Highland Springs vs Stone Bridge is usually a back & forth barn burner game which has turned on just a few & sometimes controversial plays. I've been able to watch a few of them just before our Smith games. They've been a tough act to follow on most occasions.
HSHS have won most of their close games with breakout special teams plays. You just cannot let them field any kick from a high-air approach. Squibs & rugby-style punts only!!!
But, Stone Bridge mostly has just lacked the big play talent to keep up with the Springers. I believe Matt when he says that SB likely has those guys this year!
If your Stone Bridge, you'd like to beat them on their home field if they couldn't host the game. Varina will have to do!!
2 of the 3 meetings between HSHS & SB were blowouts. The 3 meeting,SB scored 2 late TDs against the backups to get it back to 11. The first was a blowout from the start. The middle game....that was a barn burner! The Tusky game was never close!
The Springers have not lost a game outside the 804 in a long time! They’ve won 10 straight vs the 757 and 10 straight vs NOVA. The 757 matches the speed of the Springers at every position,including in the trenches.
NOVA always has great athletes,but they’ve had trouble with the speed and depth of the trenches. One poster even mentioned,the SB linemen are good RUN blockers. That OLine will face the best DLine they’ve seen all year.
SB does have the big play athletes they had in the second meeting. I think we all know by now,they can score. This is nowhere close to the level of competition they faced this ENTIRE season. One SB poster stated,”they could put an ALL-STAR defense together from the previous 8 teams,and the HSHS defense would still be EASILY better. HSHS has faced 2 great defenses(Varina and Maury), and will face another one Saturday. SB is gonna be a tough nut to crack with those LBs.
Both teams have an excellent kicker! SB reportedly has only punted 4x this entire yr. Having to punt to Veney(UNC offer) could be detrimental. The Springer starting RB is the punter,so respecting the fake is necessary.
I expect a low scoring game. HSHS will struggle to move the ball vs SB,and I doubt ANY high school offense can consistently move the ball vs this HSHS defense. I think it’s strength vs strength in the trenches,but the HSHS DBs don’t have to help in the run game. If HSHS is able to throw the ball...they’ll win.
First one to 21 will win!