Some really compelling on this second Friday of October 2022 across the VHSL Football landscape, fresh off a night where Liberty Christian beat Heritage-Lynchburg 14-6 in a defensive battle for Seminole District bragging rights, and Graham took care of business against Virginia High in a Southwest District, Region 2D clash.
The BIG one in the Commonwealth is with Oscar Smith, reigning two-time State Champs in Class 6, visiting King's Fork, presently No. 3 in our Class 4 Top Ten rankings. Other key matchups around the Commonwealth include Midlothian at Manchester, Robinson visiting Lake Braddock, Centreville traveling to Lake Braddock, Riverheads hosting Wilson Memorial, and Mountain View looking to keep its unbeaten season going at Colonial Forge.
Before tackling all that, let's take a look at how those Thursday night selections on 10/13/22 did for Coach Ed Young and his ESPN Radio 94.1 counterpart, VaPreps Publisher Matthew Hatfield ...
Hatfield's Thursday's 10/13/22 Total - 5-0 (100%)
Hatfield's 2022 Season Total - 211-41 (83.7%)
Hatfield's Thursday 10/13/22 Total in Tidewater - 3-0 (100%)
Hatfield's Tidewater Season Total - 140-20 (87.5%)
Coach Young's Thursday's 10/13/22 Total - 4-1 (80%)
Coach Young's 2022 Season Total - 137-26 (84%)
Coach Young's Thursday 10/13/22 Total in Tidewater - 2-1 (67%)
Coach Young's Tidewater Season Total - 135-25 (84.4%)
By virtue of Tabb's 21-14 triumph over Smithfield, Hatfield re-captured a five-game lead on Young in the Tidewater battle. Clearly, Coach Young was blinded by his loyalty to new Packers Head Coach Tracey Parker, a former office mate of his at Nansemond River.
Outside Tidewater for 10/14/22:
Midlothian (6-0) at Manchester (5-1) . . . This one figures to go right down to the wire, much like Manchester's recent thriller with L.C. Bird did, and Lancers freshman QB Landon Abernethy continues to impress and not play like a ninth grader.
Matt Hatfield Says - Manchester 21-17
Centreville (5-1) at Madison (3-3) . . . This is an interesting battle because since the 22-15 loss to Stone Bridge, the Centreville Wildcats have averaged 63 points per game, yet they take on a tough Madison defense that is allowing less than 14 points per game for the fifth season now in holding foes to 13.5 PPG on the year coming into this one. Furthermore, Madison's three losses to Stone Bridge, Lake Braddock and Yorktown were by a collective seven points, so it won't be easy for Centreville to halt an eight-game losing skid in this series that goes back to 2017.
Matt Hatfield Says - Centreville 20-16
Robinson (5-1) at Lake Braddock (6-0) . . . While the attention at Lake Braddock is usually about its passing game and they have a really good one with Delaware commit Daniel Lipovski engineering the air attack, their ground game with Elliot Meine can be a difference for them on a quest to a regional title as well as holding off a very dangerous Rams team that is always a physical bunch under Coach Scott Vossler.
Matt Hatfield Says - Lake Braddock 36-26
Wilson Memorial (5-1) at Riverheads (4-1) . . . Cayden Cook-Cash is back in the fold after dealing with an injury, so unless Wilson Memorial plays a game for the ages on offense, look for the Gladiators to muscle their way to victory in this one behind their wonderous ball carrier.
Matt Hatfield Says - Riverheads 42-18
Martinsville (6-0) at Magna Vista (4-3) . . . It has been a fantastic start for Martinsville under Coach Bobby Martin, who ironically enough took another Piedmont District school to the State Playoffs, GW-Danville, in basketball several years ago. In many ways, this feels like a make or break game for Joe Favero's Warriors, who have not lost to the Bulldogs since 2008 and probably have the formula to keep that streak going in what some might view as a mild upset.
Matt Hatfield Says - Magna Vista 22-20
Tidewater FRIDAY 10/14/22 Slate:
Oscar Smith (5-0) at King's Fork (6-0) . . . This has been one of the more anticipated games on the state docket since the schedule was made. Back in 2017, King’s Fork outlasted Oscar Smith 29-23 in a thriller where QB Justin German threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns – the eventual game-winner coming with 1:14 to play when he found receiver Cherrod Joe for a 53-yard strike on fourth-and-10. That answered Oscar Smith going ahead on a 56-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-11 earlier in the quarter.
Certainly, the cast of characters have changed from that game, but there are some juicy storylines. King’s Fork Head Coach Anthony Joffrion was a Bulldogs assistant the last time the Suffolk school hosted and beat the Tigers. Furthermore, he played for current Oscar Smith Head Coach Chris Scott at Ocean Lakes. He was an assistant of Scott’s with the Tigers as well. Thus far, King’s Fork is averaging 40.8 points per game and allowing just 6.8 PPG.
Scott’s Tigers – the reigning two-time Class 6 State Champions – have won 16 games in a row and 31 straight over Southeastern District opponents. They needed to rally from a 17-0 deficit in the second period to beat Indian River, 19-17, just two weeks ago. That less than stellar performance aside, the Tigers are putting up 48.2 points per game and allowing just 10.2 PPG.
Oscar Smith has alternated quarterbacks this year between Cade Cox (611 yards, 8-1 TD/Int. ratio) and Parker Lancaster (406 yards, 6-1 TD/Int. ratio). There are weapons for both with the speedy Jamauri ‘Bam’ Knox (23Rec. 421Yds. 3 TD’s), Xavier Lewis and West Virginia commit Tory Johnson Jr. (13Rec. 260Yds. 5 TD’s). As important as the passing game, getting the ground game with Isaac Huffman on track is essential against a King’s Fork defense that rallies to the ball well collectively, led by All-State DB Antione Gray, Latavion Wynn (5 sacks), Ronald Rhodes and Malachi Nixon. That group held Western Branch to 57 total yards of offense in a win last month.
The Tigers have to be able to slow down a King’s Fork offense that can strike in a bunch of different ways, headed up by dual-threat QB Cameron Butler (1251 total yards, 17 TD’s), RB JaVon Ford (8 TD’s rushing) and WR Kaletri Boyd, arguably the most dynamic player on the field. On the year, Boyd had 10 TD’s and that included a 94-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter of their 35-14 win over Deep Creek along with an 80-yard touchdown catch. Getting takeaways will be important for the Oscar Smith defense and DB Damon ‘D.J.’ Etheridge has 5 INT’s the past two weeks, one of which he returned for a score against Great Bridge. Edge rusher Jerrod Wilson (5 sacks) also is going to be looking to cause havoc like he did when he created the go-ahead score on a strip-sack at Indian River.
We’ll really find out if Oscar Smith’s offense is still trying to figure some things out or not in this spot because King’s Fork comes into this one oozing with confidence, similar to five years ago when they snapped the Tigers SED streak. Keeping composure and not having a myriad of penalties, which plagued them a season ago in this matchup, will be huge. In close games, the Tigers know how to finish and they should not be fazed at all by the atmosphere or crowd if it goes down to the wire.
Matt Hatfield Says – King's Fork 20-14
Coach Ed Young Says – Oscar Smith 21-20
Ocean Lakes (1-6) at Green Run (6-0) . . . After a 0-6 start to the season, the Dolphins notched their first win with a 13-6 comeback vs. Princess Anne where all the scoring was done in the opening quarter. Green Run put up 337 yards and 28 points after half-time to dig out of an early 7-0 deficit against Bayside, who kept the high-scoring Stallions in check to 42 total yards before the third period.
Matt Hatfield Says - Green Run 50-10
Coach Ed Young Says – Green Run 45-0
Maury (4-1) at Manor (1-5) . . . Prior to their 20-0 shutout of Granby, the Manor Mustangs were giving up 28.6 points per game, so the defense probably is not super confident it can contain a quick-strike Maury attack that handled Churchland 56-0 a week ago behind four first half touchdowns from Duke commit Peyton Jones.
Matt Hatfield Says - Maury 62-6
Coach Ed Young Says - Maury 56-0
Hickory (1-4) at Western Branch (6-1) . . . With 18 carries for 200 yards and 3 TD’s, Bruins running back Shimique Blizzard powered the Western Branch attack to a 45-24 victory over Indian River that has him in sight of 1000 yards for the season as he enters with 66 rushes for 848 yards and 13 end zone trots.
Matt Hatfield Says - Western Branch 41-6
Coach Ed Young Says – Western Branch 36-0
Landstown (3-3) at Cox (5-1) . . . While Cox is well-rested off its bye and flying high with a four-game winning streak, the Landstown offense is searching for answers as they have gone from averaging 36.3 points per game during a 3-0 start to scoring a total of 12 points during a three-game losing skid.
Matt Hatfield Says - Cox 28-7
Coach Ed Young Says - Cox 21-18
Bethel (3-4) at Woodside (4-1) . . . Amazingly, Woodside only had one offensive touchdown in their 20-17 triple-overtime loss to Warwick and that came on a run from tailback Paul Stephen Davis as their other scores were a field goal and pick-six by Jack Craddock.
Matt Hatfield Says - Woodside 31-15
Coach Ed Young Says - Woodside 33-12
King William (5-2) at Lafayette (5-1) . . . Don’t expect this to replicate last year’s score-fest, where King William won 61-42 because the Rams defense has given up 61 points the entire season, whereas the stud from that game for the Cavaliers, Demond Claiborne, now plays at Wake Forest.
Matt Hatfield Says - Lafayette 24-16
Coach Ed Young Says - Lafayette 30-28
Salem-VB (5-1) at Kempsville (6-1) . . . It’ll be interesting to see what wins out between the passing connection of Jason ‘Scooter’ Williams (62 of 115 for 1180Yds. 14-2 TD/Int. ratio) to Jahrell Walton (23Rec. 345Yds. 4 TD’s) for Salem or the punishing ground game of NaiQuan Washington-Pearce (107Car. 959Yds. 15 TD’s) for Kempsville. A couple of defenders might have a say in how things go, particularly Salem sophomore pass rusher Ari Watford and Kempsville DB Ryley McIntosh, who leads the Beach in interceptions with six.
Matt Hatfield Says - Kempsville 21-14
Coach Ed Young Says - Salem 21-14
Lakeland (1-6) at Indian River (3-3) . . . Since a 40-0 loss to Lakeland in 2012, the Braves have responded with eight straight wins in this series, each of the past six by two or more touchdowns.
Matt Hatfield Says - Indian River 48-16
Coach Ed Young Says – Indian River 44-14
Churchland (4-2) at Lake Taylor (5-1) . . . One has to wonder about the psyche of both teams as Churchland, playing so well before a 56-0 loss to Maury, will have to show its defense can contain the vaunted twin-veer that has led the Titans to 21 victories in the past 23 head-to-head meetings. Though Lake Taylor might have its hands full chasing dual-threat QB Brandyn Hillman, the crew from Norfolk has UVA commit Anthony Britton (17 sacks) up front and the hard-hitting Tarreon Washington-Jacobs at linebacker. Furthermore, the Titans should be confident coming off a 28-27 win at Hermitage and know that they out-gained Maury in the first half before succumbing by 22 in that meeting three weeks ago.
Matt Hatfield Says - Lake Taylor 34-27
Coach Ed Young Says – Lake Taylor 28-21
Grafton (3-3) at New Kent (3-3) . . . Even though Grafton is gaining confidence and the Clippers’ Ben Samson leads all Bay Rivers District players in interceptions with six, New Kent figures to be sky high from the 14-7 win over York last week and will also get a boost with the expected return of QB/DB A.J. Whitlow from injury.
Matt Hatfield Says - New Kent 16-8
Coach Ed Young Says – New Kent 28-12
Jamestown (0-6) at York (4-2) . . . After giving up 218 yards rushing to New Kent in a 14-7 loss, the Falcons look to bounce back in a big way against a Jamestown team that has put up just 10 points all season long.
Matt Hatfield Says - York 36-0
Coach Ed Young Says - York 30-6
Bayside (3-4) at Kellam (3-2) . . . Three turnovers in the second half by Bayside turned a 7-all tie with unbeaten Green Run at intermission into a 28-point loss.
Matt Hatfield Says - Bayside 22-18
Coach Ed Young Says - Bayside 24-21
Tallwood (1-5) at First Colonial (2-4) . . . By upending Kellam 26-10, the Lions notched their first win of the season a week ago and could continue to find a groove offensively as they take on a First Colonial defense giving up 37.2 points per game.
Matt Hatfield Says - Tallwood 21-16
Coach Ed Young Says - Tallwood 28-24
Booker T. Washington (2-4) at Norcom (5-2) . . . Zion Thomas-Fugate had a 25-yard pick-six and a 40-yard touchdown reception from QB Cam Jones in last week’s 28-7 win for Norcom over King William.
Matt Hatfield Says - Norcom 23-17
Coach Ed Young Says - Norcom 28-22
Norview (3-4) at Granby (0-5) . . . Rather quietly, Norview has a pair of receivers putting up very solid numbers in Jaylin Williams (15Rec. 302Yds. 4 TD’s) and Eamon Cuffee (8Rec. 284Yds. 2 TD’s), both eager to add to those totals against a Granby team that has been outscored 126-0 by Eastern District foes on the campaign.
Matt Hatfield Says - Norview 32-12
Coach Ed Young Says - Norview 36-6
Grassfield (0-6) at Great Bridge (2-4) . . . Both defenses have been beleaguered this year with Grassfield allowing 44.8 points per game and Great Bridge yielding 34.3 PPG, yet each has something to play for as this is the best chance for a win on the Grizzlies slate and the Wildcats know a victory would go a long way towards helping them crack the Region 4A playoffs.
Matt Hatfield Says - Great Bridge 21-13
Coach Ed Young Says – Great Bridge 20-18
Nansemond River (4-2) at Deep Creek (4-2) . . . This one is worth watching, especially to see if the Warriors defense can tackle Hornets sophomore running Brandon Nesbit (78Att. 777Yds. 14 TD’s) and whether or not the Deep Creek defense contains Nansemond River dual-threat QB Alkendric Overton.
Matt Hatfield Says - Deep Creek 26-20
Coach Ed Young Says – Nansemond River 26-24
SATURDAY 10/15/22 Action:
Phoebus (6-0) at Kecoughtan (4-2) . . . In splitting with Bethel and Warwick the past two weeks, the Kecoughtan offense has put up a mere 18 points, which won’t be enough to keep pace with the Phantoms, who in spite of their less than dominant showing in a 21-0 shutout of Hampton, averaged 43 points per game during the month of September.
Matt Hatfield Says - Phoebus 31-3
Coach Ed Young Says - Phoebus 33-6
Gloucester (1-5) at Menchville (3-4) . . . Though Gloucester hadn’t scored on the season before their 45-6 win over Denbigh, the Monarchs have been headed in the wrong direction lately after a 3-1 start.
Matt Hatfield Says - Menchville 27-6
Coach Ed Young Says - Menchville 30-8
Hampton (1-6) at Denbigh (0-7) . . . While the Crabbers have dropped six in a row since their 16-0 shutout of Gloucester to open the season, they can take comfort in the fact that they lead the all-time series with Denbigh 52-3 with the Patriots last breakthrough coming in 2013.
Matt Hatfield Says - Hampton 34-2
Coach Ed Young Says - Hampton 44-0
