With the new postseason format, that will probably be round 3 against Goochland, I would think.
Virginia Preps Top 10
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I said this early in the year and contrary to some in this thread posted earlier, Poquoson is the real deal. They are a very good football team and they play a solid schedule. Warhill, Lafayette and Smithfield are all very good and 4A and a part of their schedule. Poqouson handled Southampton which just beat Sussex, and Sussex's only other loss was a nailbiter to Essex. Essex and Sussex, I know both are 1A, but better than most AA schools and those two are frontrunners for a 1A title. Southampton beat Sussex and Poqouson beat Southampton up pretty good, and Southampton is very big and very fast, and the line play from Poqouson overwhelmed them.
I told you this in week one, the defense of Poqouson is among the best 2-3 teams in 2A Virginia. The lineplay is equally good. They are a problem for any 2A team in VA this year. I also predicted Poqouson to go 8-2, and to still play for a 2A state title in Salem. Bring Lafayette to Giles or Goochland or Union and watch what would happen. Trust me, Lafayette year in and year out would do very well compared to the other three teams.
The schedule Poqouson plays will prepare it well. Warhill is next on the schedule and very solid at the 4A level. If Poqouson beats them, look out. That is a bad, bad sign for its future 2A opponents. I got Poqouson at number 2 in the state behind Appo. RE Lee should be third with the schedule it has played and its performances and talent level.. Graham should be up there as well as they lost on the one foot line in the final seconds to rival and WVs #1 ranked AA team in Bluefield, and Graham beat Giles. That's 2 tough opponents right there. Goochland is very good as well, but I love the matchup with Poqouson come playoff time if the two meet.
Poqouson is very, very, very well coached, disciplined, and physically vicious. The defense of Poqouson will keep it in every game. Even if they face a team that may seem better than them, its going to be a contest in the fourth because of the Poqouson defense and lineplay that allows it 4-5 yds a chunk and just shredding the clock. The style of play of Poqouson will cause major problems for teams in 2A come playoff time, especially when those 50 point offenses have only touched the ball 2 or 3 times in the first half. That's going to be a wake up call and emotionally/mentally, a challenge for High scoring office nsive type teams.
Poqouson reminds of former state titles teams in 3A and 2A like Gate City about 7 years ago or Poqouson's last title team, or Turner Ashby years ago, or Harrisonburg in the early 2000s or the Salem title teams. They aren't flashy or going to overwhelm you, and I'm not saying thet are as good as the above teams, but the style of play and coaching is similar. They are finesse, but physical. They aren't lightening fast, but don't give up many big plays. They aren't gigantic in size, but big enough and blow people off the ball.
I told you this in week one, the defense of Poqouson is among the best 2-3 teams in 2A Virginia. The lineplay is equally good. They are a problem for any 2A team in VA this year. I also predicted Poqouson to go 8-2, and to still play for a 2A state title in Salem. Bring Lafayette to Giles or Goochland or Union and watch what would happen. Trust me, Lafayette year in and year out would do very well compared to the other three teams.
The schedule Poqouson plays will prepare it well. Warhill is next on the schedule and very solid at the 4A level. If Poqouson beats them, look out. That is a bad, bad sign for its future 2A opponents. I got Poqouson at number 2 in the state behind Appo. RE Lee should be third with the schedule it has played and its performances and talent level.. Graham should be up there as well as they lost on the one foot line in the final seconds to rival and WVs #1 ranked AA team in Bluefield, and Graham beat Giles. That's 2 tough opponents right there. Goochland is very good as well, but I love the matchup with Poqouson come playoff time if the two meet.
Poqouson is very, very, very well coached, disciplined, and physically vicious. The defense of Poqouson will keep it in every game. Even if they face a team that may seem better than them, its going to be a contest in the fourth because of the Poqouson defense and lineplay that allows it 4-5 yds a chunk and just shredding the clock. The style of play of Poqouson will cause major problems for teams in 2A come playoff time, especially when those 50 point offenses have only touched the ball 2 or 3 times in the first half. That's going to be a wake up call and emotionally/mentally, a challenge for High scoring office nsive type teams.
Poqouson reminds of former state titles teams in 3A and 2A like Gate City about 7 years ago or Poqouson's last title team, or Turner Ashby years ago, or Harrisonburg in the early 2000s or the Salem title teams. They aren't flashy or going to overwhelm you, and I'm not saying thet are as good as the above teams, but the style of play and coaching is similar. They are finesse, but physical. They aren't lightening fast, but don't give up many big plays. They aren't gigantic in size, but big enough and blow people off the ball.
New Kent is no slouch this year. They have a stout defense and a decent offense. They will give Warhill all they can handle when those two meet.
I played in that game (my freshman year). That was a crazy game (especially the walk from the field house through the fans to the field). Luray had a stud QB/LB he was running the wildcat before it was ever called that, as well as making every tackle on defense. Goochland fumbled with under a minute or so left in the game inside Luray's 20 en route to take the lead (a freshman RB). Reminded us of the Brown's Earnest Byner fumble against the Broncos. haha That is the only time the two teams have played each other in football. The other time was in baseball and I think Verlander was on the mound for Goochland (he took the loss as a freshman with like a no-hitter or a 1-hitter)
What made you decide to look up that game? I remember it like it was yesterday. haha
Excellent post. Maybe most truthful post this season.
VHSL is like NCAA in that many teams have played nothing but cupcakes up to this point in season. Once they start playing teams with winning records, the "won-Lost" column changes, especially the "right" side.
No need to be sorry, that even helps make my point. Sussex and Essex are state title good. They played a close game and Southampton just beat Sussex. Poqouson easily had its way in game one with Southampton
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I was the radio announcer for both Luray and Page County football games for much of the 1990s. That was Luray's best year. They made it to the state semifinal, and actually hosted that game on a wet field that did not allow for that quarterback(Neil Porter) to make his usual cuts. That Luray team was almost all seniors, who had been starters since sophomore year. They were not that good as sophomores, but they were much better as seniors.
The most memorable thing about that game for me was that I actually broadcast that game with a Goochland broadcaster, since they could not install a phone line in Luray on short notice. So we used our equipment to broadcast it back to our station, and then sent our air product down the phone line to their station to allow for a simulcast. We called it "The Bulldog Broadcasting Network."
I been meaning to go visit Poquoson to see what they all about. I hear they solid. My son going to a game tonight with two 4-0 teams. I forgot who though.
After seeing Goochland and Appomattox against Buckingham I will say Appomattox would beat Goochland by 3 tds easily. We are not a very good team but we have a few athletes and our best player didn't play against Goochland. I think if he did play it would've been a scary game for Goochland. They don't have the speed Appomattox have and their defense would struggle against the Raiders. The Bulldogs will go deep because of their schedule (not tough at all) but a team like Appomattox will overwhelm them. My assessment.
I would
No way, the Richlands team that I watched on friday night is worthy of top 10 status. If they actually "beat" a quality opponent, that may sway my opinion. Their only win was against a very weak Gate City, who played them tight for a half. Sure, they have played 4 quality opponents, but they LOST to each of them. IF they run the table from this point on, maybe they can crack the top 10.
At least 2 teams in their own district (Marion and Virginia High) are more worthy of top 10 status.
There are at least 4 or 5 teams in each Region better than Richlands, that would put them down at about #20 on my list, but with the current record, would probably have to rank them lower than that. If they actually beat Graham, Marion or V-High, then that may sway my opinion of them a little. Not sure if they can beat any of those teams after what I witnessed friday night. Very slow team. Big, strong offensive and defensive line. Any team that can get to the edge with any speed at all will be able to run on them. The secondary play was non-existent, Bluefield receivers were wide open. The QB cannot throw and he hesitates too much with his decision making. The only thing they have going for them offensively, is they can move the ball in modest chunks due to the big line creating good holes for the running back. They have nobody with big play ability. IF they make the playoffs, they will likely face a high seed in the early rounds and exit early. Richlands needs a LOT of work.
No way, the Richlands team that I watched on friday night is worthy of top 10 status. If they actually "beat" a quality opponent, that may sway my opinion. Their only win was against a very weak Gate City, who played them tight for a half. Sure, they have played 4 quality opponents, but they LOST to each of them. IF they run the table from this point on, maybe they can crack the top 10.
At least 2 teams in their own district (Marion and Virginia High) are more worthy of top 10 status.
There are at least 4 or 5 teams in each Region better than Richlands, that would put them down at about #20 on my list, but with the current record, would probably have to rank them lower than that. If they actually beat Graham, Marion or V-High, then that may sway my opinion of them a little. Not sure if they can beat any of those teams after what I witnessed friday night. Very slow team. Big, strong offensive and defensive line. Any team that can get to the edge with any speed at all will be able to run on them. The secondary play was non-existent, Bluefield receivers were wide open. The QB cannot throw and he hesitates too much with his decision making. The only thing they have going for them offensively, is they can move the ball in modest chunks due to the big line creating good holes for the running back. They have nobody with big play ability. IF they make the playoffs, they will likely face a high seed in the early rounds and exit early. Richlands needs a LOT of work.
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