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Predictions Predictions VHSL Football Picks for Friday 9/24/21 & Saturday 9/25/21

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Publisher of VirginiaPreps.com (Rivals Network)
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Jul 20, 2004
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Before we dive in on the games for the final weekend of action in September 2021, let’s review how the picks did in Tidewater and beyond, statewide, from VaPreps Publisher Matthew Hatfield and his ESPN Radio 94.1 Saturday morning co-host, Coach Ed Young, below…


Hatfield's Fri - Sat. Weekend Total:
23-3 (88.5%)
Hatfield's Tier 1 Selections: 8-2 (80%)
Hatfield's Season Total: 107-27 (79.9%)

Hatfield's 757 Fri - Sat. Weekend Total: 17-1 (94.4%)
Hatfield's Tidewater Season Total: 59-12 (83.1%)


Coach Young's 757 Fri - Sat. Weekend Total: 15-3 (83.3%)
Coach Young's Season Total: 57-14 (80.3%)

Thanks to Bay Rivers District victories by Poquoson over Tabb (14-7) and Jamestown over Grafton (13-12), Hatfield broke his tie with Coach Young and went up two games in the Tidewater selections. However, Matt had misses with Robinson beating Chantilly and Martinsburg of West Virginia holding off Highland Springs to prevent a perfect week in the Tier 1 games. Both men missed on Hickory upending Nansemond River.

Williams Stadium is the site of a HUGE Class 3 matchup, featuring the No. 1 ranked team in the state and the No. 3 ranked team in Virginia.


Game of the Week:

Brookville (3-0) at Liberty Christian (3-0) . . .
A season ago, Brookville won the season opener 25-14 over Liberty Christian, which then got revenge in the playoffs 42-14 on the Bees. There’s so much talent in this game and two powerful offenses squaring off, sensing Championship stakes in a regular season tilt. LCA comes in averaging 53.7 points per game, while Brookville is putting up 51 PPG.

The Bees have a tremendous QB in Drake McDaniel, who has connected on 23 of 31 passes for 416 yards and 8 TD’s with no intercepts. Tailback Tayshaun Butler can rush for 100 yards with ease and wideout Ethan Robey is one of the best in the Seminole District.

To counter, LCA has a strong offensive line with five-star prospect Zach Rice anchoring them. At QB, UVA commit Davis Lane is an effective runner and passer with weapons surrounding him, most notably Army commit Dillon Stowers at tight end, all-purpose weapon Jaylin Belford and freshman ball carrier Gideon Davidson, who is mature beyond his years.

Expect a tight tussle that’s up for grabs in the closing moments.

Matt Hatfield Says – Liberty Christian 39-37


Tier 1 Action:

Broad Run (4-0) at Woodgrove (2-0) . . .
What’s not to like about this matchup with Broad Run, led by Wake Forest commit Brett Griffis at QB, and Woodgrove with two-way standout and Princeton pledge Price Williams? The Spartans appear to be a bit more on the potent side offensively, but don’t sleep on the Wolverines and their offense at home, fully capable of springing the mild upset.

Matt Hatfield Says – Broad Run 35-17


Maury (1-1) at Lake Taylor (2-1) . . . Lake Taylor is averaging 29 points per game and allowing 39 PPG, yet here they are with a chance to go two games over .500 if they can follow up the rally from 20 points down to beat Norview 28-26 by beating Maury for the third time in four meetings. Prior to the Commodores' 49-7 thumping of Lake Taylor on their way to a perfect 15-0 undefeated season, Maury had lost 10 straight to their Norfolk rival. Both suffered an early season blemish with Maury's being of the much closer variety, 29-27 at New Bern in North Carolina, whereas Lake Taylor was routed 56-6 by Phoebus.

Lake Taylor has made a switch at quarterback with Aaron McDaniel (237 pass yards, 3 TD's passing) and that seems to have jump-started their offense with the likes of Tarreon Washington-Jacobs, Chuck Fisher and Reese Williams providing a solid ground attack. Ironically, McDaniel played at Maury a season ago, so he's facing his former team in this one. Sophomore 6'6" WR Elijah Washington is a matchup problem for any defense and caught the game-winning touchdown pass with three seconds left vs. Norview on 4th & Goal.

Maury has a host of weapons steering their attack, headlined by Salem transfer Saquan Miles at QB and versatile WR/ATH/QB Ahmarian Granger, who is committed to Old Dominion and can use this spotlight performance to build his campaign for Eastern District Offensive Player for the Year honors. Both squads returned a lot from last season in terms of contributors in the trenches, so that battle might be a wash, and if mistakes are to a minimum by each, this has the potential to be a barn-burner with frequent scoring.

Ultimately, the key probably will be whether or not Lake Taylor's pass rush can get Miles unglued and force Maury to establish the running game to sustain drives. If the Commodores get time to throw, then Granger and sophomore Da'Vontae Floyd can pose a threat for the Titans secondary.

You have to go back to 2013 to find the last time Lake Taylor lost twice at home in a season. Two losses at home before October for the Titans? That hasn't happened since 2001.

Matt Hatfield Says - Maury 34-20
Coach Ed Young Says – Lake Taylor 24-22


King's Fork (2-0) at Western Branch (4-0) . . . Are the Bruins back as a legitimate contender in Hampton Roads? It sure looks that way. Rashad Cook's team has pitched three straight shutouts with a host of contributors in that effort, including four interceptions from Kaleb Broadbent. Can they capitalize if and when King's Fork goes to the air?

The Bulldogs, under Anthony Joffrion, are quietly at 2-0, having outscored Smithfield and Great Bridge by a combined total of 77-8. Quarterback Cameron Butler threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns to go with 101 yards rushing and a score vs. the Wildcats. They also got seven sacks, including a couple from Virginia Tech commit Kyree Moyston.

The Bruins do have one of the top running backs in all of Tidewater with Shimique Billzard (78Att. 545Yds. 7 TD's), so stopping him will definitely be an emphasis for the King's Fork defense.

Matt Hatfield Says - King's Fork 20-19
Coach Ed Young Says – Western Branch 21-18


Graham (3-0) at Galax (2-1) . . . The Maroon Tide are coming off a big overtime win over Radford, 34-27. They have a balanced attack and the ability to move the ball consistently. That being said, Javonte Reeves’ running will be important for Galax, which leaned more on its passing attack with Cole Pickett last season, to keep the G-Men on the sideline. Look for them to utilize some of the game-plan that Union did a week ago in its narrow 28-27 loss to Graham to keep an explosive Graham offense on the sideline.

When push comes to shove, it’s hard to imagine the Galax defense can slow down the Graham passing attack with Zack Blevins firing to Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw (8 TD’s already this year) with a massive o-line, headed up by UVA commit Brody Meadows, paving the way.

Matt Hatfield Says – Graham 39-21


King & Queen (4-0) at Essex (2-1) . . . Malik Holmes accounted for 238 yards and 3 TD’s for King & Queen a week ago in their victory over Isle of Wight Academy. The dual-threat QB is a handful for any defense, and even a team that’s as well-schooled as Essex will have their work cut out for them trying to slow him down. If Kam Berry and Jadyn Nelson can break off some big plays to take pressure off Holmes, I can see King & Queen pulling this one off on the road in a matchup of two teams that anticipate going for in the Class 1 playoffs.

For Todd Jones and his Trojans of Essex, who have a couple of dynamic playmakers in Dorian Harris and Kameron Robinson to give the King & Queen defense fits as well. So far, the Essex defense has been a bit more consistent, pitching a shutout of Class 4 Jamestown. In a tight game down the stretch, that defense might be able to put Holmes and company behind the sticks and force some hurried throws.

Matt Hatfield Says – Essex 26-24


Matoaca (3-0) at Thomas Dale (2-0) . . . This is a great gauge for Matoaca to see how much of a contender they are against a Thomas Dale squad presently No. 3 in the state in Class 6 with a fierce defense that features stud d-lineman Malachi Madison.

More from Byron Jones & Danny Lewis in the Richmond Region Preview Here

Matt Hatfield Says – Thomas Dale 26-24
Byron Jones Says - Thomas Dale 28-26
Danny Lewis Says - Matoaca 24-20


Tier 2 Action:

Massaponax (0-0) at Mountain View (4-0) . . .
The Panthers have yet to finish a full game, while Ike Daniels of Mountain View continues to run wild on opponents with Massaponax the next victim on his list.

More from Devin Payne in the Fredericksburg Preview Here

Matt Hatfield Says – Mountain View 30-16
Devin Payne Says – Mountain View 35-14


Riverbend (3-1) at North Stafford (2-1) . . . Keep an eye on the matchup of the North Stafford ground game, with Arizona State commit Tevin White, against a Riverbend defense anchored by James Madison commit Aiden Fisher at linebacker.

Matt Hatfield Says – Riverbend 21-20
Devin Payne Says – Riverbend 28-24


Grundy (2-1) at Honaker (1-1) . . . Back in April, it was Grundy taking this one by a 36-3 count, but it figures to be a much closer affair in the re-match of Region 1D contenders.

Matt Hatfield Says – Grundy 27-14


Rest of the Tidewater Slate with Hatfield vs. Coach Young:

Hickory (1-3) at Oscar Smith (2-1) . . .
Coming off their 7-6 upset of Nansemond River, the Hawks have a much grander task and that is caging the Tigers of Oscar Smith for the first time since 2006 when they pulled one of the biggest surprises in recent Southeastern District history. Oscar Smith hasn't lost consecutive games in the same season since 2002.

Matt Hatfield Says - Oscar Smith 56-3
Coach Ed Young Says – Oscar Smith 50-0


First Colonial (0-4) at Green Run (3-0) . . . The high-powered Stallions, led by QB Xavier Davis, are putting up 39 points per game.

Matt Hatfield Says - Green Run 58-8
Coach Ed Young Says – Green Run 48-0


Ocean Lakes (3-0) at Tallwood (1-2) . . . How well Tallwood can move the ball against an Ocean Lakes defense, with two shutouts in three games, will probably determine this one.

Matt Hatfield Says - Ocean Lakes 24-14
Coach Ed Young Says – Ocean Lakes 28-14


Warwick (2-2) at Hampton (3-0) . . . Coach Mike Smith of Hampton goes for career win No. 501 against a Warwick program that knocked him out of the playoffs as recent as 2019.

Matt Hatfield Says - Hampton 20-14
Coach Ed Young Says - Hampton 30-16


Woodside (1-1) at Gloucester (0-4) . . . The lone touchdown scored this season for the Dukes so far came in a 23-7 loss last Saturday to Kecoughtan.

Matt Hatfield Says - Woodside 35-0
Coach Ed Young Says - Woodside 28-0


Grassfield (0-4) at Deep Creek (2-1) . . .

Matt Hatfield Says -
Deep Creek 28-7
Coach Ed Young Says – Deep Creek 24-12


Nansemond River (1-2) at Indian River (1-0) . . .

Matt Hatfield Says -
Indian River 24-8
Coach Ed Young Says – Indian River 22-18


Great Bridge (0-2) at Lakeland (1-2) . . . The Lakeland offense has put up 91 points through three games, whereas Great Bridge has scored just nine total points in its losses to King's Fork and Manor.

Matt Hatfield Says - Lakeland 26-19
Coach Ed Young Says - Lakeland 30-12


Warhill (4-0) at Smithfield (0-1) . . .

Matt Hatfield Says -
Warhill 30-15
Coach Ed Young Says - Warhill 33-18


Northumberland (3-0) at Bruton (1-1) . . .

Matt Hatfield Says -
Northumberland 26-16
Coach Ed Young Says - Northumberland 30-14


Bayside (2-1) at Landstown (0-2) . . .

Matt Hatfield Says -
Bayside 17-7
Coach Ed Young Says - Bayside 20-18....but upset potential!!!


Kempsville (1-1) at Salem-VB (2-1) . . . Last win for Kempsville over Salem? It came in 2009 as the Chiefs try to halt an 11-game losing streak in the head-to-head series with a Sun Devils team they are jockeying with for playoff positioning in Region 5A.

Matt Hatfield Says - Kempsville 21-16
Coach Ed Young Says - Salem 22-18...still not fully a Chiefs believer


Kellam (1-2) at Princess Anne (1-1) . . .

Matt Hatfield Says -
Kellam 24-12
Coach Ed Young Says - Kellam 20-19


Norview (2-1) at Churchland (2-1) . . . Five different Truckers have already rushed for a touchdown, including dual-threat junior QB Brandyn Hillman (198 yards, TD passing; 170 yards, 3 TD's rushing). Both teams come in averaging identical points, 22.7 per contest.

Matt Hatfield Says - Churchland 21-14
Coach Ed Young Says - Norview 24-20


Grafton (1-2) at York (2-1) . . .
Doug Pereira's Falcons - led by Davidson commit Jordin Lennon (146 yards, 3 TD's rushing last week) - had defending Class 3 State Champ Lafayette down 24-14 in the third period before the Rams rallied for a 35-24 win.

Matt Hatfield Says - York 41-12
Coach Ed Young Says - York 34-14


Saturday’s 9/25/21 Tidewater Action:

Lafayette (2-0) at Tabb (0-3) . . .

Matt Hatfield Says -
Lafayette 34-10
Coach Ed Young Says - Lafayette 40-6


Bethel (2-2) at Denbigh (0-3) . . .

Matt Hatfield Says -
Bethel 42-7
Coach Ed Young Says - Bethel 28-6


Poquoson (1-1) at New Kent (1-1) . . . Are the Trojans still smarting from a 36-0 loss to Warhill and can Poquoson follow up a 14-7 victory over Tabb with another key one here on the road? Poquoson had dominated this head-to-head series with 13 wins in a row prior to New Kent's 41-31 breakthrough last March.

Matt Hatfield Says - New Kent 26-22
Coach Ed Young Says - New Kent 22-18...but they always screw me!!!!
 
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