By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
*Games are listed by district, then alphabetically by road team. Click a team’s name to read the preview for that game.
Email pmurphy@digitalsports.com with scores.
**Updated PowerPoints to be posted after the conclusion of Saturday games**
GAME POSTPONEMENTS
Centreville at Chantilly, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
Oakton at Herndon, Monday, 7 p.m.
Westfield at Robinson, Monday, 7 p.m.
Fairfax at South Lakes, Monday, 7 p.m.
Jefferson at Langley, Still On!
Madison at Stone Bridge, Monday, 7 p.m.
Marshall at McLean, Still On!
Falls Church at Edison, Still On!
Hayfield at Wakefield, Still On!
Washington-Lee at Mount Vernon, Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Yorktown at Stuart, Still On!
Annandale at West Springfield, Still On!
Lee at West Potomac, Still On!
South County at Lake Braddock, Still On!
W.T. Woodson at T.C. Williams, Saturday, 1 p.m.
NORTHERN REGION WEEK 7: BY THE NUMBERS
431-10 — Fourth quarter yardage advantage for Centreville in the last two weeks.
8.23 — Yards per attempt for Robinson junior quarterback Mike LoPresti this season.
364 — Receiving yards for Fairfax senior Alex Young in the last four weeks after seven yards in the first two.
741, 632 — Rushing yards in the last four weeks for Edison senior Angus Harper and Falls Church senior Marcus Hughes, respectively.
27.8 — Yards per touch on seven carries, one reception and one punt return for Hayfield senior Rayshawn Rigans last week.
77.8 — Combined points per game in the West Springfield-Annandale series in the last four years.
14 — Most points for Robinson in six all-time meetings against Westfield. The Rams are 1-5 against the Bulldogs.
4 — Players that touched the ball for Stone Bridge last week in its 28-20 road win over Fairfax.
CONCORDE DISTRICT
Centreville (2-4, 0-1) at Chantilly (3-3, 0-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Centreville lost to Herndon, 35-30; Chantilly lost to Robinson, 35-21
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Centreville (Div. 6) T13th; Chantilly (Div. 6) T9th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Centreville 7th; Chantilly 2nd
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Centreville 14th; Chantilly 8th
Last season, the Chargers snapped a 12-year losing streak in the Sully Bowl with a 34-14, road win over the Wildcats.
Chantilly running back Torrian Pace (Youngstown State) had 27 carries for 180 yards and three scores.
Stephen A. Smith: HOWEVAH, Centreville wide receiver Warren Denny (still Centreville) had five grabs for a bill and two scores in that game. And, this year, Denny is hot.
He had three catches for 72 yards and a touchdown last week again Herndon (4-2), and was inches from the game-winning score in the final seconds. Senior quarterback Cam Walter had 361 passing yards in the five-point home loss to the Bugs, including 212 on 10 fourth-quarter completions.
But one week after rushing 44 times for 440 yards in a win over Mount Vernon (0-6), Centreville was held to 54 rushing yards on 29 carries.
Last week, in a home loss to Robinson, the Chargers held the Rams to 210 rushing yards, their second-lowest total of the season.
The key for Chantilly to keep Centreville from its first Concorde win since Oct. 26, 2007 is stopping the multi-faceted running game, most notably senior home-run hitter Adam Garrity. Plugging into that role are senior linebackers Billy Pratt and Jeffrey Lawhorne.
The Chargers have gotten off to hot starts in the last two weeks, outgaining the Hawks and Rams by a combined 492-188. They’ll need every one of those early-game gains against the Wildcats.
Centreville has outscored its last two opponents 37-0 in the last 11 minutes, and held a combined 431-10 yard advantage over those teams in the fourth quarter.
Oakton (3-3, 0-1) at Herndon (4-2, 1-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Oakton lost to Westfield, 35-13; Herndon won at Centreville, 35-30
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Oakton (Div. 6) 7th; Herndon (Div. 6) 5th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Oakton 12th; Herndon 3rd
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Oakton 6th; Herndon 11th
The Cougars have taken seven of the last 11 games in this series and three of the last five.
Last year, they avenged a season-ending road loss in 2007 with a dominant, 38-13 home win that capped the first undefeated season in Oakton history.
After two straight losses this season, Herndon rebounded nicely at Centreville last week, but nearly watched its win slip away as the Wildcats scored the final 16 points. The Hornets needed an interception by senior cornerback Brian Curran in the end zone as time expired to prevent a miracle come-from-behind victory.
That near collapse was aided by the in-game loss of three-year starting quarterback Zack Ozycz, who was injured early in the third quarter on a sack. Herndon was outgained 239-39 after he was hurt.
A silver lining was its improved run defense. The Hornets entered allowing 227.2 rushing yards per game, but held the Wildcats to 54 yards on 29 carries — they were coming off a 440-yard rushing night.
The Cougars, meanwhile, had their roughest outing of the season. Staggering Westfield scored the first 21 points, recovered two blocked punt for touchdowns and beat Oakton, 35-13, in Vienna.
Both of the Cougar touchdowns came in the final 96 seconds of a half, including a one-yard score by junior Jordan Willetts with :01 second left in regulation. Aside from its final drive, Oakton had four total first downs.
This will be a telling game for the defending Division 6 champion Cougars. A loss would require them to win out to make the playoffs, that with a season-ending schedule that closes at Robinson and at Chantilly.
The key to this match-up will be both Ozycz’s health and Herndon’s front seven. The former maintains offensive balance — ground-breaking, I know.
The latter was outstanding last week and will need a similar performance to slow Oakton’s stable of tailbacks. The Cougar trio of receivers will fare better than their three catches for three yards for last week, but that depends solely on how much respect the Hornets’ talented secondary has to give to the running game.
Westfield (2-4, 1-0) at Robinson (6-0, 2-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Westfield won at Oakton, 35-13; Robinson won at Chantilly, 35-21
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Westfield (Div. 6) 11th; Robinson (Div. 6) 1st
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Westfield 10th; Robinson 1st
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Westfield 4th; Robinson 2nd
Westfield had hands-down its best showing of the season next week on all three sides of the ball in a 35-13 road win over Oakton. It recorded 4.46 yards per play offensively, held the Cougars to four first downs before their final drive and blocked two punts — props to seniors Ryan Sweet and Dylan Doty — that were recovered for touchdowns.
Kudos to seniors Ashton Moss and Nick Grinups for the six-point recoveries.
Let’s show the Bulldogs what they’ve won: The top-ranked offense and second-ranked defense in Division 6, Robinson.
The Rams are the lone unbeaten team in D6, and have been since Week 4. Their running attack, featuring senior Connor Riley and junior Jared Velasquez, has not been held under 200 yards all season. Riley has 640 total yards and 12 scores — six in the last two weeks — and Velasquez has 695 yards and 10 house calls.
Junior quarterback Mike “Double Pits to” LoPresti is averaging 8.23 yards per pass attempt for the season (!!!) and has only thrown one interception this year.
No love has gone to the Robinson offensive line, but that unit is dirty-good.
But, as much as Westfield has struggled in the win column, it has the fourth-ranked defense in Division 6, behind the two Bendorf bunches and T.C. Williams. The aforementioned punt-blocking quartet have had a lot to do with that, so does junior linebacking wizard Harry Van Trees.
For the Bulldogs to get their second-straight road upset, they must hold the Rams under 150 rushing yards.
Robinson’s running game ranks second to Lee in the Northern Region. Westfield allowed 274 yards to the Blue Line in Week 4, a one-point, overtime home loss.
All-time, the Bulldogs lead this series 5-1. The Rams have never scored more than 14 points in any one of those.
LIBERTY DISTRICT
Fairfax (2-4, 1-2) at South Lakes (5-1, 4-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Fairfax lost to Stone Bridge, 28-20; South Lakes won at Madison, 21-14
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Fairfax (Div. 6) 12th; South Lakes (Div. 5) 3rd
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Fairfax 14th; South Lakes 3rd
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Fairfax 12th; South Lakes T2nd
Fairfax has won three of the last five games in this series, including a 38-12 win in 2004.
But few teams have as much momentum as South Lakes.
Junior Ja’Juan Jones has 87 carries for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns this year, including all three scores in the 21-14 road win over Madison last Saturday.
The Seahawks came into that game with the top-ranked Division 5 offense and faced the Warhawks’ top-ranked Division 5 defense. But it was the South Lakes defense that secured the win. Madison had three drives of 3 minutes, 56 seconds or longer that resulted in zero points, including a first-quarter drive that spanned 8:47 and ended in a punt.
When Fairfax strings together first downs against the now-No.2-ranked D5 defense, it has to be more efficient than that.
Last week, the Rebels gave the Bulldogs their closest district match in four years, falling 28-20, and was a blown-dead onside recovery from having a possession to tie. But in its final scoring drive before the overturned recovery, Fairfax burned 8:37 of clock.
The X-factor will be the match-up of Seahawk junior defensive backs Sean Price and Seth Hauter against Rebel senior Alex Young, the favored target of senior quarterback/defensive back/special-teamer Jack Bechert.
In the first two weeks of the season, Young had two total receiving for a whopping seven yards.
Then, he friended me on Facebook.
In four games since, Young has 20 catches for 364 yards and six touchdowns.
Coincidence? Yes.
Also, keep an eye on Fairfax senior linebacker Rami Ghanizadah and senior defensive lineman Jordan Yost. They are assigned the unenviable duty of slowing the No. 3 rushing offense in the Northern Region.
Jefferson (0-6, 0-3) at Langley (2-4, 1-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Jefferson lost at McLean, 38-0; Langley beat Marshall, 21-7
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Jefferson (Div. 5) 13th; Langley (Div. 6) T13th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Jefferson 15th; Langley 15th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Jefferson 15th; Langley 10th
Langley has won six of its last eight meetings with Jefferson. The Colonials only wins were in 2003 and 2004, the only two years it finished with a better record than the Saxons.
Jefferson is in desperate need of a spark. It has the lowest-scoring offense of any public school in the state — having been shut out in five-straight games — and give up the fourth-most points per game among Virginia AAA teams.
The Colonials, unfortunately, run into a Saxon team that has found its stride in recent weeks.
Langley beat two-loss Herndon, 28-13, two Saturdays ago and methodically surpassed Marshall, 21-7, last week. Both were road wins.
Senior tailback Abe Yi had 30 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns in those games. While they still have the lowest-scoring offense in the Division 6 Northern Region, the Saxons started their roll with sophomore standout Marcus Harvey in a walking boot.
The key to this game is Langley’s defensive front seven, headlined by senior defensive end Maurice Scott and senior linebacker Austin Pritchett. Jefferson will show a multitude of offensive sets to keep the defense off-balanced.
If Scott, Pritchett and company can get pressure on Colonial sophomore quarterback Kevin Karn, the Saxons will be in great position for their best defensive showing of the season.
Expect a big first half for either Langley junior receiver Troy Scharfen or senior receiver Artie McGonigal.
Madison (3-3, 2-2) at Stone Bridge (6-0, 3-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Madison lost to South Lakes, 21-14; Stone Bridge won at Fairfax, 28-20
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Madison (Div. 5) 7th; Stone Bridge (Div. 5) T1st
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Madison T10th; Stone Bridge T1st
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Madison 1st; Stone Bridge T2nd
Even with its home loss to South Lakes last week, Madison maintained its spot as the top-ranked defense in Division 5.
The Warhawks’ reward: The team that the Seahawks were tied with among Division 5 offenses last week.
Stone Bridge is now tied with Hayfield instead of South Lakes, and presents four formidable offensive threats. Those four players — junior tailback Marcus Harris, junior quarterback Kyle Gouveia, junior tailback Adrain Thomas and junior athlete Spenser Rositano — were the only four players to get offensive touches in the Bulldogs’ closest Liberty District win in four years.
Still, Stone Bridge improved to 31-0 all-time with its 28-20, road win over Fairfax.
Enter Madison, the team annually honored as princes to Liberty kingship, which has resided in Ashburn for as long as current players can remember.
But should the Bulldogs win, the Warhawks will suffer their third district loss. The last time Madison lost three Liberty games (2004) was also the last time it missed the playoffs.
And the Warhawks lost another key contributor, junior C.J. Keliher, to a broken wrist last week. Add him to the laundry list of players with clipped wings.
The key to this game is the Madison running game. The more it can shorten the game, the better opportunity it has to spring the upset.
Only twice this season, though, have the Warhawks cracked 4.0 yards per carry, one was last week. Madison was plagued by three long drives that ended without points, including an 8-minute, 47-second first-half march that ended in a punt.
Stone Bridge’s defense is tied for second among D5 teams in points allowed and has been remarkably efficient in replacing four graduated Division-I signees in its front seven.
Bulldog junior Rob Burns — who is hard to miss at 6-foot-7, wearing No. 9 — is the key plug of the Warhawks’ trap and super power rushes.
In the last two years, Stone Bridge has outscored Madison, 62-7. The Bulldogs are 6-0 all-time in this series.
Marshall (0-6, 0-3) at McLean (4-2, 2-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Marshall lost to Langley, 21-7; McLean beat Jefferson, 38-0
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Marshall (Div. 5) 12th; McLean (Div. 5) 5th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Marshall 14th; McLean 6th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Marshall 12th; McLean 5th
McLean senior Riley Beiro was held to a season-low 11 carries for 40 yards last week in a 38-0 home win over Jefferson. Still, he had a 33-yard reception and two rushing touchdowns.
Beiro has 835 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in five games.
Though the Statesmen have the same number of wins as the Colonials, their defense is much more formidable. Namely, senior defensive end Andrew Embree is a man.
The Highlanders would be well-served to direct their rushing attempts attempts away from Embree, a strategy other teams have tried with limited success.
Offensively, Marshall is getting closer to an effective formula.
With senior Justin Stalcup as the feature running back and senior Ryan Walter under center, the Statesmen are finally stringing drives together on a week-to-week basis.
But McLean’s defense ranks fifth in Division 5 and has a number of ball hawks that have caused trouble against every opponent. Those shout-outs go to junior defensive back Chase Mills, junior linebacker Thomas Overby, senior bantam Cameron Payne and junior defensive end Andrew Hunt.
That is in addition to senior defensive lineman Anthony Maestri and sophomore defensive end Scotty Lafoon, who each had defensive touchdowns in a 24-21 win over Madison.
The Statesmen are 27-16 all-time in this series, including the last four meetings. The Highlanders won six of seven before that recent streak.
NATIONAL DISTRICT
Falls Church (2-4, 1-2) at Edison (5-1, 3-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Falls Church beat Wakefield, 28-27 (OT); Edison beat Yorktown, 42-10
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Falls Church (Div. 5) 11th; Edison (Div. 5) 4th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Falls Church 9th; Edison 4th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Falls Church 11th; Edison 4th
This is a match-up of two potential first-team all-district running backs in Falls Church senior Marcus Hughes and Edison senior Angus Harper, two of the hottest tailbacks in the region over the last month.
Last week, in a one-point overtime win over Wakefield, Hughes carried 34 times for 191 yards and three touchdowns. On those three scores, he brought a total of eight Warriors in the end zone with him.
Hughes has 144 carries for 940 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, 741 yards and 10 touchdowns in the last four weeks.
Meanwhile, in Alexandria last week, Harper carried 21 times for 181 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-10 win over Yorktown.
He has 108 carries for 728 yards and nine touchdowns this year, 632 yards and all nine scores in the last four weeks.
Dating back to an overtime win for the Jaguars on Oct. 16, 1998, the Eagles have won 10 straight games in this series, combined score 380-97.
Drop the last number and you’ll have the average score.
Edison has never been held to less than 24 points in any one of those games, Falls Church has never scored more than 22.
The Eagles are looking for their 21st-straight win over a National District opponent. For the Jaguars to prevent Black Jack, Hughes needs a 200-yard night and senior quarterback Ajay Kashyap needs a healthy ankle.
More than that, Falls Church will look to senior defensive lineman Kyle Ruttkay to pressure Edison senior quarterback Levi Barber on option plays. If he can’t and Harper hits the corners on a pitch, Edison will cruise to a win.
Hayfield (4-2, 3-0) at Wakefield (0-6, 0-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Hayfield beat Mount Vernon, 48-13; Wakefield lost at Falls Church, 28-27 (OT)
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Hayfield (Div. 5) 6th; Wakefield (Div. 5) 14th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Hayfield T1st; Wakefield T10th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Hayfield 8th; Wakefield 13th
Welcome back, Rayshawn Rigans.
After being held to two rushes for 14 yards in a 49-14 road loss to Chantilly two weeks ago, the Hayfield senior rolled up 250 all-purpose yards on nine touches last week. That’s 27.8 yards per touch.
Rigans’ outburst propelled the Hawks to a 48-13 home win over the Majors and moved Hayfield into a tie with Edison for first place in the National District.
It also pushed them into a tie with Stone Bridge for highest-scoring offense in Division 5.
Wakefield is coming off its best opportunity for a win so far this season, but it fell by one at Falls Church in overtime on a blocked extra point.
Still, Warrior senior receiver Aaron Hunt erupted for five receptions, 148 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore Drew Powell continued his weekly improvement, as well.
But Wakefield gave up 238 rushing yards, 191 to Falls Church’s feature back. It had difficulty making tackles inside the 10-yard line, which ultimately cost them.
The Warriors need to have better run defense against Rigans, Hawk sophomore Steve Lynch (10 carries, 77 yards, two scores last week) and senior Anton McCallum.
Couple that with a repeat of Hunt’s performance and Wakefield has a shot.
Look for Hayfield sophomore outside linebacker Anthony Wilson to join McCallum in slowing down Powell through the air, while senior defensive end Marshall Evans will be called upon to slow Wakefield’s handful of capable backs.
The Hawks won the last two meetings in this series, both out-of-district in the last two years, 12-0 and 35-21.
Washington-Lee (3-3, 2-1) at Mount Vernon (0-6, 0-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Washington-Lee beat Stuart, 34-21; Mount Vernon lost at Hayfield, 48-13
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Washington-Lee (Div. 5) 8th; Mount Vernon (Div. 5) 15th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Washington-Lee 12th; Mount Vernon 13th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Washington-Lee 10th; Mount Vernon 14th
Washington-Lee coach Josh Shapiro is going to **** me for saying this.
Whatever. He’s short and I can take him.
After losing running back Charlie Fuller to graduation, the coaching job he and his staff have done in getting this team back into the playoff hunt for the second-straight season — after a 32-year absence preceding his arrival — rivals McLean’s single-season turnaround and warrants discussion for him to be Northern Region Coach of the Year.
The return of senior David Roddy from an offseason skateboarding accident has not hurt either. Roddy had the game-sealing, 75-yard run against Jefferson two weeks ago and the game-changing, 81-yard kickoff return touchdown to open the second half in a win over Stuart last week.
If the Generals hold serve, they’ll finish 5-5 and squeak into Division 5 playoffs.
The team they volley with this week, however, may object.
DigitalSports records go back to 1998. Mount Vernon has played Washington-Lee 12 times in that span.
The Majors have won 11 games — two last year — by an average of 23.0 points per game.
Last year, the Generals were worn down by the bigger, more imposing Major offensive line, losing at home in the regular season and on the road in the playoffs.
This year, there is less of a size disparity in the trenches, so the onus switches from interior linemen to outside linebackers to make a stop. Namely, for Washington-Lee, that’s junior Moussa Diallo on defense.
For Mount Vernon to get its first win of the year, it has to slow down junior running back Anthony Taylor, who rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns last week.
While the Majors’ playoff hopes may already be dashed, they can still salvage the season by spoiling the Generals’ efforts for a repeat performance. If the game goes like the first three quarters at Centreville two weeks ago, Mount Vernon has a serious chance.
Yorktown (2-4, 1-2) at Stuart (3-3, 2-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Yorktown lost at Edison, 42-10; Stuart lost at Washington-Lee, 34-21
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Yorktown (Div. 5) 9th; Stuart (Div. 5) 10th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Yorktown 8th; Stuart 7th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Yorktown 9th; Stuart 6th
Stuart ranks ahead of Yorktown in both points scored and points allowed per game.
Yet, their strength of schedule finds the Raiders trailing the Patriots in PowerPoints, even with a better win-loss record.
This match-up features two quarterbacks that get lost in the greater region picture, thanks in large part to the attention paid to Edison’s QB.
Yorktown senior Sam Nottingham and Stuart junior Jason Friday are dangerous, dual-threat options and both are pivotal to their respective offenses.
Neither team can afford a loss here. Recent history heavily favors the Patriots.
Since 1998, Yorktown is 11-0 against Stuart, holding a steep 468-121 scoring advantage in that time. In the last nine meetings, the Patriots have surpassed 48 points seven times.
The X-factor here is linebacker play.
Yorktown and Stuart each have capable running backs between the tackles, so Patriot senior Charles Banks and Raider senior Carl Wilson are focal points for defensive success.
PATRIOT DISTRICT
Annandale (3-3, 1-2) at West Springfield (3-3, 2-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Annandale lost to T.C. Williams, 31-7; West Springfield lost at South County, 28-16
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Annandale (Div. 6) 8th; West Springfield (Div. 6) 6th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Annandale 11th; West Springfield 6th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Annandale 7th; West Springfield 13th
West Springfield is the highest-rated 3-3 team in Division 6 and is part of a five-way tie for first in the Patriot District, even with its 28-16 loss at South County last week.
Annandale was expecting it to be a six-way tie for first, but was beaten handily at home by T.C. Williams, 31-7, last week. The Titans returned three interceptions for scores, two held up without penalty.
The Atoms look for a rebound against the Spartans, one of the more battle-tested teams in the Northern Region.
Three of West Springfield’s six opponents so far would host playoff games if the postseason started today. The Spartans are 0-3 in those games.
This game features two of the best wide receivers in the district, and two possible first-team all-region players: Annandale junior Melvin Robinson and West Springfield senior T.J. O’Connell.
Robinson was the only sophomore — one of three underclassmen — to make the first-team last year. He has 21 catches for 391 yards and four touchdowns this season.
O’Connell has 31 grabs for 572 yards and three scores. He has 230 yards in the last two weeks.
The wet conditions might jeopardize that highly anticipated match-up. Conversely, the rain also may cause unsure footing for defensive backs and allow the two studs to run rampant.
No matter what happens, expect fireworks. In the last four years, the teams combine for 77.8 points per game in this series.
Annandale leads the all-time series, 18-10. West Springfield, though, has won seven of the last 10 meetings.
Lee (5-1, 2-1) at West Potomac (1-5, 0-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: Lee lost at Lake Braddock, 28-21; West Potomac lost at Woodson, 42-7
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Lee (Div. 5) T1st; West Potomac (Div. 6) 15th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Lee 5th; West Potomac 13th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Lee 7th; West Potomac 15th
There are two ways to look at Lee’s Week 7 game at West Potomac:
1)
It has its first chance to rebound after a loss this season to the team
that yields more points per game than any other in Division 6,
2)
The most significant factor in its lost at Lake Braddock last week, its
size, will only be a greater detriment against this bruising oppoent.
Lancer senior Idreis Augustus
was held to a season-low 71 yards on 16 carries against the Bruins, but
only registered two carries in the final 18 minutes after suffering a
quad injury. Still, backfield mate, senior Jazmier Williams
filled in nicely, with 15 carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns, as
well as the game-tying two-point conversion late in the third quarter.
Lee senior wide receiver Aaron Jackson
had his second long touchdown reception in as many weeks and had a
74-yarder called back for a penalty. A deep threat only makes the most
explosive defense in Division 5 all the more dangerous.
West Potomac, meanwhile, continues to be crippled by injury as it had to turn to junior varsity quarterback Martin Cade in its 42-7 road loss to Woodson last week.
Cade
proved ready for the challenge, though, completing 4 of his 9
second-half passes for 46 yards, the Wolverines’ only touchdown and an
interception. He added nine rushing yards despite being sacked three
times.
The game was actually decided in the second quarter when the Cavaliers rung up 28 unanswered points.
West
Potomac brought seven men on almost every snap. Woodson adjusted by
sending its slot receivers on bubble screens and its X- and Z-receivers
on sluggo routes to counterattack the man coverage. Cavalier senior
quarterback Connor Reilly went 7-for-9 passing for 125 yards and three touchdowns in that period.
If
the Wolverines pack the box to take away the option and send casino
blitzes on every down, expect the Lancers to counteract with Jackson
and senior receiver Myquan Johnson on those slant-and-go routes. Also, if Augustus plays, watch for him to line up in the slot for bubble screens.
It
will allow him to get the ball in space — never a good thing for
defenses — and get him away from West Potomac’s colossal defensive
line.
Wolverine senior linebacker Shakil White will need to have a huge game for West Potomac to hand Lee its second-straight loss.
The Wolverines own a four-game winning streak in this series.
South County (5-1, 2-1) at Lake Braddock (4-2, 2-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last Week: South County beat West Springfield, 28-16; Lake Braddock beat Lee, 28-21
Playoff Seeding (SOS): South County (Div. 6) 2nd; Lake Braddock (Div. 6) 4th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): South County 8th; Lake Braddock 5th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): South County 1st; Lake Braddock 9th
No Division 6 match-up this week has as many playoff implications as the game between No. 2-seed South County and No. 4-seed Lake Braddock.
The Stallions enter with the top-ranked scoring defense in either Division 5 or Division 6 and held the Spartans without a touchdown until the 1-minute, 25-second mark in the fourth quarter last week.
The Bruins may be the only team in the district — if not the region — with a more impressive win. They derailed the Blue Line and handed the Lancers their first loss, 28-21, in Burke.
Last year, South County earned its first all-time win against Lake Braddock, 32-27, in Lorton. Stallion running back Eric Dorsey ran for two scores, caught a touchdown and even threw for touchdown in the home win over the Bruins.
This year, all eyes will be on South County senior halfback David Jordan, who rushed 19 times for 90 yards and three scores in the win over West Springfield last weekend. After only gaining 103 total yards in the Stallions’ first three games, he has 303 yards and six touchdowns in the last three.
South County is 5-0 this season when it gains more than 4.00 yards per carry.
Lake Braddock, though, offers arguably the most formidable front four in the region with senior Keli Doe in the middle and junior Emmanuel Adetunji coming around the end.
Adetunji had two sacks, two tackles for loss and two pass deflections in last week’s win over the Lancers.
Lake Braddock held both Robinson and Lee, the top two rushing attacks in the region, to their lowest yardage totals of the season. Those games came after yielding 60 total yards to Westfield and T.C. Williams.
The Bruins and Stallions are part of a five-way tie for first place in the Patriot District.
With a win, South County equals its all-time best single-season win total: 6. It has reached that in each of the last three seasons.
W.T. Woodson (5-1, 2-1) at T.C. Williams (3-3, 1-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Last Week: Woodson beat West Potomac, 42-7; T.C. Williams won at Annandale, 31-7
Playoff Seeding (SOS): Woodson (Div. 6) 3rd; T.C. Williams (Div. 6) T9th
Offensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Woodson 4th; T.C. Williams 9th
Defensive Ranks (ppg/Div): Woodson 5th; T.C. Williams 3rd
Alexandria will play host to two of the more underrated defenses in Division 6 Saturday afternoon.
The Cavaliers ranked fifth in points per game allowed, the Titans sit third.
Last week at Annandale, T.C. Williams returned two interceptions for scores and had a third called for a penalty away from the play. The Titans looked as good as they have all year and caught a talented Atom team off-guard.
The Cavs won’t be caught by surprise.
This is the fastest secondary Woodson has seen, but senior Connor Reilly is staking his claim as a first-team all-region quarterback, moving further ahead of the pack every week. After posting a season-best 9.80 yards per pass attempt against Westfield two weeks ago, he put up 10.04 against West Potomac last week.
That includes a 7-for-9, 125-yard, three-touchdown second quarter.
Facing seven-man pressure, Reilly exploited the Wolverine man coverage with bubble screens for quick releases and sluggo routes when he had more time. Without safety help, senior Brendan Breslin, Colin Dempsey and Josh Hogan each caught touchdowns.
The Cavaliers were aided in that 28-point quarter by two onside kick recoveries.
This game will be decided when T.C. Williams has the ball. It has relied on its defense in big games all year to keep things close until the offense can provide timely scoring.
The Titans moved the ball late against the Bruins, but Lake Braddock’s defense had already provided too many points of its own for T.C. to overcome.
In wins against Oakton and Annandale, fourth-quarter defensive touchdowns proved the difference.
Woodson has to put the game away when it has the chance. T.C. senior scatback Cortez Taylor, junior receiver Bennie Jenkins and senior Aziz Coker are simply too dangerous to have within a score in the fourth quarter.
Offensive conservatism and a heavy dose of senior running back James Johnson will pay dividends for the Cavaliers. If the turnovers are equal, Woodson should win.
But against T.C. Williams, an even turnover day is far from assured.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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