Well the first round of the playoffs is over and in the Richmond Region our numbers have shrunk by nearly half… Friday morning we had nineteen teams playing, going into this coming Friday we will have ten! The first week was largely what you expect, some games that were pretty much never in doubt, we had some games that surprised us and some teams that surprised us. That’s what the playoffs at any level, at any sport is all about… Sometimes it goes to plan but sometimes you get surprises… Let us take a look back at the week that was.
GAME OF THE WEEK
#5 Lee-Davis 41-14 over #4 Douglas Freeman
Many, myself included thought this had the makings to be one of the more competitive games of the first weekend but it proved to be anything but. Lee-Davis came out firing in the first half scoring three straight touchdowns before Freeman ever cracked the scoreboard. The Confederates led 28-7 with a heavy dose of Nathan Evans who scored three touchdowns and had a big night in the ground game. The Confederates ground game really set the tempo for the night but make no mistake about it, Chase Mummau had a strong night as well throwing the ball around for nearly 200 yards(191). Miles Johnson quietly had a pretty good night himself on both sides of the ball with stops on defense, an interception and some timely receptions on offense. It was a total team effort for the Confederates and it didn’t stop after the first half, the Confederates kept their foot on the pedal and kept doing what they had done all game. The Freeman defense played better in the second half but a big first quarter let alone half really set the Rebels back early. Trey Laughlin and Jordan Smith were unable to have the kinda game their fans have been accustomed to this season but with two touchdowns the Rebels did give their fans something to cheer about unlike last week where they were shutout. With the win the Confederates now get a rematch with Highland Springs but unlike their first meeting, this one will be at Highland Springs. Whichever team won this one, they knew looming would be the vaunted Springers. For Douglas Freeman, for a second straight season their season ends in the first round. The Rebels will be back next season, there is no doubt about that, they will lose some seniors but for the most part this was a young team and with the players they have returning, another big season is not out of the question. You can read more about this game in detail here… http://virginiapreps.forums.rivals.com/threads/lee-davis-dominates-douglas-freeman-41-14.31970/
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK
#10 Atlee 38-35 over #7 Mountain View
This one did not come as the surprise to me that it does to some. I actually picked the Raiders to win but many thought Mountain View would take it given they were the higher seed and the up and down season the Raiders have had… Well this game was just as up and down as the Raiders season. The Wildcats took an early 14-0 lead and led 14-7 at halftime but the third quarter belonged to Atlee. A 65-yard touchdown pass from Rasharrd Harris to Cole Blackman tied the game but the Raiders fell behind yet again. Ethan Ratke’s leg and Harris arm put the Raiders back on top with a field goal and a 70-yard touchdown pass to JJ Givens. Everytime the Raiders seemed to be in control, the Wildcats came right back. At the beginning of the fourth quarter Atlee led 24-21 but Mountain View’s Ahmad Tweedy fired off two fourth quarter touchdown passes but then again so did Harris to Blackman on both occasions but no touchdown on this night was as big as the 14-yard touchdown to Blackman. That pass gave the Raiders a 38-35 with 6.6 seconds to go after the Wildcats had gone up 35-31 with 51 seconds to go themselves. Heartbreaking for the Wildcat fans but joy on the side of Atlee as the Raiders get their second playoff win in three years. The celebrating however will be short lived as the Raiders win now means they face Tuscarora, the very team that lost to Bird last year in the state final in 5A and one of the favorites this year.
ROUND THE REGION
#3 Thomas Dale 26-0 over #6 Woodbridge
The Knights returned to their winning ways snapping a three-game losing streak to close out the regular season. The Knights Matt Lawton had another strong night at quarterback which he has done even during their losing streak. The Knights QB threw two touchdowns in the first half while the Knights defense put up a shutout in the first half that carried over to the second half as well. In fact, it was the Knights first shutout since Sept. 25th when they shutout Colonial Heights 61-0. Capping a big night for the defense and a return to winning was Kyle Alexander’s 80-yard interception return in the third quarter to put the Knights up 26-0. The Knights are now faced with the task of facing a team they have faced twice in the playoffs albeit it’s been over a decade since they met, 2001-2002.
#5 Cosby 42-27 over #4 Manchester
For a second straight week the Titans beat the Lancers but unlike last week, the Lancers do not play on, their season now over. The two were engaged in quite the battle in the first half but the game got away from the Lancers in the second half. It was Manchester who got on the board first with a touchdown run from Frank Boyd, one of two he had in the first half. Cosby answered both Boyd touchdowns with touchdown passes from Grant Squayers to make it 14-14 at the half. The Titans carried a 21-14 lead into the fourth quarter and that is when the game got away from Manchester. Joe Hunt busted off a 62-yard touchdown run, his second of the night between Caleb Grimes touchdown runs… Suddenly the Lancers were down 42-14 and their season was nearing an end. The Lancers were able to score twice late but the Lancers would be unable to rally for this win. The future is bright for Manchester going into next season, this season was plagued by injuries throughout the season. The future is bright for Cosby as well, thanks to Riverbend’s upset of Colonial Forge, the Titans will be at home this coming week against the Bears.
#1 Highland Springs 42-13 over #8 Meadowbrook
Just like last season, the Springers swept the Monarchs with a win in their regular season meeting as well as on this night in the playoffs. Meadowbrook improved as the season went on but not enough to pose a serious threat to the Springers. The Springers led 28-7 at the half with much of the scoring having been in the first quarter where Juwan Carter ran for a touchdown and threw one as well. While the Springers offense was doing their thing the defense was doing theirs. The Springers defense kept the Monarch offense to just two scores. Jace Miller scored on a short 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and the Monarchs scored in the fourth quarter as well but by that point the game was well in hand. Juwan Carter and Greg Dortch both scored in the third quarter as the Monarchs defense was not up to the task of stopping this explosive Springers offense. The Monarchs season comes to a close at Highland Springs for a second straight season and the Springers now host Lee-Davis in a rematch of a game Highland Springs took 42-0 just a few weeks ago.
#2 Hermitage 37-6 over #7 Henrico
For a second straight season the Panthers and Warriors faced off in the first round and the result was the same… It however was close early on as the Panthers led just 7-6 after one quarter of play and just 13-6 at halftime. The defenses were at the top of their game early on but Hermitage began to find success in the third and fourth quarter whereas Henrico was unable to find that same success. The Warriors offense could only manage 61 yards against the Panther defense which is not surprising considering what the Hermitage defense has done to teams all season long. Hermitage who is used to scoring touchdowns actually had to rely on special teams a few times in this one with three field goals and when Burton was getting it done with his leg, Odom was getting it done as he has all season. Eli Odom scored twice on the ground in the second half and threw a touchdown as the offense of Hermitage began to wear down the defense of Henrico. After an Xavier Goodall touchdown early that gave the Warriors the first points of the night, the Warriors were shutout the rest of the way. Now Henrico’s season is over and the Warriors will look to next season and continue to build on what Coach Glasco has started there. As for Hermitage, they get what they want, another crack at LC Bird in the playoffs in a highly anticipated game.
#3 LC Bird 42-6 over #6 Matoaca
Justin Ford has been one of the keys to the turnaround at Matoaca this season but despite striking first in this one, Ford nor the Warriors offense could find much success against the force that is LC Bird’s defense. Matoaca could only muster 87 yards of offense against a defense led by Rayshard Ashby and Isaiah Moore who combined for 25 tackles and four sacks. While Matoaca struggled on offense, the Skyhawks did not. The offense might have only scored twice in the first half, up 14-6 at the half but in the second half the Skyhawks offense found the endzone often. JB Wright and Shedrick McCall who combined for 305 yards in the ground game scored twice in that second half as the Skyhawks rushing attack wore down the Warriors defense. As has been the case all season, Bird just wears a team down, on both offense and defense. Now the Skyhawks will look to do that very same thing to an undefeated Hermitage team that the Skyhawks are all too familiar with having played them the last five seasons and now for a sixth… As for Matoaca, their turnaround season comes to a close but the future is certainly bright after a big first year for Coach Johnson.
#2 Hanover over #7 Louisa 47-28
Louisa came in for a fight and they gave it to Hanover in this one in the first half. The Lions Malik Bell and Hanover’s Clayton Cheatham traded shots early on with both running and throwing for a touchdown in the first half of action but it was the Hawks who led 19-14 at the half in a close one. That close game got stretched out in the third quarter when Cheatham duplicated his first half effort in one quarter of play with two more touchdowns on the ground and a touchdown pass. The Louisa Lions struggled to contain Cheatham and Bell struggled to match his counterpart on the field as Bell would have only two scores in the second half as Hanover’s defense limited Louisa in the second half. The two touchdowns Cheatham threw he hit Jack Chenault who has been a favorite target of both Cheatham and Bazala this season and speaking of Bazala, he scored the final touchdown of the night for the Hawks in the fourth quarter when he punched it in from 21 yards out. With a little more offense or defense this game could have been a lot closer but with Cheatham healthy and back, the Hawks offense will be tough for any defense to slow down. Now Hanover will host Dinwiddie, a team they beat earlier this season and a team they have a history with in the playoffs.
#6 Dinwiddie 26-20 over #3 Monacan
Dinwiddie finished the season strong and Monacan did as well but you can’t help but wonder if that week off in between their final game of the season and the playoffs hurt the Chiefs momentum. Monacan trailed 17-0 in the second quarter as neither the defense or the offense was hitting on much. Even when Monacan did score the Generals responded with Bryce Witt’s third touchdown pass of the night to take a 24-8 lead into halftime! In the third quarter the Chiefs began to gain ground. The Monacan defense shutout Dinwiddie in the third quarter and scored twice with to draw within four. In the fourth quarter it appeared as though Monacan might rise up and take this thing despite the slow start. The Chiefs stopped Dinwiddie near the goal line on fourth down to get the ball back with time winding down but the Chiefs would be hit in the endzone for a safety by the Generals. The Chiefs would be unable to recover and Dinwiddie would pull off a bit of an upset setting up a rematch with Hanover. For Monacan, the Chiefs season end much earlier than last years but the Chiefs will be back to contend next season.
#2 James Monroe 56-0 over #7 Armstrong
The Wildcats season ended just as the last eight games have for Armstrong, with a loss. We all knew going into this one that the Wildcats would be gross underdogs and that certainly was the case. A loser of eight straight games and just barely getting into the playoffs, the Wildcats were unable to keep up with James Monroe on either side of the ball. The Yellow Jackets scored 7 offensive touchdowns and even a defensive touchdown when Divyne Cardell-Ford intercepted AJ Felton’s pass and returned it 54 yards for a score. With the loss, the Wildcats finish their season 2-9 in the first year under Coach Anderson and still without their first playoff win the history of the program.
#4 York 44-6 over #5 Colonial Heights
The Colonials knew they would be facing an uphill battle without tailback Darien Canada but I don’t believe they or anyone thought a loss of this magnitude was possible. The Colonials were shutout over three quarters, it wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Devinne Edwards finally got the Colonials on the board but by that time the Falcons had the game in hand. There was no onslaught of offense in this one from the Falcons, just a steady game from quarter to quarter of points on the board. So the Colonials season comes to a close at 4-7 and without their first playoff win in the history of the program. The Colonials have been sporadic over the years, every few years the Colonials put together a fine season, make an appearance in the playoffs and then struggle to find wins. Hopefully for the program and their fans, next season will buck that trend.
#1 Hopewell 47-6 over #8 Petersburg
The Blue Devils have scored 400 points this season… That’s the most for Hopewell since 2003 season, anyone remember what happened that year? Blue Devils won a state title for those that don’t remember. I’m not saying history will repeat itself but it speaks to the season that Hopewell is having. The Blue Devils topped Petersburg 47-6 in part to a huge first quarter by the Blue Devils that saw them go up 26-0! The Blue Devils were a complete team as they have been for much of this season as the offense scored four touchdowns, two on the ground and two in the air. Even Maurice Green of Hopewell got in on the scoring action when he recovered a fumbled ball and returned it 33 yards for a score. It wasn’t until the third quarter that Petersburg got on the board but Anthony Crawford and the Blue Devils responded with Crawford’s second touchdown of the game as the Wave had no answers for Hopewell’s offense. With the win, the Blue Devils now host Skyline, beat Skyline and the Blue Devils will be the farthest they’ve been in the postseason since that 2003 season. As for Petersburg, it’s a season to forget, the departure of players from last year’s team due to graduation or transfers and a 2-0 start only to lose nine straight. The Wave might have made the playoffs but it was just barely and they will look to rebound from a dismal season in 2016.
EXTRA POINTS
Thomas Dale has wins in back-to-back playoff seasons for the first time since the 2001-2002 seasons which is ironic given the fact they must now face CD Hylton who they played in both those seasons.
The Richmond Region was 0-2 against Woodbridge in the playoffs before 2013, now the region has evened it up 2-2.
Cosby’s two playoff wins to date have come on the road, they have yet to win at home in the playoffs.
Manchester’s 15-point loss to Cosby is the worst loss in the playoffs for the Lancers.
42 points scored by Highland Springs is the most for the Springers in their long playoff history.
42 points allowed by Meadowbrook is the most the Monarchs have ever allowed in a playoff game.
6 points allowed by Hermitage is the fewest points allowed by Hermitage in the playoffs since the 2011 season.
Henrico has been outscored 20-77 in their past two playoff games versus Hermitage.
LC Bird has won 15 straight playoff games, their last loss was to Hermitage in 2011.
6 points scored by Matoaca is the fewest for the Warriors since they were shutout by Nottoway in the 1991 playoffs.
Not only did Lee-Davis score their first playoff win since 1997 but 41 points put by the Confederates was the most in their playoff history.
144 points allowed by Douglas Freeman this season is the fewest allowed for the Rebels since 1995 when they allowed just 106.
Atlee reaches the second round of the playoffs for just the fourth time in the history of the program.
Hanover’s first round win makes it nine straight seasons with a win in the playoffs.
Dinwiddie’s 6-point win margin was the smallest win margin for the Generals since 1987 when they beat Thomas Dale by two points.
Monacan is now 0-2 versus Dinwiddie in the playoffs.
Not only did Armstrong allow the most points they ever have in a playoff game but they were also shutout for the first time in a playoff game.
Not only was 6 points the fewest for the Colonials in a playoff game but 44 points was the most ever allowed by the Colonials in a playoff game as well.
Hopewell’s 41-point margin of victory was the largest for the Blue Devils in their playoff history.
Petersburg’s 6 points was the fewest for the Crimson Wave since they were held to 3 points by Douglas Freeman in 1977.
GAME OF THE WEEK
#5 Lee-Davis 41-14 over #4 Douglas Freeman
Many, myself included thought this had the makings to be one of the more competitive games of the first weekend but it proved to be anything but. Lee-Davis came out firing in the first half scoring three straight touchdowns before Freeman ever cracked the scoreboard. The Confederates led 28-7 with a heavy dose of Nathan Evans who scored three touchdowns and had a big night in the ground game. The Confederates ground game really set the tempo for the night but make no mistake about it, Chase Mummau had a strong night as well throwing the ball around for nearly 200 yards(191). Miles Johnson quietly had a pretty good night himself on both sides of the ball with stops on defense, an interception and some timely receptions on offense. It was a total team effort for the Confederates and it didn’t stop after the first half, the Confederates kept their foot on the pedal and kept doing what they had done all game. The Freeman defense played better in the second half but a big first quarter let alone half really set the Rebels back early. Trey Laughlin and Jordan Smith were unable to have the kinda game their fans have been accustomed to this season but with two touchdowns the Rebels did give their fans something to cheer about unlike last week where they were shutout. With the win the Confederates now get a rematch with Highland Springs but unlike their first meeting, this one will be at Highland Springs. Whichever team won this one, they knew looming would be the vaunted Springers. For Douglas Freeman, for a second straight season their season ends in the first round. The Rebels will be back next season, there is no doubt about that, they will lose some seniors but for the most part this was a young team and with the players they have returning, another big season is not out of the question. You can read more about this game in detail here… http://virginiapreps.forums.rivals.com/threads/lee-davis-dominates-douglas-freeman-41-14.31970/
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK
#10 Atlee 38-35 over #7 Mountain View
This one did not come as the surprise to me that it does to some. I actually picked the Raiders to win but many thought Mountain View would take it given they were the higher seed and the up and down season the Raiders have had… Well this game was just as up and down as the Raiders season. The Wildcats took an early 14-0 lead and led 14-7 at halftime but the third quarter belonged to Atlee. A 65-yard touchdown pass from Rasharrd Harris to Cole Blackman tied the game but the Raiders fell behind yet again. Ethan Ratke’s leg and Harris arm put the Raiders back on top with a field goal and a 70-yard touchdown pass to JJ Givens. Everytime the Raiders seemed to be in control, the Wildcats came right back. At the beginning of the fourth quarter Atlee led 24-21 but Mountain View’s Ahmad Tweedy fired off two fourth quarter touchdown passes but then again so did Harris to Blackman on both occasions but no touchdown on this night was as big as the 14-yard touchdown to Blackman. That pass gave the Raiders a 38-35 with 6.6 seconds to go after the Wildcats had gone up 35-31 with 51 seconds to go themselves. Heartbreaking for the Wildcat fans but joy on the side of Atlee as the Raiders get their second playoff win in three years. The celebrating however will be short lived as the Raiders win now means they face Tuscarora, the very team that lost to Bird last year in the state final in 5A and one of the favorites this year.
ROUND THE REGION
#3 Thomas Dale 26-0 over #6 Woodbridge
The Knights returned to their winning ways snapping a three-game losing streak to close out the regular season. The Knights Matt Lawton had another strong night at quarterback which he has done even during their losing streak. The Knights QB threw two touchdowns in the first half while the Knights defense put up a shutout in the first half that carried over to the second half as well. In fact, it was the Knights first shutout since Sept. 25th when they shutout Colonial Heights 61-0. Capping a big night for the defense and a return to winning was Kyle Alexander’s 80-yard interception return in the third quarter to put the Knights up 26-0. The Knights are now faced with the task of facing a team they have faced twice in the playoffs albeit it’s been over a decade since they met, 2001-2002.
#5 Cosby 42-27 over #4 Manchester
For a second straight week the Titans beat the Lancers but unlike last week, the Lancers do not play on, their season now over. The two were engaged in quite the battle in the first half but the game got away from the Lancers in the second half. It was Manchester who got on the board first with a touchdown run from Frank Boyd, one of two he had in the first half. Cosby answered both Boyd touchdowns with touchdown passes from Grant Squayers to make it 14-14 at the half. The Titans carried a 21-14 lead into the fourth quarter and that is when the game got away from Manchester. Joe Hunt busted off a 62-yard touchdown run, his second of the night between Caleb Grimes touchdown runs… Suddenly the Lancers were down 42-14 and their season was nearing an end. The Lancers were able to score twice late but the Lancers would be unable to rally for this win. The future is bright for Manchester going into next season, this season was plagued by injuries throughout the season. The future is bright for Cosby as well, thanks to Riverbend’s upset of Colonial Forge, the Titans will be at home this coming week against the Bears.
#1 Highland Springs 42-13 over #8 Meadowbrook
Just like last season, the Springers swept the Monarchs with a win in their regular season meeting as well as on this night in the playoffs. Meadowbrook improved as the season went on but not enough to pose a serious threat to the Springers. The Springers led 28-7 at the half with much of the scoring having been in the first quarter where Juwan Carter ran for a touchdown and threw one as well. While the Springers offense was doing their thing the defense was doing theirs. The Springers defense kept the Monarch offense to just two scores. Jace Miller scored on a short 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and the Monarchs scored in the fourth quarter as well but by that point the game was well in hand. Juwan Carter and Greg Dortch both scored in the third quarter as the Monarchs defense was not up to the task of stopping this explosive Springers offense. The Monarchs season comes to a close at Highland Springs for a second straight season and the Springers now host Lee-Davis in a rematch of a game Highland Springs took 42-0 just a few weeks ago.
#2 Hermitage 37-6 over #7 Henrico
For a second straight season the Panthers and Warriors faced off in the first round and the result was the same… It however was close early on as the Panthers led just 7-6 after one quarter of play and just 13-6 at halftime. The defenses were at the top of their game early on but Hermitage began to find success in the third and fourth quarter whereas Henrico was unable to find that same success. The Warriors offense could only manage 61 yards against the Panther defense which is not surprising considering what the Hermitage defense has done to teams all season long. Hermitage who is used to scoring touchdowns actually had to rely on special teams a few times in this one with three field goals and when Burton was getting it done with his leg, Odom was getting it done as he has all season. Eli Odom scored twice on the ground in the second half and threw a touchdown as the offense of Hermitage began to wear down the defense of Henrico. After an Xavier Goodall touchdown early that gave the Warriors the first points of the night, the Warriors were shutout the rest of the way. Now Henrico’s season is over and the Warriors will look to next season and continue to build on what Coach Glasco has started there. As for Hermitage, they get what they want, another crack at LC Bird in the playoffs in a highly anticipated game.
#3 LC Bird 42-6 over #6 Matoaca
Justin Ford has been one of the keys to the turnaround at Matoaca this season but despite striking first in this one, Ford nor the Warriors offense could find much success against the force that is LC Bird’s defense. Matoaca could only muster 87 yards of offense against a defense led by Rayshard Ashby and Isaiah Moore who combined for 25 tackles and four sacks. While Matoaca struggled on offense, the Skyhawks did not. The offense might have only scored twice in the first half, up 14-6 at the half but in the second half the Skyhawks offense found the endzone often. JB Wright and Shedrick McCall who combined for 305 yards in the ground game scored twice in that second half as the Skyhawks rushing attack wore down the Warriors defense. As has been the case all season, Bird just wears a team down, on both offense and defense. Now the Skyhawks will look to do that very same thing to an undefeated Hermitage team that the Skyhawks are all too familiar with having played them the last five seasons and now for a sixth… As for Matoaca, their turnaround season comes to a close but the future is certainly bright after a big first year for Coach Johnson.
#2 Hanover over #7 Louisa 47-28
Louisa came in for a fight and they gave it to Hanover in this one in the first half. The Lions Malik Bell and Hanover’s Clayton Cheatham traded shots early on with both running and throwing for a touchdown in the first half of action but it was the Hawks who led 19-14 at the half in a close one. That close game got stretched out in the third quarter when Cheatham duplicated his first half effort in one quarter of play with two more touchdowns on the ground and a touchdown pass. The Louisa Lions struggled to contain Cheatham and Bell struggled to match his counterpart on the field as Bell would have only two scores in the second half as Hanover’s defense limited Louisa in the second half. The two touchdowns Cheatham threw he hit Jack Chenault who has been a favorite target of both Cheatham and Bazala this season and speaking of Bazala, he scored the final touchdown of the night for the Hawks in the fourth quarter when he punched it in from 21 yards out. With a little more offense or defense this game could have been a lot closer but with Cheatham healthy and back, the Hawks offense will be tough for any defense to slow down. Now Hanover will host Dinwiddie, a team they beat earlier this season and a team they have a history with in the playoffs.
#6 Dinwiddie 26-20 over #3 Monacan
Dinwiddie finished the season strong and Monacan did as well but you can’t help but wonder if that week off in between their final game of the season and the playoffs hurt the Chiefs momentum. Monacan trailed 17-0 in the second quarter as neither the defense or the offense was hitting on much. Even when Monacan did score the Generals responded with Bryce Witt’s third touchdown pass of the night to take a 24-8 lead into halftime! In the third quarter the Chiefs began to gain ground. The Monacan defense shutout Dinwiddie in the third quarter and scored twice with to draw within four. In the fourth quarter it appeared as though Monacan might rise up and take this thing despite the slow start. The Chiefs stopped Dinwiddie near the goal line on fourth down to get the ball back with time winding down but the Chiefs would be hit in the endzone for a safety by the Generals. The Chiefs would be unable to recover and Dinwiddie would pull off a bit of an upset setting up a rematch with Hanover. For Monacan, the Chiefs season end much earlier than last years but the Chiefs will be back to contend next season.
#2 James Monroe 56-0 over #7 Armstrong
The Wildcats season ended just as the last eight games have for Armstrong, with a loss. We all knew going into this one that the Wildcats would be gross underdogs and that certainly was the case. A loser of eight straight games and just barely getting into the playoffs, the Wildcats were unable to keep up with James Monroe on either side of the ball. The Yellow Jackets scored 7 offensive touchdowns and even a defensive touchdown when Divyne Cardell-Ford intercepted AJ Felton’s pass and returned it 54 yards for a score. With the loss, the Wildcats finish their season 2-9 in the first year under Coach Anderson and still without their first playoff win the history of the program.
#4 York 44-6 over #5 Colonial Heights
The Colonials knew they would be facing an uphill battle without tailback Darien Canada but I don’t believe they or anyone thought a loss of this magnitude was possible. The Colonials were shutout over three quarters, it wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Devinne Edwards finally got the Colonials on the board but by that time the Falcons had the game in hand. There was no onslaught of offense in this one from the Falcons, just a steady game from quarter to quarter of points on the board. So the Colonials season comes to a close at 4-7 and without their first playoff win in the history of the program. The Colonials have been sporadic over the years, every few years the Colonials put together a fine season, make an appearance in the playoffs and then struggle to find wins. Hopefully for the program and their fans, next season will buck that trend.
#1 Hopewell 47-6 over #8 Petersburg
The Blue Devils have scored 400 points this season… That’s the most for Hopewell since 2003 season, anyone remember what happened that year? Blue Devils won a state title for those that don’t remember. I’m not saying history will repeat itself but it speaks to the season that Hopewell is having. The Blue Devils topped Petersburg 47-6 in part to a huge first quarter by the Blue Devils that saw them go up 26-0! The Blue Devils were a complete team as they have been for much of this season as the offense scored four touchdowns, two on the ground and two in the air. Even Maurice Green of Hopewell got in on the scoring action when he recovered a fumbled ball and returned it 33 yards for a score. It wasn’t until the third quarter that Petersburg got on the board but Anthony Crawford and the Blue Devils responded with Crawford’s second touchdown of the game as the Wave had no answers for Hopewell’s offense. With the win, the Blue Devils now host Skyline, beat Skyline and the Blue Devils will be the farthest they’ve been in the postseason since that 2003 season. As for Petersburg, it’s a season to forget, the departure of players from last year’s team due to graduation or transfers and a 2-0 start only to lose nine straight. The Wave might have made the playoffs but it was just barely and they will look to rebound from a dismal season in 2016.
EXTRA POINTS
Thomas Dale has wins in back-to-back playoff seasons for the first time since the 2001-2002 seasons which is ironic given the fact they must now face CD Hylton who they played in both those seasons.
The Richmond Region was 0-2 against Woodbridge in the playoffs before 2013, now the region has evened it up 2-2.
Cosby’s two playoff wins to date have come on the road, they have yet to win at home in the playoffs.
Manchester’s 15-point loss to Cosby is the worst loss in the playoffs for the Lancers.
42 points scored by Highland Springs is the most for the Springers in their long playoff history.
42 points allowed by Meadowbrook is the most the Monarchs have ever allowed in a playoff game.
6 points allowed by Hermitage is the fewest points allowed by Hermitage in the playoffs since the 2011 season.
Henrico has been outscored 20-77 in their past two playoff games versus Hermitage.
LC Bird has won 15 straight playoff games, their last loss was to Hermitage in 2011.
6 points scored by Matoaca is the fewest for the Warriors since they were shutout by Nottoway in the 1991 playoffs.
Not only did Lee-Davis score their first playoff win since 1997 but 41 points put by the Confederates was the most in their playoff history.
144 points allowed by Douglas Freeman this season is the fewest allowed for the Rebels since 1995 when they allowed just 106.
Atlee reaches the second round of the playoffs for just the fourth time in the history of the program.
Hanover’s first round win makes it nine straight seasons with a win in the playoffs.
Dinwiddie’s 6-point win margin was the smallest win margin for the Generals since 1987 when they beat Thomas Dale by two points.
Monacan is now 0-2 versus Dinwiddie in the playoffs.
Not only did Armstrong allow the most points they ever have in a playoff game but they were also shutout for the first time in a playoff game.
Not only was 6 points the fewest for the Colonials in a playoff game but 44 points was the most ever allowed by the Colonials in a playoff game as well.
Hopewell’s 41-point margin of victory was the largest for the Blue Devils in their playoff history.
Petersburg’s 6 points was the fewest for the Crimson Wave since they were held to 3 points by Douglas Freeman in 1977.
