(12-0) @

Brookville Bees (12-1)

Saturday, 130pm | Brookville High School, Lynchburg

 

Last Meeting: 

Brookville 47, Richlands 0 on November 29^th, 2008 (2008 State

Semifinals)

 

Richlands Blue Tornado

| Coach Greg Mance | Offense:  50.2 ppg | Defense:  12.0 ppg

Last State Semifinal Appearance: 

2008.  The Blue Tornado lost 47-0 at Brookville that season.  Richlands is 4-2

in six previous state semifinal appearances.

 

Brookville Bees

| Coach Jeff Woody | Offense:  37.7 ppg | Defense:  15.8 ppg

Last State Semifinal Appearance: 

2008.  The Bees beat Richlands 47-0 that year.  Brookville is 5-3 in eight

previous state semifinal appearances.

The Blue Tornado have won 10 games or more in six of the past

seven seasons (2008 the exception when they finished 9-3) and have been

virtually unstoppable during the first 12 games of the 2010 season.  Their

unbeaten regular season included three shutouts, all against playoff bound teams

(Gate City, Carroll County and Grundy) and their closest game was a 42-20 win

over Powell Valley.  The Richlands' starters rarely played much in the second

half of games during the regular season and they mowed through the Southwest

District for their seventh straight district championship.  In the playoffs,

Richlands was challenged early by Martinsville, but eventually won 63-19 and

then defeated Cave Spring 36-23 to avenge their 2009 region IV title game loss.

 

The Bees opened their 2010 campaign with a seven-game winning

streak with victories over playoff teams Martinsville (55-13), Liberty (28-14)

and Heritage (31-28).  Brookville's lone loss of the 2010 season came against

Amherst on October 15^th, a game the Bees led at halftime before

losing 31-14.  Still, they rebounded from that setback to post a five-game

winning streak spanning the last two games of the regular season and the region

III, division 3 playoffs.  Brookville's playoff run started with a 42-18 win

over Stuarts Draft and the Bees have won two straight road games in tough

environments.  Two weeks back, they beat defending state division 3 champion

Northside 12-10 and the Bees knocked off Liberty for the second time this year

with a 26-9 win in last week's region III championship.

The Blue Tornado are in the state semifinals for the sixth time

in seven seasons, but this year's group has been dominant on both sides of the

ball from start to finish.  Averaging over 50 points per game, Richlands'

offense has been a balance of power running and a good passing attack

complemented by strong special teams play.  Running back Devon Johnson

(6-2, 210) is the leading rusher for Richlands with over 1,200 yards through 12

games, with most of those yards coming in the first halves of games.  Johnson

has scored 20 touchdowns this year and he is an excellent back that combines

power and speed.  At quarterback, Richlands has done well with the combination

of senior Cody Lockhart (over 1,400 yards and 22 touchdowns) and junior

Reece Strong.  Lockhart is the starter and has a very good arm and can

move out of the pocket.  Wide receivers Bradley Strong, Sean Overton

and Austin Johnson are the big playmakers for the Blue Tornado passing

game.  Strong leads the team with 42 receptions and 12 touchdwons and is a big

special teams threat, while both he and Overton are over 600 yards receiving on

the year.  The offensive line is big with guards Josh Hess (6-6, 295) and

Aaron Daugherty (6-0, 280) flanking center Taylor Wade. 

Tackles Todd Smith and Joseph Guerriero are also solid on the

outside.

 

The Blue Tornado defense flies to the ball and has good speed in

the secondary and at linebacker to go along with a strong defensive front. 

Defensive end Will Lowe is the leader of the defensive line and was the

2009 region IV defensive player of the year as a junior and is among the team

leaders in tackles.  On the other side, look for Skyler Bunker and

Nick Wolfe, while Hunter Brown, Jeremy McGlothlin and

Blankenship rotate in the interior line.  Senior Cody Thomas is the

leader of the Richlands' line backing corps and Thomas is a hard-hitting, quick

defender who epitomizes what the Blue Tornado defensive persistence is all

about.  Devon Johnson and Tanner Smith are two more to watch at

linebacker.  In the secondary, Brad Strong and Albert Fajardo are the top

cornerbacks with Overton, Austin Johnson and Jack Vance also key players

in the defensive backfield.   

 

With a 9-1 regular season and a share of the Seminole District

title with Amherst County and Liberty, Brookville opened some eyes this season

thanks to an explosive spread offense that averages over 37 points per game. 

However, it's been the defense's turn to turn some heads in the playoffs as the

Bees have won a couple of low-scoring contests the past two weeks.  Offensively,

the team's passing attack revolves around sophomore quarterback Kendall

Becraft, who took over as a starter midway through last season and has

turned into one of the best quarterbacks in AA this season.  Becraft has thrived

in the wide-open attack, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns this

season.  Deshon Foxx is a versatile player on offense and the Bees can

line him up at running back or any receiver position and take advantage of his

great speed.  Foxx has over 1,200 combined yards for the year and is a dangerous

kick returner, as well.  Receiver Holton Walker leads the team with 35

catches for 799 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Guy Morris and Travis

Riley are two more receivers to contend with and tight end Chris Anderson

is one more target for Becraft.  In the backfield, Ben Simmons is the

leading rusher, along with Foxx.  Up front, the Bees have a solid offensive line

led by all-district left tackle Brett Woolard and center Victor

Montalbano.  Guards Chris Higgins and Brett Thomas and

freshman tackle Josh Mason are the other starters on the line.

 

Defensively, the Bees have saved some of their best performances

for the past two weeks against Northside and Liberty.  Both teams had some

success running the ball, but the Bees' defense kept them from putting many

points on the board and forced five turnovers in the two games.  Woolard,

Montalbano, Korren Kirven and Daniel Sale give Brookville a good

defensive front with Kirven and Montalbano especially difficult for opposing

offensive lines to handle.  Anderson, Simmons and Michael Carwile are the

Bees' top linebackers, with Simmons and Carwile possessing good speed on the

outside.  In the secondary, senior Dustin Maner is joined by Riley and

Foxx for the Bees and they will not be beaten with speed very easily.  Kicker

and punter Shane Wood is very solid for Brookville on special teams.

 

Two very good offenses.  Check.  Two special teams' units with

big-play capability.  Check.  This one has all the makings of a shootout from

the start, until you factor in the two defenses which are often overlooked given

the offensive firepower available to each team.  When it comes down to it, the

defenses are going to have to be the difference in this game, either by

implementing a game plan to effectively handle the opponents' offensive talents

or by coming up with a big turnover or two.  Both teams are among the fastest

and most well-coached in the state, so whoever can win the turnover battle or

come up with a big stop on defense has the advantage.  With home field in their

favor, I give the slightest of edges to Brookville.