The Game - Essex v Riverheads

[uvacavs1]

wow, this matchup has been a long time coming! Many folks have anticipated, expected, and/or hoped for this battle for a long time.

It is finally upon Virginia football fans, surprisingly in Round 2 of 1A 2016 playoffs. Some have said this battle came a tad too late, as this may not be one of the elite teams of these proud and well known VA programs. I'll let others consider that, as for me, I think it will be an epic battle of powers as both school fight for the glory of their programs and of course, to advance in this years tournament. Some thought this would be the state championship game....

Let's just take a look at the last 5 years for both schools- both schools were awesome and defeated many, many 2A and higher schools, often by huge margins.

Riverheads - 55-7 overall record
(only 1A loss during that time period was to state champion Galax)

Essex - 56-13 overall record
(only losses to 1As during that time period were to state champions Galax and AltaVista plus the Trojans were upset by a great Colonial Beach, the NND champion) team this season.

Riverheads will have the huge advantage of being at home- what will the attendance be I wonder? Any thoughts, predictions?

Good luck to Coach Fulks and Essex! Go Northern Neck!

 

[Xcross]

Riverheads 42 Essex 13 Not going to be the contest you think . imo

 

[pawfan]

Two guarantees for this game. One- I will be at home with my wife and son and not worried about who wins. Two- The team with the most points will go on to play a winner next week.

 

[oldballcoach13]

Not too familiar with Essex are they a predominately run or pass first? I know about 3 years ago they had a qb that could sling it can't remember his name.

 

[Chilwar25]

When was the last time Essex and Riverheads played each other?

What was the score, and what is the overall series record between the 2 schools?

 

[Xcross]

First game between the schools is what i hear !

 

[uvacavs1]

Two guarantees for this game. One- I will be at home with my wife and son and not worried about who wins. Two- The team with the most points will go on to play a winner next week.

Thanks for that astute football analysis pawfan lol, enjoy your night at home. I'm sure I will take the family out to NN Burger or Los Portales for a great, delicious meal and then tune in to the big game on local radio - WRAR to pull for Coach Fulks and the local crew.

However, this game does indeed feature two of the top old Group A football programs (now 1A of course) for the past like two decades. I am pretty sure this is the 1st meeting between these two small school powers.

Some may see just another playoff game, not me. Shoot now, almost everyone makes the playoffs. This game (for fans of small school football) is much bigger. I'm glad a Neck school is involved. Not often a small school game may gather some attention of even some of the big boys.

Riverheads should be the big favorite - especially at home with all those rabid fans. Plus, Essex is down some this year but improving. I hope the game is called well for both sides.

I have feeling even you pawfan (an old Eagle) will check in to see who won before you crash for the evening.....

 

[kwhs95fan]

Oldballcoach the kid you were talking about from a few years ago was Dominek Broaddus. As a sophomore in 2012 he set the VHSL record with 56 TD passes in a season. Not sure of his career total off the top of my head but it was well over 100.

 

[Chilwar25]

That is what I thought, THE FIRST GAME between the 2 schools. From my map on my
Tab, I get 150 miles apart, with a travel time of about 2 1/2 hours driving time. I would
Have thought they may have played before, given the 2 schools football history.

 

[Delantie]

Oldballcoach the kid you were talking about from a few years ago was Dominek Broaddus. As a sophomore in 2012 he set the VHSL record with 56 TD passes in a season. Not sure of his career total off the top of my head but it was well over 100.

Very good player watched him play when he played against Altavista in the Championship

 

[kwhs95fan]

Essex is definitely a young team but they also had a very tough schedule while breaking in people at new positions. The combined record of their opponents is 59-42 with 9 of those losses coming from Rappahannock. Eight of the 10 teams they faced made the playoffs including a hard fought losses to undefeated Goochland and Colonial Beach. Things seem to be going better for them now as they have worked out some of the early season kinks. No doubt Riverheads will be the favorite especially playing at home with a great fan base. But Essex doesn't have to be the better team on the season just the better team next Friday night. They have the athletes to go out and get the win and I think it will be a chess match between 2 great coaches. Obviously like in most games it will come down to who makes the fewest mistakes and whoever can win the turnover battle. Essex has to limit Riverheads from going on the time consuming drives that they are known for and take advantage of the speed factor they'll have on both sides of the ball. If they can do that then they greatly increase their chances. If not then it will be Riverheads who will walk away with the win. Should be a great game and will be physical as well as both teams can bring it.

 

[Chilwar25]

OK, Riverheads, I want to know how you plan to handle my " adopted " favorite player name
From Essex (via Essextrojan1) , their 400 lb DT " BIG NASTY ".

Will this game be on radio ? If so, what is their streaming address?

 

[kwhs95fan]

It will be on realradio804.com. Go to the site and then click on the listen live link. There's 2 stations on there. WRAR and WNNT. Last night it was on WNNT. Not sure which one next week but will be one or the other

 

[Keith_Stone33]

I think this match-up is a year too late. I'm hoping Essex can at least make it a game, but traveling 2 and a half hours to play in Greenville is a tough thing to do. Riverheads is very tough to stop offensively and they are a team that typically capitalizes on other teams mistakes, so you better not turn the ball over or get many yellow flags or they'll make you pay. The Essex defensive line will have to make plays to keep them from picking up 4-5 yards a pop. I've seen opposing fans clapping in celebration against teams like Riverheads and Wilson over the years when they stop them for a 3-4 yard gain, but their offenses are built for that 3 yards, 4 yards, 3 yards, 8 yards, etc, then after they've mashed you down the field for a while and you think it's boring they'll break a 50 yard td lol. I think the best way to handle that offense if you don't have a strong front line that can atleast stalemate those pullers is to have your DTs lineup on the guards and have them trail or crab the pulling linemen. It would be ideal to have your strongest, most "immovable" lineman on the strongside at DE to seal the outside to prevent the wall and make those backs have to bounce to the outside. You've got to have an athlete at middle backer though as he will have to make a lot of tackles due to the DLine just clogging the front.

The Riverheads offense gets most of the attention as they are so effective, but they are very good defensively as well. #88 in the MLB position is able to cover a lot of ground and he is not afraid to hit. I'd be sure to get a body on him or he will cause trouble. I'd love to attend this game as it has the potential to be a good one, but honestly I'm not sure that Essex can hang this year because I haven't seen them in action to give a good prediction, but based on the scores from their games so far I don't know that this is their year to beat Riverheads.

 

[longtimerhsfan]

Understandably I have been in front of the tube all day watching all the upsets in the college ranks (three of the top five in the country lost today!) so I am just now joining this conversation. Anyway, yes this is the first meeting ever between the two, not only in football but in any sport to my knowledge. I of course will be pulling for RHS and I think I know what the key will be, but of course I am not going to share that on here! You can bet your bottom dollar the Riverheads coaching staff made the trip to Essex Friday night and will be well-prepared.

 

[Xcross]

OK, Riverheads, I want to know how you plan to handle my " adopted " favorite player name
From Essex (via Essextrojan1) , their 400 lb DT " BIG NASTY ".

Will this game be on radio ? If so, what is their streaming address?

# 78 will be a non factor ! Our # 92 will will keep him on his back side ! He is a 4 foot 6 in. monster ! Benches 450 and runs a 4.5 . 40 !!!!!!!!!!

 

[woodlayer#952002]

# 78 will be a non factor ! Our # 92 will will keep him on his back side ! He is a 4 foot 6 in. monster ! Benches 450 and runs a 4.5 . 40 !!!!!!!!!!

I'm betting on leverage with the 4' 6" guy big nasty cant get that low he is going to get held on every play and the ref wont even see it,I know Essex sure do wish lil nasty didn't quit earlier in the season if they had lil nasty I would put my money on Essex you cant double team both of them.

 

[Keith_Stone33]

Understandably I have been in front of the tube all day watching all the upsets in the college ranks (three of the top five in the country lost today!) so I am just now joining this conversation. Anyway, yes this is the first meeting ever between the two, not only in football but in any sport to my knowledge. I of course will be pulling for RHS and I think I know what the key will be, but of course I am not going to share that on here! You can bet your bottom dollar the Riverheads coaching staff made the trip to Essex Friday night and will be well-prepared.

In reference to the bolded text: all the years I've watched rhs, I've rarely seen them do anything different and I think that is Castos motto "we do what we do." Double wing/ wing T, occasional direct snap/single wing, run the crap out of super power, buck sweep, trap/gut, and double handoff. An athlete who can catch a pass or 2 each game to keep D honest on waggle when needed. Always have a crazy gunner on special teams that specializes in blocking punts. A kicker from the soccer team who can squib and make field goals.

Keys imo:

Key for Essex: dont turn the ball over, dont get penalties, control LOS, make every possession count

Key for Riverheads: execute super power and buck sweep then everything else will open up, don't underestimate a 6-5 squad coming off a bye week

 

[Keith_Stone33]

I'm betting on leverage with the 4' 6" guy big nasty cant get that low he is going to get held on every play and the ref wont even see it,I know Essex sure do wish lil nasty didn't quit earlier in the season if they had lil nasty I would put my money on Essex you cant double team both of them.

Fyi there is no 4'6 number 92 lol... Just x cross playing mind games Haha

 

[pawfan]

Thanks for that astute football analysis pawfan lol, enjoy your night at home. I'm sure I will take the family out to NN Burger or Los Portales for a great, delicious meal and then tune in to the big game on local radio - WRAR to pull for Coach Fulks and the local crew.

However, this game does indeed feature two of the top old Group A football programs (now 1A of course) for the past like two decades. I am pretty sure this is the 1st meeting between these two small school powers.

Some may see just another playoff game, not me. Shoot now, almost everyone makes the playoffs. This game (for fans of small school football) is much bigger. I'm glad a Neck school is involved. Not often a small school game may gather some attention of even some of the big boys.

Riverheads should be the big favorite - especially at home with all those rabid fans. Plus, Essex is down some this year but improving. I hope the game is called well for both sides.

I have feeling even you pawfan (an old Eagle) will check in to see who won before you crash for the evening.....

LOL! You may in fact be correct Cav! I'm glad you took my post in the way it was intended! Tounge-in-cheek! Many others on here would not have!

 

[Twobyfour]

Fulks is very familiar with the wing and unfortunately he knows what it takes to stop it.

 

[riversportsfan]

Essex may be down, but they are not out yet. They have had a different starting line up every week and have dealt with all sorts of issues, but they will humbly make the trip to Riverheads and leave it on the field. Essex lost their best overall player Friday night to injury and he will be missed greatly, but it is the next man up for these Trojans like it has been all season. I still think the Trojans will come in and play well enough to justify your price for admission.

 

[Chilwar25]

Hey Essex trojan1, big game coming up this week.......Are the Trojans getting
Ready for a hard fought game? And I haven't heard anything about " Big Nasty "
Latley........how things going My Friend?

 

[mmqp]

I feel like there is an outside shot that this could turn into a game like King William and Riverheads had a couple of years back. And I say that without any disrespect towards Riverheads, I feel like Essex might be "cutting it on" at the right time..

With that said I would not be in the least bit surprised if Riverheads romped the Trojans either!

Yet another game I'd love to see, but instead will be looking at brake lights along route 7 instead..smh

 

[Essex Trojan1]

Hey Essex trojan1, big game coming up this week.......Are the Trojans getting
Ready for a hard fought game? And I haven't heard anything about " Big Nasty "
Latley........how things going My Friend?

What's up my adopted Trojan friend. Big Nasty is still Big Nasty. He got in as QB for 3 pass attempts in our last regular season game against Rappahannock. Late in the game. Lol. I'm pretty sure the squad is looking forward to playing Riverheads. They've been through some serious growing pains this year. If they pull it off, I personally won't call it and upset. If Riverheads win, I won't call it an upset either. Riverheads 9-1, Essex 6-5...still to solid teams facing off.

 

[kw85]

Might have to make a ride to Greenville

 

[Westside236]

Does anyone know where that gigantic defensive lineman from Essex went he played like 3 years ago?!

 

[kwhs95fan]

He went to Fairmont St in West Virginia but he is no longer with the program. Sterling Hammond who was a standout lb/rb/wr on the 2014 team as well is at Virginia Union and Malik Martin who was the Trojans rb and cb last year is at Virginia St.

 

[Westside236]

Dang that's a bummer. And cool deal on the other guys love seeing single a guys playing at the next level

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

As a sophomore in 2012 he set the VHSL record with 56 TD passes in a season. Not sure of his career total off the top of my head but it was well over 100.

IMPRESSIVE!!! Did he go to college? where?

Our # 92 will will keep him on his back side ! He is a 4 foot 6 in. monster ! Benches 450 and runs a 4.5 . 40 !!!!!!!!!!

YOU GOT ME with this one. I was like there is NO WAY a guy has a number 92 and not a RB if he is a 4'6" running 4.5/40. I read a couple comments down and saw that you was joking. I was going to make a trip to Riverheads to see this guy in person. LOL

ON ANOTHER NOTE:

Yall have to remember Riverheads was in 2A for a few years as well and that would have prevented them playing Essex as well. It is amazing that these guys never faced each other.

For my Riverheads fans, yall had a big huge linebacker in 2013, where did he end up going? I remember him when we came up for a Jamboree. That dude was good and a grown man out there.

 

[LMcCray]

What's up my adopted Trojan friend. Big Nasty is still Big Nasty. He got in as QB for 3 pass attempts in our last regular season game against Rappahannock. Late in the game. Lol. I'm pretty sure the squad is looking forward to playing Riverheads. They've been through some serious growing pains this year. If they pull it off, I personally won't call it and upset. If Riverheads win, I won't call it an upset either. Riverheads 10-0, Essex 6-5...still to solid teams facing off.

*9-1 (Riverheads is 9-1)

A match-up made for December.

WTON out of Staunton will have the Essex / Riverheads matchup as the Game of the Week. 5:30 for pregame, 6:30 Coach's Show with interviews from both coaches, and 7pm kickoff.
espn1240theboss.com ; search WTON on TuneIn app; old school at 1240 on your AM dial

 

[kwhs95fan]

Advocate of Many no he didn't go anywhere to play in college. His size was what hurt him as he was only 5" 10' and about 150 lbs. Still had a great arm and vision and was also a great team player. Was the qb for all 3 of the state championship games but of course all ended in defeat. The first by a physical hard nosed Goochland team when Essex was 2A and of course the last two by the buzzsaw that was Altavista

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

Advocate of Many no he didn't go anywhere to play in college. His size was what hurt him as he was only 5" 10' and about 150 lbs. Still had a great arm and vision and was also a great team player. Was the qb for all 3 of the state championship games but of course all ended in defeat. The first by a physical hard nosed Goochland team when Essex was 2A and of course the last two by the buzzsaw that was Altavista

That Altavista was STRONG! Thornhill, meache, the Johnson twins, etc. I would have loved to see how the 2015 or 2016 Appomattox teams would have done vs. that team. Just a year or 2 off. Would have been a great matchup.

 

[G MASTER BLASTER W]

I've said it before Essex could be the Galax of this year.

 

[kwhs95fan]

Essex had Altavista on the ropes in 2014 but couldn't quite get it done and lost 22-20

 

[longtimerhsfan]

I am sure the Riverheads linebacker mentioned above is Mike Herndon who now plays for Pitt. I have never personally caught sight of him in one of their games, but I am told he plays some in specialized situations, like maybe a PAT.

 

[Essex Trojan1]

*9-1 (Riverheads is 9-1)

A match-up made for December.

WTON out of Staunton will have the Essex / Riverheads matchup as the Game of the Week. 5:30 for pregame, 6:30 Coach's Show with interviews from both coaches, and 7pm kickoff.
espn1240theboss.com ; search WTON on TuneIn app; old school at 1240 on your AM dial

Ooopps... I forgot they fell in a close one the other week. Thanks, it's corrected

 

[Chilwar25]

Hey Essex Trojan, good to here from you. Them Trojans are on a run. Best of luck
Against Riverheads.....RH is the BEAST of A1, but the other big beast is ESSEX.

Glad to hear " Big Nasty " is doing ok......and If you got tape of him at the QB position
Please post that. A 400 lb QB may be a national record for high schools!

Best of luck to both teams this Friday. Keep us posted on the game.
Later, My Friend

 

[Chilwar25]

Is anyone beside me seeing their post very slow, and the thing post the same thing
2 times.


Hey Rod from Vapreps, you got any other problems like this, or am I the only one?

 

[Essex Trojan1]

Is anyone beside me seeing their post very slow, and the thing post the same thing
2 times.


Hey Rod from Vapreps, you got any other problems like this, or am I the only one?

Mine did it today. Posted twice. I've been seeing it do that with a few other posters as well.