Thursday’s Games (10/29/15):
Gloucester (3-5) at Bethel (5-4) . . . Gloucester hasn’t beaten Bethel since 2005, although five years ago they nearly spring the upset in losing to the Bruins 36-35. The Dukes had notched two wins in a row over Menchville and Heritage, scoring a combined 67 points in those games. They have the pieces on offense to move the ball a bit in RB Martaine Morris and TE Owen Rousselle when they don’t turn the ball over being the key. Seven interceptions proved costly in a 27-21 loss to Warwick.
Bethel has the top defense in the Peninsula District from a statistical standpoint and it saved them two games ago in a 24-6 comeback win over Menchville. It also was instrumental in beating Denbigh 27-9, holding the Patriots to a lone touchdown, which came in the fourth quarter, and their usually dangerous passing attack to just 77 yards on 10 completions. Coach William Beverley threw a new wrinkle out there with T.C. Chisley, arguably their best two-way playmaker, in at quarterback and he had a 35-yard touchdown pass to inject some life into a sputtering offense.
Matt Says: Bethel 23-13
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Bethel 27-14
Coach Young Says: Bethel 35-7
Phoebus (7-1) at Denbigh (4-4) . . . Phoebus has had profound success against Denbigh, pitching 11 shutouts in the series since 1999. The closest the Patriots have come to beating the Phantoms during that stretch was two years ago in a 49-21 loss. It was a nice rebound for the Phantoms after the Hampton loss by outlasting Woodside 41-34 in a shoot-out that saw QB Justin Wright throw for 189 yards and two touchdowns to support their hard running of Jomari Becnel, who ran for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 25 attempts, plus caught one of those touchdown passes.
Denbigh was held to nine points in each of their last two losses, to Woodside and Bethel. Their defense has played a lot better the past five games, holding opponents to 12.2 points per game. Neil Anderson and Casey Vick have led that charge, routinely recording or hovering around double-digit tackles. What may be tough for Denbigh is to get generate much of a running game, outside of a couple of scrambles on broken plays from QB L.J. Taylor, against a Phoebus defense that is giving up just 10.8PPG.
Matt Says: Phoebus 31-7
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Phoebus 38-14
Coach Young Says: Phoebus 35-14
Grafton (5-3) at Jamestown (1-6) . . . Trying to get a first round home game for the playoffs in 4A-South, Grafton re-grouped from a 17-0 shutout loss to Warhill with a 17-9 victory over York where the defense came up big. Ray Gonzalez registered five sacks and defensive back Tavaris Noel had two of their three interceptions in the fourth quarter. Offensively, they weren’t that great in getting out-gained 215-149, but they kept the mistakes to a minimum.
Jamestown has made some progress in year one under Head Coach Donnell Brown, including a recent 14-7 win over Bruton to snap a 17-game losing skid. However, they got handled pretty good by Smithfield, 67-7, the last time out. Quarterback Hunter Brittain (50 of 94 for 696Yds. 6-8TD/Int. ratio) has moved the Eagles’ offense well at times. Their biggest challenge will be containing the Grafton ground game with QB D.J. Dobbins and RB Trevaun Walker. On the year, the Jamestown defense is giving up 44.4 points per game.
Matt Says: Grafton 34-13
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Grafton 37-16
Coach Young Says: Grafton 35-7
Gloucester (3-5) at Bethel (5-4) . . . Gloucester hasn’t beaten Bethel since 2005, although five years ago they nearly spring the upset in losing to the Bruins 36-35. The Dukes had notched two wins in a row over Menchville and Heritage, scoring a combined 67 points in those games. They have the pieces on offense to move the ball a bit in RB Martaine Morris and TE Owen Rousselle when they don’t turn the ball over being the key. Seven interceptions proved costly in a 27-21 loss to Warwick.
Bethel has the top defense in the Peninsula District from a statistical standpoint and it saved them two games ago in a 24-6 comeback win over Menchville. It also was instrumental in beating Denbigh 27-9, holding the Patriots to a lone touchdown, which came in the fourth quarter, and their usually dangerous passing attack to just 77 yards on 10 completions. Coach William Beverley threw a new wrinkle out there with T.C. Chisley, arguably their best two-way playmaker, in at quarterback and he had a 35-yard touchdown pass to inject some life into a sputtering offense.
Matt Says: Bethel 23-13
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Bethel 27-14
Coach Young Says: Bethel 35-7
Phoebus (7-1) at Denbigh (4-4) . . . Phoebus has had profound success against Denbigh, pitching 11 shutouts in the series since 1999. The closest the Patriots have come to beating the Phantoms during that stretch was two years ago in a 49-21 loss. It was a nice rebound for the Phantoms after the Hampton loss by outlasting Woodside 41-34 in a shoot-out that saw QB Justin Wright throw for 189 yards and two touchdowns to support their hard running of Jomari Becnel, who ran for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 25 attempts, plus caught one of those touchdown passes.
Denbigh was held to nine points in each of their last two losses, to Woodside and Bethel. Their defense has played a lot better the past five games, holding opponents to 12.2 points per game. Neil Anderson and Casey Vick have led that charge, routinely recording or hovering around double-digit tackles. What may be tough for Denbigh is to get generate much of a running game, outside of a couple of scrambles on broken plays from QB L.J. Taylor, against a Phoebus defense that is giving up just 10.8PPG.
Matt Says: Phoebus 31-7
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Phoebus 38-14
Coach Young Says: Phoebus 35-14
Grafton (5-3) at Jamestown (1-6) . . . Trying to get a first round home game for the playoffs in 4A-South, Grafton re-grouped from a 17-0 shutout loss to Warhill with a 17-9 victory over York where the defense came up big. Ray Gonzalez registered five sacks and defensive back Tavaris Noel had two of their three interceptions in the fourth quarter. Offensively, they weren’t that great in getting out-gained 215-149, but they kept the mistakes to a minimum.
Jamestown has made some progress in year one under Head Coach Donnell Brown, including a recent 14-7 win over Bruton to snap a 17-game losing skid. However, they got handled pretty good by Smithfield, 67-7, the last time out. Quarterback Hunter Brittain (50 of 94 for 696Yds. 6-8TD/Int. ratio) has moved the Eagles’ offense well at times. Their biggest challenge will be containing the Grafton ground game with QB D.J. Dobbins and RB Trevaun Walker. On the year, the Jamestown defense is giving up 44.4 points per game.
Matt Says: Grafton 34-13
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Grafton 37-16
Coach Young Says: Grafton 35-7
