With nine members this year, the Shenandoah District has already had a surprise or two. But as always, the teams will start to separate themselves in the coming weeks.
The Stuarts Draft/Riverheads game last Friday was played earlier this time, so it is probably premature to say that it was the "championship" game as it turned out to be last year. But the Gladiators at least now have that important victory behind them. So as we move on from here, the questions to be answered are:
1) Are unbeaten Lee High and Luray the real deal this year and will one or the other present a serious challenge?
2) Can Stuarts Draft run the table the rest of the way and be ready to defend its title if others should stumble?
3) Can Buffalo Gap and East Rock get back in the picture after home field losses to the above-mentioned Leemen and Bulldogs?
4) Is this the year that Page County can move up in the rankings or were Rapp and Nelson really that bad?
This Friday's slate of games will shed "some" light on some of these questions, but looking ahead, we are still at least two weeks away from any game that might be another marquee match-up, such as anything matching RHS, Lee, Luray, and the Draft. So who knows, maybe the really BIG game this year, whatever it turns out to be, will be later in the season after all.
Each week there will be four district games with the ninth team either taking the week off or stepping outside the district. So here is this week's slate:
Buffalo Gap at RE Lee: Even though these two have scrimmaged in the past, this will be their first-ever official game against one another. Word on the street is that the Bison handled the Stauntonians in those scrimmages, but this time around, you gotta look at the home team as the favorite.
Stuarts Draft at Page: Until they prove us wrong, we have to assume that Page just opened its season with some fortuitous scheduling and that they will have their hands full against the Cougars. So expect a bounce-back win for the visitors in this one.
East Rock at Riverheads: For all seven years now, this contrast of styles (air vs. ground) has gone the way of the Gladiators, although they needed a last-second interception in the end zone one year to save the win. You wouldn't think the Eagles can win in Greenville with the Williams to Butler combination now in college, but at the same time, it remains to be seen if this is the same caliber Riverheads team as last year. Expect the Gladiators to come out on top but it could be a close one.
Stonewall Jackson at Luray: All indications are that this will be another year of struggle for the Generals, but hey, can we have a shout out for them advancing all the way to the state baseball final back in June, so they have had their moments. But Friday the Dogs will show no mercy and it will get ugly early.
Wilson at Fort Defiance (non-district): The Indians got that big monkey off their back last week with the big win at William Monroe. So the only thing better than breaking a long losing streak is to start a winning streak. They just may make it two in a row, although I suspect we have some Wilson fans on here who will say "no way."
The Stuarts Draft/Riverheads game last Friday was played earlier this time, so it is probably premature to say that it was the "championship" game as it turned out to be last year. But the Gladiators at least now have that important victory behind them. So as we move on from here, the questions to be answered are:
1) Are unbeaten Lee High and Luray the real deal this year and will one or the other present a serious challenge?
2) Can Stuarts Draft run the table the rest of the way and be ready to defend its title if others should stumble?
3) Can Buffalo Gap and East Rock get back in the picture after home field losses to the above-mentioned Leemen and Bulldogs?
4) Is this the year that Page County can move up in the rankings or were Rapp and Nelson really that bad?
This Friday's slate of games will shed "some" light on some of these questions, but looking ahead, we are still at least two weeks away from any game that might be another marquee match-up, such as anything matching RHS, Lee, Luray, and the Draft. So who knows, maybe the really BIG game this year, whatever it turns out to be, will be later in the season after all.
Each week there will be four district games with the ninth team either taking the week off or stepping outside the district. So here is this week's slate:
Buffalo Gap at RE Lee: Even though these two have scrimmaged in the past, this will be their first-ever official game against one another. Word on the street is that the Bison handled the Stauntonians in those scrimmages, but this time around, you gotta look at the home team as the favorite.
Stuarts Draft at Page: Until they prove us wrong, we have to assume that Page just opened its season with some fortuitous scheduling and that they will have their hands full against the Cougars. So expect a bounce-back win for the visitors in this one.
East Rock at Riverheads: For all seven years now, this contrast of styles (air vs. ground) has gone the way of the Gladiators, although they needed a last-second interception in the end zone one year to save the win. You wouldn't think the Eagles can win in Greenville with the Williams to Butler combination now in college, but at the same time, it remains to be seen if this is the same caliber Riverheads team as last year. Expect the Gladiators to come out on top but it could be a close one.
Stonewall Jackson at Luray: All indications are that this will be another year of struggle for the Generals, but hey, can we have a shout out for them advancing all the way to the state baseball final back in June, so they have had their moments. But Friday the Dogs will show no mercy and it will get ugly early.
Wilson at Fort Defiance (non-district): The Indians got that big monkey off their back last week with the big win at William Monroe. So the only thing better than breaking a long losing streak is to start a winning streak. They just may make it two in a row, although I suspect we have some Wilson fans on here who will say "no way."
