Thursday’s Games (10/8/15):
Western Branch (2-3) at Nansemond River (3-1) . . . Western Branch has won three straight in the head-to-head series, scoring 126 points in that span to the Warriors’ 48. However, the Bruins have had a tough couple of weeks lately, losing 17-14 to Grassfield in a game in which both Keith Bryant and Brandon Byrd ran for over 100 yards, and falling to King’s Fork 14-6 on the road. This is clearly a must-win for them if Greg Gibson’s group plans on being in the playoffs for a fourth straight year.
The Nansemond River running game, led by Terrence Lambert (49Car. 528Yds. 7TD’s) has been a major reason why the Warriors are off to their first 3-1 start since 1999. In their three wins, they averaged 50.7 points per game compared to getting shut out 42-0 in their one loss to Oscar Smith. Keep an eye on the matchup in the trenches between Nansemond River’s defensive front anchored by Demetrius Stitmon, Dia Gry and Deondre Lacey against the Western Branch o-line headed up by D.J. Lanier and Clint Marshall. That might go a long way towards determining the outcome.
Matt Says: Western Branch 20-18
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Nansemond River 23-17
Coach Young Says: Western Branch 28-21
Warhill (0-4) at Poquoson (4-1) . . . Thad Wheeler’s Warhill Lions are still searching for their first win and had last week off due to the weather re-scheduling their game against Jamestown, whereas Poquoson rebounded from a 21-7 loss to York by scoring 47 unanswered points in routing Smithfield. Believe it or not, Warhill averages more rushing yards per game - 209.8 - than Poquoson, which comes in putting 201.8 yards per game on the ground. Where the big difference is on defense; the Islanders yield just 5.4 points per game compared to the 32.8PPG allowed by the Lions.
Spearheading the Warhill offensive attack is Collin Bright (76Car. 556Yds. 7TD’s), the second leading rusher in the Bay Rivers District in terms of yards per contest. Poquoson doesn’t have a guy in the Top 5 in the BRD in rushing, but the duo of Kyle Poultney and Dylan Freeman combined for 264 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 28 carries against the Packers. The Warhill defense not only has to worry about them, but also the threat of a passing game with QB Trey Hicks (37 of 67 for 545Yds. 8-0TD/Int. ratio) and dependable WR Matt Blaser (18Rec. 257Yds. 4TD’s).
Matt Says: Poquoson 31-9
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Poquoson 48-14
Coach Young Says: Poquoson 49-0
*** Picks for Friday & Saturday's games will be posted later here on VirginiaPreps.com! ***
Western Branch (2-3) at Nansemond River (3-1) . . . Western Branch has won three straight in the head-to-head series, scoring 126 points in that span to the Warriors’ 48. However, the Bruins have had a tough couple of weeks lately, losing 17-14 to Grassfield in a game in which both Keith Bryant and Brandon Byrd ran for over 100 yards, and falling to King’s Fork 14-6 on the road. This is clearly a must-win for them if Greg Gibson’s group plans on being in the playoffs for a fourth straight year.
The Nansemond River running game, led by Terrence Lambert (49Car. 528Yds. 7TD’s) has been a major reason why the Warriors are off to their first 3-1 start since 1999. In their three wins, they averaged 50.7 points per game compared to getting shut out 42-0 in their one loss to Oscar Smith. Keep an eye on the matchup in the trenches between Nansemond River’s defensive front anchored by Demetrius Stitmon, Dia Gry and Deondre Lacey against the Western Branch o-line headed up by D.J. Lanier and Clint Marshall. That might go a long way towards determining the outcome.
Matt Says: Western Branch 20-18
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Nansemond River 23-17
Coach Young Says: Western Branch 28-21
Warhill (0-4) at Poquoson (4-1) . . . Thad Wheeler’s Warhill Lions are still searching for their first win and had last week off due to the weather re-scheduling their game against Jamestown, whereas Poquoson rebounded from a 21-7 loss to York by scoring 47 unanswered points in routing Smithfield. Believe it or not, Warhill averages more rushing yards per game - 209.8 - than Poquoson, which comes in putting 201.8 yards per game on the ground. Where the big difference is on defense; the Islanders yield just 5.4 points per game compared to the 32.8PPG allowed by the Lions.
Spearheading the Warhill offensive attack is Collin Bright (76Car. 556Yds. 7TD’s), the second leading rusher in the Bay Rivers District in terms of yards per contest. Poquoson doesn’t have a guy in the Top 5 in the BRD in rushing, but the duo of Kyle Poultney and Dylan Freeman combined for 264 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 28 carries against the Packers. The Warhill defense not only has to worry about them, but also the threat of a passing game with QB Trey Hicks (37 of 67 for 545Yds. 8-0TD/Int. ratio) and dependable WR Matt Blaser (18Rec. 257Yds. 4TD’s).
Matt Says: Poquoson 31-9
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Poquoson 48-14
Coach Young Says: Poquoson 49-0
*** Picks for Friday & Saturday's games will be posted later here on VirginiaPreps.com! ***
