Here's the schedule of action for this Friday and Saturday as Week 7 of the high school football regular season is already here and the Race For The Playoffs is in full swing!
GAME OF THE WEEK:
#9 Varina (4-1) at Patrick Henry (3-2), 7pm (Listen LIVE at 6:30pm on 102.9 FM, 1430 AM, online by clicking
HERE and on the @TuneIn radio app on "Radiall"!)
The Blue Devils' lone loss is to #1 Hermitage, and they are really hungry to finally return to the postseason and be a threat after missing 2014 and 2015 and being eliminated in the first round by L.C. Bird a season ago. Their offense averages nearly 45 points per game when they win, so the Patrick Henry defense must produce a stingy performance, something they've rarely done lately. Deep Run posted 27 on the Patriots on our Game of The Week three weeks ago, Henrico scored 35, Atlee put up 33 last Friday. Patrick Henry can score, but they shouldn't get into a shootout with Varina, even at home. The Patriots are fifth in Region 4B, with Huguenot breathing down their neck and surging Midlothian not far behind.
Live Tweet Coverage: @henricosports and @hanoversports
NBC 12 GAME OF THE WEEK:
James River (3-3) at #4 Monacan (5-0), 7:30pm---It's the inaugural "Henderson Bowl" as Jim, of Monacan, faces off against younger brother and former Monacan defensive coordinator Bobby. Both Hendersons will tell you this game isn't about them. For Monacan, it's keeping pace with Dinwiddie in Region 4B and keeping Louisa and Eastern View in their rearview mirror. For James River, it's forgetting about a poor defensive performance against Manchester a week ago and turning the page with just four games left to ensure a postseason bid. The Rapids are currently fifth in Region 6B, a healthy four points plus ahead of #6 Clover Hill and #7 Franklin County.
Live Tweet Coverage: @MattNBC12, Updates on @cfieldsports
#1 Hermitage (6-0) at J.R. Tucker (3-2), 7pm---This edition of the "Cat Bowl" carries a lot more implications than usual on the Tigers' side. One of the pleasant surprises of 2017, they look to pull off a monumental upset at home and throw the Region 5B playoff race into complete chaos. The Panthers begin the night atop that region (formerly known as 5A South) and their October game plan is simple: win out and clinch the #1 seed in the playoffs to ensure home field advantage in the first three rounds. The Tigers begin the game seventh in the region, with surging Meadowbrook 1.2 points behind in eighth, and two rivals, Deep Run and Douglas Freeman, tenths of a point outside the Top 8.
Twitter Updates: @henricosports
#2 Dinwiddie (5-0) at Matoaca (1-4), 7pm: Things get no easier for the homestanding Warriors, who fell in the Region 5B postseason standings last week due to their loss to Hopewell and upset wins by Atlee and Glen Allen. They're in last place (15th), but could upend everything with an upset of the Generals, who may be playing the best football in the RVA right now after an impressive 28-0 win over Thomas Dale last week. Dinwiddie, with the win, overtook Monacan for the top spot in Region 4B and want to stay there. Running the table the rest of the way is step one.
Twitter Updates: @TheRVASportsNet and @cfieldsports
#3 Highland Springs (5-1) at Hanover (1-4), 7pm: It gets no easier for a struggling Hanover offense as the stingy, quick and physical Springers come to town looking for their sixth straight win to keep pace behind Hermitage in second place in Region 5B, just in case. Hanover dropped out of the top eight in Region 4B Monday when the new numbers came out, now in ninth with Caroline just behind them.
Twitter Updates: @henricosports and @hanoversports
Huguenot (3-3) at #5 Manchester (4-1), 7:30pm: Coming off their 59 point performance last week against James River, the Lancers try to keep pace with unbeaten Colonial Forge, who lead Region 6B by 2.8 points over Manchester for the top seed. Meanwhile, Huguenot is less than two-tenths of a point behind Patrick Henry in sixth place in Region 6B and, with an upset, could suddenly cut the gap to the top four, currently 2.8 points behind Louisa for fourth. Can the Falcons slow down Clark and Company? They'll need some help, like winning the turnover battle and creating short fields. That's hard to do against the Lancers, who can score from just about anywhere.
Twitter Updates: @TheRVASportsNet and @cfieldsports
Meadowbrook (2-3) at #6 Thomas Dale (3-2), 7pm: The Knights enter third in Region 6B with Riverbend, coming off an upset win over Massaponax, uncomfortably close in fourth, just under a point behind. Thomas Dale's season can be broken down simply: they win when the offense gets the job done, they lose when they don't. While the Monarchs have looked better the past two weeks, and their strength of schedule helping them climb into the eighth and final playoff berth in Region 5B, they know they are one of possibly seven teams that could fight for the #7 and #8 seeds all the way to November 3rd. Handing Thomas Dale a loss would do wonders for their power ranking, but Meadowbrook's defense will have to show, by far, their best performance of the year to make it happen.
Twitter Updates: @cfieldsports
#7 L.C. Bird (4-1) at Clover Hill (2-4), 7:30pm: The Cavaliers get a huge win Friday at Cosby to jump over Franklin County and become the sixth seed in Region 6B, where seven teams make the playoffs, the #1 seed gets a first round bye, and the #8 seed stays home. But now the Skyhawks come in, quietly staying constant in Region 5B, behind Hermitage and Highland Springs, but ahead of everyone else. There's not been a lot of hype for L.C. Bird so far this year like there's been in past seasons, and we suspect they like it that way. They are focusing on getting better, and peaking when it counts, after November 1st. With Manchester and Monacan both on the horizon, the Skyhawks can't be caught looking ahead this week.
Twitter Updates: @cfieldsports
Colonial Heights (3-2) at #8 Hopewell (4-1), 7pm: Suddenly, these two teams are going in different directions. The Colonials started 3-0 sweeping non-district play, then began their daunting Central District schedule. They still have Dinwiddie on the horizon, now they're faced with trying to slow down a Blue Devils squad who haven't lost since August's opener to I.C. Norcom, the #1 seed in Region 3A. Hopewell enters in third with 22 points, six full points behind Norcom with Phoebus in second, while the Colonials are now in sixth, and need at least one more win to feel good about having a spot in the top eight come November. This would be the biggest win in years for Colonial Heights if they pull off the upset Friday.
Twitter Updates: @TheRVASportsNet
Armstrong (2-4) at #10 Lee-Davis (4-1), 7pm: It's Homecoming for Lee-Davis, who righted the ship last week with a 30-point win over Hanover. With a trip to archrival Atlee looming next Friday, first the C-Feds must take care of business at home, and even with a win, a Varina win over a three-win Patrick Henry could be enough for the Blue Devils to take over fourth place in Region 5B, where Lee-Davis sits now. Remember, the top four seeds host first round games, seeds five through eight hit the road. The Wildcats sit sixth in Region 3B and need to find at least one more win down the stretch to solidify playoff possibilities after going 0-10 last season.
Live Twitter Coverage: @TaylorRVASN, Bonus Video Coverage: @Cameron9408 and @Noah9700
Cumberland at #11 Goochland (5-0), 7pm: While it may be tough to finally catch Poquoson for first place in Region 2B, it doesn't mean the Bulldogs won't try to do so, and a win at home Friday keeps them on pace. Poquoson is, too, 5-0 and meet Tabb this week and prohibitively favored. Nothing changes with expectations at Goochland. They expect to win. And Friday, they get a chance to do so in front of the home faithful. The November 3rd finale at home against Amelia, just behind them in Region 2B, looms larger and larger.
Atlee (2-3) at #12 Henrico (3-2), 7pm: This game looks a lot more attractive than it did a couple of weeks ago thanks to two big wins for the Raiders, especially holding Patrick Henry to 15 points last week in an important home win that keeps Atlee in the Region 5B playoff conversation. Get a win at Henrico, and they officially vault into the conversation, which Henrico is not interested in. The Warriors are in a battle, again, with Lee-Davis (whom they host October 27th) and Varina (who they travel to next Friday) in the Seeds #4 to #6 positions in the region. Lawrence Chambers and the Henrico offense needs an efficient night. Score when you get to the red zone, avoid turnovers, and especially penalties, which have been a problem for Henrico many nights for a long time now. Tyler Warren must have a big game for the Raiders, who, too, must avoid the turnover bug to win.
Live Tweet Coverage: @hanoversports and @henricosports
Douglas Freeman (3-3) at Deep Run (2-3), 7pm: Even though the Wildcats begin the night 10th in Region B, a tenth of a point behind their opponents, and two-tenths out of the eighth and final playoff spot, the Wildcats have the most favorable schedule left of the eight teams fighting for, essentially, two playoff spots in Region 5B. Deep Run begins a four-game homestand by welcoming the Rebels, who have yet to find the consistency in play that has been a hallmark of Mike Henderson's teams in his tenure on Three Chopt Road. The quarterback with the better game, be it Douglas Freeman's Jack Pollard or Deep Run's Aiden Wheeler, could go a long way to determining the winner. The Wildcats continue at home with Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall and Glen Allen all coming in during October before a trip to Mills Godwin November 3rd. If Deep Run wins out, expect a postseason bid.
Twitter Updates: @henricosports
John Marshall (1-4) at Mills Godwin (2-3), 7pm: The path to the playoffs is more difficult for the Eagles, with Hermitage looming next Friday, and the Justices coming in needing a win to get back in the Region 3B playoff race, currently ninth, four-tenths of a point behind #8 Culpeper. The Eagles must find offensive production, as both wins earlier this season came by scores of 14-7, and the Justices can put points on the board. A loss tonight severely hampers Godwin's November hopes, but a win keeps them alive and well. With Glen Allen, Deep Run, J.R. Tucker and TJ ahead of them, John Marshall has a chance to get some wins and earn a postseason bid of their own. Tonight is a big game for them.
Twitter Updates: @TheRVASportsNet and @henricosports
Glen Allen (1-4) at Thomas Jefferson (2-3), 4pm: The Jaguars earned their first-ever win in three tries over Douglas Freeman last Friday and kept their playoff hopes alive in Region 5B, albeit they, along with Atlee, have the hardest roads to the seventh or eighth seeds. A trip to Thomas Jefferson is not a given, as Jalen Jackson and company are in the Region 3B playoff race and plan to keep it that way, as they are not only playing for postseason positioning, but a home game in the first round. Glen Allen will have to win out, and maybe get some help, for a realistic shot at the playoffs, but with Hermitage behind them, they should be able to win every game left on their schedule if they play their best. The problem is most opponents are in the very same position, so desperation will create some wild games in the Colonial District down the stretch.
Twitter Updates: @henricosports and @TheRVASportsNet
Powhatan (1-4) at Louisa (5-0), 7:30pm: Louisa saw Eastern View overtake them for third place in Region 4B last week despite staying unbeaten. Powhatan is having a surprisingly tough season, but a win tonight changes everything. Even at 2-4, the Indians would still be alive for a Region 4B playoff bid, it would take more victories down the stretch. But it's really, really hard to play at Louisa, who has built one of the best home-field advantages in the Commonwealth. The Lions are one of four unbeaten teams in Region 4B (Dinwiddie, Monacan, Eastern View), and they want to win to keep pace.
Prince George (2-3) at Petersburg (3-2), 7pm: The Crimson Wave are on the outside looking in, currently in ninth, 1.2 points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. Prince George is in the "Group of Eight" in Region 5B, tied for eleventh with Mills Godwin, but facing a tougher road in the Central District as opposed to the several Colonial District teams in the mix for the final two seeds in the region. This is a must win for the Royals, as they still have Hopewell and Thomas Dale to play. They need to beat Petersburg, and later, Colonial Heights and Matoaca, and possibly get help, for hope at a game November 10th.
Twitter Updates: @TheRVASportsNet
George Wythe (0-5) at Midlothian (2-3), 7:30pm: The Trojans enter the top eight in Region 4B thanks to last week's victory, and are favored to grab another win Friday and get to the .500 mark. The Bulldogs have struggled this year and seek to finally break through with a win. Midlothian is the #7 seed, but Hanover and Caroline are within two points of the Trojans, so the margin for error is small, and the Trojans will look to control their own destiny.
Twitter Updates: @cfieldsports and @TheRVASportsNet
ALSO FRIDAY:
Spotsylvania at Caroline
Prince Edward at Amelia
King William at Charles City
Grafton at New Kent
St. Christopher's at Fork Union, 3:30pm
Woodberry Forest at Collegiate, 4pm
SATURDAY:
Benedictine at Georgetown Prep, 1pm
Richmond Christian at Northern Virginia Kings, 6pm, Manassas
BYES: Cosby, Trinity Episcopal
