four spot. They’ll likely turn to V’Jon Hampton to carry the offensive load like he did last week with 182 yards on 28 carries, good enough to earn the SP Podcast co-offensive player of the week nod. He’s averaging 5.7 yards per carry, and his ability to pound the rock inside is opening things up for Montigo Moss on the boundary. Moss has piled up 708 yards and nine touchdowns on 31 catches already this season. That’s a lot of offensive balance that’s helping power Fork Union in a chase for its first playoff berth since 2012.
Key Matchup: Fork Union’s defense takes on Collegiate quarterback Nigel Williams. Williams is a Northwestern commitment (recently flipping from Wake Forest) and while he’ll play defensive back at the next level, he’s an electric athlete and the Cougars use him as a dual threat quarterback. Containing him will be up to everyone on the Fork Union defense, but the versatile V’Jon Hampton, who led the Blue Devils with eight tackles and a sack a week ago against Trinity will play a crucial role at strong safety.
Who to Watch: Fork Union linebacker Xavier White. The Blue Devils’ leading tackler has 56 stops on the year and seven of them have been for a loss. Against Trinity last week alone he had seven total stops. Fork Union’s defense has been rounding into shape of late and White is a big reason why, a sure tackler who can fill the gap at 195 pounds.
The line: Fork Union by 1. The Blue Devils know how important this one is, look for them to close the deal like they did a week ago against Trinity.
William Monroe (2-4) at Skyline (3-3), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: William Monroe let another close battle with Northwestern District foe Brentsville slip away last week 13-10. Those two programs last three games have been decided by a grand total of five points. It was a particularly frustrating loss as penalties and missed assignments were largely the reason for the loss, with Brentsville capitalizing with a long touchdown catch and run to put them ahead in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. Now the Dragons are currently on the outside looking in on the Region 3B playoff picture, sitting in ninth currently. Skyline is fourth in the region, with their losses coming mostly against some excellent opponents while their wins come against three teams with a combined three wins.
Key Matchup: Skyline’s front seven contends with Monroe’s strong ground attack led by Dupree Rucker. Rucker is an excellent fit for the Dragons on the ground, with the speed to get loose and the power to run between the tackles. He rushed for 166 yards last week against Brentsville, adding to a string of 150+ yard games. Monroe already has a solid road win over Western to its name, can a heavy dose of Dupree Rucker on the ground vault them to another hard-fought road win?
Who to Watch: Monroe’s David Mack. Mack gets home in the pass rush when the Dragons need him to most. He’s proven to be tough to block on the edge and when he comes free in the run game or directed at the quarterback he’s a sure tackler as well. Mack is another solid piece for Monroe and if they finish strong he’ll likely be a major part of it.
The line: Skyline by 1. Hard one to figure out because Skyline has played some excellent squads like Riverheads in their losses and they get the slight edge here because they’re at home.
Louisa County (6-0) at Kettle Run (0-6), Friday 7 p.m.
The Basics: We are about where we thought we’d be with Louisa County right now. The Lions have won every game they’re supposed to and won the one in the first six that looked like the biggest challenge in Massaponax. With the first half of the season in the rearview mirror, the Lions start turning toward the postseason and they showed a little of that last week by putting a lot more passing on video to make future opponents think twice and to develop that aspect a little more. What’s wild is that Louisa may have two of the best wideouts in the Jefferson District and they’ve got a couple of tight ends who can cause problems too. Throw in Landon Wilson’s breakout campaign as a freshman and it’s pretty obvious that Louisa is going to be a massive challenge to stop on that side of the ball while their defense is suffocating opponents. It’s just hard to find a weakness right now, and while Region 4B is a tough one, it’s not quite as crazy as it has been in the past. The Lions have a four-point lead over current No. 2 Eastern View who only has three games left on the schedule. That puts the Lions essentially in charge of their own fate going forward with winless Kettle Run the first in a closing stretch that includes Fluvanna County, Western Albemarle and Albemarle.
Key Matchup: Kettle Run’s front seven takes on Louisa’s multi-faceted ground attack. There are six or seven guys on Louisa who the Lions are comfortable handing the rock to and five of their top ball carriers average 7.2 yards per carry or better. We’ve talked about it all year, but it’s a special group and they deserve the notice. It doesn’t hurt that the offensive line in front of them has proven to be a bunch of technically proficient monsters with a nasty side. The Cougars have their hands full.
Who to Watch: Louisa County’s Buck Hunter. His incredible bobbling touchdown catch on the run that required incredible concentration is just one of a number of reasons Hunter is emerging as a critical part of the offense for the Lions. As opponents get tougher come playoff time, the Lions are going to need Hunter or at the very least the threat of Hunter on the boundary to keep opposing defensive coordinators awake at night. With 250 yards receiving at a clip of 20.8 yards per catch, they’re starting to create some sleepless nights.
The line: Louisa by 28. Lions should keep things rolling here and keep progressing toward a playoff run that starts with them as the Region 4B one seed.
Roanoke Catholic (5-1) at Blue Ridge (6-1), Saturday 2 p.m.
The Basics: This will be an excellent measuring stick to see how far the Barons have come in the three weeks since their loss to North Cross. Blue Ridge pulled away from Norfolk Christian and Atlantic Shores after giving up 70 to North Cross while Roanoke Catholic’s 34-game win streak was snapped by North Cross last week in a 20-6 battle. Now the Barons get a chance to take on the Celtics and try and pick up another key win in their mission to solidify a critical home game in the state semifinals. With Goochland and Bishop O’Connell still left on the schedule there’s a lot of work left to be done for the Barons, but they keep adding wrinkles each week like an end around to Lance Gaskins that went for a TD in Virginia Beach. If the Barons keep finding ways to put their vast array of athletes in space and causing damage, opponents are going to face some nightmare scenarios.
Key Matchup: Blue Ridge’s front seven takes on Roanoke Catholic runner Kawaun Ray. Ray is a speedy wingback, and if edge defenders don’t stay at home he’ll make them pay. North Cross’ defenders stayed at home and held him to just 20 yards on seven carries. If Blue Ridge wants similar results, they’ll have to play big-time on the edge, and they have a monster there in Andy Nwaoko. Look for him to feast if he can play responsibility football.
Who to Watch: Blue Ridge’s Maliq Brown. Brown is such a massive matchup problem at 6-foot-8 and that’s the kind of advantage that can come into play in a game that pits two equally successful squads. If Brown can win a couple of jump balls or snag an interception, it could be the difference-maker in a win.
The line: Blue Ridge by 1. The Barons will have their work cut out for them here.
Woodberry Forest (0-5) at Benedictine (5-2), Saturday 1 p.m.
The Basics: This one may come down to just how effectively the Tigers used their bye week to get ready for the Cadets and the second half of their season. Woodberry has been close, losing its last three games by seven points each, so it’s clear that they’re not as far off as that 0-5 record would indicate against a challenging schedule. But the struggles of the first half of the season would be largely forgotten if the Tigers come roaring out of this bye week and reel off some wins, particularly one on November 9 against Episcopal. But for now there’s the matter of an awfully good Benedictine team on the road on Saturday including quarterback Jay Woolfolk. Can the Tigers find that bit of mojo and cohesion that has been missing this year and get over the hump? They’ve got the talent to get the job done, it’s just about putting it together.
Key Matchup: Woodberry’s wideouts take on Benedictine’s talented secondary. Moving the ball through the air is no easy task against Woodberry, but the Tigers have to figure out how to do it with Ben Locklear pulling the trigger at quarterback. Luke Blundin, Staley Wideman and Austin Ellis are each capable athletes, with Wideman the elder statesman of the group as a senior. He’s got 23 catches for 318 yards on the year. Look for Locklear to go to him and get everyone else involved early to put Benedictine on its heels.
Who to Watch: Woodberry Forest’s Jianni Woodson-Brooks. The Tigers’ defense is going to have to step up in a big way for Woodberry to knock off Benedictine. Woodson-Brooks, a 220-pound linebacker, is one of the guys who can get them on track. If he has a big game, it would go a long way toward sparking the Tigers with four games left to play.
The line: Benedictine by 7. The Cadets are just a little too strong for the Tigers this week.
