My weekly preview of the Shenandoah District games will be a bit skimpy this week because two teams, Buffalo Gap and Stuarts Draft, each have the week off. So as a result, we will have only one game that counts in the district standings and three other non-district encounters, but as we all know, one of those will be the REALLY big event of the week. We will get to that shortly.
Reviewing last week's games, I did not do very well as I did not predict Wilson's easy romp over Monticello or the Gap's narrow loss to Luray. But something tells me I will not have any significant improvement this week because all four of the games on tap are hard ones to call. But I will give it a whirl so here we go..........
The district game will feature Fort Defiance traveling to Waynesboro in a match-up of teams that have each taken it on the chin in their first two games. So at least "somebody" will have their first win of the season by the time that one wraps up. The winner will probably be the team that is still enthused about playing and still hoping to have a good season as opposed to the one that might be demoralized over their first two losses. Not saying that either one of them has given up, but if one team is more likely to be fired up and ready to post that first win, I think I would have to go with Waynesboro.
OK, about the non-district games........
Wilson at Rockbridge County: Wilson's win over Monticello was not any kind of upset, since I had predicted a close game, but their dominance in that one did come as a surprise. So could we possibly be looking at a three-way race in the 'Doah this year as opposed to just SD and Riverheads duking it out? Wilson's trip down to Lexington will say quite a lot about how far they have come and I think I have to go with them for the win, because RCHS only squeaked by Parry McCluer and then got spanked Friday night by Western Albemarle. So look for a happy bunch of Hornets heading back up I-81.
Staunton at Page County: This one is also close to call because it is so early in the season and there is little to go on. These two do not have much of a history on the gridiron and Staunton has only one game under its belt and I am making this prediction before Page travels to Nelson County, which I believe is tonight. Just on a hunch, I will go with Page to win this one, but it could go the other way. I do anticipate a high-scoring affair, with even the losing team scoring at least 4 TDs.
So I guess we will see what happens this week and in the weeks that follow.
What's that you say?????? Oh did I forget one? Oh that's right, Riverheads is traveling down to Lord something or other Friday night, aren't they? So let's take a look at that one.
First of all, contrary to something I read someplace when this game was first mentioned, they have only met once before. That was way back in 1964 and RHS won 6-0. I know that is meaningless for this game but we will take our motivation where we can find it.
As you have read, there is another thread talking only about this game and yes, in all seriousness, it will be the biggest game on tap for local teams this weekend and arguably will be one of Riverheads' most challenging games ever. Sounds like the weather will cooperate and I expect a lot of fans will come out for that one. Gladiator fans will most certainly be out in full force, and heck if I were a Draft or Gap fan, I would take advantage of the night off and go see that one just because it is Friday night and you are expected to see football on Friday night. Get some car pools set up folks!!!!
So who will win this one???? Hmmm............ Oh alright I guess I can't put it off any longer, so here are my thoughts....
When I first heard about this game being on the schedule, I thought that Riverheads was reaching too high and that they were not yet ready for that kind of challenge. Yes we have had plenty of wins over a number of teams that either were at the time or are now Class 3 teams. Wilson, Fort Defiance, Staunton, Waynesboro to name a few, and a couple of years ago, we traveled up to Skyline and gave that team a pretty good whooping.
But none of those teams are of the caliber and reputation of Lord Botetourt, so I still fear the Red Pride may see its 38 game winning streak come to an end. Of course I HOPE that won't happen but the Cavaliers just sound too tough. I am sure the Gladiators will give it their all and there definitely are some signs that would point to Riverheads having a shot to win this one.
For example, the Gladiators have a diverse, wide open offense. Seven different players have scored touchdowns already in just two games and quarterback Bennett Dunlap has found three different receivers through the air for some of those scores. Therefore the Cavaliers will not be able to key on any one player. Also if the Pride should get into the Red Zone but have trouble pushing it across, they have a dependable place kicker to get three points if they should be needed.
On the other side of the ball, as I pointed out in the other thread, the first-string Riverheads defense has not given up a point this season so that is encouraging. With that in mind, size and conditioning may play a factor. Will LB be THAT much bigger and that much more physical than what we have seen over the years?
Last but not least, Coach Casto and his staff will NOT be out-coached in this or any other game. They have been on the job too long at Riverheads for that to happen. So if LB does win, it will have to be because they are the better team, not because they outsmarted us.
So officially, my final word is that I WANT Riverheads to win and I will be as happy as the next guy if they do, but realistically I can't count on it, unless this really is a "down" year for LB as some folks are saying. I just hope it is a well-played, injury-free game, since the Gladiators have some other big ones coming up.
Reviewing last week's games, I did not do very well as I did not predict Wilson's easy romp over Monticello or the Gap's narrow loss to Luray. But something tells me I will not have any significant improvement this week because all four of the games on tap are hard ones to call. But I will give it a whirl so here we go..........
The district game will feature Fort Defiance traveling to Waynesboro in a match-up of teams that have each taken it on the chin in their first two games. So at least "somebody" will have their first win of the season by the time that one wraps up. The winner will probably be the team that is still enthused about playing and still hoping to have a good season as opposed to the one that might be demoralized over their first two losses. Not saying that either one of them has given up, but if one team is more likely to be fired up and ready to post that first win, I think I would have to go with Waynesboro.
OK, about the non-district games........
Wilson at Rockbridge County: Wilson's win over Monticello was not any kind of upset, since I had predicted a close game, but their dominance in that one did come as a surprise. So could we possibly be looking at a three-way race in the 'Doah this year as opposed to just SD and Riverheads duking it out? Wilson's trip down to Lexington will say quite a lot about how far they have come and I think I have to go with them for the win, because RCHS only squeaked by Parry McCluer and then got spanked Friday night by Western Albemarle. So look for a happy bunch of Hornets heading back up I-81.
Staunton at Page County: This one is also close to call because it is so early in the season and there is little to go on. These two do not have much of a history on the gridiron and Staunton has only one game under its belt and I am making this prediction before Page travels to Nelson County, which I believe is tonight. Just on a hunch, I will go with Page to win this one, but it could go the other way. I do anticipate a high-scoring affair, with even the losing team scoring at least 4 TDs.
So I guess we will see what happens this week and in the weeks that follow.
What's that you say?????? Oh did I forget one? Oh that's right, Riverheads is traveling down to Lord something or other Friday night, aren't they? So let's take a look at that one.
First of all, contrary to something I read someplace when this game was first mentioned, they have only met once before. That was way back in 1964 and RHS won 6-0. I know that is meaningless for this game but we will take our motivation where we can find it.
As you have read, there is another thread talking only about this game and yes, in all seriousness, it will be the biggest game on tap for local teams this weekend and arguably will be one of Riverheads' most challenging games ever. Sounds like the weather will cooperate and I expect a lot of fans will come out for that one. Gladiator fans will most certainly be out in full force, and heck if I were a Draft or Gap fan, I would take advantage of the night off and go see that one just because it is Friday night and you are expected to see football on Friday night. Get some car pools set up folks!!!!
So who will win this one???? Hmmm............ Oh alright I guess I can't put it off any longer, so here are my thoughts....
When I first heard about this game being on the schedule, I thought that Riverheads was reaching too high and that they were not yet ready for that kind of challenge. Yes we have had plenty of wins over a number of teams that either were at the time or are now Class 3 teams. Wilson, Fort Defiance, Staunton, Waynesboro to name a few, and a couple of years ago, we traveled up to Skyline and gave that team a pretty good whooping.
But none of those teams are of the caliber and reputation of Lord Botetourt, so I still fear the Red Pride may see its 38 game winning streak come to an end. Of course I HOPE that won't happen but the Cavaliers just sound too tough. I am sure the Gladiators will give it their all and there definitely are some signs that would point to Riverheads having a shot to win this one.
For example, the Gladiators have a diverse, wide open offense. Seven different players have scored touchdowns already in just two games and quarterback Bennett Dunlap has found three different receivers through the air for some of those scores. Therefore the Cavaliers will not be able to key on any one player. Also if the Pride should get into the Red Zone but have trouble pushing it across, they have a dependable place kicker to get three points if they should be needed.
On the other side of the ball, as I pointed out in the other thread, the first-string Riverheads defense has not given up a point this season so that is encouraging. With that in mind, size and conditioning may play a factor. Will LB be THAT much bigger and that much more physical than what we have seen over the years?
Last but not least, Coach Casto and his staff will NOT be out-coached in this or any other game. They have been on the job too long at Riverheads for that to happen. So if LB does win, it will have to be because they are the better team, not because they outsmarted us.
So officially, my final word is that I WANT Riverheads to win and I will be as happy as the next guy if they do, but realistically I can't count on it, unless this really is a "down" year for LB as some folks are saying. I just hope it is a well-played, injury-free game, since the Gladiators have some other big ones coming up.
