With the help of the Virginia High School League’s first weekly ratings of the season, the high school football playoff picture is beginning to take form.
Seven district teams would earn postseason berths if the season ended today, but much could — and likely will — change as we’re still a week away from the season’s midpoint.
This week’s Game of the Week again features the Lafayette Rams, who will look to continue their tear and, if they haven’t already, cement themselves as the clear team to beat in the Bay Rivers District.
My record from last week’s picks (click here to view them): 2-3
My season record: 9-6
GAME OF THE WEEK: Lafayette (4-0, 3-0 BRD) vs. Jamestown (2-2, 2-1 BRD)
7 p.m. Friday, Wanner Stadium
Prediction: Lafayette 35 Jamestown 21
It’s becoming tougher and tougher to bet against the Rams, who have steamrolled district opponents a combined 133-42 in three games thus far. In what was supposed to be Lafayette’s toughest test of the season, the Rams pounded the Tabb Tigers 63-14 on Friday in what coach Andy Linn called his team’s “most complete” performance of the season. The offense has been clicking on all cylinders thanks to a dominant running game led by University of Richmond-bound Jahlil Green, which has effectively set up the passing game and allowed shifty wideout Brandon Villanueva-Pernell to make big plays in the open field. Jamestown coach Lee Williams hopes to have a defensive scheme that can produce a similar result to his father’s at Brunswick, which held the Rams to a season-low 16 points in both teams’ opener, but says another five-turnover performance would doom those chances. Along with a stout defensive effort, Jamestown will also need a strong effort from quarterback Tyler Doane and running backs Daivon Turner and Stas Szczepanski in order to slip up the Rams, who enter this week as the No. 1 rated team in Region 3A East based on the VHSL’s new points system.
Warhill (1-3, 1-2 BRD) vs. Poquoson (2-2, 1-2 BRD)
7 p.m. Thursday, Wanner Stadium
Prediction: Warhill 27 Poquoson 24
Last year, Warhill star Devonte Dedmon gave one of the best performances of his career against Poquoson when he ran for 200 yards and passed for another 100 while playing a hand in all four of the Lions’ touchdowns in a 32-14 victory. On the heels of back-to-back losses this season, Warhill could use a similar performance from Dedmon this time around against the Islanders. The Lions’ defense has allowed 33.5 points and more than 250 rushing yards per game against district opponents — a stat that likely has a Poquoson team averaging less than five pass attempts a game licking its chops — which is a big reason Dedmon’s five combined touchdowns the past two weeks haven’t been enough. The Islanders’ defense has not been spectacular either, allowing district opponents to score just under 30 points per game. So, whichever team can make a late stop or commits fewer turnovers and mistakes will likely have the edge.
New Kent (2-2, 2-1 BRD) vs. Tabb (2-2, 2-1 BRD)
7 p.m. Friday, New Kent High
Prediction: Tabb 27 New Kent 17
At 2-1, New Kent, which finished the season winless in the Bay Rivers District last fall, has been the turnaround story of the year thus far. This week, the Trojans face their toughest test of the season against a Tabb team that has been itching to get back on the field following a 63-14 blowout loss against Lafayette last week. The Tigers’ defense took a pounding last Friday but could get back on track this week against a New Kent offense that has scored the fewest points in the district. Offensively, Tabb’s running game, led by junior standout Brent Hinson, should have little trouble moving the ball against a Trojans team that has struggled stopping the run, even in an 11-8 victory two weeks ago against York when the Falcons rushed for more than 220 yards.
Bruton (2-2, 1-2 BRD) vs. York (2-2, 2-1 BRD)
7 p.m. Friday, Bruton High’s “The Pit”
Prediction: York 20 Bruton 14
York coach Doug Pereira admits the offense is still a work in progress, but the Falcons’ defense showed last week it can shoulder the load in a 13-0 shutout victory over Poquoson. While York’s offense has scored the third fewest amount of points in the district, the Falcons’ defensive unit has given up the least amount of points – 23 in three games – thanks to the unblockable Reynolds brothers, Darius and Malcom, on the defensive ends and linebacker Marcus Wakelyn, who also leads York’s offense in rushing. Bruton’s offense looked sharp against Warhill last Friday, as quarterback Bilal Wallace continues to improve under center. But the difference was Kapri Doucet, who, on the same day he announced his commitment to JMU, rushed for three touchdowns and caught another. If the Falcons can slow him and Wallace down, look for York to win its third-straight following an 0-2 start to the season.
Grafton (1-3, 0-3 BRD) vs. Smithfield (2-2, 1-2 BRD)
7 p.m. Friday, Bailey Field
Prediction: Smithfield 28 Grafton 14
Grafton, which has become decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball, continues to struggle offensively without quarterback Ryan Hiser, who led the Clippers to a 13-0 win in Week 1 over Hopewell. Since then, Grafton has dropped its last three games by a combined score of 78-24, the last being a 16-0 shutout loss last Friday against a New Kent team that had been allowing more than 30 points per game to opponents on the season. There’s a chance Hiser could return under center this week, and the Clippers will need all the offensive firepower possible against a Smithfield team that, led by freshman running back Donald King — who has rushed for more than 100 yards three-straight weeks — is averaging close to 30 points per game so far.
