To me as a player and a coach there is no better feeling than practicing on Thanksgiving. Just something about football and Thanksgiving that go together. The predictions below are my opinion only. I very well could get all of them right or wrong. Lol. Good luck to all 8 teams remaining as each team is very good and deserving of being here.
#1A East
#1 Sussex vs. #5 Altavista
The Sussex defense was on point last Friday as their starters didn't allow Luray to score while the offense was able to score at will. The Colonels meanwhile won 42-10 over Lunenburg in a game many thought would be closer. One thing the Colonels can't afford to have this week is the 130 yards of penalties they had last week. The defense though played very well in limiting Lunenburg to 143 total yards. Now they have to get ready for the veer of Sussex that when it's hitting on all cylinders is tough to stop. The Sussex defense themselves will be challenged by the dual threat of Jake Adams at quarterback along with the dangerous Mateo Maulbeck at wide receiver and Jonathan Montague at running back.
Prediction: Defense does indeed win championships and I believe Sussex has a championship defense but the offense hasn't always put up big numbers against quality opponents. The Altavista defense while not as good as Sussex is still very good. The Altavista offense though I think is better than the Sussex offense and will do just enough to win. This isn't the Altavista team of years past but a good team nonetheless.
Altavista 18
Sussex 12
#1 Riverheads vs #3 Colonial Beach
The Gladiators steamrolled Essex on Friday behind a swarming defense and a methodical offense. Now they get to play Essex district mate Colonial Beach. The Drifters come in as winners of 8 in a row and while not big are a scrappy bunch out of their single wing offense. They will need Lamar Lucas to come up big but he can't do it by himself. Alonzo Turner will have to help him out with his legs as well as his arm.
Prediction: While Riverheads is used to these type of games it's been a long time since the Drifters have had a game of this magnitude. Colonial Beach is full of heart and won't back down but in the end the powerful Gladiator offense behind Schaeffer will wear them down
Riverheads 28
Colonial Beach 12
1A West:
#1 Galax vs #4 Fort Chiswell
The Maroon Tide are the higher seed but the Pioneers were the victors 33-21 when they played in the regular season. Some are predicting another Pioneer upset but to me if it happened it'd only be an upset based on seeding. The Pioneers will look to get the ball in Colby Riders hands anyway possible and control the clock in the process. You can bet Galax will get the ball into the hands of Dougie Peoples as much as possible but don't forget about Blake Brown either.
Prediction:
They always say it is hard to beat a good team twice in the same season. That becomes even tougher when that team is the defending state champs. Galax may have overlooked FC the first time but Coach Mark Dixon will make sure it won't happen again.
Galax 35
FC 7
#2 George Wythe vs. #6 Parry McCluer
What a great game this is shaping up to be. Both teams have passionate fan bases as judged by just the posters on here. But the game itself will be won on the field and not on a message board. GW will try and spread the wealth behind Moss, Owens, Horton among others in the backfield but it could be the play of quarterback Deacon Beamer that could be the difference. He will have to make some plays early to back the Blues up and open up the run game. It is no secret what PM wants to do. Behind Nelson, Cook and Dawson they want to pound the ball down the Maroons throat. Nelson needs around 200 yards to become the all time VHSL leader in rushing yards but a win would obviously be more important.
Prediction: A game I went back and forth on multiple times. It truly is that close between these two teams in my opinion. In the end I think PM plays keep away behind their stellar backfield and in the end linebacker Eli Wheeler makes a huge play on defense to seal it for the Blues.
PM 21
GW 20
#1A East
#1 Sussex vs. #5 Altavista
The Sussex defense was on point last Friday as their starters didn't allow Luray to score while the offense was able to score at will. The Colonels meanwhile won 42-10 over Lunenburg in a game many thought would be closer. One thing the Colonels can't afford to have this week is the 130 yards of penalties they had last week. The defense though played very well in limiting Lunenburg to 143 total yards. Now they have to get ready for the veer of Sussex that when it's hitting on all cylinders is tough to stop. The Sussex defense themselves will be challenged by the dual threat of Jake Adams at quarterback along with the dangerous Mateo Maulbeck at wide receiver and Jonathan Montague at running back.
Prediction: Defense does indeed win championships and I believe Sussex has a championship defense but the offense hasn't always put up big numbers against quality opponents. The Altavista defense while not as good as Sussex is still very good. The Altavista offense though I think is better than the Sussex offense and will do just enough to win. This isn't the Altavista team of years past but a good team nonetheless.
Altavista 18
Sussex 12
#1 Riverheads vs #3 Colonial Beach
The Gladiators steamrolled Essex on Friday behind a swarming defense and a methodical offense. Now they get to play Essex district mate Colonial Beach. The Drifters come in as winners of 8 in a row and while not big are a scrappy bunch out of their single wing offense. They will need Lamar Lucas to come up big but he can't do it by himself. Alonzo Turner will have to help him out with his legs as well as his arm.
Prediction: While Riverheads is used to these type of games it's been a long time since the Drifters have had a game of this magnitude. Colonial Beach is full of heart and won't back down but in the end the powerful Gladiator offense behind Schaeffer will wear them down
Riverheads 28
Colonial Beach 12
1A West:
#1 Galax vs #4 Fort Chiswell
The Maroon Tide are the higher seed but the Pioneers were the victors 33-21 when they played in the regular season. Some are predicting another Pioneer upset but to me if it happened it'd only be an upset based on seeding. The Pioneers will look to get the ball in Colby Riders hands anyway possible and control the clock in the process. You can bet Galax will get the ball into the hands of Dougie Peoples as much as possible but don't forget about Blake Brown either.
Prediction:
They always say it is hard to beat a good team twice in the same season. That becomes even tougher when that team is the defending state champs. Galax may have overlooked FC the first time but Coach Mark Dixon will make sure it won't happen again.
Galax 35
FC 7
#2 George Wythe vs. #6 Parry McCluer
What a great game this is shaping up to be. Both teams have passionate fan bases as judged by just the posters on here. But the game itself will be won on the field and not on a message board. GW will try and spread the wealth behind Moss, Owens, Horton among others in the backfield but it could be the play of quarterback Deacon Beamer that could be the difference. He will have to make some plays early to back the Blues up and open up the run game. It is no secret what PM wants to do. Behind Nelson, Cook and Dawson they want to pound the ball down the Maroons throat. Nelson needs around 200 yards to become the all time VHSL leader in rushing yards but a win would obviously be more important.
Prediction: A game I went back and forth on multiple times. It truly is that close between these two teams in my opinion. In the end I think PM plays keep away behind their stellar backfield and in the end linebacker Eli Wheeler makes a huge play on defense to seal it for the Blues.
PM 21
GW 20
