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Warwick now has a comfortable 20-point lead with 10 seconds to go in the half as Bethel will probably take a knee from their own 20 to go to intermission and try to re-group.

An extremely confusing situation here as Warwick has its QB sacked by Jaden Williams. There was a penalty on the Raiders, yet Bethel decides to take the holding penalty instead of the yardage and down for the sack. It would've been third down. After the mass confusion, there's a time-out with 33 seconds and we have 2nd & 15 from the 23, when it was 2nd & 7 from the Bruins 15 before that... go figure.

Trying to figure it out just gives me a headache, so I won't try at this particular moment. On the very next play though, it's Dakota Brodus using his height and athleticism to make a nifty catch worth 14 yards. They go back to the air on 3rd & 1 from the 9, following a time-out, but the usually sure-handed Keon Batts is unable to haul in what would've been an easy TD.

Coach Corey Hairston will call on the field goal unit now on 4th & 1.

I've got to give Bethel sophomore QB Derek Fisher some credit for battling against this fierce Warwick defensive front and doing his all. Fisher gains 8, then moves the sticks on a 3rd & 1. However, the Bruins leave the offense on the field on a fourth down it does not pay off for them. A turnover on downs. Antwone Vazquez and Jaylen Jordan combined for a key sack on the series for the Raiders, their third of the half.

Warwick has excellent field position once again, at the Bethel 42 with 1:55 till the break.

I thought Jamestown would’ve put up a fight from what I saw on video from last weeks game.

With the running game neutralized, Bethel is forced to go to the air and Derek Fisher is interceted by the lanky 6'5" DB Dakota Brodus of Warwick.

The Raiders are in prime field position again, at their own 45 with 8:38 till half-time. Amari Levisy moves the sticks on a 14-yard catch from QB Saeed Williams. Just a few plays later on 3rd & 7 from the 38, it's Keon Batts laying out along the sideline for a gain of 8 on a pass from Williams.

The drive stalls for Warwick, though. They end up trying a 37-yard field goal that is no good, but because Bethel gets called for a running into the kicker penalty, it extends the series. Roughing is just a 5-yarder, whereas running into is a 15-yard infraction. So Warwick will bring the offense back out for 4th & 6 from the Bethel 15.

Oddly enough, they change QB's for this 4th down play and it's RaiQuan Edlow, who appears to be sacked Trytin Whitlock. However, personal fouls on each side means they replay the down. Edlow then gets sacked by Kordell Davis.

A much-needed stop by the Bethel defense, giving the ball back to their offense from their own 26 with 4:53 until intermission.

Westfield (-10) @ Mount Vernon
Madison (-7) @ Lake Braddock
Robinson (-6) @ South Lakes
West Potomac @ Centreville (-7)
Langley @ Herndon (-4)
Gainesville (-7) @ Garfield
Phoebus @ Highland Springs (-6)
South County @ Quince Orchard (-21)
Wise @ Maury (-17)
Dunbar @ Stone Bridge (-7) (updated to correct home team)

Du'Wuane Skipwith absolutely unloaded on QB Derek Fisher on a run play. The Bethel rushing attack has to feel helpless because they've got 10 attempts for all of two yards. Their offensive line is simply getting man-handled by a strong Warwick d-line.

I feel like at this point I should just copy and paste two paragraphs from our Warwick 2024 Preview, where we had the Raiders pegged at No. 7 in the Class 5 Top Ten. Admittedly after watching them so far in this first half - even minus Delhomme and Carrecter - that seems a bit low.

It all begins with a dominant front four on the defensive line returning in juniors Christian Corbin (6-2, 295), Du'Wuane Skipwith (6-2, 275) and Antwone Vazquez (6-1, 245) to go with senior Marlen Stewart (6-1, 195). Corbin, who has Wake Forest among his five offers to date, was a 2nd Team All-State performer on the d-line with 46 tackles and 2.5 sacks, plus got tabbed 1st Team All-Peninsula District on the o-line. Skipwith, who was in on 42 tackles and 3.5 sacks, has offers from Charlotte and ODU. There's not a drop-off when you go to the next level of the defense at linebacker either.

Serving as the backbone of the defense is senior 'backer I'Ziah Emery (5-11, 205), a 1st Team All-State selection a year ago with 135 total tackles, 36 for loss and 3.5 sacks. Georgetown, Hampton U and Temple are among few of his offers to date. Another 1st Team All-State linebacker joining him in the lineup is Xavier Carter (5-10, 180), fresh off a junior campaign where he was in on 104 total stops and 25 behind the line of scrimmage. Fellow senior Jaylen Jordan (6-0, 195) rounds out the senior LB core.


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You could see this one coming because Jordan partially blocked the last punt. This time, from their own end zone, the Bruisn were in big trouble.

Meanwhile, the Warwick kicking game is doing its job with a field goal and now a touchback into the end zone by Zac McMorris-Webb, listed as a freshman.

Bethel - which only trailed by 8 at the break last week vs. Nansemond River - is facing a much larger deficit tonight with 9:38 to go in the first half.

A third consecutive 3 & out for the Bethel offense Warwick's run defense - headed up by some All-Region level front 7 players from last year's stupendous unit - are giving the Bruins fits. Amazingly, QB Derek Fisher was able to slip out of tackle to gain 8 yards on the first play from scrimage. After that, the next two runs gained exactly one yard. It brings out the punting unit.

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Another 3 & out for the Bethel offense - which saw Xavier Carter bite down for a sack from his outside 'backer spot on 2nd & 12 - ends up giving Warwick excellent field position once more at the 46 of the Bruins.

However, give credit to the Bethel defense with Jaden Bryant making a total of 6 tackles so far, including that sack. DeAndre Wimbley is showing some solid instincts on defense as well.

Bethel is not helping itself on special teams, though. They decided to fair catch it inside their own 10 - at the 4-yard line to be exact - with 11:51 to go in the second period. If not careful, this can be disastrous against the Warwick defense.

I thought Colonial Heights had a solid quarterback from last year. Or did he graduate. But I agree at this point teams should've there starting quarterback at this point. Good luck the schedule doesn't get any easier.

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Just when Bethel thought it had something work in their favor with a holding penalty backing Warwick up near midfield, the Raiders hit them with a screen to the house.

That's a great sign for the Raiders, who are likely without their star playmaker in Messiah Delhomme (Maryland commit, out with a leg injury) for the season. They're also without the services of speedy receiver Julio Carrecter this evening.

Prior to the TD, Warwick went to their heavy package to convert a 3rd & 3 with the ground game as Cameron Glenn picked up +4.

The Bethel offense goes 3 & out with linebacker I'Ziah Emery and defensive lineman Christian Corbin making big hits.

Warwick gets the ball back in less than two minutes, with 5:07 to go in the opening period. They have favorable field position at the Bruins 44 as well.

Warwick's offense doesn't strike on its first pass play and running back Cam Glenn gains five on a run, then just two, so it's a 4th & 3 coming up from the Bruins 33.

Raiders Coach Corey Hairston leaves the offense on the field. It pays off as new starting QB Saeed Williams, the backup to Eduardo Rios Jr. (now graduated) a season ago, converts the QB draw with a gain of 13 by using his feet. A few plays later though, the drive stalls and they settle for a field goal.

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Bethel's first series begins at their own 7 after the return man decided not to let it bounce into the end zone for a touchback.

The Bruins move the sticks on the very first play as sophomore QB Derek Fisher - nephew of former Hampton standout and Virginia Tech lineman Dwight Vick - completes a screen pass worth 12 yards to Amari Pryear.

From there, however, it is 3 & out for the Bethel offense. Tracy Pope and Jaylen Jordan combine for a sack on third down for the Warwick defense to bring out the punting unit for the Bruins.

Warwick's first series starts at the Bethel 40 with 9:32 to go in the opening stanza.

William Campbell @ Central-Lunenburg
Greensville Co. @ Nottoway
Clarke Co. @ King William
Appamattox Co. @ Rustburg
Radford @ Giles
George Wythe @ Altavista
Holston @ Narrows
Galax @ Graham

GOTW
Patrick Henry @ Lebanon

Before we kick it off, let's get to our mini write-up with picks that ran earlier on the V.I.P. Board...

Warwick (1-0) at Bethel (0-1) . . . How smothering have the Warwick Raiders been defensively? Well, consider the following - - their defense has allowed just one touchdown in the past 11 regular season games. That came in the 2023 regular season finale to Phoebus in a 10-2 loss. They’re fresh off a 35-0 thumping of Grassfield, where they held the Grizzlies to 28 total yards and generated four turnovers, including two by senior FS Jaden Gilliam. Bethel did get burned for 402 total yards – with 215 coming through the air – in a 46-14 loss to Nansemond River. So as tough as it may be for the Bruins to generate scoring drives, the defense will have its work cut out for them slowing down a very well-rounded Warwick receiving core with Keon Batts, Julio Carrecter and Dakota Brodus.

Matt Hatfield Says – Warwick 30-6
Coach Ed Young Says – Warwick 36-0

Champ Cage said:

Graham
Essex
Lebanon
BG
Carroll County
Rappahannock
RR
Central Lunenburg
Floyd Co
Radford

GOTW GW

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If you can man add your points for the GITW for a tiebreaker.

Wow

Galax vs Graham
Essex vs Jamestown 4A
PH vs Lebanon
BG vs Luray
Grayson vs Carroll County
Rappahannock vs Westpoint
RR vs East Mont
William Campbell vs Central Lunenburg
Fort Chiswell vs Floyd Co
Giles vs Radford

GOTW GW vs Altavista - 49

CHUKNOW said:

Colonial Heights will not be a playoff team if they think rotating 3 quarterbacks is the answer! Heck they might not when a game with game plan!!

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I am a Central District fan, so this loss shocked me. I had so much hope for the Colonials after last seasons break through. Disappointed is an understatement. If they don't tighten up the defense they will go back to their winless ways in the district. Let's go Colonials bounce back this week!

10iceiceice said:

I agree bro, most of the other classes are talked about but only a few conversations about C3. Most of C3 teams have played a game except Hopewell which plays Friday, so maybe once the season gets into full swing there will be more talk. TJ, Armstrong, Hopewell, Petersburg, Colonial Heights are the only C3 teams in the Richmond metro area . Looks like TJ, HOPEWELL ARMSTRONG are regional contender possibly state playoff contender. Petersburg and Colonial Heights should be playoff teams as well. C3 teams from the 757 not sure about, LAFAYETTE is also tough and is a regional and state contender. LAKE TAYLOR, I.C NORCOM, TABB, HERITAGE, YORK and LAKELAND are teams that can be playoff teams.

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Colonial Heights will not be a playoff team if they think rotating 3 quarterbacks is the answer! Heck they might not when a game with that game plan!!

I really want to see if Brentsville got bad, or Sherando got really good. That was the biggest shock score from week 1. Not that Sherando won, but that it was a blowout.