We have five games getting underway on this Thursday night in September, where most will have their eyes glued to the TV sets watching the debut of the 2021 NFL season as the reigning Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers play host to the Dallas Cowboys.
Don't worry, yours truly and the Coach, Ed Young, have picks on that game. But for now, I'll offer my input on five games and Coach has selections on the two that feature Tidewater teams. An update on how we stand this year below...
Hatfield's Season Tidewater Games: 25-8 (75.8%)
Matt Hatfield's Season Total: 51-15 (77.3%)
Coach Ed Young's Season Total: 24-9 (72.7%)
Thursday's Action on 9/9/21:
Warwick (1-1) at Phoebus (2-0) . . . The Raiders have a 24-6 win over Bethel, but a 22-6 loss to Warhill on their record. Warwick 2023 DB Davion Corpening is one of the state's best, but can he cover all of the talented receivers for Phoebus? Kymari Gray, Donald Gatling and Jalen Mayo form perhaps the best three-some at the Class 3 level for the Phantoms, who have an All-State caliber QB in Mark Wagner (21 of 32 for 428 yards, 7 TD's passing along with 130 rush yards and 1 TD) and terrific RB in Ty'Reon Taylor. Expect the Phantoms to run their series win streak to 23.
Matt Hatfield Says: Phoebus 40-6
Coach Ed Young Says: Phoebus 44-6
Poquoson at York (1-0) . . . Believe it or not, these two Bay Rivers District rivals have not gotten to play each other on the field since 2018 when York won 13-10. They often have close battles and Doug Pereira's Falcons lead the all-time series 49-20. York is coming off a 42-0 shutout of Gloucester, while this is the first game of the season for the Islanders, who had their previously scheduled opener with Southampton wiped off the board due to COVID protocols.
Matt Hatfield Says: York 22-16
Coach Ed Young Says: York 28-26 (OT)
Holston (2-0) at John Battle (0-2) . . . One had to wonder with Derrick Patterson leaving as Head Coach to go to Virginia High and several key starters graduating if the Holston Cavaliers could follow up their Region 1D title with a strong 2021 campaign. But so far so good for new Head Coach Chris Akers as the Cavs handled Eastern Montgomery 38-0, then took care of business 41-16 vs. Twin Springs. John Battle has yet to find the end zone as they were blanked 63-0 by Virginia High and 41-0 by Abingdon.
Matt Hatfield Says: Holston 35-7
Eastside (0-1) at Lebanon (0-2) . . . Although Eastside was blitzed in its opener 49-0 by Class 2 Central-Wise, the Spartans got a chance to rest up with no game a week ago. Lebanon is coming off back-to-back double-figure losses to Honaker (37-18) and Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (36-14), so their defense still has to figure some things out at this point in the campaign.
Matt Hatfield Says: Eastside 20-13
Northwood (1-1) at Marion (0-2) . . . Even though Marion has lost 42-7 to Central-Wise and 27-22 to Chilhowie, QB Reid Osborne (337 pass yards, 3 TD's) gives them a chance to attack the Northwood defense down the field. The Panthers have been pretty stout defensively in holding Twin Springs to 14 and shutting out Rye Cove, but their offense will need to be hitting on all cylinders to halt a three-game losing streak in a series that Marion owns. Marion has a 23-8 all-time series lead, including wins in 11 of the past 13 meetings dating back to 2006.
Matt Hatfield Says: Marion 25-16
Oh yeah, that NFL game...
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers . . . It's hard to go against 7-time Super Bowl Champ Tom Brady and Tampa Bay in a prime-time season opener. After all, the Bucs are the first team to return all 22 starters from a Super Bowl winning team in the salary cap era that dates back to 1994, and before that the last to do it was the 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers. That team just so happened to repeat as Super Bowl Champs, and while that is far from a foregone conclusion to happen for Bruce Arians' crew, they are the wise choice against a Dallas team that is coming off its worst season statistically in franchise history on the defensive side of the ball. Plus, the Cowboys will be without arguably their best offensive lineman in Zack Martin.
Matt Hatfield Says: Tampa Bay 27-17
Coach Ed Young Says: Tampa Bay 30-21
Don't worry, yours truly and the Coach, Ed Young, have picks on that game. But for now, I'll offer my input on five games and Coach has selections on the two that feature Tidewater teams. An update on how we stand this year below...
Hatfield's Season Tidewater Games: 25-8 (75.8%)
Matt Hatfield's Season Total: 51-15 (77.3%)
Coach Ed Young's Season Total: 24-9 (72.7%)
Thursday's Action on 9/9/21:
Warwick (1-1) at Phoebus (2-0) . . . The Raiders have a 24-6 win over Bethel, but a 22-6 loss to Warhill on their record. Warwick 2023 DB Davion Corpening is one of the state's best, but can he cover all of the talented receivers for Phoebus? Kymari Gray, Donald Gatling and Jalen Mayo form perhaps the best three-some at the Class 3 level for the Phantoms, who have an All-State caliber QB in Mark Wagner (21 of 32 for 428 yards, 7 TD's passing along with 130 rush yards and 1 TD) and terrific RB in Ty'Reon Taylor. Expect the Phantoms to run their series win streak to 23.
Matt Hatfield Says: Phoebus 40-6
Coach Ed Young Says: Phoebus 44-6
Poquoson at York (1-0) . . . Believe it or not, these two Bay Rivers District rivals have not gotten to play each other on the field since 2018 when York won 13-10. They often have close battles and Doug Pereira's Falcons lead the all-time series 49-20. York is coming off a 42-0 shutout of Gloucester, while this is the first game of the season for the Islanders, who had their previously scheduled opener with Southampton wiped off the board due to COVID protocols.
Matt Hatfield Says: York 22-16
Coach Ed Young Says: York 28-26 (OT)
Holston (2-0) at John Battle (0-2) . . . One had to wonder with Derrick Patterson leaving as Head Coach to go to Virginia High and several key starters graduating if the Holston Cavaliers could follow up their Region 1D title with a strong 2021 campaign. But so far so good for new Head Coach Chris Akers as the Cavs handled Eastern Montgomery 38-0, then took care of business 41-16 vs. Twin Springs. John Battle has yet to find the end zone as they were blanked 63-0 by Virginia High and 41-0 by Abingdon.
Matt Hatfield Says: Holston 35-7
Eastside (0-1) at Lebanon (0-2) . . . Although Eastside was blitzed in its opener 49-0 by Class 2 Central-Wise, the Spartans got a chance to rest up with no game a week ago. Lebanon is coming off back-to-back double-figure losses to Honaker (37-18) and Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (36-14), so their defense still has to figure some things out at this point in the campaign.
Matt Hatfield Says: Eastside 20-13
Northwood (1-1) at Marion (0-2) . . . Even though Marion has lost 42-7 to Central-Wise and 27-22 to Chilhowie, QB Reid Osborne (337 pass yards, 3 TD's) gives them a chance to attack the Northwood defense down the field. The Panthers have been pretty stout defensively in holding Twin Springs to 14 and shutting out Rye Cove, but their offense will need to be hitting on all cylinders to halt a three-game losing streak in a series that Marion owns. Marion has a 23-8 all-time series lead, including wins in 11 of the past 13 meetings dating back to 2006.
Matt Hatfield Says: Marion 25-16
Oh yeah, that NFL game...
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers . . . It's hard to go against 7-time Super Bowl Champ Tom Brady and Tampa Bay in a prime-time season opener. After all, the Bucs are the first team to return all 22 starters from a Super Bowl winning team in the salary cap era that dates back to 1994, and before that the last to do it was the 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers. That team just so happened to repeat as Super Bowl Champs, and while that is far from a foregone conclusion to happen for Bruce Arians' crew, they are the wise choice against a Dallas team that is coming off its worst season statistically in franchise history on the defensive side of the ball. Plus, the Cowboys will be without arguably their best offensive lineman in Zack Martin.
Matt Hatfield Says: Tampa Bay 27-17
Coach Ed Young Says: Tampa Bay 30-21
