Round 2 has arrived! Unfortunately, we have 3 less teams to cover this week after Round 1 but want to say congrats to, Culpeper, James Monroe, Eastern View and Orange for earning playoff bids this season hopefully those programs are able to build on that going forward. However, we still have several teams that are still playing! So let's get into those match-ups!
COMMONWEALTH DISTRICT
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#3 Patrick Henry (Roanoke) (9-2) at #2 Mountain View (10-1)
After playing a back and forth game with Albemarle for 3 quarters, Mountain View slammed the door shut in the 4th quarter scoring 4 Touchdowns in the period. 3 of them being Ike Daniels carries and the last being an Etienne Somuah interception returned for six. This week the Patrick Henry Patriots all the way from Roanoke will take the long trip up to Mountain View Road to take on the Wildcats. Patrick Henry returns most of their starters from their 2021 team a team who's season ended in this round against this same team by a score of 42-12. Both teams will lean on their athletes and experience on both sides of the ball, expect a motivated Patrick Henry team who has a poor history with Stafford County teams sitting at 0-10 all time against schools in the county. Be advised that this Patrick Henry team has already exorcised some demons this season. 2 weeks ago Patrick Henry finally beat Salem after failing to do so the previous ten tries. They'll be looking to break a similar streak tonight
Prediction: Patrick Henry (Roanoke) 20 Mountain View 30
#4 Riverbend (9-2) at #1 Stone Bridge (10-1)
A season ago Riverbend saw it's season end in the second round against these Stone Bridge Bulldogs, and it truly wasn't a remotely close game. The Bulldogs forced multiple turnovers played smothering defense and eventually won 58-3. I'd expect this Riverbend team to put up a lot more fight than they did last year. A week ago the Bears were able to hang on and beat Woodgrove in a narrow 21-14 win. Stone Bridge handled William Fleming for their second time in 3 seasons, this time by a score of 38-7. If the Bears are going to have a shot in this one we will need to see more of the Riverbend we saw on their 7 game winning streak, their offense has at times been inconsistent in the past 2 weeks while their stingy defense continues to keep them in ball games. Stone Bridge is still the 2x defending State Champs and they have improved since their last run in with a 540 opponent which was a 20-14 victory over Colonial Forge (Stone Bridge fumbled 9 times and lost possession on 5 of those fumbles). But I wouldn't expect this Bears team to just allow their season to end without putting up a fight.
Prediction: Riverbend 13 Stone Bridge 28
#7 Colonial Forge (6-5) at #3 Patriot (10-1)
While the Eagles made the 540 proud in their stunning 17-13 upset over previously undefeated Battlefield. The Eagles have become one of the hardest teams to figure out in area. This is a team that has been shutout by Riverbend, lost by 2 possesions to a 4-6 Massaponax and struggled with a 3-7 Stafford team. Yet they have also gone toe to toe with Stone Bridge, beaten Mountain View, and now have beaten Battlefield. While I unfortunately can not say I predicted Forge to beat Battlefield I can certainly say that I'm not surprised that Colonial Forge pulled off the upset. After all this is a 540 page and I believe in all of our teams. This week the Eagles will return to Western Prince William County. This time they will run into the Patriot Pioneers who sit at 10-1 their only loss being to Battlefield 2 weeks ago. The Pioneers offense is a little more explosive than Battlefields however their defense is not as dominant. This game should be an interesting one and could certainly go either way. Patriot has a very effective run game and thrives off of RPO and Read Option plays. The Eagles will need to have another top notch performance and create big plays in order to pull off another upset.
Prediction: Colonial Forge 20 Patriot 14
NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT
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#3 Millbrook (6-5) at #1 Kettle Run (11-0)
The Cougars are coming off one of their better defensive performances, and their are no real questions as to what their offense is capable of. Their opponent tonight is a Millbrook team that has been absolutely on fire since they started the season at 1-4. The Pioneers are 5-1 since, that one loss? a 52-32 shootout loss to Kettle Run a little over a month ago. The Pioneers are fresh off upsetting previously 9-1 Tuscarora and likely will not come into tonight's contest intimidated. The Cougars will need to stay clicking on all cylinders if they hope to avoid an upset tonight.
Prediction: Millbrook 24 Kettle Run 45
JEFFERSON DISTRICT
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#3 Salem (9-2) at #2 Louisa (11-0)
Last week was the beginning of the playoffs, but for Louisa it was the same results just a different week. Absolute dominance on both sides of the ball and an overwhelming 47-13 victory. This week they will take on the perennial powerhouse Salem Spartans. The Spartans are coming off of a dominant 42-0 victory over Western Albemarle a week ago. Louisa has played Salem before twice and neither games are one that Lions fans like to remember a 55-7 drubbing a year ago and a 43-22 loss in the State Championship 5 seasons ago in 2017. This year's Salem team is also a tough group, they boast a lineup of experienced Seniors and talented Juniors, very similar to what Louisa boasts on both sides of the ball. Landon Wilson's QB play and the explosiveness of Savion Hiter and Dyzier Carter could be the difference in this match-up
Prediction: Salem 24 Louisa 30
BATTLEFIELD DISTRICT
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#3 Varina (10-1) at #2 King George (11-0)
The Foxes continued to dominate their opponent this time over a tough Patrick Henry (Ashland) team. 41-6 was the final and it sets up a match-up the Foxes fans and players have been waiting a year for. A rematch with the defending Class 4 Champion Varina Blue Devils. This game is likely to be a low scoring contest as the Blue Devils have had a dominant year defensively like King George has. In their 10 wins this season the Blue Devils have only given up 6.9 points per game. On the other side the Foxes have only given up wait for it 6.9 points per game all season. Everything in me tells me this game will go back and forth and momentum will be on both sides of the ball tonight. For King George securing the football and limiting big plays will be the key, expect a large crowd from Foxes fans and an electric atmosphere.
Prediction: Varina 20 King George 23
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