THREE THNGS TO WATCH
1 The competition between Bethel’s and Phoebus’ defenses. This is a matchup between the Nos. 2 and 3 defenses in the Peninsula District. The Bruins hold opponents to 159.3 yards per game, and the Phantoms keep teams to a 188.1-yard average. Running backs could play an important role in this contest since both teams feature big, bruising ball-carriers. Phoebus’ Elan Lewis averages 8.8 yards per carry and Bethel’s Ladarius Adams averages 7.
2 Gloucester vs. Menchville. The outcome of this game will be the first victory for one of these teams. The Dukes, who have had several players out because of injury, produced their best offensive output in five games last week. The Monarchs, after being held scoreless through their first four games, have scored in four of their last five outings.
3 The possibility of a playoff spot for the Bruton-New Kent winner. It’s unlikely, but tonight’s New Kent at Bruton winner would slip into the Region I, Division 3 playoffs. York and Poquoson are in, regardless of what happens this weekend. And Nandua of the Eastern Shore likely will be in. The New Kent-Bruton winner will join that trio if Park View of South Hill beats Greensville tonight in the Southside District. Before you get too excited, though, consider this: Greensville is 7-2 and Park View is 3-5.
THE 2,000-YARD CLUB
These area running backs have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season.
Yards Player, school Year
2,864 Terry Kirby, Tabb 1987
2,807 Josh Zidenberg, Poquoson 2003
2,745 Antonio Procise, Sussex Central 1992
2,512 Ronnie Harvey, King & Queen Cent. 1989
2,472 Elan Lewis, Phoebus 2003
2,312 Wayne Briggs, Windsor 1995
2,263 Simeon Tucker, Tabb 1990
2,153 Charles Brown-Rich, York 2003
2,140 Travis McCright, Phoebus 2001
2,119 Terry Kirby, Tabb 1988
2,089 Rian Thompson, Lafayette 1998
2,085 Pervis Binns, Southampton 1999
2,066 Stephen Paige, Charles City 1989
2,054 Simeon Tucker, Tabb 1991
2,028 Michael Johnson, Heritage 2000
2,007 Sterling Branch, King William 1989
MENCHVILLE (0-9, 0-8) VS. GLOUCESTER (0-9, 0-8)
WHEN: 7 tonight.
WHERE: Gloucester High School.
LAST YEAR: Gloucester won 25-14.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: This game is an opportunity for one of these teams to get its first victory.
ABOUT MENCHVILLE: QB Franklin Isaac has thrown eight interceptions and two touchdowns, including a 13-yard TD to Daniel Richmond last week against Hampton. In that game, the Monarchs passed for more than 100 yards for the second week in a row, but they need to cut down on the turnovers (two INTs, two fumbles against Hampton). Menchville’s defense has been suspect against the run, surrendering 308, 310, 340 and 381 yards in its last four outings.
ABOUT GLOUCESTER: Coach David Ward thought RB James Marsh was out for the season with mononucleosis, but Marsh returned last week to run for 70 yards against Heritage. “He’s healthy and ready to go,” Ward said. Gloucester averages 6.4 points per game, so the Dukes need Marsh and QB B.J. Brown to take a lead role in increasing those numbers. DE Troy Wilson (separated shoulder), FS Darren Jackson (torn ACL) and TE/LB Michael Joyner are out for this game.
PREDICTION: Menchville.
BETHEL (7-2, 7-1) VS. PHOEBUS (7-2, 6-2)
WHEN: 7 tonight.
WHERE: Darling Stadium in Hampton.
LAST YEAR: Phoebus won 59-7.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Phoebus needs a victory to take the No. 2 seed in the Division 5 playoffs. Bethel, because it’s a Division 6 school, is out of the playoffs despite its successful record.
ABOUT BETHEL: Quarterback Darius Mullen sustained a shoulder injury against Denbigh last week, but coach Tracey Parker says he’s fine. RB Ladarius Adams will have a tough time against the Phantoms, but his size (6-1, 210) makes him durable as well as tough. The Bruins will be without their best CB, Jamar Jackson. He was ejected from the Denbigh game last week, which makes him ineligible for this game, according to Virginia High School League rules.
ABOUT PHOEBUS: RB Elan Lewis knows Bethel will concentrate on stopping him, but he is determined to get the 173 yards he needs to break the 2,000-yard mark in the regular season. LBs Stevon Moss and Devonta Lindsay are small but very physical. CBs Reggie Norwood and Denathian Robinson like to come up for support on runs, but they’re also big-play ball hawks on passing downs.
PREDICTION: Phoebus.
WARWICK (4-5, 3-5) VS. HERITAGE (3-6, 2-6)
WHEN: 7 tonight.
WHERE: Todd Stadium in Newport News.
LAST YEAR: Warwick won 21-14.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Warwick looks like it’s out of the playoffs. Heritage is definitely out. But this is a city-rivalry game that should be hotly contested.
ABOUT HERITAGE: Transfers and injuries have kept Heritage from reaching its potential. QB Travis Jones played well in a win over Gloucester last week, throwing a 46-yard TD to Keith Brown. RBs Larone Vaughn, Donnell Harris and Ryan Pettit are filling in for injured RB Darius Stith. Heritage, led by Stith, had back-to-back 300-yard rushing games in October, so his absence has hurt the Hurricanes.
ABOUT WARWICK: QB Cody Brodus looked tough in the face of Phoebus’ swarming defense during a 57-10 loss. Brodus rushed for 68 yards and passed for 128 yards despite being sacked five times. Warwick proved it could play with the PD’s best when it took a 10-0 lead over the Phantoms, but the Raiders have to sustain their intensity for four quarters. Michael Whitaker, Jamaris Sanders and Nigel Watford are the quickest group of receivers in the district.
PREDICTION: Warwick.
DENBIGH (5-4, 4-4) VS.
KECOUGHTAN (4-5, 3-5)
WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Todd Stadium in Newport News.
LAST YEAR: Kecoughtan won 50-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: These teams can’t make the playoffs.
ABOUT DENBIGH: The Patriots were held to a season-low 101 yards last week against Bethel, but they hope to bounce back with big games from QB Lamont Bryant and RB Chris Spencer. RB Brandon Gamble should also be a big part of the offense. Against Bethel, Denbigh’s defense surrendered more than 400 yards for the second time this season. DL Jaymes Brooks, Chavis Ross and DE Percy Moore lead Denbigh’s front seven.
ABOUT KECOUGHTAN: The Warriors finally pulled together another 100- yard rushing day last week against Woodside, but they produced more than half of the yards in the first half. Defensively, Kecoughtan continues to regress, giving up 280, 361 and 395 yards in its last three games. The Warriors will count on DL Jonathan Ashe (6-3, 252) and DE Asa Cooper to anchor the defense. QB Keith McBride and RB Isaiah Sheppard are the most elusive runners in Kecoughtan’s single-wing offense. FBs Asa Cooper and Deron Mayo are efficient at gaining yards between the tackles.
PREDICTION: Denbigh.
POQUOSON (7-2, 6-2) VS. GRAFTON (8-1, 7-1)
WHEN: 7:30 Saturday night.
WHERE: Bailey Field in Yorktown.
LAST YEAR: Grafton won 14-6.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: A victory would make Grafton the No. 2 seed with a home game against Powhatan in the Region I, Division 4 playoffs. A loss would send the Clippers to Powhatan, where they won last month. No matter what happens, Poquoson will make the Region I, Division 3 playoffs as the No. 1 or No. 2 seed.
ABOUT GRAFTON: The Clippers have one of the district’s best quarterbacks in David Poutier, one of its best running backs in Darrieus Ramsey and one of its best receivers in Brandon Garlow. Grafton’s only loss was to undefeated Lafayette — no shame there — and it’s been ranked among the state’s 10 best Group AA teams all season.
ABOUT POQUOSON: The Islanders don’t have an overwhelming superstar like last year — see: Zidenberg, Josh — but their record is the same as it was after nine games. Poquoson is fairly one-dimensional, leaning heavily on RBs Mike Bell, Chad Carlson and John Fiedler about 80 percent of the time. QB Sal Cannella has emerged as an effective if not spectacular passer.
PREDICTION: Grafton.
YORK (6-3, 5-3) VS. TABB (0-9, 0-8)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Bailey Field in Yorktown.
LAST YEAR: York won 63-22.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: A victory would send Tabb into the offseason on the right foot. York is playoff-bound, but wants to go in on a four-game winning streak rather than a one-game losing streak.
ABOUT YORK: The Falcons have rebounded from their midseason loss to Jamestown, winning three of their last four. That got them into the Region I, Division 3 playoffs as one of the Bay Rivers District’s two (maybe three) representatives. York has an impressive offensive arsenal: QB Stephen Opp, RBs Mike Leccadito, Sean Blow, Lamonte Gwynn, Trey Poulsen and Maceo Holmes, and WRs Randell Montgomery, Joey Buzby and Kenny Manning.
ABOUT TABB: Everyone knew this would be a tough year, and they were right. New coach Matt Lawson can console himself in knowing that most of his offensive stars are underclassmen: QB Brice Earnhardt, RBs Antonio Blackwell, Joey Dry, Fred Porter, Chris Phillips and Jacob Barclay and WR David Boyer. The rest of the district knows Tabb will be better next year. More good news: Lawson became a father again on Tuesday, this one a girl.
PREDICTION: York.
NEW KENT (5-4, 4-4) AT BRUTON (5-4, 4-4)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Bruton High School in Williamsburg.
LAST YEAR: New Kent won 28-23.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Plenty, especially since the winner has an outside shot at the Division 3 playoffs. A Bruton loss would be its fourth straight after opening the season 5-1. New Kent could finish with a two-game winning streak or lose three of its last five.
ABOUT NEW KENT: A young and inexperienced offensive line has gotten better, which is why RBs Travis Lee and Daniel Allen are running better. The Trojans rely on Lee as much as any team in the Bay Rivers District relies on anybody. He hasn’t disappointed, scoring 19 touchdowns and rushing for 1,148 yards. Allen has added 620 yards.
ABOUT BRUTON: The Panthers’ late-season swoon is more a function of scheduling than the team’s will. Its early-season games were against weaker teams, and Bruton went 5-1. The next three were against stronger teams (the Panthers went 0-3) and tonight’s is a tossup. Much will depend on how well the defense reacts to New Kent’s tricky misdirection plays that generally feature Lee.
PREDICTION: New Kent.
JAMESTOWN (5-4, 4-4) VS. LAFAYETTE (9-0, 8-0)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Cooley Field in Williamsburg.
LAST YEAR: Lafayette won 45-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Local pride and offseason bragging rights. Win or lose, Lafayette is at least co-champion of the Bay Rivers District and No. 1 seed in the Region I, Division 4 playoffs. Win or lose, Jamestown has enjoyed its best season in years and has brought respectability back to the program.
ABOUT JAMESTOWN: The Eagles don’t have enough to stay with Lafayette, but nobody else has either. Nevertheless, Jamestown is light years better than the past, having already won more games than in the four previous seasons combined. QB Randy Suders, WR Terrell White and RBs Travis Dale and Andre McLaughlin are seniors, leaving some holes to fIll.
ABOUT LAFAYETTE: Barring an upset, the Rams will start the playoffs undefeated. Second-ranked in the state poll behind Division 3 Gretna, Lafayette is deep, talented and experienced at every position. It starts with QB Kyle Hughes, extends to RBs George Pittman, Robert Pinkett and James Berkley, goes out to WRs Dakari Taylor-Watson and Lorenzo Christian and includes a solid defensive line and secondary.
PREDICTION: Lafayette.
SOUTHAMPTON (1-8, 1-7) AT SMITHFIELD (1-8, 1-7)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Smithfield High School in Smithfield.
LAST YEAR: Southampton won 27-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Nothing … other than the difference in finishing 1- 9 and 2-8. In either case, the loser will finish in eighth place in the Bay Rivers District.
ABOUT SMITHFIELD: The switch to the single-wing has been tough on the Packers and their fans. Marcus Williams has been busy, rushing for 381 yards, passing for 64 and receiving for 64. Edward Hardin (492 rushing yards, 128 receiving) has been Smithfield’s most consistent offensive threat. Damien Whitley has 368 passing yards (six INTs and two TDs), all in the last four games.
ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON: The Indians have struggled since their recent 8-4 and 5-5 seasons. That’s the bad news. The good is that most of coach Littleton Parker’s players are athletic underclassmen who should be good in the future. RBs Dominique Johnson (327 yards), Jonathan Riddick (295) and Karvin Gwaltney (167), QB Eric Benton (416 passing yards) and WR Jermaine Taylor (19 catches for 212) are the team’s future.
PREDICTION: Smithfield.
PAYOFF PICTURE
DIVISION 6 EASTERN REGION
WHO’S IN: Landstown as the Beach District champion and Granby as the Eastern District champion. Oscar Smith is in no matter what happens tonight. WHO’S HOPEFUL: Western Branch and Deep Creek. OUTLOOK: Three of the four sports are set. Landstown and Granby have clinched district championships. Oscar Smith is in and can win the Southeastern District title by beating Indian River. The fourth team will be the winner of tonight’s Western Branch-Deep Creek game.
DIVISION 5 EASTERN REGION
WHO’S IN: Hampton, Woodside and Phoebus. WHO’S HOPEFUL: In power ratings order, Indian River, Booker T. Washington and Wilson. OUTLOOK: If Indian River upsets Oscar Smith, the Braves will make the playoffs, probably as the No. 4 seed. If Indian River loses, Booker T. Washington is in position to advance with a victory over Norcom. DIVISION 4 REGION I
WHO’S IN: Lafayette, Grafton, Powhatan and Courtland. OUTLOOK: The game of the weekend is at Bailey Field on Saturday night. If Grafton beats Poquoson, the Clippers clinch the second seed and will play host to Powhatan in the first round of the playoffs. If Grafton loses, the Clippers go to Powhatan. Courtland is locked into the fourth seed.
DIVISION 3REGION I
WHO’S IN: Poquoson and York. WHO’S HOPEFUL: Greensville County, New Kent, Bruton, Nandua and Northampton. OUTLOOK: This will be a playoff with three wild-card teams as the top seeds and the Eastern Shore District champion seeded fourth. Nandua will represent the Eastern Shore if it beats Arcadia tonight. Otherwise, Northampton could slip in. Poquoson is pretty much a lock, win or lose against Grafton on Saturday. So is York, which will be a heavy favorite over Tabb. If Greensville beats Park View of South Hill, the Eagles probably will edge out the winner of the Bruton-New Kent game. If Greensville loses, then the Bruton-New Kent winner should advance. The teams and seedings could depend on bonus points awarded to teams for the performance of their opponents.
DIVISION 2 REGION A
WHO’S IN: The field appears to be set with Essex getting the No. 1 seed, along with James Monroe, King William and Washington & Lee. OUTLOOK: Lancaster could come close by beating Northumberland but would probably fall a few points short of the fourth seed.
DIVISION 1 REGION A
WHO’S IN: Sussex Central and Franklin are set. If Sussex beats Surry County tonight, the Tigers will be the No. 1 seed. WHO’S HOPEFUL: Three teams are vying for the last two spots. They’re Rappahannock (109 points), Surry (105) and Mathews (104). OUTLOOK: Mathews has the best chance to win. The Blue Devils play Middlesex, which has won twice. Rappahannock plays Essex (8-1 record) and Surry faces Sussex Central (9-0).
