In Friday's first-round action, four of the six qualifying Shenandoah District teams survived and advanced to this week's regional semi-finals. As it turns out, all four of them are Augusta County teams. But things will get tougher this week as three of those four have to hit the road, with only one getting to play at home. Ironically that team may have the toughest game of all, but we will see how it all turns out. Will our local teams go 4-0 and stay alive in all three divisions? Will they go 0-4 and bring the season to a screeching halt for everyone? Or will it be somewhere in between those extremes?
We will soon find out. At this stage it appears that all games are Friday night 7:00 kickoffs, but stay in touch with your particular school on that detail. Also there is some mention of rain in the forecast but let's hope for the best in that regard. OK, here is that four-game slate of action.......
REGION 1-B: NUMBER FIVE SEED BUFFALO GAP AT NUMBER ONE SEED ALTAVISTA: I believe this one will be a grudge match of sorts. The last time the Bison visited A'town, and I guess this was just last year, there was some controversy over a late-game fumble. I don't remember the details but hopefully our Bison fan on here can fill us in. Regardless, the Bison have been on a roll this season and should be able to give the Colonels a battle. The biggest challenge will be to stop that little number 10, who almost single-handedly beat Riverheads once he got warmed up. But of course the Bison have their own big-time weapon in Isaac Goff. I like the Gap's chances in this one, but for an official prediction, I have to go with Altavista in a close one.
REGION 1-B; NUMBER THREE SEED RIVERHEADS AT NUMBER TWO SEED SUSSEX CENTRAL: Over the years the Big Red has made five of these long journeys "back east" during playoff time. They have faced five different teams and have come back home victorious each time. Included in that run was a 2006 win at Sussex on the way to the Gladiators' second state championship. In addition, RHS probably has 15 or more home wins over teams from that general area of the state. They are 4-0 all-time against Sussex, and even 6-0 against powerhouse Essex. Granted, this year's Riverheads team is not as dominant as teams in the past have been, and Sussex does have a 10-1 record now. so if the Tigers are going to get their first-ever win over the Big Red, this might be the year they can do it. But all those RHS wins seem to prove that the caliber of play out here in the valley is just tougher than it is down there, so I have to go with the Big Red to keep that streak alive.
AND BEYOND THOSE TWO GAMES............Over Thanksgiving weekend, Friday's two winners will face each other for the Region 1-B title. Mathematically, we have these four possibilities........A) Sussex will travel to Altavista; B) Riverheads will travel to Altavista; C) Buffalo Gap will travel to Sussex; or D) Buffalo Gap will travel to Riverheads. Needless to say, folks here in the valley will be pulling long and hard for D!
REGION 2-B; NUMBER THREE SEED STUARTS DRAFT AT NUMBER TWO SEED BUCKINGHAM: This is the game that I have the least amount of information to go on and other folks might be in the same boat. That is because the Knights don't get much publicity up here and they had a bye last week, so we don't have a playoff game to use as a reference point. It seems to stick in my mind that these two may have played just last year, so maybe our buddy Gunz can help us with that. We will all be pulling for the Cougars, but B'ham may have the advantage because of being better rested and having the chance to scout SD in person. I have a travel tip to suggest to Cougar fans....Most people would likely plan to go 64 to Charlottesville and then south on Rt. 20. But if you want a new adventure and you don't mind a winding country road, consider going to Lovingston, and taking Rt. 56 diagonally to B'ham. It is curvy but not mountainous like 56 is here closer to home. From Lovingston to the football field is around 30 miles. So just a thought...trust your GPS or your own judgment of course.
REGION 3-C: NUMBER SIX SEED LCA AT NUMBER TWO SEED WILSON MEMORIAL: These two teams each won by the skin of their teeth Friday and this one promises to be a classic. So if you are hanging around the valley and the weather is cooperative, consider taking this one in. From what I heard and read, LCA turned the ball over frequently and was hit with a barrage of penalties but somehow still escaped a very good Broadway team. Meanwhile, Wilson thought they had seen the last of superstars named Jordan, but visiting Fluvanna brought one of them own who shocked the Hornets with a pair of 90-yard first quarter kickoff returns, and then came alive again in the fourth quarter to score twice more to cut a 35-14 Wilson lead down to 35-29. Wilson's Keyvon Jones then saved the day with his fifth touchdown of the game. So where does that leave us for this one? If LCA makes anywhere near that many mistakes in this game, Wilson is good enough to make them pay. But my gut tells me that LCA is still the real deal and determined to get a re-match with Heritage and eventually capture that third straight state title. Pulling for Wilson, as I am all four of our county teams, but I think LCA will sharpen up its focus and be able to leave Fishersville with a win.
We will soon find out. At this stage it appears that all games are Friday night 7:00 kickoffs, but stay in touch with your particular school on that detail. Also there is some mention of rain in the forecast but let's hope for the best in that regard. OK, here is that four-game slate of action.......
REGION 1-B: NUMBER FIVE SEED BUFFALO GAP AT NUMBER ONE SEED ALTAVISTA: I believe this one will be a grudge match of sorts. The last time the Bison visited A'town, and I guess this was just last year, there was some controversy over a late-game fumble. I don't remember the details but hopefully our Bison fan on here can fill us in. Regardless, the Bison have been on a roll this season and should be able to give the Colonels a battle. The biggest challenge will be to stop that little number 10, who almost single-handedly beat Riverheads once he got warmed up. But of course the Bison have their own big-time weapon in Isaac Goff. I like the Gap's chances in this one, but for an official prediction, I have to go with Altavista in a close one.
REGION 1-B; NUMBER THREE SEED RIVERHEADS AT NUMBER TWO SEED SUSSEX CENTRAL: Over the years the Big Red has made five of these long journeys "back east" during playoff time. They have faced five different teams and have come back home victorious each time. Included in that run was a 2006 win at Sussex on the way to the Gladiators' second state championship. In addition, RHS probably has 15 or more home wins over teams from that general area of the state. They are 4-0 all-time against Sussex, and even 6-0 against powerhouse Essex. Granted, this year's Riverheads team is not as dominant as teams in the past have been, and Sussex does have a 10-1 record now. so if the Tigers are going to get their first-ever win over the Big Red, this might be the year they can do it. But all those RHS wins seem to prove that the caliber of play out here in the valley is just tougher than it is down there, so I have to go with the Big Red to keep that streak alive.
AND BEYOND THOSE TWO GAMES............Over Thanksgiving weekend, Friday's two winners will face each other for the Region 1-B title. Mathematically, we have these four possibilities........A) Sussex will travel to Altavista; B) Riverheads will travel to Altavista; C) Buffalo Gap will travel to Sussex; or D) Buffalo Gap will travel to Riverheads. Needless to say, folks here in the valley will be pulling long and hard for D!
REGION 2-B; NUMBER THREE SEED STUARTS DRAFT AT NUMBER TWO SEED BUCKINGHAM: This is the game that I have the least amount of information to go on and other folks might be in the same boat. That is because the Knights don't get much publicity up here and they had a bye last week, so we don't have a playoff game to use as a reference point. It seems to stick in my mind that these two may have played just last year, so maybe our buddy Gunz can help us with that. We will all be pulling for the Cougars, but B'ham may have the advantage because of being better rested and having the chance to scout SD in person. I have a travel tip to suggest to Cougar fans....Most people would likely plan to go 64 to Charlottesville and then south on Rt. 20. But if you want a new adventure and you don't mind a winding country road, consider going to Lovingston, and taking Rt. 56 diagonally to B'ham. It is curvy but not mountainous like 56 is here closer to home. From Lovingston to the football field is around 30 miles. So just a thought...trust your GPS or your own judgment of course.
REGION 3-C: NUMBER SIX SEED LCA AT NUMBER TWO SEED WILSON MEMORIAL: These two teams each won by the skin of their teeth Friday and this one promises to be a classic. So if you are hanging around the valley and the weather is cooperative, consider taking this one in. From what I heard and read, LCA turned the ball over frequently and was hit with a barrage of penalties but somehow still escaped a very good Broadway team. Meanwhile, Wilson thought they had seen the last of superstars named Jordan, but visiting Fluvanna brought one of them own who shocked the Hornets with a pair of 90-yard first quarter kickoff returns, and then came alive again in the fourth quarter to score twice more to cut a 35-14 Wilson lead down to 35-29. Wilson's Keyvon Jones then saved the day with his fifth touchdown of the game. So where does that leave us for this one? If LCA makes anywhere near that many mistakes in this game, Wilson is good enough to make them pay. But my gut tells me that LCA is still the real deal and determined to get a re-match with Heritage and eventually capture that third straight state title. Pulling for Wilson, as I am all four of our county teams, but I think LCA will sharpen up its focus and be able to leave Fishersville with a win.
