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That's a big game-changer right there as Leslie Hines, who quietly was one of the most productive defensive players on Maury's defense during their unbeaten 2023 season, causes the turnover. Ari Watford, who usually wears #0 and is #66 tonight, scoops it up and runs in for the touchdown.

Watford is making a routine of recovering fumbles as he had one in last year's matchup and also came up with one last week vs. Wise.

The Springers move the sticks behind Eric Byrd on a 5-yard run on 3rd & 5 up to their own 39. Loren Johnson isn't going to change up his game-plan just based off of two scores.

Highland Springs is trying to come out with a ball-control attack, running the ball through the A gap with Eric Byrd and they're having mixed results thus far. Byrd did get an 8-yard run on 3rd & 4.

They run it to the outside with QB Nelson Layne, the Army commit, on a keeper and it gains 5 on 3rd & 7. The Springers line up to go for it on 4th & 2 from their own 26, not so much with the intention to go for it, but to try to make Maury jump offsides. It works. Fresh set of downs off the hard count.

That small mission was accomplished. Now can they get the bigger one and finish this drive off with points?

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That caps an 11-play, 80-yard drive that took 3:53 off the clock with the Commodores converting a fourth down. Nice job by Au'Tori Newkirk, who is 4 of 6 for 58 yards with each completion going to a different receiver - LeBron Bond, Jaiden Avery, Eli Moss and the TD to Damon McDaniel Jr. (Western Branch transfer).

Varina 12 Herm 3 at half. Ugly game.

Out of an empty formation, Maury leaves the offense on the field for 4th & 7 from the Highland Springs 37. QB Au'Tori Newkirk steps up in the pocket and takes off for a gain of 15. Just smart awareness there.

Not a good sight here for Highland Springs as senior LB Josiah Martinez, who has a couple of tackles including one for loss, is helped off the field with 8:42 to go in the first period. Maury is facing 2nd & 10 from the Springers 22 and they've shown pretty good tempo.

We won't say who, but it appears an individual threw up on the field, so we have an official's time-out after they clean up the vomit (I bet you didn't have THAT one on the bingo card for the blog tonight!).

Highland Springs boots it into the end zone for a touchback.

Good drive going for Maury as they convert a 3rd & 6 with QB Au'Tori Newkirk finding Jaiden Avery for a 24-yard completion to their own 48.

Catches by LeBron Bond and Elijah Moss, totaling 12 yards, help get Maury into Highland Springs territory. Newkirk's first pass falls incomplete on 2nd & 7. Now it's a key 3rd & 7 from the Springers 37 with 9:13 to go in this first quarter.

Oh hey, guess who's here tonight? A couple of former NFL players with in-state connections to UVA and Virginia Tech...

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We're ready for kick-off as it'll be Highland Springs sending it off to Maury first to start this game.

Been looking forward to this one all week!

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Wyche to Anderson again. This time from 30 yards out. 2 PT attempt no good.

Varina 12 Herm 3 2:35 left in 1st half.

After a successful fake punt by Varina, they come back on the next play to throw a 60+ yard bomb for TD. Kaleb Wyche to Myles Anderson.
PAT no good.

Varina 6 Herm 3 6:50 left in 1st half.

End of 1st.

Herm 3 Varina 0

1:55 left in 1st

Varina has a 1-5 from their own 29. New QB in the game for them.

Herm got down to the Varina 2 yard line and it’s now 4-19. Varina has gotten away with at least 3 pass interferences.

Long field goal good..


Herm 3 Varina 0
2:02 1st

Thanks for the updates @BoKnowsSports.

0-0 5:30 first quarter. It’s been ugly so far. DaMari Carter is out for Varina.

Northampton vs. Surry
Colonial Beach vs. Franklin
William Campbell vs. Buckingham Co.
Bland Co. vs. Phelps, KY
Brunswick vs. Central L
Grayson Co. vs. Rural Retreat
Eastside vs. Fort Chiswell
Rye Cove vs. Honaker
Parry McCluer vs. James River (B)
Northlumberland vs. Charles City

GOTW- Galax vs. Carroll Co - 38

Patrick Henry Ash @ Glen Allen
Atlee @ Godwin Mills
Courtland @ N Stafford
Caroline @ Spotsylvania
Maury (C5) @ Highland Springs (C6)
Massaponax (C5) @ Louisa (C5)
Hopewell (C3) @ Lake Taylor (C3)
Manchester @ Powhatan*
Hermitage @ Varina*

William Fleming @ Salem*
GW Danville @ EC Glass*
Loudoun Co @ Tuscarora
Briar Woods @ Broad Run
John Handley @ Kettle Run
Millbrook @ Brentsville District
Floyd Co @ Blacksburg
Christiansburg (C3) @ William Byrd (C3)
Stuart's Draft (C2) @ Rustburg (C3)
Glenvar (C2) @ Cave Spring (C3)

*GOW 2 pts each

Prince Edward

Champ Cage said:

1 point per pick, GOTW worth 2. Picks are due by Friday @ 7pm. If games are Thursday, it is your responsibility to pick game b4 game time. If games are earlier than Thursday the game will not count. No score predictions needed.

Prince Edward Co. @ Nelson Co.
Middlesex @ Windsor
Chatham @ Martinsville
Floyd Co. @ Blacksburg
James River @ Parry McCluer
Virginia @ Radford
Gate City @ Abingdon
Christiansburg @ William Byrd

GOTW
Glenvar @ Cave Spring

Click to expand...

Prince Edward
Windsor
Chatham
Blacksburg
Parry McCluer
Radford
Abingdon
William Byrd
Glenvar

Langley (-14)
Oakton (-3)
Fairfax (-7)
Lake Braddock (-10)
South County (-6)
McLean (+7)
Colonial Forge (-20)
Briar Woods (-21)
Stone Bridge (-14)
Maury (-7)

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Under. Salem has given up 40 points only six times in the past ten years. With the exception of Patrick Henry in 2017, each of the teams that managed it have a long history of success and either won their state championship or were a serious contender for it. If Fleming pulls it off I expect it'll be like that Patrick Henry game (which might be good news for Salem since they won the championship that year).

Lake Taylor 2014 - Lost 41-16. Lake Taylor went undefeated, including a win over 5A champion L.C. Bird.
Amherst County 2016 - Lost 42-40. Lost to Dominion in second round. Salem beat Dominion 38-22 and won state championship over Dinwiddie.
Blacksburg 2017 - Lost 49-12, but later beat Blacksburg in the playoffs 33-32 and won the state championship over Louisa.
Patrick Henry 2017 - Won 56-42. Weird result given that Patrick Henry team doesn't look like anything special on the face of it.
Martinsburg 2019 - Lost 49-14. Martinsburg won WV state championship and won each game by an average margin of 51 points.
Martinsburg 2022 - Lost 40-7. Martinsburg lost by 7 to eventual state champion Huntington.

Northampton
Franklin
BuckinghamCo.
Phelps,KY
CentralL
RuralRetreat
Eastside
Honaker
ParryMcCluer
Northlumberlandvs. Charles City

GOTW-Carroll Co - 55

Surry
Franklin
Buchkingham
Phelps
Central L
Rural Retreat
Eastside
Rye Cove
Parry McCluer
Northumberland

GOTW Galax-43