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GAME OF THE WEEK: Patrick Henry (3-2) at Atlee (2-2), 6:30pm airtime, 102.9 FM/1430 AM, TuneIn App on "Radiall"
CLICK HERE to listen live online!
Atlee enters this game tied for ninth in Region 5B with Clover Hill. With battles ahead with Henrico (next week), Varina, and Highland Springs, opportunity is there for a postseason bid, but they need to sweep their county rivals to have a legitimate shot. The quarterback battle between Tyler Warren of Atlee and Alex Sikkar of Patrick Henry should be one of the best this week, and definitely the best in Hanover County this season. The Patriots enter play in sixth in Region 4B, less than a point from third, but also with two teams just a point or less behind them. Special teams could determine the winner here.
#1 Highland Springs (5-0) at #10 Henrico (3-2), 7pm (Twitter: @WithamRobbie, @henricosports)
For years, Henrico has aspired to be Highland Springs. During that stretch, they've never gotten that elusive win over the Springers. In fact, their only two losses in 2018 were to Highland Springs. They get another chance here, but need to play much better on offense than they did last Friday against Patrick Henry to have a shot. For the Springers, it's continue playing at the level they've attained so far, make sure they get the road win (which will be a weekly challenge for a long time), and get ready to go to #2 Manchester next Friday.
Huguenot (2-2) at #2 Manchester (4-0), 7pm (Twitter: @cfieldsports)
The Falcons enter in the eighth and final playoff spot in Region 4B, but have lost two after starting 2-0. Now they face the juggernaut of the Southside, who, with one more win, will be unbeaten when the juggernaut of the Northside arrives next Friday. Biggest challenge for the Lancers? Don't be distracted by looking ahead. Start strong, score early, seize the lead, and don't let go.
#7 Thomas Dale (3-1) at #3 Hopewell (4-0), 7pm (Twitter: @TheRVASportsNet)
Another classic Central District showdown. This time, though, we may not see the highly anticipated matchup between Chris Tyree of the Knights, headed to Notre Dame, and Tre Henderson of Hopewell, the junior who holds nearly 25 Division I offers. Tyree continues to recover from an ankle injury, head coach Kevin Tucker telling NBC12 this week he is progressing well, but that the team would rather have Chris back on the field when "Chris can be Chris". Don't worry, both teams have plenty of playmakers. But, in the end, don't be surprised if this becomes a defensive slugfest rather than a track meet at Merner Field.
Lake Taylor at #4 Varina (4-1), 7pm (Twitter: @henricosports)
Another in the series of good games this season scheduled between 804 teams and quality programs outside the area. This will be the beginning of a quality back half of the Varina schedule, traveling to Patrick Henry next week before their showdown with Henrico. The Blue Devils can continue to raise eyebrows with a win here. More importantly, stay away from the injury bug and continue to flow multiple playmakers through your offense if you're Varina. This will make them more dangerous as they move closer to their season-ending rivalry showdown with Highland Springs November 8th.
Orange at #5 Louisa, 7pm (Twitter: @TheRVASportsNet)
The Lions have a legitimate shot at going undefeated (again) in the regular season, but that's not the big concern for now. One game at a time is key here, not just hyperbole, as the Lions are in what's becoming a two-team race for the top seed in Region 4B with Eastern View, who enters tonight at 5-0. Louisa leads the race by one point now thanks to strength of schedule, specifically their last-second win over Massaponax. A blocked field goal could, again, could, be the difference between the #1 and #2 seed come November.
#8 Benedictine at Georgetown Prep, 7pm
The Cadets head out of state to try to state atop the latest VISAA Division I standings. They are followed by St. Christopher's, Collegiate, and Trinity Episcopal. St. Stephen's and St. Agnes, and Fork Union, are currently on the outside looking. Fork Union gets St. Christopher's Friday, Trinity Episcopal next Saturday, then Collegiate on October 18th. The Cadets host Collegiate next Friday. Wins Friday and next Friday back at home could really solidify the top spot in the standings, which they currently hold by 3.2 points.
George Wythe (0-4) at #9 Monacan (3-1), 7:30pm (Twitter: @cfieldsports)
The Chiefs, now in fourth place in Region 4B, a quarter point behind surging Powhatan, are heavily favored in this one. Monacan gets a Midlothian team that could be desperate for a win next Friday at home.
#11 Prince George (3-1) at Matoaca (3-1), 7pm (Twitter: @TheRVASportsNet, @cfieldsports)
NO ONE saw this game coming. If they say they did, check the tape. Two teams who usually have aspirations for Region 5B playoff action both find themselves in the top eight as they meet Friday in Southern Chesterfield. Matoaca hasn't gotten the publicity that Prince George has, due to the Royals handing Douglas Freeman their only loss on opening night, then winning at Dinwiddie last Friday in double overtime. The Warriors, however, are tough to play at home. The winner goes to 4-1, and is a legitimate playoff contender. The loser is still right in the middle of postseason discussion. A low scoring affair would seem to favor the visitors, a higher scoring game the home team.
Hermitage (2-3) at Maury, 7pm (Twitter: @henricosports)
So, who is Hermitage? The team that stunned Thomas Dale or the team that, the next week, fell to Varina at home by 43 points? After spending September at Chester Fritz, the Panthers take a road trip to the Class 5 state semifinalists of a year ago. That's actually a good thing. With all of the distractions off the field and now uneven play on it, some team bonding, and a quality opponent away from the friendly confines could be the medicine this team needs as it enters a stretch where they likely need to sweep their West End brethren to really be in the playoff discussion in Region 5B, where they sit in 11th place, but just 2.2 points out of eighth.
J.R. Tucker (1-3) at #12 Douglas Freeman (4-1), 7pm (Twitter: @henricosports)
After the opening three-point loss to Prince George, the Rebels rip off four straight wins. But after this week, the schedule gets a bit tougher, beginning with unbeaten Deep Run coming to Three Chopt Road next Friday off a bye week. Hermitage, and Region 2A playoff contender John Marshall, both come to William E. Long Stadium, before the Rebels go to Glen Allen to end the regular season. For the Rebels to make the playoffs, 9-1 makes it a given. 8-2 should suffice. Any slips other than, say, Deep Run, and because of overall strength of schedule issues, things could get dicey based on other results. Even this early, the Rebels are rooting for Prince George to win tonight, getting an extra VHSL power rating point for that. They get nothing if Matoaca wins, because they don't play the Warriors.
OTHER GAMES OF NOTE:
Cosby (3-1) at Midlothian (1-3), 7pm: The Titans are on a three-game winning streak, and in 5th place in the newly configured Region 6A. The Trojans are on a three-game losing streak in their new home of Region 5B and, with a loss Friday, would find the climb back into the postseason race very difficult with a trip to Monacan next week.
Dinwiddie (1-3) at Petersburg (2-2), 7pm: It's not panic time for Dinwiddie. A young team, they have plenty of time to rebound and grab a playoff bid in Region 4B and, in fact, make it that they would be playing their best football at the right time. But Petersburg, who nearly beat Thomas Dale last week on the road for the second straight year, saw the Prince George result last week and must feel this is a golden opportunity to get a win over their Central District rivals which would benefit them in Region 3A, where they currently sit in 7th, .8 ahead of Booker T. Washington, and just a quarter point out of 7th. More importantly, it would keep the top five in sight. #5 Lafayette enters this week at 21.0 points, whereas the Crimson Wave are at 18.0.
L.C. Bird (2-2) at Powhatan (3-1), 7:30pm: The Skyhawks are not used to playing "catch up" in the playoff standings, but they begin this week in 12th place, but just 2.75 points out of eighth place. Powhatan has won three straight in their return to Dominion District play. A win over L.C. Bird at home would signal both that they are legitimate within that new home and, more importantly, they are a top tier contender in Region 4B, where they sit in third place, with Monacan, Spotsylvania, and Patrick Henry all hot on their heels.
Glen Allen (1-3) at Mills Godwin (2-3), 7pm: For the Eagles, in 13th place in Region 5B, with this being their sixth game, a win is sorely needed, with Deep Run and Hermitage still to come. Running the table makes a postseason bid, which the Eagles earned with a late surge in 2017, almost likely. Any loss significantly damages playoff hopes. For Glen Allen, after tough losses to Midlothian in their opener (after leading 17-0) and last week in the back and forth affair with Thomas Jefferson, they can't think playoffs right now. The Jaguars simply need a win to help press the reset button, and build for the back half of the season. If they get on a roll, then their thoughts can expand.
Woodberry Forest (0-4) at Collegiate (3-1), 2:30pm, 102.9 FM/1430 AM, TuneIn App on "Radiall"
CLICK HERE to listen live online!
The Cougars, led by Nigel Williams, are on a roll. They'll need it to continue, not affording a slip up to Woodberry Forest. Collegiate is in third place in VISAA Division I with St. Christopher's just ahead and Trinity Episcopal, the team that defeated the Cougars in September, just behind. Collegiate has short-term destiny in their hands right now with a trip to Benedictine set for next Friday.
OTHER GAMES:
Clover Hill (2-2) at James River (0-4), 7pm
Meadowbrook (0-4) at Colonial Heights (0-4), 7pm
Lee-Davis (0-4) at Hanover (0-4), 7pm
Amelia (3-1) at Goochland (3-1), 7pm
St. Christopher's (4-1) at Fork Union (2-2), 3:30pm
Courtland (1-4) at Caroline (0-4), 7pm
Chancellor (3-2) at Spotsylvania (4-1), 7pm (Region 4B Watch)
Eastern View (5-0) at James Monroe (2-2), 7pm (Region 4B and 3B Watch)
Lafayette (3-1) at New Kent (2-2), 7pm
Prince Edward (1-3) at Nottoway (4-1), 7pm
Armstrong (0-5) at Park View-South Hill (3-1), 7pm
North Cross (6-0) at Trinity Episcopal (4-2), Saturday, 2:30pm
BYES: #6 Deep Run, John Marshall, Thomas Jefferson, King William
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