All season long, high school football coaches preach about channeling their focus on the task at hand and not concerning themselves with what other teams do.
This week however, the final week of the Bay Rivers regular season, you can bet that a few coaches not named Matt Lawson or Clark Harrell will be keeping close tabs on the Tabb-Smithfield showdown at Bailey Field Thursday night.
With most teams’ playoff fates already determined, three still heavily rely on Thursday night’s outcome.
Tabb, Grafton and Jamestown each enter the week 4-5 on the season (and 4-4 Bay Rivers play), with hopes of landing sixth and final playoff berth in Division 4 and join fellow BRD members Warhill and Smithfield in the postseason. Lafayette, York and Poquoson have all clinched in Division 3.
Depending on Thursday’s outcome, the scenario in Division 4 can either be pretty simple or extremely confusing.
If one of the three teams vying wins and the two others both lose, that winning team is in. If Tabb wins, they’re in regardless of what Grafton and Jamestown do on Friday.
Should Grafton and Jamestown each win and Tabb lose, Grafton’s early-season victory over Smithfield would give them an edge in points over the Eagles.
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Tabb (4-5, 4-4 Bay Rivers) vs.
Smithfield (8-1, 7-1 Bay Rivers)
Thursday, 7 p.m.. Bailey Field
Poquoson (4-5, 3-5 Bay Rivers) vs.
Lafayette (8-1, 7-1 Bay Rivers)
Thursday, 7 p.m., Wanner Stadium
Warhill (5-4, 4-4 Bay Rivers) vs.
Jamestown (4-5, 4-4 Bay Rivers)
Friday, 7 p.m., Wanner Stadium
York (7-2, 6-2 Bay Rivers) vs.
Grafton (4-5, 4-4 Bay Rivers)
Friday, 7 p.m., Bailey Field
New Kent (0-9, 0-8 Bay Rivers) vs.
Bruton (2-7, 1-7 Bay Rivers)
Friday, 7 p.m., New Kent High
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Should all three teams lose, it would appear Tabb would have the edge judging by the VHSL’s latest standings. However, matchups elsewhere in the region outside of the Bay Rivers could shake things up.
While the Tigers may appear to be in the driver’s seat, upsetting a much-improved and disciplined Smithfield team will be no easy task.
The Packers (8-1, 7-1 Bay Rivers District) enter the game needing a win to clinch a share of the Bay Rivers title and cap off a remarkable turnaround under first-year coach Harrell following a one-win season last fall.
Smithfield’s run has been no fluke, either. Sophomore quarterback Jermaal Wells, despite battling injuries off-and-on this year, is probably the best all-around QB in the district, and he’s not even the Packers’ strongest weapon.
That title would have to go to a defensive unit that has held six of nine opponents to single digits this season and posted two shutouts.
“They’re fast, athletic and they come after you every play,” Lawson said. “They love to get after it, so it’s going to be a big challenge for our offense.”
When Tabb has gotten consistent run production behind reliable backs Brent Hinson, a 1,000-yard rusher this season, and powerful Jake Brown, they’ve competed against some of the district’s best. That was evident in a 37-33 loss to Lafayette three weeks ago. The duo also wreaked havoc on Grafton’s imposing defensive front in a 34-28 upset over the Clippers the following week.
But after allowing Warhill star Devonte Dedmond to run wild for over 200 yards and four touchdowns last week in a 32-19 loss, Lawson says his biggest concern entering Thursday is tackling.
“We’ve got to finish tackles, especially after last week,” Lawson said. “On Warhill’s long run last week that put them ahead, I think we had five hands on Dedmond in the backfield and couldn’t bring him down. Smithfield has a lot of guys they like to run the ball with and all of them hit the holes hard. We have to be able to wrap guys up.”
Lawson added that his defensive unit has steadily improved over the past few weeks with the return of inside linebacker Austin Zimmerman and cornerback Stephen Griffin (broken hand), who were sidelined with injuries earlier this season, and expects both to have an impact on Thursday.
As gratifying as a return to the postseason would be for the Tigers, who missed out on the playoffs each the past two seasons, Lawson said it’s been a rewarding experience watching this year’s team that starts only a handful of seniors grow with each game.
Remember that 0-3 start? Few probably do, as Tabb’s 4-2 record since has crawled them back into the heat of playoff contention.
“This whole season has been a lot of fun,” Lawson said. “Since getting blown out by James Monroe in the season opener, every game since then has been close. It’s been fun for the kids, fun for me, and I think it’s been fun for the fans who have stuck with us all year.
“But it’s not over yet.”
