Forecast and predictions for Week 3 of the Bay Rivers football season.
Lafayette (3-0, 2-0 Bay Rivers) @ Smithfield (3-0, 2-0 Bay Rivers), Smithfield High, 7 p.m.
Clearly the game of the week, one very important thing will be learned in this one: Lafayette’s seemingly unstoppable running game is just that, or Smithfield’s defense is for real. The Packers’ defense has stifled opponents to the tune of just barely 100 yards of total offense allowed per game, but they haven’t met an offense clicking quite like Rams, who have put scores of 49, 57, 45 on the scoreboard in their first three games this season thanks to a bevy of backs led by shifty Jhalil Green. Another strong performance for Smithfield quarterback Jermaal Wells could mean a Packers victory as well as lots of Player of the Year talk for the versatile QB.
Prediction: Lafayette 28 Smithfield 20
York (3-0, 2-0 Bay Rivers) vs. Jamestown (1-2, 1-1 Bay Rivers), Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Jamestown coach Lee Williams said after practice Thursday that one thing he’s noticed about York is that their secondary hasn’t been tested. Williams said he plans on throwing the ball early and often, but without straying too far away from a versatile game led by the speedy Daivon Turner and powerful Stas Szczepanski. Eagles quarterback Tyler Doane has thrown for over 250 yards and three touchdowns so far. York coach Doug Pereira said he was unhappy with the week of practice his team had leading up to their narrow 14-7 win over Tabb last Friday, so expect the Falcons and their four-deep backfield to come out ready for a dangerous Jamestown bunch. Jamestown’s Mike Mason had two touchdown receptions in last week’s 28-18 loss to Smithfield, so look for him to be a key target in the Eagles passing game.
Prediction: York 18 Jamestown 12
Grafton (1-2, 1-1 Bay Rivers) @ Bruton (1-2, 0-2 Bay Rivers), Bruton High’s ‘Pit’, 7 p.m.
Grafton coach Jared Van Acker said his team has been anxious to get back on the field after finally getting things on track offensively last week against New Kent. With the dreaded 0-2 start behind them, Van Acker hopes that will solve some of the mental issues that plagued the preseason district favorites early on. Bruton, unfortunately, is still dealing with those problems. The Panthers have seven turnovers in their last two games and over 150 penalty yards. A major boost for Bruton is that versatile playmaker Kapri Doucet returns from a one-game suspension. Grafton quarterback Jett Johnson has settled down and improved with each game, and running back Dylan Bartells returned to his old self with 177 yards on 29 carries last week, so look for the improvements to continue against a struggling Bruton team.
Prediction: Grafton 30 Bruton 12
Tabb (0-3, 0-2 Bay Rivers) @ Poquoson (2-1, 1-1 Bay Rivers), Poquoson Middle, 7 p.m.
Despite losing 14-7 to the defending district champs, Tabb is coming off its best performance of the season thanks to a front line that went toe-to-toe with a much bigger York squad in the trenches. Poquoson has also been somewhat of a surprise – the Islanders’ thrilling 21-20 overtime victory over preseason district favorite Grafton was shocking – but are coming off a tough loss to a Warhill team that was decimated with injuries. Tabb coach Matt Lawson said they’ll be without starting cornerback Stephen Griffin, who injured his thumb in practice this week, but given the Islanders’ seven total passing attempts in the last two games, the injury shouldn’t prove costly. The Tigers enter with the momentum, so we’ll give them a slight edge, although playing on the road – especially at Poquoson – always makes a difference in the Bay Rivers.
Prediction: Tabb 16 Poquoson 14
Warhill (2-1, 1-1 Bay Rivers) @ New Kent (0-3, 0-2 Bay Rivers)
Warhill just can’t catch a break from injuries. While star playmaker Devonte Dedmond is slowly returning to full health – his four touchdown performance in a win over Poquoson last week proves that – the Lions will go into Friday’s road contest at New Kent without starting defensive ends Parker Osterloh (shoulder), a Virginia Tech commit, and Bryce Johnson (broken foot). Osterloh will likely return next week, but Warhill coach Billy Jarvis said he expects Johnson to miss at least five more weeks. Quarterback Seth Thompson and defensive back Terrell Braxton, who sat out last Friday, are expected to play against New Kent. Despite the injuries, look for Warhill to persevere once again against a struggling Trojans team that has allowed over 40 points in each of the first three games while being outscored by nearly 100 points (149-58).
Prediction: Warhill 35 New Kent 18
