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Predictions Friday Night VHSL Football Picks - 8/27/21 + Weekend Selections

matthew328826

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Alas, the first Friday night of the 2021 VHSL Football season is here! It's back in its normal spot of late August and it follows up a Thursday in which six of the seven games on the docket were blowouts. The only one that was decided in the final moments came with James River beating L.C. Bird on the final play as Reece Hamilton found Chris Seward on a scoring strike as time expired to send the Rapids into jubilation.

Yours truly missed on that and really whiffed badly on Mechanicsville / Deep Run, which my colleagues Danny Lewis and Byron Jones got right. So out of the gate, it's a 5-2 mark that we'll try to build off of for Friday.

For time purposes, I won't be able to go as in-depth as I'd want on some of these matchups... but have broken some of the games into three categories. You have the A-list, which comprises of 13 games. Then there's the B-list, which I list 12 games on... and then the rest, considered to be just OK games that this guy won't be scrambling on the Twitter feed in the evening to find out who won. Many of the A-list and B-list matchups feature ranked teams squaring off against each other.

So here we go, and we'll list them from higher classifications down to lower for the most part...


Hat's A-List Games for Friday 8/27/21 (unless otherwise noted):

Salem-VB at Landstown...
Intrigue to this one is you have the pupil in new Salem Head Coach Marcus Johnson-Williams taking on the mentor, Landstown's longtime sideline boss Tommy Reamon, in what figures to have plenty of ball-control, occasional scoring and perhaps more big plays on defense than on offense in this opener.

Matt Hatfield Says - Salem 13-12
Coach Ed Young Says - Salem 22-18


Oscar Smith at Deep Creek... The Hornets were handled by the Class 6 State Champion Tigers from Oscar Smith in the spring, 51-0. But this time the scene shifts to Deep Creek and things could be a lot closer if they can push the pocket on Smith QB Ethan Vasko (ODU) with linemen Ryan Nolan (also an ODU commit), Deontae Roscoe and Walter Barnett. Problem is Smith has a mighty strong line themselves with Caleb Jones anchoring the defensive side and Maarten Woudsma on the o-line. Both are next-level prospects.

As strange as it will sound, the previous encounter was close until the ladder part of the second quarter when the dam broke and Clemson commit Sherod Covil had one of his two pick-sixes. Creek QB Anthony Barnes will have to be extra careful when he throws it, yet be a dangerous runner when he pulls it down to scramble. That's a big ask without electric WR Jalen Jones, now at William & Mary.

Matt Hatfield Says - Oscar Smith 38-13
Coach Ed Young Says - Oscar Smith 33-20


Gar-Field at North Stafford... Can Arizona State commit Tevin White of North Stafford have success against a Gar-Field defense that held foes to just 11.7 PPG last season? Gar-Field leads the all-time series 14-8, despite losing the last three meetings from 2008-10.

Matt Hatfield Says - North Stafford 21-20


Madison at Stone Bridge... The reigning Class 5 State Champion Bulldogs take on a Madison team that was an eye-lash away from playing Oscar Smith for the Class 6 crown. Stone Bridge moves do-it-all athlete Jacob Thomas over to quarterback. There's talent in the backfield to complement him with Eli Mason, plus a stud in the trenches in JMU commit Carter Sweazie.

Madison graduated some significant pieces on defense, though 2nd Team All-District QB Connor Barry is back and so too is All-Region tailback Alex Jreige, who ran for nearly 700 yards in his team's first six games prior to the State Playoffs last season. Look for plenty of scoring and highlight-reel plays in this one from two of Northern Virginia's finest. Being at home and with experience on their side, it's hard to go against Mickey Thompson's Bulldogs in game one.

Matt Hatfield Says - Stone Bridge 34-23


SAT: Julius Chambers (NC) at Highland Springs... Once named Vance High School, Chambers has won back-to-back NC 4AA State Championships and are chock full of talented prospects, much like Loren Johnson's Springers are. Chambers is also coached by a Virginia native in Green Run grad and former Indian River Head Coach Glenwood Ferebee.

Wake Forest commit Jalen Swindell and DE James Pearce Jr. will post to be a handful for the Highland Springs offensive line in this one, plus the Springers on defense - with Virginia Tech commit Rashaud Pernell anchoring their front - will have to find a way to slow down tailback Daylan Smothers, who has Alabama among his 20-plus suitors. Smothers is Kevin Whaley-like (referencing the former Salem-VB tailback who went to Minnesota) for those that follow football in Virginia. Both teams are littered with speedy playmakers on the outside, which should make for an entertaining game to watch.

Matt Hatfield Says - Julius Chambers 26-20
Danny Lewis Says - Highland Springs 24-20
Byron Jones Says - Highland Springs 21-17


SAT: Phoebus at Lake Taylor... After Phoebus won the first six meetings in this series from 1986-2011, things have tilted towards Lake Taylor, beginning with that 54-0 demolition at Harbor Park in 2012 for the Eastern Region Division 5 Championship. That season was the first of Lake Taylor's three state titles. The Titans have four of the past five meetings, including a 23-22 squeaker in the 2019 opener at Darling Stadium. While the Phantoms may have the more experienced offensive personnel with QB Mark Wagner, RB Ty Taylor and WR Kymari Gray, the Titans have a fast and aggressive defensive front, per usual. Watch for 6'6" sophomore Elijah Washington to be a monster on both sides of the ball for Hank Sawyer's crew.

More importantly for the Phantoms than maybe their run defense against the 1-2 punch of Tarreon Washington-Jacobs and Chuck Fisher for Lake Taylor will be how well they block Lake Taylor up front. The Titans are breaking in a new starting quarterback along with replacing reliable targets Darious Speight, Camauri Hunter and Pierrce Royster to graduation, so ball security and converting third downs will tell us a lot as to how dynamic their offense can be this year.

Matt Hatfield Says - Lake Taylor 24-21
Coach Ed Young Says - Lake Taylor 14-12


William Fleming at Heritage-Lynchburg... These two teams have high expectations going into the season; William Fleming in an improved Region 5D and Heritage-Lynchburg in Region 3C, albeit playing in the gauntlet that is the Seminole District. Brad Bradley's Pioneers probably have the upper hand here at home with a seasoned QB in Kameron Burns, plus the ability to run the rock with multiple backs.

William Fleming gained some valuable experience with its run to the State Semis in the spring and return a quality QB of their own in Dashawn Lewis.

Matt Hatfield Says - Heritage-Lynchburg 27-14


SAT: Lafayette at King George... These two programs tasted considerable success in the abbreviated spring as Lafayette won the Class 3 State Championship, though it's not quite the same group, while King George is minus its star QB Charles Mutter that helped them win the Region 4B crown. Lafayette is without one of its top linebackers due to injury in Sam Boyer, while two key players transferred out in Loyal Gresham and Donald Gatling.

Nonetheless, Andy Linn's Rams still ought to run the ball effectively on the road and have a veteran QB in UVA baseball commit Luke Hanson to navigate any adversity that comes their way.

Matt Hatfield Says - Lafayette 26-18
Coach Ed Young Says - Lafayette 28-12


TUES: Varina at Hopewell... New QB Myles Derricott takes center stage for the Blue Devils of Varina as they try to up their all-time series lead to 16-4. Hopewell looks for Kesean Henderson to deliver some magic running the ball like his older brother TreVeyon, now at Ohio State, did during his Blue Devils career. One thing is certain and that is the Blue Devils will win this game.

Matt Hatfield Says - Varina 22-14
Danny Lewis Says - Varina 40-27
Byron Jones Says - Varina 28-24


Martinsburg (WV) at Salem... Even with 11 starters back and playing on home soil, Salem will have a tough task in this one as Martinsburg is a West Virginia power with just one loss since 2016. They beat the Spartans 49-14 in 2019, and for Salem to reverse that trend, they'll need not only their defense with Cameron Martindale up front to play well, but the offense - featuring JMU commit Chauncey Logan Jr. - to be balanced as well as efficient with their drives throughout the night.

Matt Hatfield Says - Martinsburg 28-21


King William at Goochland... The Cavaliers boast arguably the best player on the field in Wake Forest commit Demond Claiborne. Is that enough to beat Goochland on the road? The Bulldogs are pretty good themselves, and All-Region DB/QB CJ Towles will be out to have a big night to kick-start his senior campaign.

Matt Hatfield Says - Goochland 30-15


Magna Vista at Liberty Christian...No shortage of star power in this one with Magna Vista led by Penn State commit Tyler Johnson, while LCA counters with UVA commit Davis Lane at QB and five-star recruit Zach Rice to bolster their lines.

Matt Hatfield Says - Liberty Christian 35-27


Galax at Glenvar... Something tells me there will be some early growing pains for the Maroon Tide offensively in life-post Cole Pickett QB. Then again, it could be that spaghetti I ate for lunch. We'll take Kevin Clifford's Highlanders in a close one.

Matt Hatfield Says - Glenvar 13-7


Hat's B-List Games for Friday 8/27/21:

Robinson at South Lakes...
The Rams of Robinson lead the all-time series 12-5 and have won four straight.

Matt Hatfield Says - Robinson 27-26


Churchland at Western Branch... Remember the name Kaleb Gallop for Churchland. He's primed for a strong senior campaign at wide receiver and corner.

Matt Hatfield Says - Churchland 23-13
Coach Ed Young Says - Churchland 20-18


Ocean Lakes at Cox... Coaching debuts of both James Yeager at Ocean Lakes and Pro Football Hall of Famer Alan Faneca for Cox.

Matt Hatfield Says - Ocean Lakes 28-16
Coach Ed Young Says - Ocean Lakes 24-20


Prince George at Douglas Freeman... Keep an eye on RB Curtis Allen, who's a good candidate to bust off multiple long runs for the visiting Royals in this one.

Matt Hatfield Says - Prince George 28-14
Danny Lewis Says - Prince George 32-12
Byron Jones Says - Prince George 35-21


Broad Run at Briar Woods...Coaching debut, or return we shall say, of Mike Burnett at Briar Woods. Burnett once coached Broad Run to State Championship glory.

Matt Hatfield Says - Broad Run 35-21


John Champe at Woodgrove... Of the four meetings all-time between these two schools, only once has John Champe prevailed and that was a 20-17 overtime triumph in 2015.

Matt Hatfield Says - John Champe 26-16


Smithfield at King's Fork... Virginia Tech commit Kyree Moyston will look to be a game-wrecker on defense coming off the edge for King's Fork, which faces a Smithfield squad that likes their makeup on the offensive line.

Matt Hatfield Says - King's Fork 30-21
Coach Ed Young Says - King's Fork 21-14


Lord Botetourt at E.C. Glass... The Hilltoppers face a Botetourt team with multiple scholarship players in the trenches, one of which is Hokies commit Gunner Givens, who also is athletic enough to catch passes as a tight end or wide receiver.

Matt Hatfield Says - Lord Botetourt 35-14


Patrick Henry-Roanoke at Brookville... There's lots of excitement surrounding Brookville as the Bees return Seminole Player of the Year Drake McDaniel at QB.

Matt Hatfield Says - Brookville 36-14


George Wythe at Radford...
It's the coaching debut of Michael Crist, formerly of Virginia High, at Radford as his Bobcats host a Wythe team that trails the all-time series 47-30-4.

Matt Hatfield Says - George Wythe 19-14


Tazewell at Virginia High... With new Head Coach Derrick Patterson from Holston, the Bearcats of Virginia High look to reverse the 55-14 loss they suffered to Tazewell from back in 2019.


Matt Hatfield Says - Virginia High 23-21


Waynesboro at Riverheads... Stopping the Big Red Machine that is Riverheads is colossal chore out of the gate for the Little Giants as Riverheads enters on a 36-game winning streak. Even with the graduation of Zac Smiley, don't expect Riverheads to have a hard time running the football.

Matt Hatfield Says - Riverheads 26-17


THE REST: 757 Style with Ed Young vs. Matt Hatfield

First Colonial at Kellam...

Matt Hatfield Says -
Kellam 17-10
Coach Ed Young Says - Kellam 21-8


Grassfield at Norview...

Matt Hatfield Says -
Norview 21-13
Coach Ed Young Says - Norview 14-12


Bethel at Nansemond River...

Matt Hatfield Says -
Nansemond River 24-15
Coach Ed Young Says - Nansemond River 24-18


Kecoughtan at Tabb....

Matt Hatfield Says -
Kecoughtan 20-9
Coach Ed Young Says - Kecoughtan 28-16


Indian River at Hickory...

Matt Hatfield Says -
Indian River 34-10
Coach Ed Young Says - Indian River 30-13


Lakeland at Manor...

Matt Hatfield Says -
Manor 16-14
Coach Ed Young Says - Manor 20-16


Nottoway at Jamestown..

Matt Hatfield Says -
Nottoway 24-8
Coach Ed Young Says - Nottoway 16-12


SAT: Warwick at Warhill....

Matt Hatfield Says -
Warhill 20-16
Coach Ed Young Says -Warhill 20-17


Northampton at Bruton...

Matt Hatfield Says -
Northampton 18-12
Coach Ed Young Says - Northampton 20-18
 
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