Monacan (9-1) vs. Dinwiddie (7-3)
- Thread starter DEVILSLB99
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Also, some might not know, Monacan head coach Jim Henderson, was a long time assistant coach at Dinwiddie. Coach Henderson is a class act, an excellent coach, and remains a respected friend of all that know him in Dinwiddie. Coach Mills is included in most people's discussion of the best active coaches in the last decade.
This will be a chess match. It will come down to mistakes, and simply execution of fundamental football.
Monacan wants to prove that last year was not a fluke. And hopes to have a chance to soften the hurt still lingering from last year's, last second loss to LT. They also feature one of the best QB's in the Richmond area, plus a running back that has been shredding defenses.
Dinwiddie has been playing their best ball of the year the last few weeks. This includes the aforementioned win last week over a very good, big physical Meadowbrook team.
Monacan beat Dinwiddie in the first game of the year last year. That loss took some of the shine off of being the reining 4a state champion. A little revenge Might be extra motivation.
8 of the 10 teams Dinwiddie played this year are in the playoffs, which includes every team in the Central District except 5a Prince George. The other opponent being Caroline. Dinwiddie had a commanding victory over Hopewell, which is arguably one of the hottest teams in all of 3a.
This game could easily be decided in overtime. As Danville Sports Head said, this could be the best first round matchup in the entire state.
I'm not sure if it is going to be the best game in the state, but it should be interesting.
Both teams are well coached and know each other well (coached together). The offenses are basically an exact replica of the other, so there will be no real suprises.
Running backs: Monacan is led by Hamlin who gets yards in big chunks. Dinwiddie rushing attack consist of three tailbacks (Lyons, Sturdivant an Cooper). Both Fludd and Witt can run the read option, but neither do so consistently. Monacans o-line gives them the slight edge.
Quarterbacks: Fludd is more athletic and has a strong arm. He has returned from an ankle injury and is fairly accurate. Dinwiddie qb Witt has gotten better each game. He generally makes sound decisions and is very accurate. Even
Receivers: Monacan has good size and speed. Bruce, Speight and Snellings (may have missed one Bruce I think) are a formidable group. Dinwiddie is lead by Pope who has great hands and strength. Freeland and Wilson are deep threats. Slight edge to Dinwiddie.
Defense: Monacan is the more physical of the two defenses. Both teams have playmakers in the secondary. Monacan gives up very few points and although Dinwiddie tackling has improved the edge goes to Monacan.
Special Teams: Monacan has a sound kicking game and return specialist. Dinwiddie rarely gets an opportunity to return kicks, but when they do watch out. They have returned four kicks for td's. Dinwiddie punt block team in unreal as they have created many hurries and have blocked eight punts. Kicking game is very good with Staton and Hansen. Dinwiddie takes this one.
Overall: This could be a fun or boring game to watch. With the familiarity who knows. Just like last season defense and turnovers may decide this one.
Monacan made its first ever playoff appearance last year and lost in the South finals to Lake Taylor. Dinwiddie has played in 9 straight playoffs (6 in 5a) and has a 8-4 playoff record during that time. Dinwiddie leads the series between the two schools 4-1 with Monacan winning last year 18-13.
This is a coin toss game, but I will be a tad bias and say special teams wins it for Dinwiddie 24-21.
Both teams are well coached and know each other well (coached together). The offenses are basically an exact replica of the other, so there will be no real suprises.
Running backs: Monacan is led by Hamlin who gets yards in big chunks. Dinwiddie rushing attack consist of three tailbacks (Lyons, Sturdivant an Cooper). Both Fludd and Witt can run the read option, but neither do so consistently. Monacans o-line gives them the slight edge.
Quarterbacks: Fludd is more athletic and has a strong arm. He has returned from an ankle injury and is fairly accurate. Dinwiddie qb Witt has gotten better each game. He generally makes sound decisions and is very accurate. Even
Receivers: Monacan has good size and speed. Bruce, Speight and Snellings (may have missed one Bruce I think) are a formidable group. Dinwiddie is lead by Pope who has great hands and strength. Freeland and Wilson are deep threats. Slight edge to Dinwiddie.
Defense: Monacan is the more physical of the two defenses. Both teams have playmakers in the secondary. Monacan gives up very few points and although Dinwiddie tackling has improved the edge goes to Monacan.
Special Teams: Monacan has a sound kicking game and return specialist. Dinwiddie rarely gets an opportunity to return kicks, but when they do watch out. They have returned four kicks for td's. Dinwiddie punt block team in unreal as they have created many hurries and have blocked eight punts. Kicking game is very good with Staton and Hansen. Dinwiddie takes this one.
Overall: This could be a fun or boring game to watch. With the familiarity who knows. Just like last season defense and turnovers may decide this one.
Monacan made its first ever playoff appearance last year and lost in the South finals to Lake Taylor. Dinwiddie has played in 9 straight playoffs (6 in 5a) and has a 8-4 playoff record during that time. Dinwiddie leads the series between the two schools 4-1 with Monacan winning last year 18-13.
This is a coin toss game, but I will be a tad bias and say special teams wins it for Dinwiddie 24-21.
Both coaches will have there teams ready. I'm sure coach Mills will have a few different wrinkles up his sleeve for Monacan, learning from last year. A lot of the players remember last year plus QB Witt has grown up a lot since then, don't forget his first varsity start was game 1 last year against Monacan, and he got that Monday the week of the game. Dinwiddie's offense is clicking right now, 5 different players scored Friday and multiple players scored at Petersburg.
Dinwiddie's defense has played great the last 4 games, still some issues at corner as they are getting beat deep at times. Key to this game for Dinwiddie is to stop the run and contain Monacan QB Fludd.
As DinwiddieProud said 8 of Dinwiddie's 10 opponents are in the playoffs. Monacan's 10 opponents 8 of them combined only have a total of 18 wins, 7 of the 8 have 3 wins or less and 2 of the 7 are winless. Dinwiddie's schedule should have them tested and ready for these playoffs.
Dinwiddie's defense has played great the last 4 games, still some issues at corner as they are getting beat deep at times. Key to this game for Dinwiddie is to stop the run and contain Monacan QB Fludd.
As DinwiddieProud said 8 of Dinwiddie's 10 opponents are in the playoffs. Monacan's 10 opponents 8 of them combined only have a total of 18 wins, 7 of the 8 have 3 wins or less and 2 of the 7 are winless. Dinwiddie's schedule should have them tested and ready for these playoffs.
Man, I'm looking for everything you guys can offer to give me incouragement. I haven't been this nervous since Sherando scored first in 2013.
Like everyone said, these teams know each other well and it will be interesting to see what wrinkles are thrown in. I would like to see how Monacan performs after the bye, and how Dinwiddie performs. Which Generals will show up? To me the MBK beatdown was impressive.
Absolutely. He ain't going anywhere if us supporters have anything to do about it! We might have to hold his lovely wife and family hostage, but we ain't letting him get away from us.
Because he is a good algebra teacher, and just a damn good human being. And rumor control says he knows just a little about football!
Coach Mills graduated from Chilhowie High school back in the day. I filmed all the football games for Chilhowie when he was there. I got to know his family; father Bill and his sister, Lori. His mother passed away. " Billy " was one hexx of a linebacker in high school. I remember some of the hits he layed on some RBs. He was just a darn good person from a darn good family in Chilhowie.I see his sister from time to time around town, but I just forget to ask about Coach Mills. His father is a big Kentucky fan, and we used to go to UK games. Please tell Coach Mills I was asking about him. Hey guys, Best of luck in the playoffs!
No need to be nervous DP. The pressure is not on us this year. Monacan have taken the path that we have been on before. They had a good run in the previous season and now people expect them to go a step further this year. So we are going let them have all the pressure this time.
I have been very pleased with our defensive personnel changes. We are going as far as our defense will allow us too. We have an offense that can put up 28 to 35 pts on a regular but it the defense gives up that 28 to 35 mark I guess we are going to see some 5a games starting next week.
I have been very pleased with our defensive personnel changes. We are going as far as our defense will allow us too. We have an offense that can put up 28 to 35 pts on a regular but it the defense gives up that 28 to 35 mark I guess we are going to see some 5a games starting next week.
I hadn't looked at it like that. The pressure thing. But you make a good point.
As expected, we looked better against CH and Petersburg, but the way the guys took it to Meadowbrook was super encouraging. Other that getting the right guys playing on defense, and playing their positions with less mistakes, the thing I like the best is the solid tackling I've seen the last three weeks. Just lights out when open field or one on one. Earlier in the year I think the guys missed a tackle like that for everyone they made.
Another thing is the hits on the receivers after the catch. There is no question that most receivers were more worried about getting slammed than they were about catching the ball.
After Matoaca and Thomas Dale, I figured we could just out score weak or average teams, but would simply get beat by anyone slightly better than average. Now I believe we stand a fighters chance to win every game. I don't think we have to blah mistake free ball to get the win at Monacan, but the errors better e few and far between. And we just HAVE to score when we get in the red zone. That is critical. What was it, five times inside the 20 at Thomas Dale and zero points to show for it. You can't win many games time that, especially against playoff caliber teams.
7:30 "Kickoff" I'm told. All have the same information?