A couple of near misses for big plays in the passing game for Lafayette as QB Talon Leach nearly conected with Tristan Harris for a 49-yard TD. Sandwiched in between the two incomplete passes was a 1-yard run by Brayden Smalls with Joseph Foley for the Grafton defense doing a solid job again.

A time-out is called with 4:28 to go in the first half before the 4th & 9 from the Clippers 48. Lafayette ends up punting it away, their first 3 & out of the night.

Jaden Brown returns the punt about 13 to 14 yards to their own 17 with 4:14 to go in the second period. This is an important series for Grafton on two fronts. If they can keep Lafayette from getting the ball back in the half, that would be a very big positive. Additionally, to stay in this one, scoring points is essential because the Rams start off with possession in the third period.

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Makale Barnett was at minus 2 yards rushing on 5 attempts before bolting through like lightning up the middle and then scooting to the near sideline and having enough juice to beat Lafayette defenders chasing him to the pylon.

Naye'Ron Hudson returns the ensuing kickoff for Lafayette into Grafton territory about 42 yards, finally getting tripped up by the kicker - Caleb Heretick - around the 48 to 49-yard line (my dear pal and longtime Todd Stadium public address announcer Bill Nettles would call it the 48.5 yard line).

Joshua Lawson, who like Barnett had had a positive impact for Grafton in this first half, is helped off the field after the return with an injury. Lafayette will officially have it at the Grafton 49 with 5:36 to go until intermission.

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Three different rushers have found the end zone for Lafayette - Brayden Smalls, Breon Stokes and Talon Leach.

Look for Joshua Simpson, who has 53 yards on five rushes, to likely get in on the scoring act before this one is done.

Grafton's 19-yard return on the ensuing kickoff has them at their own 24 with 5:57 to go in the second quarter.

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All is well now in Lafayette Land... a team that has if I remember correctly only about six seniors and more speed than some of their previous title contending outfits, which figures to keep them in the Class 3 Championship hunt.

Grafton begins its fourth offensive possession of the half at their own 35 with 8:21 to go in the second quarter. Quarterback Luke Bryant remains accurate to the tune of 8 of 8 for 46 yards... but that's just it - - he's being held to less than six yards per completion or attempt because Lafayette's defenders rally to the ball so well.

It was nearly 9 of 9 for Bryant, hitting Jaden Brown for what we thought would be a gain of 3 to bring up 4th & 1 from their own 44... but a penalty backs them up 10 yards. Then it's Bryant firing a pass over the middle of the field, where it's Joshua Simpson of Lafayette intercepting him and returning it 31 yards to the Clippers 16.

Lafayette is in business with 6:21 to go in the half, smelling a 20-plus point lead and perhaps a running clock that's in their not too distant future.

Grafton gets a couple of 4-yard pass plays to bring up 4th & 2 from the Lafayette 47, but multiple Rams bring the ball carrier down in the backfield for a loss of a couple. Looked like Obrian Canady and Andrew Cook.

The Rams pick up the pace and get a chunk play through the air with QB Talon Leach finding TE/WR Daniel Jackson down the field for a gain of 34 yards to the Grafton 13. Using a variety of rushers - Josh Simpson, Breon Stokes and Brayden Smalls - the Rams get inside the 10, then inside the 5, but are now looking at a 1st & Goal from the 3 rather than a 4th & Goal from the 4 after the measurement moves the sticks.

Grafton's Joey Foley has been in on most of the tackles in the run game. Breon Stokes then stutter-steps his way through for a 3-yard TD. Appears that the Rams will try to go for 2 and further increase their lead.

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Nice play before the end of the opening period for Grafton as QB Luke Bryant completes a 14-yard pass to Jaden Brown. Bryant is 4 of 4 through the air for 32 yards, displaying good touch and accuracy in the early going.

A holding penalty along with a personal foul penalty Lafayette back to their own 40 to create 1st & 30, wiping out two really good runs. Joshua Simpson breaks off a 19-yard run to the outside near the far sideline. Breon Stokes rumbles up the middle for 10 yards as the Rams are on the move behind this very sturdy offensive line, which brought back four regulars from their 2023 Class 3 runner-up team. The leader up front seems to be the right tackle, Mason Mills, and this unit is blowing the Grafton defensive line off the ball thus far.

Lafayette will keep the offense out there for 4th & 1 from the 31, which makes total sense. A surprising development -- the Clippers get the stop of Stokes for no gain, thanks to Joshua Lawson and Jerry Riddley.

So Grafton's third series begins at their own 31 with 51 seconds to go in this opening period, only trailing 6-0.

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No need to be alarmed, Lafayette fans, about Baum Hogge, the sophomore signal caller for the Rams, being out of the starting lineup. Minor injury and he will be fine in the weeks to come to be able to play extensive snaps and throw the football, Head Coach Andy Linn told me before the contest.

Couple of runs by Breon Stokes and Brayden Smalls set them up with 3rd & Goal from the 1, where Talon Leach nudged in for the TD.

Grafton has it at their own 25 with 4:58 to go in the opening frame for their second possession. Obrian Canady and Jamir Nesbeth come through to stop Makale Barnett for a loss of a couple on first down. The toss on 2nd & 12 goes backwards as Andrew Cook from his linebacker spot reads it beautifully.

Before Grafton can snap it on third down, they get hit with a delay of game - their 4th penalty for 35 yards on the night - and that makes it 3rd & 21 from their own 13. A 9-yard pass by Luke Bryant to Jaden Brown is not enough to move the sticks. However, it gives them more breathing room for the punt, which is partially blocked.

Brayden Smalls returns the punt 10 yards to the Grafton 40, where Lafayette will begin its second possession with 2:23 left in the opening period.

Lafayette's running game is off to a fine start with a gain of 8 by Brayden Smalls, then a sweep with Josh Simpson - who showed some promise towards the end of last year during their playoff run - picking up 7 yards into Grafton territory.

Andy Linn's Rams hand it off to Breon Stokes for a gain of 3, plus a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Grafton puts them at the 30 of the Clippers. Simpson runs for 10 and a face-mask penalty on the play on Grafton puts them at the GHS 10.

Central-Woodstock
Riverheads
Buffalo Gap
GW Danville
Glenvar
George Wythe
Rural Retreat
Rye Cove
Tennessee

GOTW
William Campbell

Lafayette kicks it of into the end zone for a touchback to start the game. Grafton comes out in a Tight Bunch formation from their own 20 and their first two runs with Makale Barnett have mixed results; the first one gaining 5, but the second carry losing a few yards.

Faced with 3rd & 8, Grafton goes to the air and it's a solid completion in the flat area from QB Luke Bryant to WR Ananisas Boyd Jr. The son of Grafton's first-year Head Coach is able to move the sticks with a gain of 10, plus Lafayette is hit with a 15-yard roughing the pass penalty. That puts them up near midfield at their own 47.

A toss to Barnett gains a couple of yards, but then the Lafayette defense comes through with a stuff on the QB Bryant for a loss of 5. That is followed by a delay of game infraction. On 3rd & 18, it's a pass to Barnett in the flat, but Andrew Cook stops him for a loss of 1.

Grafton punts it away and Lafayette's first possession comes at their own 37 with 7:50 left in the opening quarter.

I guess I should handle this part.

So lets assume for the sake of argument that the last spot is between Page and Central for the sake of the conversation.

Page currently has 21 more points than Central.

Lets go ahead and say Page finishes the rest of season 2-4 (Win over Rocktown and Luray).

And we can even go ahead and say CW finishes 3-3 (wins over Madison, Luray, and Page).

These are just for sake of argument, not that they either can't win more/less.

That already is a difference of 23 points. So then it comes down to the rider points for each.

So no, CW does not have to beat Clarke or Strasburg to get in.

Stafford
Edison
Mount Vernon
West Potomac
Madison
Yorktown
Chantilly
Westfield
Langley
Washington-Liberty

Colonel Richardson
Madison Co
West Point
Altavista
Buffalo Gap
Southampton
Craig Co
Parry McCluer
Rye Cove
Honaker

GOTW: George Wythe - 41

Colonel Richardson
Madison Co
Colonial Beach
Altavista
Stuarts Draft
Southampton
Craig Co
Parry McCluer
Rye Cove
Honaker

GOTW: George Wythe 56

Pitt
Marsh
AZ ST
MO
AZ
BC
GT
MS
Clem
TN
IOH ST
GA
OK ST*
MI*

PIT*
KC*
WA
JAX
NE
GB
BAL
DEN
SF
MN

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They put the lineman from turner ashby up in an apartment last year this is nothing new for them just first time they got caught

Centrals remaining schedule includes KW i know they are winless but they have played a very difficult schedule, Clarke and Strasburg both of those teams are undefeated and playing well. Their toughest opponent so far Riverheads they lost to. I feel like they have to beat Madison KW Page Luray and one of CC or Strasburg possibly both to get in. Not sure how the numbers will work. Not saying it can't happen that they run the table but out of their 6 remaining games they have to win against CC or Strasburg to have a chance

Lancaster
Westmoreland
West Point
Altavista
Stuarts Draft
Sussex Central
Craig Co
Parry McCluer
Rye Cove
Honaker

GOTW: GW. 54

Dinwiddie
Caroline
James Monroe
King George Foxes
Hanover
Manchester
Manor
Phoebus
Glen Allen
King's Fork
Green Run
PG
Lake Taylor
Bird
North Stafford

Danville
Loudoun Co
James Wood
Woodgrove
Franklin Co
Mountain View
Fort Hill
Heritage Lyn
Glenvar
Christiansburg

https://virginiapreps.forums.rivals.com/posts/472389/react?reaction_id=1

King William
Christiansburg
Stuarts Draft
GW Danville
Glenvar
George Wythe
Rural Retreat
Rye Cove
Tennessee

GOTW
Nelson Co