Poquoson vs Strasburg

[Fairlawncat]

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.

 

[MarlburlMan]

My money is on Stras if they don't forget what they have discovered. The team that beat Buckingham can/will beat anybody.

 

[Bo Bob]

Who’s had the tougher schedule?

 

[BullRun66]

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.

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.

 

[MCAthletics]

Who’s had the tougher schedule?

Not sure who’s schedule is tougher but here is Strasburg’s from the BRD site:

Calendar Report

 

[kwhs95fan]

Who’s had the tougher schedule?

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.

 

[Gridiron1960]

Should be a good one, I’m interested to see if it’s close or not really close since both won handily this past week.

 

[Champ Cage]

Poquoson vs Graham

 

[Hokie1Pokie]

U go 2 goodwill 2 givem a cowch but the man says he ain't takin it. I tell him u gonna take it. U can take it 2day or u can take it late 2night but trust me u gonna take it

 

[Lafayette]

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.

 

[lovethisgame78]

Who’s had the tougher schedule?

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

 

[lovethisgame78]

Poquoson vs Graham

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.

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

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

 

[Lafayette]

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

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

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.

 

[Fairlawncat]

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.

 

[MCAthletics]

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

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

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

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.

 

[BullRun66]

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.

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.