HSHS at Manchester

[iDidntGetBanned]

I do know that Varina and Hopewell was in the works but it didn’t work out scheduling wise. Manchester was a good pick up by both Varina and Highland Springs. I’ve been noted in the past for saying that the Varina class of 2020 would be their best group of seniors in a while.
@mbonape1 A couple of key factors to consider for the upcoming Varina game includes that:

Varina was Highland Springs closest game all year until Stone Bridge. For the last 2 years, Varina’s offense has been handicapped by them not having a serviceable QB. They now have one and a very good one. HS’s defense is very good, however I watched the 2017 and 2018 games and (like you originally stated) and it’s clear that Varina self destructed with turnovers and a lot of poor execution.. I saw a bunch of athletes on the field.. HS was clearly the most cohesive and focused. It wasn’t a HS has way more talent than Varina thing, HS has a dam good coaching staff and gameplan.. They also have the personnel to do it.
I do want to see the match-up of running backs. HS lost two very very good ones plus one of the best return men I’ve seen to ever play high school football. Varina has a really good one in James Reid.. Isaiah Page is very tough in the open field. HS may very well beat them but let’s not act like Varina doesn’t have any talent.

 

[iDidntGetBanned]

Uh, I know that, nothing HS can do about that now except keep winning games!.. and by the way, we didn't lose to Oscar Smith! ... and we still have 3 State title contenders on schedule... Manchester, Colonial Forge and Varina! I do consider Varina a contender! And by the way, I did not say Varina wasn't good! In a previous thread, I stated that this is Varina's best team in a long time. It was about scoring lots of points on weak teams. I thought LT would be a game, with their reputation and track record, I thought they'd be much better. I'm sure that Varina scheduled them to get a challenge, just like HS scheduling N Stafford, Page and Avalon!
Don't get it twisted!

And that’s what HS has done.. Win! It isn’t their fault that the other teams are down, Springs has done what they were supposed to do. The second half of the schedule will be challenging. Colonial Forge may be the best team on their schedule and it’s admirable that two of the best in their class will play one another (Herm and Manchester did it a few years back). HS will get everybody’s best shot. I don’t doubt Highland Springs talent. They have it all, the players, the depth, the coaching, the support.. But we both know that they’ll have at least 2 more close ones whether it’s 1 of the 3 very good teams on the schedule or if it’s playoff time. It’s gonna be FUN to watch! 5A is good!

 

[mbonape1]

Besides we have to give the Springer faithful some sort of competitive banter on here. At least an alternate opinion.

 

[acoles]

I AGREE

I will pick HSHS! Because we ARE who we ARE

 

[acoles]

I will pick HSHS! Because we ARE who we ARE

 

[acoles]

I WILL PICK

I will pick HSHS! Because we ARE who we ARE

 

[EPJr]

I just read this 5A board and smh.. I saw Varina again last night. Varina made Lake Taylor look like George Wythe. Newton was limited to 1 big run all night and I don’t even think he had a carry over 6 yards before that. If Varina can play any kind of disciplined game against HS it’s gonna get real interesting. Manchester/HS gonna be real good Friday.

you could make your point w/o disrespecting the kids at Wythe.

 

[HooSprings]

I do know that Varina and Hopewell was in the works but it didn’t work out scheduling wise. Manchester was a good pick up by both Varina and Highland Springs. I’ve been noted in the past for saying that the Varina class of 2020 would be their best group of seniors in a while.
@mbonape1 A couple of key factors to consider for the upcoming Varina game includes that:

Varina was Highland Springs closest game all year until Stone Bridge. For the last 2 years, Varina’s offense has been handicapped by them not having a serviceable QB. They now have one and a very good one. HS’s defense is very good, however I watched the 2017 and 2018 games and (like you originally stated) and it’s clear that Varina self destructed with turnovers and a lot of poor execution.. I saw a bunch of athletes on the field.. HS was clearly the most cohesive and focused. It wasn’t a HS has way more talent than Varina thing, HS has a dam good coaching staff and gameplan.. They also have the personnel to do it.
I do want to see the match-up of running backs. HS lost two very very good ones plus one of the best return men I’ve seen to ever play high school football. Varina has a really good one in James Reid.. Isaiah Page is very tough in the open field. HS may very well beat them but let’s not act like Varina doesn’t have any talent.

21 points is not exactly a close game,but that was “the closest”.
Bobby Dunn is good and serviceable,but HSHS has faced better THIS YEAR! The OSMITH QB holds a W&Mary offer. Varina hasn’t seen a QB anywhere near as good as HSHS’s Jones(Notre Dame offer). 9 starters returned for HSHS from that 2018 defense. I guess the thing that runs through my mind is,have you ever thought of the reason Varina made so many mistakes in those games? Maybe HSHS’s defense FORCED those mistakes?! No one said HSHS has “way more talent” than Varina! They HAVE faced each other through the years and HSHS has dominated. Remember now...the HSHS JV hasn’t lost in 5 YEARS,including already beating them 40-6 THIS YEAR,and 40-0 last year. As far as the RBs....HSHS’s RB holds a D2 offer. Their return man holds an offer from Army. At 6’1,he’s a tough cover from his WR position too. Page IS tough in the open field...NO DOUBT! Either team can take it the distance on SpTms. I guess the thing that stands out the most is....this is the 3rd straight year for this offensive line to be together. As Maury found out last year...they’re pretty good on both sides of the line.

 

[iDidntGetBanned]

21 points is not exactly a close game,but that was “the closest”.
Bobby Dunn is good and serviceable,but HSHS has faced better THIS YEAR! The OSMITH QB holds a W&Mary offer. Varina hasn’t seen a QB anywhere near as good as HSHS’s Jones(Notre Dame offer). 9 starters returned for HSHS from that 2018 defense. I guess the thing that runs through my mind is,have you ever thought of the reason Varina made so many mistakes in those games? Maybe HSHS’s defense FORCED those mistakes?! No one said HSHS has “way more talent” than Varina! They HAVE faced each other through the years and HSHS has dominated. Remember now...the HSHS JV hasn’t lost in 5 YEARS,including already beating them 40-6 THIS YEAR,and 40-0 last year. As far as the RBs....HSHS’s RB holds a D2 offer. Their return man holds an offer from Army. At 6’1,he’s a tough cover from his WR position too. Page IS tough in the open field...NO DOUBT! Either team can take it the distance on SpTms. I guess the thing that stands out the most is....this is the 3rd straight year for this offensive line to be together. As Maury found out last year...they’re pretty good on both sides of the line.

Bro you don’t have to convince me that.. I know that lol.. I see you on Facebook (cause you follow me on Twitter) going at the DC high school sports fans that HS is this and that. You don’t have to keep telling us how good your team is... People know who Highland Springs is. We see the killer mentality when Kevon Wallace steps on the field for Clemson, we saw it in the preseason when Dortch was returning those punts, we’ve seen for 4 years with y’all bringing the title home. All I’m saying is both teams are good this year and it’ll be the first time in a long time that it will be at least some excitement for both sides of East End since 2012? HS could very well beat Varina like they stole something but at least we’ll see a 8-1 Varina who looks real good against a hopefully 9-0 HS team. That’ll not only be good for East End, it’ll be good for football in general.

 

[HooSprings]

Bro you don’t have to convince me that.. I know that lol.. I see you on Facebook (cause you follow me on Twitter) going at the DC high school sports fans that HS is this and that. You don’t have to keep telling us how good your team is... People know who Highland Springs is. We see the killer mentality when Kevon Wallace steps on the field for Clemson, we saw it in the preseason when Dortch was returning those punts, we’ve seen for 4 years with y’all bringing the title home. All I’m saying is both teams are good this year and it’ll be the first time in a long time that it will be at least some excitement for both sides of East End since 2012? HS could very well beat Varina like they stole something but at least we’ll see a 8-1 Varina who looks real good against a hopefully 9-0 HS team. That’ll not only be good for East End, it’ll be good for football in general.

Great post!

 

[acoles]

Bro you don’t have to convince me that.. I know that lol.. I see you on Facebook (cause you follow me on Twitter) going at the DC high school sports fans that HS is this and that. You don’t have to keep telling us how good your team is... People know who Highland Springs is. We see the killer mentality when Kevon Wallace steps on the field for Clemson, we saw it in the preseason when Dortch was returning those punts, we’ve seen for 4 years with y’all bringing the title home. All I’m saying is both teams are good this year and it’ll be the first time in a long time that it will be at least some excitement for both sides of East End since 2012? HS could very well beat Varina like they stole something but at least we’ll see a 8-1 Varina who looks real good against a hopefully 9-0 HS team. That’ll not only be good for East End, it’ll be good for football in general.

 

[acoles]

GREAT POST, IDIDNTGETBANNED !!

 

[iDidntGetBanned]

Does anyone know if they’re selling advanced tickets or will you have to get them at the gate? Thank y’all!

 

[iDidntGetBanned]

Actually I just purchased mine on GoFan.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Do not discount the power of coaching that is HSHS greatest strength and advantage over other 804 teams. Johnson and crew make adjustments like none other.

Gotta give it up to Coach Johnson at Highland Springs. In 20 years of attending games around the region I have never seen a coach adjust so well to be it play to play, quarter to quarter, half to half. In tight games that makes all the difference in the world.

 

[LionNation540]

Actually I just purchased mine on GoFan.

View embedded media

Just bought my ticket, I'll be there!

 

[LionNation540]

Still early, but it's 16-0 Manchester so far and it's been total domination! HS has lost 3 fumbles! HS is finally playing someone willing to hit them, and is responding with penalties.

As I posted before, HS has shown weakness on the edges, and that's where Manchester is having success.

 

[LionNation540]

And now Manchester is trying to lose. Coaching has clammed up, and HS just returned a punt for TD! 16-12 start of the 4th.

 

[LouisaLion02]

Who got the ball lionsnation540

 

[LionNation540]

Final 26-16 HS. Congrats to HS, coaching won again. Keys to Manchester's demise were having a chance before halftime to go for a dagger, but opting to kill the clock instead, resting #23 RB most of the 3rd qtr (he was a beast and wasn't stopped), and holding and delay of game penalties. Against a team like HS you can't be conservative and hand them momentum!

 

[rainman17]

Looks like they will meet again and they have a solid chance to end the 5 peat quest.

 

[LionNation540]

@rainman17 I think this was Manchester's chance to beat them, the cat's out of the bag on their tendencies now. HS will probably smack them in a rematch.

 

[HooSprings]

@rainman17 I think this was Manchester's chance to beat them, the cat's out of the bag on their tendencies now. HS will probably smack them in a rematch.

I agree! Plus....I don’t see HSHS fumbling 3x in the first half again. HSHS made a Defense change in the second half and made Manchester throw....advantage HS! HSHS switched to a 5 man front and shut down the run in the second half. That denied the guard getting to the LB,and that changed the game. HSHS knew the QB could be stopped.

 

[Johnny"football"]

Gotta give it up to Coach Johnson at Highland Springs. In 20 years of attending games around the region I have never seen a coach adjust so well to be it play to play, quarter to quarter, half to half. In tight games that makes all the difference in the world.

Proved it yet again!

 

[Thomasddev]

Final 26-16 HS. Congrats to HS, coaching won again. Keys to Manchester's demise were having a chance before halftime to go for a dagger, but opting to kill the clock instead, resting #23 RB most of the 3rd qtr (he was a beast and wasn't stopped), and holding and delay of game penalties. Against a team like HS you can't be conservative and hand them momentum!

We played Oscar Smith and they were more than willing to hit us. We gifted them 16 points 1st half made defensive adjustments and they couldn't move the ball 2nd half. I here keep calling out Manchester coaching about being conservative but we scored 26 points in the second half alone. We ran several vanilla plays again this game just like the Smith game. This Manchester tram scored 40 plus points against a really good Varina team but they only scored 16 against our stingy defense.

 

[iDidntGetBanned]

I’m glad Highland Springs won just because of the genius (NOT!!!) who constructed the Manchester parking lot that I just waited an hour and 35 minutes to get out of....

Highland Springs D Line is the best high school D Line I’ve seen in my 25 years on this earth. Jones is a difference maker at QB on offense. He’s worth all of the hype of a JV player earning a Notre Dame offer. Malcolm Greene will be playing on Sunday’s in a few years.

Manchester is a hell of a football team but simply wasn’t ready for the moment. The game was lost when they failed to put the Springers away before halftime. If the Springers smell blood, then it’s over... Guess what, they smelled blood for the last 24 minutes of that game.

Springers wanted all the smoke tonight!

 

[LionNation540]

Damn, I parked at the bus loop, and even though I had to walk a country mile, I was out of there in 5 minutes.

 

[iDidntGetBanned]

Manchester’s lack of passing killed them. Its no secret that Garcia isn’t a threat to beat you with his arm. You’d have to think HS’s gameplan was to shut Garcia down in the run game and make others beat them. Garcia may have rushed for 20 yards all night.

 

[LionNation540]

I thought they should've taken the bait and tried to pass more, most attempts were completed for first downs. But the deep pass near the end was awful.

 

[LionNation540]

We played Oscar Smith and they were more than willing to hit us. We gifted them 16 points 1st half made defensive adjustments and they couldn't move the ball 2nd half. I here keep calling out Manchester coaching about being conservative but we scored 26 points in the second half alone. We ran several vanilla plays again this game just like the Smith game. This Manchester tram scored 40 plus points against a really good Varina team but they only scored 16 against our stingy defense.

Yes the difference in in-game coaching was big in crunch time tonight. Manchester was lucky to be so blessed with talent last year and not have many close games, but I saw the same type of in-game coaching against Monacan in 2017, after Monacan blew a big lead. Manchester came back and then quickly turned into the team I saw tonight.

 

[CavsGrad]

We played Oscar Smith and they were more than willing to hit us. We gifted them 16 points 1st half made defensive adjustments and they couldn't move the ball 2nd half. I here keep calling out Manchester coaching about being conservative but we scored 26 points in the second half alone. We ran several vanilla plays again this game just like the Smith game. This Manchester tram scored 40 plus points against a really good Varina team but they only scored 16 against our stingy defense.

More vanilla plays in a close game...just to make it interesting?

 

[Thomasddev]

I keep hearing how coaching and ineffective QB passing lost the game for Manchester. How about HS came out flat in the first half but second half we were having our way with a good Manchester defense. 26 unanswered points.

More vanilla plays in a close game...just to make it interesting?

Yes I don't know why coach does this. I even had Manchester fans calling out designed QB sneaks before the ball snap. We all were saying it in unison. Also he had a 19-16 lead and took the starting qb out on their last game clenching drive like he knew he had the game won. It confused everyone on my side.

 

[springer76]

I’m glad Highland Springs won just because of the genius (NOT!!!) who constructed the Manchester parking lot that I just waited an hour and 35 minutes to get out of....

Highland Springs D Line is the best high school D Line I’ve seen in my 25 years on this earth. Jones is a difference maker at QB on offense. He’s worth all of the hype of a JV player earning a Notre Dame offer. Malcolm Greene will be playing on Sunday’s in a few years.

Manchester is a hell of a football team but simply wasn’t ready for the moment. The game was lost when they failed to put the Springers away before halftime. If the Springers smell blood, then it’s over... Guess what, they smelled blood for the last 24 minutes of that game.

Springers wanted all the smoke tonight!

I sat in my car in the parking lot for 1 1/2 hours too. After walking up that God forsaken hill to get back to the car! Jeezus! There were old and feeble soles panting and sitting to catch there breath, that could hardly make it back up the hill! Terrible parking!

 

[Thomasddev]

Looks like they will meet again and they have a solid chance to end the 5 peat quest.

I seriously doubt if we see them in the playoffs they will have to travel to us and play us on a turf field at Varina or Henrico. Also, we spotted them 16 points and scored on short drives. When they had to drive the length of the field they couldn't score. I seriously doubt we will turn the ball over 3 times in 1 quarter. Also our offense drive 99 yards for our first score and answered with 3 more scores. The only team that can beat HSHS is ourselves ie the turnovers.

 

[HooSprings]

I keep hearing how coaching and ineffective QB passing lost the game for Manchester. How about HS came out flat in the first half but second half we were having our way with a good Manchester defense. 26 unanswered points.


Yes I don't know why coach does this. I even had Manchester fans calling out designed QB sneaks before the ball snap. We all were saying it in unison. Also he had a 19-16 lead and took the starting qb out on their last game clenching drive like he knew he had the game won. It confused everyone on my side.

The HSHS QB got hurt on his TD run that made it 19-16. Bad leg cramp. Dent came in and they never missed a beat. Those games earlier in the year paid off on the “put away” drive. Bug will be fine,but now we know Dent can handle things if they need him to.

 

[HooSprings]

I seriously doubt if we see them in the playoffs they will have to travel to us and play us on a turf field at Varina or Henrico. Also, we spotted them 16 points and scored on short drives. When they had to drive the length of the field they couldn't score. I seriously doubt we will turn the ball over 3 times in 1 quarter. Also our offense drive 99 yards for our first score and answered with 3 more scores. The only team that can beat HSHS is ourselves ie the turnovers.

I think Varina will be the 4 seed in the playoffs which would make them play HSHS in the second round followed by a Manchester rematch(I think they’ll crush DRun in the semis.

 

[Thomasddev]

I sat in my car in the parking lot for 1 1/2 hours too. After walking up that God forsaken hill to get back to the car! Jeezus! There were old and feeble soles panting and sitting to catch there breath, that could hardly make it back up the hill! Terrible parking!

I agree I hope we never have to play there again. If you were not sitting in the bleachers it was hard to see the game. Also that one lane foolish design of Bailey Bridge road caused a major delay getting to the game and leaving out the parking lot.smh

 

[Thomasddev]

The HSHS QB got hurt on his TD run that made it 19-16. Bad leg cramp. Dent came in and they never missed a beat. Those games earlier in the year paid off on the “put away” drive. Bug will be fine,but now we know Dent can handle things if they need him to.

Thank God losing bugg would not be good for us even though i do like and respect Dent's game. Bugg just adds another dimension to the run game. Dent wasn't ask to do much on that last drive being that Bradford broke a long run to put us in scoring position.

 

[Kingof804]

Awesome high school football game. Congrats to Coach Johnson, staff and team for continuing to find ways to win ball games. (mark of a true champion) Also congrats to Manchester for playing there tales off for 3qrts against one of the best teams in the state arguably the best. I came away very impressed with the overall physicality and competitiveness of both teams. I thought that there were good adjustments on both sides. MHS came out and punched HSHS in the mouth in the first half and HSHS responded in the second. I don’t think anybody would’ve believed, or at least I didn’t, that the game would’ve been that type of battle for Coach Johnson and his team but they prevail and MHS showed me a little something tonight too. Although they are limited offensively in terms of what they can do but they do what they do and they do a good enough job to win ball games and they did for 3qrts. #23 for MHS was a stud tonight. That defense flys around and although inexperienced they seemed to have found their identity as a ball club. HSHS is good in all 3 phases as we know and battled tested for sure. It’s usually a couple plays in a game with two good opponents going at it that determine a win or a lose and HSHS made those plays. The punt return for six, the interception thrown by Garcia (bad pass) and MHS offensive penalties seal their fate. I do think the rematch is definitely going to happen unless Varina can find a way to win weeks 10 match up against HSHS. Very curious to see what type of adjustments are made from both staffs. Either way should be another great night of football.

 

[LionNation540]

Manchester dropping a sure pick 6 in the flats was crucial as well, that would've brought the stadium down.