Week 11 Preview

I'm actually pretty sad, this HAD to be one of the quicker regular season's I've seen and many teams are closing their seasons out. Teams like North Stafford, and Brooke Point have virtually no shot at making the playoffs, and entering tonight Chancellor and Colonial Forge are on fairly shaky ground in making sure they reach the playoffs. Hoping that we can get as many teams in as possible to represent our area.

Where I was right:

I must say I didn't warn people enough about the talent that Cliff Davis is. But I knew that this young man was something special and kind of hinted towards it in my North Stafford preview. And we saw what he could as he was name Free Lance Star's POTW in a losing effort against Mountain View

Where I was wrong:

If I pick another KG game I'm gonna need to take their defense a little more seriously. I mean I keep correctly predicting that they will win, but every time I predict a team will stick around and put up some points, they shut the opponent out and put up 30+ kind of absurd.

LOCKS OF THE WEEK

Caroline (0-9) at #10 Spotsylvania (5-4)

It's Senior night for the Knights and Spotsy will try to secure their 4th straight winning season. It is a shame they won't make the playoffs but that should serve as even more motivation for the team.

INTRIGUING MATCH-UPS

#9 Colonial Forge (4-5) at #4 Massaponax (6-1) 

There is a lot at stake for both of these two teams. For Forge while it is possible for them to lose and still make the playoffs, you'd have to think the Eagles would rather not have to wait anxiously and crunch numbers to see their fate. A win would clinch a spot for them and get them a much more favorable match up in the first round. Their offense looked better last week a repeat performance from Hawkins at QB would be huge for a Forge team looking to make their 13th playoff appearance in 14 years. For Ponax the Panthers will make the playoffs no matter what. What is not certain is whether or not they will have to hit the road or be playing from home. If they win they will lock up a home playoff spot a loss and they will likely have to warm up the bus and hit the road. The Panthers have seen their offense bloom in their last 5 games behind the legs of Hawthorne and Kimble and may need some late game magic again to secure a victory.

Prediction: Colonial Forge 24 Massaponax 21

#1 Mountain View (9-0) at #5 Riverbend (7-2) 

Mountain View has been one of the more consistent winning programs in the area. I mean they have the longest active playoff streak of any team we cover in the area. But it can be argued that they have never had a great team. Great teams go 10-0.... That is not an easy task for any team when you think back to some of the better teams this area has seen a lot of them didn't go 10-0. Remember that stacked North Stafford team with contributors like Devyn Ford, Jamir Boyd, Holt Egan and Chase McGowan in 2018? That team went 8-2 and lost to Massaponax 44-7... So what about that Ponax team did they go 10-0? Close but no they finished 9-1 thanks to a 35-0 loss to Colonial Forge, the point is that it is extremely difficult to finish 10-0. As a matter of fact in the Commonwealth district only Forge and Ponax have finished 10-0 in recent memory the Wildcats have a chance to do that tonight. But it most certainly won't be easy. On the other side led by Aiden Fisher and Tanner Triplett are the Bears who come in 7-2 and fighting for a home playoff game. The bears are extremely disciplined and well coached and will make this a test for the Wildcats as their defense has secured 2 straight shut outs and their offense is physical enough to make any team buckle. If you are a fan of 540 football why would you not watch this game? Because of the cold? Fine watch it on NFHS tonight a lot of things for both teams to play for I'd expect this one to me a slug fest

Prediction: Mountain View 30 Riverbend 17

UPSET ALERT 

#7 Chancellor (5-3) at James Monroe (4-5)

Chancellor is coming off an exciting win on Tuesday night after showing a lot of emotion in that game they then were informed that they had to forfeit their game against Massaponax that was never played and now they'll need to win tonight in order to be 100% confident in their playoff hopes... That's a lot of emotions to deal with in 4 days. And who are their opponents? Another Battlefield rival, the James Monroe Yellow Jackets. A few weeks back I foolishly broke my own rule and counted out JM team and of course they burned me and beat Eastern View. This game is the exact stage upsets happen on, senior night at Maury stadium, AND it's a rivalry game. We will see this should be a fun one.  

OTHER GAMES

Courtland (4-5) at #2 King George (8-0) 

#3 Kettle Run (8-1) at Sherando (5-4) 

#6 Louisa (7-2) at Goochland (5-4) 

#8 North Stafford (3-5) at Brooke Point (3-5) 

Western Albemarle (8-1) at Orange (6-3)

Eastern View (4-5) at Millbrook (1-8)

Fauquier (2-7) at Liberty (0-8) *Friday*