ADVERTISEMENT

Poquoson vs Strasburg

Fairlawncat

Fairlawncat

VaPreps Honorable Mention
Nov 24, 2018
1,630
1,823
113
Like the Class 1's state semi games and the Wests Class 2 semi game, it looks to be another close one. I think either team can win. Strasburg seems to be playing completely out of its mind and has hit some kind of gear that I don't even know if their own fans knew they had. Poquoson was clearly going to be a problem from game 1 and the near miss with Lafayette was an eye opener as well as how they beat King William as Poquoson has also hit a new gear.. About like every other game in Class 1 and 2, I think either team can win.
 
Last edited:
Fairlawncat said:
Like the Class 1's state semi games and the Wests Class 2 semi game, it looks to be another close one. I think either team can win. Strasburg seems to be playing completely out of its mind and has hit some kind of gear that I don't even know if their own fans knew they had. Poquoson was clearly going to be a problem from game 1 and the near miss with Lafayette was an eye opener as well as how they beat King William as Poquoson has also hit a new gear.. About like every other game in Class 1 and 2, I think either team can win.
Click to expand...
Getting Conrad back for the playoffs on defense has really made the defensive front really tough. Up to the playoffs Conrad played maybe 30 snaps. Then he had surgery and got back for the playoffs.
 
Bo Bob said:
Who’s had the tougher schedule?
Click to expand...
I think both have played tough schedules. Poquoson plays in the Bay Rivers District, which is mostly Class 3 and Class 4 schools. Their only loss was a 14-6 defeat to undefeated Lafayette, who is in the class 3 semifinals.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bo Bob
Poquoson is extremely tough at home, believe me. That long ride for Strasburg added to that will make it tough. Poquoson is a fast turf field, no grass. Don’t know what Strasburg plays mostly on but probably grass.
 
Bo Bob said:
Who’s had the tougher schedule?
Click to expand...
Well Poquoson has only 2, maybe 3 wins including playoffs, against teams with a winning record. But much of their schedule is bigger schools cuz of their location. So they're always hard to judge for me. I know past 2 or 3 years or so some people have been saying they're gonna be the team, but they haven't quite lived up to some people's hype. So we will see. I think this might be their strongest team probably since 2010. But again, its hard for me to grade them
 
Champ Cage said:
Poquoson vs Graham
Click to expand...
Um im not so sure and I'm from the area so no bias. I think we may find out how weak region D was this year. Weak isn't exactly the right word, but i think the region has definitely been declining the last 2 years. No one in the region really looked that strong to me. No offense, cuz im probably wrong.
 
Both are well coached teams so this one could be a really good game. Now to the breakdown.

I keep hearing about this schedule that Poquoson plays but with the exception of Lafayette and Smithfield, those other class 4 and 5 teams are not very good. The overall combined record of opponents so far is 68-79 (with those two teams accounting for 21 of those wins and only 4 of the losses). I realize just how tough this Islander team is so I am not trying to say they arent very very good, but I will not pretend that 0-10 Jamestown or any of the three 3-7 teams (Lake Taylor, Grafton or York) would present but so much of a problem for the upper tier of 2A teams. Staying close to Lafayette is by far the most impressive game to me personally. Decent wins against Lunenburg and Bruton but did anyone expect a different outcome? I am excited to see this years Poquoson team since last year losing the QB early hurt them in the state semis. That said I do not see them as a prohibitive favorite on resume alone. They have a very good team this year and a home field advantage which will likely play well for them this week.

This Strasburg team didn't play as many teams that are full classifications above them but did play some decent 2A competition. Their best wins would probably be against Buckingham, Skyline, maybe Riverheads. The Rams competition have a better overall record at 83-66. Now in fairness there were a few less than stellar teams in this group as well with 2-8 Page and Luray along with 4-6 Rock Ridge and 4-7 Moorefield dragging the W/L numbers down. I really like the way Strasburg plays defense and they will need to be on their game to corral this Poquoson team. My only fear with this group is with line play if they are not having success early. They have established dominance early in each playoff game so far and will need to in this game to take the home fans out of the game and settle into their gameplan.

All that leads me to say this, Poquoson is the favorite and should be. I do think it's a close game unless there is a lot of laundry on the field. It would be highly uncharacteristic for either team but does happen in playoffs games. I will take Strasburg to shock to world and pull off a close win 23-20.

Good luck to both teams and safe travels to those attending
 
  • Like
Reactions: ram_page, Cbiskit04 and Gridiron1960
lovethisgame78 said:
Well Poquoson has only 2, maybe 3 wins including playoffs, against teams with a winning record. But much of their schedule is bigger schools cuz of their location. So they're always hard to judge for me. I know past 2 or 3 years or so some people have been saying they're gonna be the team, but they haven't quite lived up to some people's hype. So we will see. I think this might be their strongest team probably this the since 2010. But again, its hard for me to grade them
Click to expand...

RedPrideNation_RollPride said:
Both are well coached teams so this one could be a really good game. Now to the breakdown.

I keep hearing about this schedule that Poquoson plays but with the exception of Lafayette and Smithfield, those other class 4 and 5 teams are not very good. The overall combined record of opponents so far is 68-79 (with those two teams accounting for 21 of those wins and only 4 of the losses). I realize just how tough this Islander team is so I am not trying to say they arent very very good, but I will not pretend that 0-10 Jamestown or any of the three 3-7 teams (Lake Taylor, Grafton or York) would present but so much of a problem for the upper tier of 2A teams. Staying close to Lafayette is by far the most impressive game to me personally. Decent wins against Lunenburg and Bruton but did anyone expect a different outcome? I am excited to see this years Poquoson team since last year losing the QB early hurt them in the state semis. That said I do not see them as a prohibitive favorite on resume alone. They have a very good team this year and a home field advantage which will likely play well for them this week.

This Strasburg team didn't play as many teams that are full classifications above them but did play some decent 2A competition. Their best wins would probably be against Buckingham, Skyline, maybe Riverheads. The Rams competition have a better overall record at 83-66. Now in fairness there were a few less than stellar teams in this group as well with 2-8 Page and Luray along with 4-6 Rock Ridge and 4-7 Moorefield dragging the W/L numbers down. I really like the way Strasburg plays defense and they will need to be on their game to corral this Poquoson team. My only fear with this group is with line play if they are not having success early. They have established dominance early in each playoff game so far and will need to in this game to take the home fans out of the game and settle into their gameplan.

All that leads me to say this, Poquoson is the favorite and should be. I do think it's a close game unless there is a lot of laundry on the field. It would be highly uncharacteristic for either team but does happen in playoffs games. I will take Strasburg to shock to world and pull off a close win 23-20.

Good luck to both teams and safe travels to those attending
Click to expand...
My thoughts on Poquoson this year: they are physically bigger than in past years and the 4 man defensive front is extremely tough, the best we saw this year. Their Lb are very active and we found running inside or outside tough with that front line. I would be shocked if at home that group gives up 23 points.
 
Calpreps ranks Strasburgs schedule slightly better than Poquosons. Calpreps strength of schedule rankings for Class 2 VA is
1. Fort Defiance
2. Riverheads
3. King William
4. Strasburg
5. Poquoson
6. Madison County
7. Union
8. Draft
9. Woodstock
10. Graham

These are just computer numbers and certainly not absolute. Poquosons schedule usually ranks first or 2nd in Calpreps but the Bay Rivers wasn't as strong this year. I still think that a team like Tabb or York this year would be right with or even beat a Central or Madison. A 3 and 7 Bay Rivers team is still a 6-4 or 7-3 team in Region B, C, and D. Just my opinion though.

Calpreps top 4 right now overall team rankings are
1. Strasburg
2. Poquoson
3. Graham
4. Glenvar
Even this is deceiving. Calpreps can't account for injuries and it loves scoring margins which means
It doesn't place tons of weight on great defense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gridiron1960
RedPrideNation_RollPride said:
Both are well coached teams so this one could be a really good game. Now to the breakdown.

I keep hearing about this schedule that Poquoson plays but with the exception of Lafayette and Smithfield, those other class 4 and 5 teams are not very good. The overall combined record of opponents so far is 68-79 (with those two teams accounting for 21 of those wins and only 4 of the losses). I realize just how tough this Islander team is so I am not trying to say they arent very very good, but I will not pretend that 0-10 Jamestown or any of the three 3-7 teams (Lake Taylor, Grafton or York) would present but so much of a problem for the upper tier of 2A teams. Staying close to Lafayette is by far the most impressive game to me personally. Decent wins against Lunenburg and Bruton but did anyone expect a different outcome? I am excited to see this years Poquoson team since last year losing the QB early hurt them in the state semis. That said I do not see them as a prohibitive favorite on resume alone. They have a very good team this year and a home field advantage which will likely play well for them this week.

This Strasburg team didn't play as many teams that are full classifications above them but did play some decent 2A competition. Their best wins would probably be against Buckingham, Skyline, maybe Riverheads. The Rams competition have a better overall record at 83-66. Now in fairness there were a few less than stellar teams in this group as well with 2-8 Page and Luray along with 4-6 Rock Ridge and 4-7 Moorefield dragging the W/L numbers down. I really like the way Strasburg plays defense and they will need to be on their game to corral this Poquoson team. My only fear with this group is with line play if they are not having success early. They have established dominance early in each playoff game so far and will need to in this game to take the home fans out of the game and settle into their gameplan.

All that leads me to say this, Poquoson is the favorite and should be. I do think it's a close game unless there is a lot of laundry on the field. It would be highly uncharacteristic for either team but does happen in playoffs games. I will take Strasburg to shock to world and pull off a close win 23-20.

Good luck to both teams and safe travels to those attending
Click to expand...
I would not say that a Rams win would “shock the world”. I think they win this one and probably the next. Thats a good squad… but you never know about teenagers
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AnyGivenFriday1969
Let me clarify the “shock the world” statement. The talk leading into the playoffs was Poquoson and Clarke as favorites to meet up in this game. Poquoson has done what was expected up to this point. With all due respect to Strasburg they have out performed what most originally thought would be their ceiling this season. Therefore I made the shock statement to just highlight that not many outside of Ram Land would have put them here with a legit shot. I firmly believe that’s one of the top teams in the state based on the whole season but specifically these playoffs. Fort, Riverheads and Buckingham were no joke but obviously not on par to this team. I do think it’s a close game and frankly could go either way, I want a region B team in Salem and hope they win it all. Nothing but respect for the other 3 teams so I am not slighting them at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fairlawncat
RedPrideNation_RollPride said:
Let me clarify the “shock the world” statement. The talk leading into the playoffs was Poquoson and Clarke as favorites to meet up in this game. Poquoson has done what was expected up to this point. With all due respect to Strasburg they have out performed what most originally thought would be their ceiling this season. Therefore I made the shock statement to just highlight that not many outside of Ram Land would have put them here with a legit shot. I firmly believe that’s one of the top teams in the state based on the whole season but specifically these playoffs. Fort, Riverheads and Buckingham were no joke but obviously not on par to this team. I do think it’s a close game and frankly could go either way, I want a region B team in Salem and hope they win it all. Nothing but respect for the other 3 teams so I am not slighting them at all.
Click to expand...
I firmly believe that loss to Clarke was the spark that lit the Rams fire. They have been a totally different team since then. Getting #74 Conrad back on defense for the playoffs didn't hurt either. Any of the 4 left can win it all. They are the last 4 standing for a reason.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TS69, Gridiron1960 and RedPrideNation_RollPride
Didn't poqouson have some trouble with central lunenburg? I'm just trying to make sure we are all talking about the same team...
 
lovethisgame78 said:
Well Poquoson has only 2, maybe 3 wins including playoffs, against teams with a winning record. But much of their schedule is bigger schools cuz of their location. So they're always hard to judge for me. I know past 2 or 3 years or so some people have been saying they're gonna be the team, but they haven't quite lived up to some people's hype. So we will see. I think this might be their strongest team probably since 2010. But again, its hard for me to grade them
Click to expand...
That 2010 team was special. I watched those kids through little league and they had talent from the very beginning. If this year's team is that good, I expect to see them in Salem. I've been bullish (pardon the pun) on Strasburg since the preseason, so this should be one heck of a game. The only thing I'm sure about is that there will be no blowouts, this game or in the West.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lovethisgame78
I am a little skeptical of Poquoson just because of how the last couple of years have gone...they won the region and had to travel to Riverheads last year and Central two years ago and got whooped in both games. That being said, this looks like the best Poquoson team in recent memory. Plus, they get to be on the home end of the drive across the state. I think their schedule is certainly impressive, there is a lot of talent on all the rosters the Islanders played.

Strasburg is this year's iteration of the 2B champ....they will pound it on the ground down your throat, big, physical lines, defense is rock solid. I truly think how they respond to the super long road trip will be a big factor in this game, so easy to come out flat after a bus ride like that.

The other thing going for Poquoson is the last time a team from region 2A looked this good was King William in 2021 and although the Islanders don't have the D1 RB I do think this is the best Class 2 team to come out of that side of the state since that 21 KW team. Should be a good game.

I do feel pretty confident about one thing, the four teams remaining are the four best teams in Class 2. Excited to see how it all plays out.
 
blackknight_pride said:
I am a little skeptical of Poquoson just because of how the last couple of years have gone...they won the region and had to travel to Riverheads last year and Central two years ago and got whooped in both games. That being said, this looks like the best Poquoson team in recent memory. Plus, they get to be on the home end of the drive across the state. I think their schedule is certainly impressive, there is a lot of talent on all the rosters the Islanders played.

Strasburg is this year's iteration of the 2B champ....they will pound it on the ground down your throat, big, physical lines, defense is rock solid. I truly think how they respond to the super long road trip will be a big factor in this game, so easy to come out flat after a bus ride like that.

The other thing going for Poquoson is the last time a team from region 2A looked this good was King William in 2021 and although the Islanders don't have the D1 RB I do think this is the best Class 2 team to come out of that side of the state since that 21 KW team. Should be a good game.

I do feel pretty confident about one thing, the four teams remaining are the four best teams in Class 2. Excited to see how it all plays out.
Click to expand...
Hard to play on the road in the semis and win. This has been one advantage Region B has had over Poquoson. Look around the state over the past 10 years and how many teams win on the road in the semis and the win percentage for the home team is very high. That's the difference this year or what makes things a little different with Poquoson. Not saying Poquoson will win, but playing at home is a huge plus.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: blackknight_pride
How long is the trip for Strasburg?

Are they driving down the day of or the day before.?
 
Union_Fan said:
There's a VERY important aspect of this matchup that nobody has addressed yet.

Did either team "vote on ringzz?" That could very possibly be the deciding factor. That and each team's ability to force a "cowch" onto the other.
Click to expand...
This what Im saying al a long Strasville and Pocohontson woodnt put tha vote n 4 ringz cuz. Glanver and GMen put em n at weak 4. This wat makes big game in big blue shodown cauz sumthins got2give up in thar
 
  • Like
Reactions: Union_Fan
blackknight_pride said:
According to Google Maps, 3 hours 35 minutes….
Click to expand...
So I would figure 4 hours. Hopefully they are traveling today and staying the night.
I know when we traveled to Big Stone Gap and Bluefield we traveled the day before and allowed time for a Friday night walk through.
 
Last edited:
As far as the long drive for Strasburg , when Graham played at Appomattox, I believe 2019 , they drove up the day of the game. I felt like they came out extremely flat. It’s a long haul on a bus & then play. I know each time Appo played at Mitchell, they came up the day before the game and practiced at Mitchell prior to game day. Even though they didn’t win, they didn’t come out flat by any means. The point being, Strasburg should probably travel today, do a walk through nearby , & be fresh tomorrow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bo Bob
Strasburg is leaving in the morning. Team had choice players didn't want to mess with routine on GameDay so no overnight stay. Going halfway and stop for their walkthrough.

I have never believed bus rides effect you. It is all a mindset. Football is played between the lines. You either have the mindset to give it your all or you are mentally checked out.

Only thing I know for sure is there will be some sore boys from this one. Gonna be hard hitting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gridiron1960, 19GHS87 and ram_page
Stras haz 2 set tone erly and make a names 4 thimselvz by hittin em hard. Thatz what the Barz of Union did 2 Gmen in 2020 regin title gamez. They hit us 2 hard and Barz they do that. Strasville got2 doit 2
 
As far as we know, are all the state semi-finals starting tomorrow at 1:30, and are all of them on NFHS? Just asking for us neutral folks who might want to switch back and forth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Fairlawncat

Few Surprises in Class 2, Thoughts and Predictions

Replies
36
Views
3K
Class 2A (Fall)
WP02alum
W
T

Poquoson vs KW update

Replies
15
Views
1K
Class 2A (Fall)
lovethisgame78
L
BullRun66

Riverheads at Strasburg

Replies
18
Views
2K
Class 2A (Fall)
RedPrideNation_RollPride
RedPrideNation_RollPride
BullRun66

Fort at Strasburg

Replies
5
Views
668
Class 2A (Fall)
BullRun66
BullRun66
BullRun66

Strasburg 20 Central 19 final

Replies
1
Views
612
Class 2A (Fall)
MCAthletics
MCAthletics
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT
Top Bottom
Back