Friday’s high school football preview capsules

From staff reports
Published: September 18, 2008

Non-district

Altavista at Randolph-Henry

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Altavista 2-1, Randolph-Henry 1-2.

LAST WEEK: Altavista lost to Cumberland 18-9, Randolph-Henry beat Bluestone 33-7.

LAST SEASON: Altavista won 46-18.

FACTS: The Colonels gave up a go-ahead 80-yard kickoff return to open the second half against Cumberland after holding the Dukes to 20 yards of total offense in the first half. Randolph-Henry, which scored just six points in its first two games, put 33 on the board against Bluestone a week after the Barons were beaten by Appomattox 52-0.

Appomattox at Central Lunenburg

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Appomattox 2-0, Central Lunenburg 0-3.

LAST WEEK: Appomattox did not play; Central Lunenburg lost to Nottoway 22-0.

LAST SEASON: Appomattox beat Central Lunenburg 46-6.

FACTS: The Raiders look to keep their new triple-option attack rolling on the road after scoring 78 points in their first two games, led by QB Kenny Scott (251 yards, six TDs rushing) and Joe Reed (20 carries, 247 yards).

E.C. Glass at Amherst

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: E.C. Glass 1-2, Amherst 2-1

LAST WEEK: Glass lost to Jefferson Forest 20-0, Amherst beat GW-Danville 34-13.

LAST SEASON: Amherst beat E.C. Glass 45-0.

FACTS: After winning by 21-14 in 2004 and 21-7 in 2005, Amherst has dominated this James River rivalry the past two seasons en route to winning Group AA, Division 4, state championships. The Lancers’ only loss this season was by a 24-21 count to Brookville. They have dominated Group AAA opponents in recent seasons, winning 11 of the past 12 dating back to 2004. The Hilltoppers are still seeking their first Banks of the James Bowl victory, with the Bateau Plaque awarded to the winner and offensive and defensive MVPs also named after the game.

Heritage at Halifax

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Heritage 2-2; Halifax 1-2

LAST WEEK: Heritage lost to William Fleming 40-6; Halifax lost to Person (N.C.) 23-15.

LAST YEAR: Heritage beat Halifax 42-29.

FACTS: The Pioneers need to get back on their feet after being blasted by the Colonels last week and dropping a heart-breaker to E.C. Glass 43-36 in overtime two weeks ago. They need to pick up a win before entering the meat of the Seminole District schedule next week and the Comets are certainly beatable. Their only win this season was a 21-20 victory over Rustburg.

LCA at Covenant

KICKOFF: 4:30 p.m.

RECORDS: LCA 3-0; Covenant 2-1

LAST WEEK: LCA beat Valley Forge Military 40-0; Covenant beat Kettle Run 70-0.

LAST YEAR: LCA beat Covenant 34-12.

FACTS: The Bulldogs’ potent air attack was at it again last week in their destruction of Valley Forge Military. QB Mike Rocco completed 14 of his 18 pass attempts for 268 yards and six TDs. His favorite target is senior wide receiver Patrick Kelly, who caught seven passes for 137 yards and scored five touchdowns. The Eagles are led by running back Luke Heinsohn and multi-purpose threat Andy Colberg, who scored four times last week including interception and punt returns.

Magna Vista at Gretna

KICKOFF: 7 p.m.

RECORDS: Magna Vista 0-4; Gretna 2-0.

LAST WEEK: Magna Vista lost to William Campbell 33-0; Gretna defeated Tunstall 39-14.

LAST YEAR: Gretna beat Magna Vista 46-0.

FACTS: Gretna racked up 372 rushing yards against Tunstall, including 151 yards and two touchdowns by Jayme Barksdale and 147 yards and two more scores by Andre Dickerson. The Hawks’ defense limited the Trojans to just 85 yards of total offense. Magna Vista has been outscored 142-14 this season.

Martinsville at Liberty

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Martinsville 1-3, Liberty 2-1.

LAST WEEK: Martinsville lost to McMichael (N.C.) 17-16; Liberty lost to Blacksburg 28-13.

LAST SEASON: Liberty beat Martinsville 21-10.

FACTS: After winning its first two games by a 67-7 margin, the Minutemen met their match at Blacksburg, which scored its first three TDs on passes from Trey Gresh before Liberty countered on a 29-yard pass from converted receiver Anthony Reynolds to Boo Payne. Reynolds, who succeeded Kordero Thompson and Tyler Bowyer at QB in the Minutemen’s new spread offense last week, also rushed for a touchdown. Two of Martinsville’s three losses were to teams from North Carolina with a third against Group A, Division 2 state champion Gretna, after leading in the first half.

Pulaski County at Jefferson Forest

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Pulaski County 3-0; Jefferson Forest 3-0.

LAST WEEK: Pulaski County beat Franklin County 40-14; Jefferson Forest beat E.C. Glass 20-0.

LAST YEAR: Pulaski County beat Jefferson Forest 24-17.

FACTS: The Cougars and Cavaliers are pretty similar teams. Both play a physical brand of defense and want to run the ball down their opponent’s throat. Pulaski’s senior running back Nubian Peak torched Jefferson Forest last year, with 242 total yards of total offense. The Virginia Tech commit rushed for 173 yards on 14 carries and had touchdown runs of 58 and 75 yards, also catching a 58-yard TD pass. He had 188 yards rushing and three TDs and caught a 22-yard scoring pass against the Eagles last week. The Cavaliers counter with senior running back Desmond Goode. Goode has rushed 64 times for 506 yards and seven TDs while splitting carries with Rashad Hall.

Rustburg at Hidden Valley

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Rustburg 0-3, Hidden Valley 1-2.

LAST WEEK: Rustburg did not play; Hidden Valley lost to Bassett 10-7.

LAST SEASON: Hidden Valley beat Rustburg 21-6.

FACTS: After nearly knocking off Heritage and Halifax, Rustburg struggled from the start in its 42-22 loss to Martinsville two weeks ago before getting two fourth-quarter touchdowns by QB Tevin Cobbs (17-161) and RB Javon Campbell (15-135). The Titans have lost two tight ones, including a 21-20 season-opening setback to William Byrd, with its only win over Lord Botetourt, 36-30. They are led by three seniors — QB Alan Castro, WR Matt Aiken and RB David Turner.

VES at North Cross

KICKOFF: 4:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Virginia Episcopal School 2-1, North Cross 2-1.

LAST WEEK: VES lost to Woodberry Forest 55-7, North Cross beat Carlisle 44-0.

LAST SEASON: VES beat North Cross 49-20.

FACTS: The Bishops were plagued by turnovers in their first defeat, throwing two interceptions and losing all three of their fumbles, one of which was returned 58 yards for the final score. North Cross has beaten its past two opponents by the same 44-0 count, though Carlisle is a first-year program and Massanutten Military, its previous victim, is now 0-3 after losing to Model School for the Deaf in Washington, D.C., 52-8.

William Byrd at Brookville

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: William Byrd 2-1, Brookville 4-0.

LAST WEEK: William Byrd lost to Salem 24-21, Brookville beat Lord Botetourt 36-0.

LAST SEASON: William Byrd beat Brookville 56-35.

FACTS: The Bees look to exact a measure of revenge from their three-touchdown loss at Byrd last fall. Brookville, the No. 1-ranked Group AA team in the state in The Associated Press’ first poll, has won 11 of 12 games since then, with its only loss to Richlands in the Group AA, Division 3, state semifinals. Stacey Houston has rushed for close to 300 yards and four touchdowns in the Bees’ last two games after dealing with a dislocated shoulder the first two weeks.

William Campbell at Cumberland

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: William Campbell 2-1, Cumberland 3-0.

LAST WEEK: William Campbell beat Magna Vista 33-0, Cumberland beat Altavista 18-9.

LAST SEASON: William Campbell beat Cumberland 27-6.

FACTS: The Generals got three TDs against Magna Vista from Stanley Peerman, who gained 52 yards on only three carries including a 53-yard run and a 73-yard game-opening kickoff return. They will get a bit of a better test tonight at Cumberland, which got three touchdowns from Walton, including an 80-yard kickoff return to start the second half.

Wilson Memorial at Nelson County

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Wilson Memorial 0-2; Nelson County 1-2.

LAST WEEK: Wilson Memorial lost to Fort Defiance 14-13; Nelson County lost to Riverheads 49-27.

LAST YEAR: Wilson Memorial beat Nelson County 20-2.

FACTS: Nelson County fell behind early last week as Riverheads rolled to 419 yards of total offense. But, the Governors found some success after switching to their spread offense. Nelson’s Mark Wells threw for two touchdown passes and ran for another score. Wilson led 13-0, but gave up a pair of second quarter touchdowns to Fort Defiance and couldn’t get back on track. Running back Richard Andrews scored both of the Hornets’ touchdowns.