So far the eight Shenandoah District teams have been rocking it this season! After four weeks of non-district games, with each team taking one week off somewhere along the line, there are four teams still unbeaten (Riverheads, Luray, Buffalo Gap and Stuarts Draft); a fifth one, East Rock, would be as well if not for a last-second field goal kicked by Madison; Page County is off to its best start in years and is now 2-1; and Wilson is a respectable 1-2 against an all-Valley-District pre-season.That leaves Stonewall as the only winless team in the district but even they have been competitive. The district as a whole owns 8 wins by my count over the supposedly higher caliber Valley District teams.
Understandably we are all more than ready to knock heads and determine this year's district champs. So for the next seven weeks, there will be four district games each Friday night. Here is the line-up for this Friday night's four openers:
Stuarts Draft at East Rock: This one probably deserves to be considered the headliner of this first week of district play. It will be a huge contrast of styles with East Rock taking to the air more often than not whereas SD will rely on its ground game, led by Izzy Johnson. They had a wild shootout last year as I recall, and this one could be more of the same. I will go with the home team by a 42-34 count but it could go either way.
Luray at Riverheads: Somebody will get their first loss of the year in this one. Although it is early in the season, this is Homecoming weekend already for RHS, and that can sometimes be a distraction. But the Gladiators put together a truly complete game against Waynesboro Friday and should be focused and recognize the importance of this one. The Dogs actually took the Big Red into overtime in one of their recent trips to Greenville, but I don't see it as being that close this time. I will go with RHS 42-20.
Buffalo Gap at Wilson: As a general rule you can throw the records out the window when any two Augusta County teams get together, but in this case, I just see too much of a talent difference. Wilson might keep it close for a quarter or so, but when all is said and done, look for a 42-7 ish win for the Bison.
Page at Stonewall: Considering the start they have had, the Panthers are probably the most anxious team in the district to keep the action going and find out if they are for real. For the past several years, this game has had the dubious distinction of deciding who finishes in 7th place and who finishes in the basement. Maybe this will be the year that will change for one of these teams. I have to go with Page in this one, but not sure if it will be a shootout or a defensive struggle. Let's go with something in the middle........Page 26-12.
The Valley District (same general neighborhood) has only seven members, so the most games they can have on any given Friday is three. So this week, I would see Spotswood rolling easily over Waynesboro, Turner Ashby squeezing out a tight one at Lee, and Broadway knocking off Fort Defiance in a battle of winless teams.
Should be a great night weather-wise, so come on out and support the team of your choice!
Understandably we are all more than ready to knock heads and determine this year's district champs. So for the next seven weeks, there will be four district games each Friday night. Here is the line-up for this Friday night's four openers:
Stuarts Draft at East Rock: This one probably deserves to be considered the headliner of this first week of district play. It will be a huge contrast of styles with East Rock taking to the air more often than not whereas SD will rely on its ground game, led by Izzy Johnson. They had a wild shootout last year as I recall, and this one could be more of the same. I will go with the home team by a 42-34 count but it could go either way.
Luray at Riverheads: Somebody will get their first loss of the year in this one. Although it is early in the season, this is Homecoming weekend already for RHS, and that can sometimes be a distraction. But the Gladiators put together a truly complete game against Waynesboro Friday and should be focused and recognize the importance of this one. The Dogs actually took the Big Red into overtime in one of their recent trips to Greenville, but I don't see it as being that close this time. I will go with RHS 42-20.
Buffalo Gap at Wilson: As a general rule you can throw the records out the window when any two Augusta County teams get together, but in this case, I just see too much of a talent difference. Wilson might keep it close for a quarter or so, but when all is said and done, look for a 42-7 ish win for the Bison.
Page at Stonewall: Considering the start they have had, the Panthers are probably the most anxious team in the district to keep the action going and find out if they are for real. For the past several years, this game has had the dubious distinction of deciding who finishes in 7th place and who finishes in the basement. Maybe this will be the year that will change for one of these teams. I have to go with Page in this one, but not sure if it will be a shootout or a defensive struggle. Let's go with something in the middle........Page 26-12.
The Valley District (same general neighborhood) has only seven members, so the most games they can have on any given Friday is three. So this week, I would see Spotswood rolling easily over Waynesboro, Turner Ashby squeezing out a tight one at Lee, and Broadway knocking off Fort Defiance in a battle of winless teams.
Should be a great night weather-wise, so come on out and support the team of your choice!
