Week 9 Preview: Big Games.....

1) Hermitage (5-0, 6-2) at Deep Run (5-0, 8-0)----gonna be a big weekend in Twin Hickory. Saturday night, Governor Sarah Palin will hold a rally on this final weekend of campaigning, and there's this little football game going on the night before. As much as my son (a Hermitage junior) would want me to pick the Panthers, I just can't do it. For part of this season, it can be argued Deep Run, and not Varina, should have been ranked #1 in the Central Region. Two factors give Deep Run the edge for the moment.....

---Antone Exum: he almost guarantees a special teams touchdown in a game when he steps on the field. He's also led DR over Hanover on the road.
---Home Field: there's nothing like being on the home field. Even better, it's great not to be in Chester Fritz Stadium, one of the more unique home football settings in the Central Region.

My gut says: Deep Run 27, Hermitage 20, with the winning TD in the final eight minutes.

2) Clover Hill (4-2, 6-2) at Cosby (4-2, 5-3)---Two factors come into play in this major Dominion District battle.....

---Home Field: Advantage, Cosby. That helps, plus they are looking for revenge after losing to CH last season. BUT......Cosby is coming to the end of a grueling schedule, having played the following four teams in the past five games (no disrespect to George Wythe.....)

Monacan, Manchester, Hanover, and L.C. Bird. They only defeated Monacan. So, they come into the game having lost three of four.......

Which brings us to:

---Last Friday night. While Cosby went toe to toe against Bird, Clover Hill had the night off. A rare bye week, especially this late. A time to rest some bumps and bruises. Will that help? Can't hurt. But it's up to them to have had TWO good weeks of practices to keep them in late season form.

My gut says: Cosby takes it, 28-21.

3) Hanover (2-2, 5-3) at Lee-Davis (2-2, 3-5): PH fans better (gulp!) root for Lee Davis on THEIR Senior Night, too! The Patriots are on the outside of the playoffs looking in and need help on top of having to beat Mills Godwin and Hermitage. Their best chances right now are Clover Hill knocking off Cosby and, yes, Lee-Davis finally coming through at home for a signature win.

The Confederates have shown propensity for intense and great play, they have fallen short in every game played against a tougher opponent. In my opinion, this is their last chance, as Atlee does not play on Lee-Davis' level. But for all that "moral victory" stuff, they could finish a seven-game home schedule (thanks to the Tomato Bowl moving to Mechanicsville for their 50th anniversary) with a record of:

2-5.

With wins over only Armstrong and Henrico. Losing to Hermitage, PH, Manchester, Highland Springs, and Hanover at home would negate the "moral victory" view, in my opinion.

But, with ALL that....Hanover simply has too much to lose and they know they have to win. Lee-Davis will not be their John Marshall.

My gut says: Hanover 14, Lee-Davis 12

OH-----and Patrick Henry 34, Mills Godwin 14. According to my gut. :)

Quick Updates!

SCORES:

Clover Hill 62, Manchester 41
L.C. Bird 55, Huguenot 6

Lee-Davis 43, Armstrong 6

Cosby 17, Monacan 14 (game with D5 playoff implications!)


PH/Tucker on the air at 605pm on WHAN, hope to have podcast up later this week and game summary posted later tonight or tomorrow.

Fox Richmond/DigitalSports.com Top Ten: Sept. 22, 2008

Records as of Monday, Sept. 22
(All games Friday, 7:30 p.m. unless noted)

Team (Record, previous ranking)

1. Meadowbrook (3-0, 1): idle. Next up: vs. Thomas Dale.

2. Varina (4-0, 3): beat No. 4 Hermitage 22-8.
Next up: at Atlee.

3. Deep Run (3-0, 2): beat No. 5 Hanover 21-14.
Next up: vs. John Marshall.

4. Highland Springs (2-1, 6): beat Mills Godwin 33-14. Next up: vs. No. 6 Hanover.

5. L.C. Bird (2-1, 7): beat No. 8 Manchester 34-0. Next up: vs. Huguenot.

6. Hanover (2-1, 5): lost to No. 2 Deep Run 21-14.
Next up: at No. 4 Highland Springs.

7. Hermitage (1-2, 4): lost to No. 3 Varina 22-8.
Next up: vs. Mills Godwin.

8. Clover Hill (3-1, 9): beat Huguenot 38-0. Next up: vs. Manchester.

9. Patrick Henry (2-1, 10): beat Lee-Davis 14-13. Next up: J.R. Tucker.

10. Cosby (3-0, NR): beat James River 44-0. Next up: at Monacan.

Others receiving votes: Dinwiddie (2-1, NR); Manchester (2-1, 8); Monacan (3-0, NR); Petersburg (3-0, NR)


Check out Fox 35 sports anchor Joe Sullivan on Friday nights at 10:45 p.m. for highlights and scores from football action!

Week Three High School Football Scores

49th Tomato Bowl: Patrick Henry 14, Lee-Davis 13

OTHER COUNTY SCHOOLS:

Douglas Freeman 14, Atlee 7
Deep Run 21, Hanover 14

OTHER COLONIAL DISTRICT SCHOOLS:

Varina 22, Hermitage 8
Highland Springs 33, Mills Godwin 14
Henrico 26, J.R. Tucker 13
Caroline 28, Thomas Jefferson 12
(JOHN MARSHALL was idle)


L.C. Bird 34, Manchester 0
Cosby 44, James River 0
Clover Hill 38, Huguenot 0
Monacan 34, Prince George 33 (Double OT)
Dinwiddie 48, Nottoway 8
Armstrong 21, Colonial Heights 12
Midlothian 31, George Wythe 8
GW-Danville 48, Matoaca 34
Powhatan 19, Monticello 18
Prince Edward 25, Goochland 22