As in 7 "toss ups" because I cannot honestly look at the schedule for this opening weekend and pick even one game that looks like a slam dunk. So I will be lucky if I can predict three or four correctly. All seven are re-matches from last year's season-openers but with the host teams being reversed. Four of the seven games last year were one-point squeakers so you can understand the difficulty of trying to predict this year's winners. As of the moment, the weather doesn't sound the best, with chances of storms being predicted for Thursday through Saturday, but we will make it through. So let's get started.......
MADISON COUNTY AT STAUNTON: This was listed in the local paper's preview story as being a Thursday night game, so that might be worth verifying if you wish to attend. Could have something to do with the shortage of officials. These two had a close one last year with Madison coming out on top 15-14. However, by the end of the year, the Mounties were awful and Riverheads annihilated them in the Region 2 B playoffs. With home field advantage and the upbeat attitude they seem to have in Staunton these days, I will go with The Storm to win this one by maybe a couple of scores. But if Madison is improved, who knows?
The rest are Friday night games.........
JAMES RIVER AT BUFFALO GAP: This was another of last year's one-point games. If I remember correctly, the Bison seemed to have it in the bag but something kinky happened late in the game to allow the Knights to escape 13-12. All sources indicate that the Gap may struggle again this year, after going 1-10 last season, but let's give them some encouragement and say that they will get their revenge in this one and get some early-season confidence.
STUARTS DRAFT AT KING WILLIAM: Continuing with the one-point games from last year, KW left the Cougar Den with a rather surprising 7-6 win, considering that both would go on to display some serious offensive power. So don't be surprised if this one is completely different and the scoreboard short circuits. I know that KW has a super-fan on here, so he can chime in and fill us in on them, but until he tells us otherwise, I will go with the home team to sweep the series. Not that the Cougars are bad, mind you, but I just see this one as two good teams fighting it out down to the wire.
CENTRAL WOODSTOCK AT RIVERHEADS: Anybody who attended this one last year probably still remembers it very well. After a scoreless first half, RHS pushed across a TD in the third to move ahead 7-0. The Gladiators then had a second TD called back on a penalty that would have put them ahead 14-0. That opened the door for a miraculous last-second drive by the Falcons to pull out an 8-7 win. Of course the two met again in the Region 2 B championship and the Big Red rolled easily in that one, on their way to a ninth straight state championship appearance. Both teams lost major firepower to graduation, so the key to this one will be who has "re-loaded" the best. I still have confidence in the depth of the RHS running game, but Central has Barahona (sp.?) back as well as a transfer quarterback from Spotswood, so if they leave Greenville with a win, it will certainly not be an upset. Officially I say the Big Red by a touchdown but the packed house should see a good one.
FORT DEFIANCE AT TURNER ASHBY: Although it was not one of last year's one-point games, this may very well be the marquee game of this opening weekend. TA looked awesome in their scrimmage win over Riverheads, whereas some sources are predicting that the Indians will not only challenge Riverheads this year for the Shenandoah title, but may actually win it. We will actually find out how those two stack up in two short weeks, so put Friday the 13th on your calendar for that big one. But back to the subject at hand, these two teams share the Augusta/Rockingham border and likely know one another quite well. As great as TA looked in that scrimmage, I have to go with them to win this one, but the Indians certainly have a chance to make a big bold statement here on opening weekend.
ALLEGHANY AT WAYNESBORO: Not sure what the now-consolidated Alleghany team calls itself (Cougars? Mounties? Colts?) but whoever they are, this trip over to Waynesboro looks like a win for the visitors but the Little Giants have a new coach and perhaps a new attitude to go with it, so don't be shocked if they surprise a team or two this year. Speed has been their trademark the past few seasons, so if they can rein that speed in a little bit and cut down on the turnovers, they could make some noise in the Shenandoah. Speaking of which, I have heard from numerous sources that Alleghany, along with Rockbridge County, will be joining the Shenandoah next year, so games with those two will become a regular thing if that is indeed accurate information.
WILSON AT CHARLOTTESVILLE: Last year at The Hive, the Hornets absolutely destroyed the Black Knights in a 55-8 turnover-filled rout. That seemed surprising at the time because over here in the Valley, C'ville is considered the "big city," so how could such a thing happen? More importantly what will happen this year? I will go with Wilson to win again just based on that score but here in this first weekend, who can say?
So there you have it....seven pretty unpredictable opening weekend games with at least one guaranteed shocker to be found somewhere along the line. To summarize, I will go with the home team to win the first five listed and the visitors to win the final two. And I will go out on a limb and say we will NOT have four one-point wins this time!
