Week 5 540 Preview

Is it just me, or is the season moving too fast? We are at the half way point for many teams and it is already time for district and with that some BIG Games are on hand tonight

Where I was right:

Correctly predicted both "Intriguing matchups" last week putting me at 3-1 so far this season stay tuned in the article for this weeks predictions.

Where I was wrong:

While I correctly picked Stone Bridge to win, I thought the game would. be. I don't know. Somewhat close? It wasn't Colonial Forge was dominated from beginning to end. And now they enter district play with every game being do or die in a region that will prove difficult to secure a playoff spot in.

LOCKS OF THE WEEK

Stafford (0-3) vs #9 Colonial Forge (1-2)

This may sound like a dramatic thing to say about a team getting ready to play its 4th game but. Colonial Forge's season is on the line tonight, it is there is no doubt about that. If Colonial Forge loses tonight it is not technically be the end of their playoff hopes with several opportunities left in the season. But if this team can't beat Stafford how could they expect to beat North? Mountain View? HIGHLAND SPRINGS??? Don't worry though Eagles fans, you aren't losing tonight. This may not be the dominant team we thought/hoped they would be but they're better than Stafford.

INTRIGUING MATCHUPS

#6 Massaponax (0-0) at #1 Mountain View (4-0)

Yes, yes we know loud and clear how people feel about Massapoonax still being in the top 10 despite not playing a game yet. Also yes we know that Massaponax did not exactly look like a top 10 last Friday night when they fell behind midway through the third quarter before the tragic events that took place on the Woodbridge sideline. Ok, ok, but lets be clear that game did not get finished yet, also we have slid them down a bit from our preseason rankings but we just don't feel a team we had top 5 prior to this season should fall completely out the top 10 due to misfortune. As far as the actual game goes I think we all know by now that Mountain View is... good their defense has kept teams out of the endzone and unlike last season the offense has shown quick strike ability. There is a lot of pride in this Massaponax program and I'm sure their players don't appreciate being considered "underdogs" vs a team they beat 40-0 just last spring. But these are 2 completely different teams since then... Expect a close game between two good programs

Prediction: Massaponax 21 Mountain View 26

#3 Riverbend (3-1) at #7 North Stafford (2-1)

Who says you need a spread offense to put up big numbers? Certainly not Riverbend, the Bears have used their pro-style look offense to light up the scoreboard against county rivals Chancellor and Courtland. But they will play one of the stingiest defenses in the district tonight when they travel to North Stafford and play North's Press Cover 1 defense. The same defense that held Riverbend to 7 points nearly six months ago as the Wolverines knocked the Bears out of playoff contention. A fact we're sure Riverbend players remember. Something tells us that North will slow the Bears high scoring down a bit tonight, but North will have to have more consistent results offensively to keep up with Riverbend. If you're free this is the game you should attend

Prediction: Riverbend 27 North Stafford 16

UPSET ALERT

Chancellor (0-1) @ #5 Eastern View (2-0) 

I apologize Cyclones fans, but I am once again putting your team on upset alert. I must say there is not much confidence in this upset alert pick as Chancellor was handled pretty well by Riverbend. Nonetheless, I do truly believe this game will be a interesting one Eastern View did not look like themselves in the last game they actually played but overcame mistakes to defeat a pesky Stafford team. And I believe that Chancellor will be focused to rebound in what is really a huge game after being beaten like that by a rival the week prior. Keep your eyes on this one tonight.

OTHER GAMES

Courtland (0-3) at Spotsylvania (2-1)

#2 King George (2-0) at James Monroe (1-2)

Caroline (0-3) at Culpeper (2-2)

Charlottesville (1-3) at #8 Louisa (3-1)

James Wood at #4 Kettle Run (3-1)

Handley at Faquier (1-3)