Football in the month of October is winding down, which is crazy to comprehend considering it feels like we were just starting this thing the other day in late August. Time flies when you’re having fun, and when it comes to our Predictions, well, one guy is having more than the other. Let’s take a look at how those are going for both VirginiaPreps.com Publisher Matthew Hatfield and his weekly 757 Saturday Sports Talk Podcast compadre, Coach Edward Young…
Hatfield's 10/13/23 Statewide Picks on VIP Board: 5-6 (45.4%)
Hatfield's Week 8 Total in Tidewater: 19-4 (82.6%)
Hatfield's VHSL Season Total: 208-63 (76.8%)
Hatfield's Tidewater Season Total: 147-41 (78.2%)
Young’s Week 8 Total in Tidewater: 17-6 (73.9%)
Young’s Tidewater Season Total: 137-51 (72.9%)
... Thanks to wins by Churchland over Granby and Indian River over Nansemond River, Hatfield pushed his lead to double-digits over Coach Young. But Matt had his worst ever set of picks on the V.I.P. Board (so bad that the premium subscribers should get to eat free for a week on his dime!) with Heritage-Lynchburg, Hopewell, Lord Botetourt, E.C. Glass, Hermitage and Glenvar all going down.
There are plenty of disagreements this week between Coach Young and Matt, so the dagger can be delivered unless this time-out and strategy brings Ed back in the game heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.
Let's now get to this week's Ten Must See Matchups!
Matt’s Must-See Matchups:
King George (7-0) at Eastern View (7-0) . . . This one is as intriguing as any on the docket this week with King George featuring maybe the state’s best receiving duo in Mekhai White (Maryland commit) and Chanz Wiggins (Virginia Tech pledge). Eastern View counters with a hard-hitting linebacker drawing plenty of FBS attention and offers in Brett Clatterbaugh, who also can make plays catching the football from his tight end spot.
Hatfield Says – King George 27-16
Honaker (7-0) at Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (5-2) . . .
Hatfield Says – Honaker 40-28
Oscar Smith (5-2) at King’s Fork (7-0) . . . Just two weeks ago, Oscar Smith had a thrilling finish, where they beat rival Indian River 27-21 thanks to a touchdown pass on the final play from freshman QB Lonnie Andrews III (39 of 71 for 926 yards, 11-3 TD/Int. ratio) to sophomore wideout Travis Johnson (24Rec. 529Yds. 7 TD’s). That combination is really clicking now, and just this week Andrews picked up his first offer from Boston College out of the ACC. Two of the best running backs in all of Tidewater square off, both from the Class of 2025, as JaVon Ford (107Att. 954Yds. 18 TD’s; 20Rec. 240Yds. TD) is the engine to the Bulldogs attack, looking to break some school marks set by Deshaun Wethington before he graduates, while Oscar Smith counters with Brandon Nesbit (102Att. 607Yds. 9 TD’s). Nesbit sustained an injury in the game vs. Indian River and having him effective is extremely critical to their ground attack. The Bulldogs halted Smith's 99-game Southeastern District winning streak back in 2017, and although they are just 1-17 all-time in this series, they are confident they have the playmakers and components on defense to beat them for just the second time ever.
Hatfield Says – King’s Fork 26-18
E.C. Glass (5-2) at Liberty Christian (7-0) . . .
Hatfield Says – Liberty Christian 31-14
Manchester (6-1) at L.C. Bird (5-2) . . .
Hatfield Says – Manchester 34-18
Mountain View (7-0) at Patriot (5-2) . . .
Hatfield Says – Patriot 20-19 (OT)
Lake Braddock (6-1) at West Springfield (6-1) . . . The Spartans are having a fine season and have won five straight since a heart-breaking 14-9 loss to South County in a game that they certainly could’ve taken. But in the head-to-head series with Lake Braddock, it has not gone in their favor to often with the Bruins winning seven straight, scoring 27+ each time and 40 or more on five occasions. It’s hard to see the offense getting bottled up in this spot.
Hatfield Says – Lake Braddock 36-24
South Lakes (7-0) at Madison (7-0) . . .
Hatfield Says – Madison 24-14
Louisa (6-1) at Fluvanna (5-2) . . . What a story the Flucos have been, to go from winless a season ago to now guaranteed a .500 or better campaign. The Lions have a different cast of characters than recent ones that ran through the Jefferson District, led by Landon Wilson at QB in previous seasons. But Will Patrick’s group knows how to beat the Flucos, with nine consecutive wins coming into this one, many by running clock margins.
Hatfield Says – Louisa 42-14
Clarke County (6-1) at Strasburg (5-1) . . . This one has plenty of meaning for the playoffs in Region 2B with Clarke County currently sitting in the No. 5 seed, whereas the Rams of Strasburg are in the No. 6 hole, fresh off an impressive 42-0 shutout of Luray.
Hatfield Says – Clarke County 22-21
Hatfield's 10/13/23 Statewide Picks on VIP Board: 5-6 (45.4%)
Hatfield's Week 8 Total in Tidewater: 19-4 (82.6%)
Hatfield's VHSL Season Total: 208-63 (76.8%)
Hatfield's Tidewater Season Total: 147-41 (78.2%)
Young’s Week 8 Total in Tidewater: 17-6 (73.9%)
Young’s Tidewater Season Total: 137-51 (72.9%)
... Thanks to wins by Churchland over Granby and Indian River over Nansemond River, Hatfield pushed his lead to double-digits over Coach Young. But Matt had his worst ever set of picks on the V.I.P. Board (so bad that the premium subscribers should get to eat free for a week on his dime!) with Heritage-Lynchburg, Hopewell, Lord Botetourt, E.C. Glass, Hermitage and Glenvar all going down.
There are plenty of disagreements this week between Coach Young and Matt, so the dagger can be delivered unless this time-out and strategy brings Ed back in the game heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.
Let's now get to this week's Ten Must See Matchups!
Matt’s Must-See Matchups:
King George (7-0) at Eastern View (7-0) . . . This one is as intriguing as any on the docket this week with King George featuring maybe the state’s best receiving duo in Mekhai White (Maryland commit) and Chanz Wiggins (Virginia Tech pledge). Eastern View counters with a hard-hitting linebacker drawing plenty of FBS attention and offers in Brett Clatterbaugh, who also can make plays catching the football from his tight end spot.
Hatfield Says – King George 27-16
Honaker (7-0) at Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (5-2) . . .
Hatfield Says – Honaker 40-28
Oscar Smith (5-2) at King’s Fork (7-0) . . . Just two weeks ago, Oscar Smith had a thrilling finish, where they beat rival Indian River 27-21 thanks to a touchdown pass on the final play from freshman QB Lonnie Andrews III (39 of 71 for 926 yards, 11-3 TD/Int. ratio) to sophomore wideout Travis Johnson (24Rec. 529Yds. 7 TD’s). That combination is really clicking now, and just this week Andrews picked up his first offer from Boston College out of the ACC. Two of the best running backs in all of Tidewater square off, both from the Class of 2025, as JaVon Ford (107Att. 954Yds. 18 TD’s; 20Rec. 240Yds. TD) is the engine to the Bulldogs attack, looking to break some school marks set by Deshaun Wethington before he graduates, while Oscar Smith counters with Brandon Nesbit (102Att. 607Yds. 9 TD’s). Nesbit sustained an injury in the game vs. Indian River and having him effective is extremely critical to their ground attack. The Bulldogs halted Smith's 99-game Southeastern District winning streak back in 2017, and although they are just 1-17 all-time in this series, they are confident they have the playmakers and components on defense to beat them for just the second time ever.
Hatfield Says – King’s Fork 26-18
E.C. Glass (5-2) at Liberty Christian (7-0) . . .
Hatfield Says – Liberty Christian 31-14
Manchester (6-1) at L.C. Bird (5-2) . . .
Hatfield Says – Manchester 34-18
Mountain View (7-0) at Patriot (5-2) . . .
Hatfield Says – Patriot 20-19 (OT)
Lake Braddock (6-1) at West Springfield (6-1) . . . The Spartans are having a fine season and have won five straight since a heart-breaking 14-9 loss to South County in a game that they certainly could’ve taken. But in the head-to-head series with Lake Braddock, it has not gone in their favor to often with the Bruins winning seven straight, scoring 27+ each time and 40 or more on five occasions. It’s hard to see the offense getting bottled up in this spot.
Hatfield Says – Lake Braddock 36-24
South Lakes (7-0) at Madison (7-0) . . .
Hatfield Says – Madison 24-14
Louisa (6-1) at Fluvanna (5-2) . . . What a story the Flucos have been, to go from winless a season ago to now guaranteed a .500 or better campaign. The Lions have a different cast of characters than recent ones that ran through the Jefferson District, led by Landon Wilson at QB in previous seasons. But Will Patrick’s group knows how to beat the Flucos, with nine consecutive wins coming into this one, many by running clock margins.
Hatfield Says – Louisa 42-14
Clarke County (6-1) at Strasburg (5-1) . . . This one has plenty of meaning for the playoffs in Region 2B with Clarke County currently sitting in the No. 5 seed, whereas the Rams of Strasburg are in the No. 6 hole, fresh off an impressive 42-0 shutout of Luray.
Hatfield Says – Clarke County 22-21
