Lynn Burke
09-06-2007, 04:25 PM
Bay Rivers District previews
By Jason Jordan
GAME OF THE WEEK: LAFAYETTE (1-0, 0-0) AT SMITHFIELD (1-0, 0-0)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Packer Stadium, Smithfield.
THE RAMS’ OFFENSE: While the Rams only managed 10 points last week against Courtland, they were able to move the ball well on the ground, piling up 225 yards on what most consider one of the top defenses in the region. Garrick Piggott accounted for 106 of those yards and scored the game’s only touchdown. Field goal kicker Drake Kuhn came through with a 27-yard field goal.
THE RAMS’ DEFENSE: Lafayette won last week against Courtland with defense. The Rams only allowed 102 yards of total offense and five first downs. Rams’ safety T.J. Ptachick came up with big defensive plays all game. Last year the Rams held Smithfield to just 98 rushing yards, but the Packers managed 114 passing yards in the 14-10 win over Lafayette.
THE RAMS’ STORYLINES: The Rams haven’t beaten Smithfield in two years, and the last time they made the trip to Packer Stadium they got blown out 42-17. After last week’s big win over the Battlefield District’s powerhouse Cougars, Lafayette knows that it has the tools to knock off Smithfield.
THE PACKERS’ OFFENSE: Virginia Tech commit Dyrell Roberts had a strong debut racking up 192 rushing yards and scoring four touchdowns in the Packers’ 25-0 win over Surry. Last year Roberts only had 86 rushing yards and one a touchdown against the Rams’ tough defense, but quarterback Randall Privette’s arm might be able loosen Lafayette’s smothering style.
THE PACKERS’ DEFENSE: The Packers pitched a shutout in their debut. It was their third in as many years against Surry. Last year they beat the Rams with defense when Tyrone Seaborne scooped up a fumble and went 55 yards for the game-winning score. Roberts then intercepted a pass to seal the win.
THE PACKERS’ STORYLINES: Smithfield may have been the only team that wasn’t shocked when the Rams beat Courtland last week. Packers’ coach Chris Fraser used to coach the Cougars and told their staff all about the Rams coming into the game. The Packers know what to expect and will be ready.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Lafayette (58.49 % on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Smithfield.
Bruton (4-6 in 2006) at New Kent (1-0, 0-0)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: New Kent High School.
THE OFFENSES: New Kent wasn’t overly productive offensively in last week’s 14-7 win over York, but when it counted, running back Malcom Jones came through. He finished with 100 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers will pound the ball to Brett Burkes to try and establish their running game.
THE DEFENSES: New Kent was sharp in last week’s win, holding York three times on fourth down late in the game to secure the win. Bruton will rely on linebackers Shawn Parrott and Larry Camp to lead the defense. The Panthers also have most of its secondary back.
THE STORYLINES: New Kent is down to its third string quarterback, Justin Williams, after the first two went down with injuries in the scrimmages. Jones will have to have a bigger game then he did last week. Bruton should be pumped since its the season opener, but the Trojans won the majority of their home games last year.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Bruton (62.86 % on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Bruton.
Jamestown (1-0, 0-0) at Grafton (1-0, 0-0)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Bailey Field, York.
THE OFFENSES: Grafton will get running back Austin Sneath back after he left last week’s 42-28 loss to Tabb in the third quarter with symptoms of dehydration. He had rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns at that point. Jamestown running back Curtis Stevenson rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 25-20 win over Poquoson last week.
THE DEFENSES: Both teams will need to improve this week defensively. Grafton wasn’t able to stop Tabb’s running attack last week and gave up more than 300 rushing yards. Jamestown was equally bad at stopping the Islanders. The Eagles gave up 181 rushing yards and 136 passing yards.
THE STORYLINES: Grafton came out strong in last week’s loss to Tabb and will have maintain that over the course of the game. Having Sneath back in the lineup for the entire game will help, but quarterback Sean Downing can’t have two interceptions. The Eagles didn’t overly rely on quarterback Mike Laycock and got the balance they hoped for last week offensively, but they have to step up defensively to have complete balance.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Grafton (68.75% on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Grafton.
Warhill (0-0, 0-0) at Poquoson (0-1, 0-0)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Poquoson Middle School.
THE OFFENSES: The Islanders got a big game out of quarterback Eric Nixon, who threw for 126 yards and ran for 26 in last week’s 25-20 loss to Jamestown. They will need running back Troy Fiedler to step up this week. The Lions are jacked to be playing their first game in the program’s history. Running back Kendall Green will have to turn in a big game.
THE DEFENSES: Warhill gave up 42 points to Mathews last week in a benefit game and had trouble stopping the run and the pass. Defensive backs Keenan Canady and Zack Osgood will have to lead the young Lions. Poquoson gave up 286 rushing yards to Jamestown.
THE STORYLINES: The Lions start 14 freshman and sophomores and have no seniors at the school, which is in its first year. That won’t bode well for Warhill, which will face a hostile environment. Nixon and the Islanders haven’t won a game since Oct. 21, 2005, a 30-7 win over Tabb. It looks like it’s time to end the streak.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Poquoson (70-49% on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Poquoson.
Tabb (1-0, 0-0) at Southampton (7-4 in 2006)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Southampton High School.
THE OFFENSES: The Tigers grind the ball behind running backs Corey Legister and Mel Jones. With that duo, Tabb is able to milk the clock masterfully. Last week Legister rushed for 125 yards and five touchdowns. The Indians go as dual-threat quarterback Sidney Rawls goes. Bobby Ellsworth is also going to have to have a big game on the ground against a tough Tabb defense.
THE DEFENSES: The Tigers were solid last week against Grafton outside of giving up big plays early. Last year Tabb boasted the district’s top defense and held the Indians to just 143 yards of total offense, but lost 12-10. The Indians will have to be able to stop Legister, who overpowers opposing defenses.
THE STORYLINES: If Southampton can hold Legister to under 100 rushing yards they can win the game, but they won’t be able to let Jones do much better than that. It’s a tough task for any team and may be too much for the Indians as well. Are linebackers Taylor Revelle and Jamond Winborne up to the task? They may be, but the Legister-Jones duo will be too much to handle in the end.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Tabb (82.35% on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Tabb.
By Jason Jordan
GAME OF THE WEEK: LAFAYETTE (1-0, 0-0) AT SMITHFIELD (1-0, 0-0)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Packer Stadium, Smithfield.
THE RAMS’ OFFENSE: While the Rams only managed 10 points last week against Courtland, they were able to move the ball well on the ground, piling up 225 yards on what most consider one of the top defenses in the region. Garrick Piggott accounted for 106 of those yards and scored the game’s only touchdown. Field goal kicker Drake Kuhn came through with a 27-yard field goal.
THE RAMS’ DEFENSE: Lafayette won last week against Courtland with defense. The Rams only allowed 102 yards of total offense and five first downs. Rams’ safety T.J. Ptachick came up with big defensive plays all game. Last year the Rams held Smithfield to just 98 rushing yards, but the Packers managed 114 passing yards in the 14-10 win over Lafayette.
THE RAMS’ STORYLINES: The Rams haven’t beaten Smithfield in two years, and the last time they made the trip to Packer Stadium they got blown out 42-17. After last week’s big win over the Battlefield District’s powerhouse Cougars, Lafayette knows that it has the tools to knock off Smithfield.
THE PACKERS’ OFFENSE: Virginia Tech commit Dyrell Roberts had a strong debut racking up 192 rushing yards and scoring four touchdowns in the Packers’ 25-0 win over Surry. Last year Roberts only had 86 rushing yards and one a touchdown against the Rams’ tough defense, but quarterback Randall Privette’s arm might be able loosen Lafayette’s smothering style.
THE PACKERS’ DEFENSE: The Packers pitched a shutout in their debut. It was their third in as many years against Surry. Last year they beat the Rams with defense when Tyrone Seaborne scooped up a fumble and went 55 yards for the game-winning score. Roberts then intercepted a pass to seal the win.
THE PACKERS’ STORYLINES: Smithfield may have been the only team that wasn’t shocked when the Rams beat Courtland last week. Packers’ coach Chris Fraser used to coach the Cougars and told their staff all about the Rams coming into the game. The Packers know what to expect and will be ready.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Lafayette (58.49 % on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Smithfield.
Bruton (4-6 in 2006) at New Kent (1-0, 0-0)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: New Kent High School.
THE OFFENSES: New Kent wasn’t overly productive offensively in last week’s 14-7 win over York, but when it counted, running back Malcom Jones came through. He finished with 100 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers will pound the ball to Brett Burkes to try and establish their running game.
THE DEFENSES: New Kent was sharp in last week’s win, holding York three times on fourth down late in the game to secure the win. Bruton will rely on linebackers Shawn Parrott and Larry Camp to lead the defense. The Panthers also have most of its secondary back.
THE STORYLINES: New Kent is down to its third string quarterback, Justin Williams, after the first two went down with injuries in the scrimmages. Jones will have to have a bigger game then he did last week. Bruton should be pumped since its the season opener, but the Trojans won the majority of their home games last year.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Bruton (62.86 % on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Bruton.
Jamestown (1-0, 0-0) at Grafton (1-0, 0-0)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Bailey Field, York.
THE OFFENSES: Grafton will get running back Austin Sneath back after he left last week’s 42-28 loss to Tabb in the third quarter with symptoms of dehydration. He had rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns at that point. Jamestown running back Curtis Stevenson rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 25-20 win over Poquoson last week.
THE DEFENSES: Both teams will need to improve this week defensively. Grafton wasn’t able to stop Tabb’s running attack last week and gave up more than 300 rushing yards. Jamestown was equally bad at stopping the Islanders. The Eagles gave up 181 rushing yards and 136 passing yards.
THE STORYLINES: Grafton came out strong in last week’s loss to Tabb and will have maintain that over the course of the game. Having Sneath back in the lineup for the entire game will help, but quarterback Sean Downing can’t have two interceptions. The Eagles didn’t overly rely on quarterback Mike Laycock and got the balance they hoped for last week offensively, but they have to step up defensively to have complete balance.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Grafton (68.75% on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Grafton.
Warhill (0-0, 0-0) at Poquoson (0-1, 0-0)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Poquoson Middle School.
THE OFFENSES: The Islanders got a big game out of quarterback Eric Nixon, who threw for 126 yards and ran for 26 in last week’s 25-20 loss to Jamestown. They will need running back Troy Fiedler to step up this week. The Lions are jacked to be playing their first game in the program’s history. Running back Kendall Green will have to turn in a big game.
THE DEFENSES: Warhill gave up 42 points to Mathews last week in a benefit game and had trouble stopping the run and the pass. Defensive backs Keenan Canady and Zack Osgood will have to lead the young Lions. Poquoson gave up 286 rushing yards to Jamestown.
THE STORYLINES: The Lions start 14 freshman and sophomores and have no seniors at the school, which is in its first year. That won’t bode well for Warhill, which will face a hostile environment. Nixon and the Islanders haven’t won a game since Oct. 21, 2005, a 30-7 win over Tabb. It looks like it’s time to end the streak.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Poquoson (70-49% on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Poquoson.
Tabb (1-0, 0-0) at Southampton (7-4 in 2006)
WHEN: 7:30 tonight.
WHERE: Southampton High School.
THE OFFENSES: The Tigers grind the ball behind running backs Corey Legister and Mel Jones. With that duo, Tabb is able to milk the clock masterfully. Last week Legister rushed for 125 yards and five touchdowns. The Indians go as dual-threat quarterback Sidney Rawls goes. Bobby Ellsworth is also going to have to have a big game on the ground against a tough Tabb defense.
THE DEFENSES: The Tigers were solid last week against Grafton outside of giving up big plays early. Last year Tabb boasted the district’s top defense and held the Indians to just 143 yards of total offense, but lost 12-10. The Indians will have to be able to stop Legister, who overpowers opposing defenses.
THE STORYLINES: If Southampton can hold Legister to under 100 rushing yards they can win the game, but they won’t be able to let Jones do much better than that. It’s a tough task for any team and may be too much for the Indians as well. Are linebackers Taylor Revelle and Jamond Winborne up to the task? They may be, but the Legister-Jones duo will be too much to handle in the end.
THE PICKS:
YOURS: Tabb (82.35% on HRVarsity.com)
OURS: Tabb.