Bored at work today, so even though most of you won't read this for awhile, here are my thoughts on the 2015 Shenandoah District season:
1) Riverheads- Not picking them just because they are my team, but they will return two high-scoring, speedy running backs for their senior seasons, and that should be enough to make the Big Red a contender. Yes they will have to replace the quarterback and some beef on both lines, but RHS always just seems to reload and I suspect they will again in the fall. It helps that we have had an 8 or 9 win JV team for longer than I can remember.
2) Luray- The Bulldogs jumped up and bit some folks this season, and nipped at the heels of some others. Plus they had a great JV team. I am not sure about the schedule, because this will be the start of a new two-year cycle, but they should be entitled to get both Riverheads and East Rock at home next year, and that should help if they hope to challenge for the title.
3) East Rockingham- The Eagles have literally improved each year they have been in existence, if I am not mistaken. Only the domination of Wilson and Riverheads has kept them from the top spot. So wouldn't you know it that the year that they might be able to challenge for the title would be the same year that Luray might step into the picture. Not sure whether they can match last year's record or not, but the Eagles will be in the mix next year.
4) Buffalo Gap- I really don't have much to base this on, other than last season. They made it to the playoffs which should serve as motivation to want to get back there again. Also if my math and memory are correct, it has now been three years since that undefeated JV team, so that would make those kids seniors.
5) Stuarts Draft- I think the Cougars were young this year, plus they have had two good JV teams in a row. So even though picking them 5th out of 8 might not seem like much of a compliment, I do think they will improve upon last year's 3-7 mark.
6) Wilson- Now Trevor, remember your blood pressure. I know it is tough to imagine a team going from inches away from a state title all the way down to near the bottom of their own district, but the numbers are what they are. This year's Wilson team had sooooooooooo many seniors on it that I cannot imagine the rebuilding job Coach Major will be facing next fall. Yes, the pride and all that jazz will be there, but the experience simply will not be. Besides if I am not mistaken, their last two JV teams have been subpar as well. So I think this big a downslide could be quite likely.
7) Page County- Sadly the Page/Stonewall game will likely settle the basement question as it has the last two seasons. Stonewall has sneaked into the 7th spot those two years, but this time the game should return to Page, so maybe they can squeak this one out and perhaps even another non-district win or two.
8) Stonewall- Their much-publicized numbers issue actually had us all wondering last season if they would even be able to field a team. Hopefully that drama won't happen again, but regardless I can't see them improving enough to do any better than the 7/8 battle.
Then when the playoffs start, we will all go running off in 4 or 5 different directions.... 1-A for some and 2-A for some.........East for some and West for others.....but at least this year I don't think any of our teams will be at the 3-A level. It should be another interesting season.
1) Riverheads- Not picking them just because they are my team, but they will return two high-scoring, speedy running backs for their senior seasons, and that should be enough to make the Big Red a contender. Yes they will have to replace the quarterback and some beef on both lines, but RHS always just seems to reload and I suspect they will again in the fall. It helps that we have had an 8 or 9 win JV team for longer than I can remember.
2) Luray- The Bulldogs jumped up and bit some folks this season, and nipped at the heels of some others. Plus they had a great JV team. I am not sure about the schedule, because this will be the start of a new two-year cycle, but they should be entitled to get both Riverheads and East Rock at home next year, and that should help if they hope to challenge for the title.
3) East Rockingham- The Eagles have literally improved each year they have been in existence, if I am not mistaken. Only the domination of Wilson and Riverheads has kept them from the top spot. So wouldn't you know it that the year that they might be able to challenge for the title would be the same year that Luray might step into the picture. Not sure whether they can match last year's record or not, but the Eagles will be in the mix next year.
4) Buffalo Gap- I really don't have much to base this on, other than last season. They made it to the playoffs which should serve as motivation to want to get back there again. Also if my math and memory are correct, it has now been three years since that undefeated JV team, so that would make those kids seniors.
5) Stuarts Draft- I think the Cougars were young this year, plus they have had two good JV teams in a row. So even though picking them 5th out of 8 might not seem like much of a compliment, I do think they will improve upon last year's 3-7 mark.
6) Wilson- Now Trevor, remember your blood pressure. I know it is tough to imagine a team going from inches away from a state title all the way down to near the bottom of their own district, but the numbers are what they are. This year's Wilson team had sooooooooooo many seniors on it that I cannot imagine the rebuilding job Coach Major will be facing next fall. Yes, the pride and all that jazz will be there, but the experience simply will not be. Besides if I am not mistaken, their last two JV teams have been subpar as well. So I think this big a downslide could be quite likely.
7) Page County- Sadly the Page/Stonewall game will likely settle the basement question as it has the last two seasons. Stonewall has sneaked into the 7th spot those two years, but this time the game should return to Page, so maybe they can squeak this one out and perhaps even another non-district win or two.
8) Stonewall- Their much-publicized numbers issue actually had us all wondering last season if they would even be able to field a team. Hopefully that drama won't happen again, but regardless I can't see them improving enough to do any better than the 7/8 battle.
Then when the playoffs start, we will all go running off in 4 or 5 different directions.... 1-A for some and 2-A for some.........East for some and West for others.....but at least this year I don't think any of our teams will be at the 3-A level. It should be another interesting season.
