It's the final week of the regular season, folks! For many teams in the area, tonight marks the end of the football season and the start of a long off-season dedicated to improvement. But for several teams in the 540, there's still more football business to handle, not just tonight but also in the weeks ahead in the playoffs. There are a bunch of different scenarios in play, and it all hinges on the outcomes of tonight's games, so let's dive right in!
INTRIGUING MATCH-UPS
#8 Riverbend (5-4) at #9 Massaponax (5-4)
In this head-to-head between two Commonwealth district teams, it's not just about chasing a 6-4 record. With the Stafford schools moving up to Class 6 for the VHSL playoffs Massaponax and Riverbend stand as the last representatives from the Commonwealth district in Region 5D. Currently, Massaponax holds the 3rd seed, and Riverbend sits at the 4th seed. Losing tonight could seriously shake up their path to the playoffs.
The team that comes out on top will snag the 3rd seed in the Region 5D playoffs, giving them a home-field advantage when the postseason rolls around. However, the team that falls short might slip down to the 4th seed, or in a not-so-great scenario, even down to the 5th seed. It's also worth noting that Lightridge from Loudoun County could be a factor if they reach a 6-4 record in their game against Potomac Falls tonight. But both of these teams are laser-focused on the task at hand tonight.
The Bears have battled their way through a tough schedule, facing the likes of King George (9-0), 2022 Class 5 Champion Highland Springs (8-1), Mountain View (9-0), and Colonial Forge (8-1). It's been a rollercoaster ride, but some players like Amir Mateo have consistently shone. Others, like running back Luke Marlow, have stepped up when injuries shuffled the deck. Quarterback Tanner Triplett keeps things steady, and their defense has shown its mettle in the five wins they've notched this season.
Before Coach Nathan Yates (2004-2018) arrived, Riverbend had never strung together back-to-back winning seasons. A victory tonight would mark a stellar four-season streak under his guidance.
As for Massaponax. They roll into tonight's game with a 5-4 record and three straight wins in their pocket. They've taken a hit from Mountain View and Colonial Forge too, and their other losses came from Richmond area schools Glen Allen (7-2) and Matoaca (7-2). Massaponax as always has been running the triple option offense to control the game clock and limit their opponents' chances. It's worked well in recent weeks and almost led to an upset against Forge just before their winning streak kicked off.
Last week, Gabe Newby-Morris called the shots at QB, but tonight, we'll see if it's him or Ian Shook stepping into the spotlight. The Panthers have a pretty solid track record against Riverbend, with a 16-2 all-time record in this Spotsylvania County rivalry. However, they'll need to stay sharp to hold off the Bears tonight.
Score Prediction
Riverbend 27 Massaponax 14
#5 Eastern View (8-1) at #7 Courtland (7-2)
Both of these squads are part of one of the toughest regions in the entire state. I mean, how often do you find a region where an 8-1 team might not even score a home playoff game? It's pretty wild. The good news is, a win tonight can help both teams improve their playoff seeding. As of now, Eastern View holds the 5th seed, while the Cougars are rocking the 7th seed. Making it to the playoffs is already a done deal for both, and in a region as stacked as 4B, any of the 8 teams making it could go on a serious playoff run.
For Courtland, it's been a bit of a grind to get back to this spot. The Cougars missed the playoffs for four straight seasons and weren't able finish above .500 during that time. But this year has been different. Loaded with seniors, the Courtland squad is sticking to their trademark style – running the ball like there's no tomorrow. The stars of this edition of Courtland football are running backs Christian Olivella and Marcus LaRue. They both take multiple carries behind a seasoned offensive line, aiming to keep the Cyclones' increasingly explosive offense on the sidelines for as long as possible.
Now, as for the Cyclones, they're coming into this game at 8-1 and with some dreams of snagging the 4th seed if they win and get a little help from other games tonight. Quarterback Aaron Hull is still doing his thing, spreading the love in the Cyclone offense. Meanwhile, the defense, led by linebacker Brett Clatterbaugh, has stepped up big time over the last month. If they can keep these performances going, they could be a real tough challenge for anyone who has to face them in the playoffs in the weeks ahead.
The Cyclones are ahead in this all-time series, leading 7-5 and winning 5 out of the last 6 matchups between these two teams. It's sure to be a showdown worth watching!
Score Prediction
Eastern View 17 Courtland 19
OTHER GAMES
* Projected Winners in bold
#1 King George (9-0) at Chancellor (2-7)
(Foxes look to cap off their fourth straight undefeated regular season)
Stafford (3-6) at #2 Mountain View (9-0)
(Wildcats look to celebrate their seniors and complete their first ever 10-0 season)
Brentsville District (8-1) at #3 Kettle Run (9-0)
(This huge matchup will likely be a preview of a playoff game between these 2 in a few weeks)
North Stafford (0-9) at #4 Colonial Forge (8-1)
(North looks to avoid their first winless season since 1986)
#6 Louisa (8-1) at Goochland (3-6)
(9-1 Jefferson district champs has a nice ring to it how far can the Lions go?)
Orange (4-5) @ Charlottesville (0-9)
(Orange has a slim shot a playoff birth but will likely need a loss from GW (Danville))
Caroline (3-6) at James Monroe (2-7)
(A win and a Goochland may be enough to get the Yellow Jackets a playoff spot)
Meridian (4-5) at Fauquier (1-8)
(Falcons look to close with optimism)
Culpeper (2-7) at Spotsylvania (3-6)
(Knights won't finish above .500 this season but they have a good future to look forward too)
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