VirginiaPreps.com - AATop Ten Games of the Week

September 28, 2012

Patrick Mauney, Double A Football Editor

AA Top Ten Games of the Week: September 28

Each week, VirginiaPreps.com previews ten of the top AA games and picks those ten against vhsl-reference.com, along with VirginiaPreps.com predictions for each AA game. Also, be sure to check out the Pick'em games on each AA region's message board!

Last Week: 36-9 (80%) | Overall: 201-45 (82%)
Versus VHSL-Reference Last Week: 7-3 | Overall: 36-14 (72%)
VHSL-Reference Last Week: 7-3 | Overall: 31-19 (62%)

10. Christiansburg Blue Demons (4-0) @ Franklin County Eagles (3-2)
Christiansburg currently sits at #8 in our Division 4 top ten, but face their toughest test of the season with a trip to Franklin County. De'Quan Green-Gause (578 yards, 8 TDs) and Joey Augustin (521 yards, 9 TDs) have been outstanding for Christiansburg's running game, though Green-Gause missed part of their last game against Bassett with an ankle injury. The Eagles will also look to keep the ball on the ground with Chance Tyree (440 yards) leading the team in rushing despite missing a couple of games. A week after Christiansburg escaped Bassett with a 28-27 win, the Eagles beat the Bengals 28-7.

Prediction: Franklin County 35 Christiansburg 31
VHSL-Reference.com Pick: Christiansburg

9. Liberty (Bedford) Minutemen (3-1) @ Rustburg Red Devils (4-1)
A week after the Minutemen and Red Devils were knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten, they face off in a game with big playoff implications in region III, division 3. With the rugged Seminole schedule, both teams will be underdogs in most of their games down the stretch, so a win here would be crucial. Liberty's running game has rebounded after a tough 2011 season with sophomore Matt Smith leading the team with 550 yards through four games, while junior Jamaal Preston has been a menace at defensive end. Rustburg lost a double-overtime thriller against E.C. Glass last week and have two great playmakers in Randall Jones and Anthony Lovelace.

Prediction: Rustburg 28 Liberty 22
VHSL-Reference.com Pick: Liberty

8. Harrisonburg Blue Streaks (3-1) @ Robert E. Lee Leemen (3-1)
The second week of Valley District play is on tap this week and the best game looks to be in Staunton with Harrisonburg taking on Robert E. Lee. The Blue Streaks beat Turner Ashby for the second time this season last Friday, 24-20, when Ryan Nixon found Weylin Holmes for a 60-yard touchdown less than 30 seconds after Turner Ashby had taken a 20-17 lead. The Streaks won despite allowing nearly 400 yards to the Knights. Lee also picked up an important district win last Friday, beating Fort Defiance 24-14. Javon Chisley has asserted himself as the latest playmaker at quarterback for Lee, while defensive end Tarren Clayton is forcing teams to double team him or avoid his side completely, as Fort Defiance tried to do last week.

Prediction: R.E. Lee 28 Harrisonburg 21
VHSL-Reference.com Pick: R.E. Lee

7. King George Foxes (4-0) @ James Monroe Yellow Jackets (4-0)
A week after opening their new stadium with a 21-10 win over Courtland, King George travels to Fredericksburg to take on James Monroe with the winner putting themselves in good position in the Battlefield District. Corey Henderson ran and threw for touchdowns for the Foxes last week and Jordi Estes ran for a touchdown and recovered a fumble (one of four forced turnovers by King George). James Monroe won 24-9 at Eastern View last Friday, but the Yellow Jackets are battling the injury bug as Julian Bumbrey sprained an ankle. Jay Scroggins stepped in at quarterback and threw a touchdown pass and Sean Bates led the team in rushing after taking over for injured back Adrian Boone.

Prediction: James Monroe 28 King George 19
VHSL-Reference.com Pick:? James Monroe

6. Loudoun County Raiders (3-1) @ Woodgrove Wolverines (5-0)
Two teams ranked in our Division 4 top ten meet in a key Dulles District matchup in Purcellville. Loudoun County comes into the game a week after suffering their first loss of the season in a 21-7 setback against Tuscarora. The Raiders' explosive offense was held in check as they ran for just 43 yards on 20 carries and could not find the big play via the passing game. Quarterback Jake Lokey and receiver Brad Szoka will again have their hands full against a Woodgrove defense that is allowing just 5.6 points per game so far. For the Wolverines, the five wins are the most in the school's three-year history and the team has won by at least 39 points in all five games. Still, the schedule has not been overwhelming and this week's game and next week's trip to Briar Woods should provide plenty of insight into Woodgrove's chances in the Dulles. Running back Josh Sweet has been the workhorse with over 900 yards and 15 touchdowns through five games.

Prediction: Loudoun County 36 Woodgrove 31
VHSL-Reference.com Pick: Woodgrove

5. York Falcons (4-0) @ Smithfield Packers (4-0)
After three weeks of action in the Bay Rivers, only the Falcons and Packers remain unbeaten in district play and they meet on Friday in Smithfield. York beat Jamestown 27-26 last week as the two combined for 46 points in the second quarter, but did not score in the second half. Freshman Jo'Mari Becnel scored two touchdowns on the ground and Austin Norman ran and threw for touchdowns. Linebacker Marcus Wakelyn has been a tackling machine through four games for York. Smithfield beat Lafayette last week, overcoming a 27-12 deficit in the second half and an ankle injury that sidelined quarterback Jermaal Wells for most of the night. Marquis Childress and Kyon Croker picked up the slack by running for five touchdowns.

Prediction: Smithfield 30 York 27
VHSL-Reference.com Pick: Smithfield

4. Skyline Hawks (4-0) @ Kettle Run Cougars (4-0)
The Hawks travel to Fauquier County for the second time this season as they face unbeaten Kettle Run. Skyline comes in without a blemish on its record, as well, with early season wins over Musselman (WV) and Fauquier their best to date. Quarterback Aaron Jeremiah has been very good, throwing for six touchdowns and running for four, while Dayvon Haight leads the a group of six capable ball carriers in rushing. Defensively, Skyline's secondary has been very good, picking off seven passes so far, and linebackers Nick Helmick and Zack Blair are the leaders in the middle. Kettle Run has now won 18 of 19 games and the Cougars have shut out their last two opponents, Eastern View and Fluvanna. Offensively, running backs Josh Tapscott (553 yards, 10 TDs) and Deandre Jackson (318 yards, 6 TDs) are leading the Kettle Run attack behind a very good offensive line. The explosive Cougars scored three times in less than 30 seconds against Fluvanna last week.

Prediction: Kettle Run 28 Skyline 20
VHSL-Reference.com Pick:? Skyline

3. Western Albemarle Warriors (4-0) @ Monticello Mustangs (4-0)
Great matchup in the Jefferson District as Albemarle County rivals Western Albemarle and Monticello meet up. The Warriors put themselves in the mix in division 3 with a win at Liberty (Bealeton) three weeks back, but their wins against Fort Defiance and Spotswood in the past two weeks were not as impressive. Still, quarterback Kent Henry has been outstanding (922 passing yards, 12 TDs; 434 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and receivers Daniel Kuzjak and Nic Drapanas are playmakers. The Warrior defense, led by linebacker Tommy Mullin and Patrick Maupin, is improved, but will have their hands full with Monticello, which put up 92 points in two games against Western last season. The Mustangs also bring a dynamic quarterback to the field with Jhalil Mosley (700 total yards, 8 TDs), but have a strong running back in T.J. Tillery in the backfield, as well. Monticello got by Louisa County 34-27 last week with three touchdowns from Tillery. The offensive line, led by Sam Marshall and Austin Mays, has been excellent, as well.

Prediction: Monticello 37 Western Albemarle 34
VHSL-Reference.com Pick: Monticello

2. Amherst County Lancers (4-0) @ Heritage (Lynchburg) Pioneers (4-0)
The best game in the Seminole District this week pits our #2 and #3-ranked teams in Division 4 as Amherst County visits Heritage. The Lancers picked up another big win at home last week, beating Rockbridge County 35-21. Sidney Sandidge ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns and Kyle Edwards threw for 176 and two touchdowns in the win. The Lancer defense has been outstanding thus far, allowing just 9 points per game. Senior linebacker Malcolm Revely and lineman Demonn Booker have been very good through four games. Heritage is also 4-0 and the Pioneers have soared under new coach Brad Bradley. Quarterback Jevontae Parrish leads the spread attack with receivers Ishantii Rosser and Omar Jones figuring heavily in the passing attack. Parrish's ability to get rid of the ball quick or to pull it down and get outside the defensive ends have been the keys to Heritage's success so far, though they will get a test from Amherst's defense this week.

Prediction: Amherst County 28 Heritage 21
VHSL-Reference.com Pick: Amherst County

1. Briar Woods Falcons (5-0) @ Tuscarora Huskies (4-0)
The game of the week is in the Dulles District this Friday with unbeaten Briar Woods traveling to Leesburg to take on unbeaten Tuscarora. The Falcons have strolled through their first three district games, outscoring Park View, Dominion and Potomac Falls 133-10. Quarterback Trace McSorley has been outstanding on both sides of the ball, with an 11:1 touchdown to interception ratio on offense and a team-leading four interceptions on defense. The return of linebacker Matt Rolin from an injury that caused him to miss a couple of games only adds to the strength of the defense for Briar Woods. Tuscarora is coming off of a big 21-7 win over Loudoun County and the Huskies are led by sophomore running back Noah Reimers (9TDs) and senior Adrien Stinger (3 TDs). Controlling the ball on offense and bringing defensive pressure were the keys for the Husky win last week and they will have to do more of the same if they are going to snap Briar Woods' 19-game winning streak.

Prediction: Briar Woods 24 Tuscarora 14
VHSL-Reference.com Pick: Briar Woods

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Other AA Predictions:

Eastern View 24 Caroline 20
Chancellor 21 Courtland 14
Spotsylvania 34 Culpeper County 24
Warhill 24 Bruton 14
Lafayette 20 Grafton 14
Jamestown 17 Poquoson 14
Tabb 28 New Kent 20
Gretna 34 Brunswick 18
Park View (South Hill) 35 Greensville 16
Powhatan 42 Prince Edward 14
George Washington 35 Southampton 10
Clarke County 38 John Champe 14
Dominion 17 Park View (Sterling) 7
Loudoun Valley 28 Heritage (Leesburg) 21
Warren County 24 James Wood 10
Charlottesville 35 Fluvanna 33
Louisa County 30 South Lakes 17
Handley 21 Washington (WV) 7
James River (Buchanan) 28 Alleghany 23
William Byrd 28 Glenvar 14
Tunstall 31 Staunton River 24
Brookville 41 E.C. Glass 21
Fort Defiance 28 Spotswood 27
Turner Ashby 28 Waynesboro 16
Hidden Valley 24 Bassett 21
Magna Vista 35 Halifax County 21
Carroll County 21 Martinsville 13
Radford 33 Patrick County 16
Salem 27 William Fleming 14
John Battle 24 Abingdon 17
George Wythe 28 Marion 21
Richlands 35 Honaker 20
Lebanon 31 Tazewell 22

FREE LINKS: Division Three Top Ten? |?? Division Four Top Ten

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