Football preview
Published 7:23 am Friday, October 5, 2018
AMELIA (5-0) AT PRINCE EDWARD (3-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last season: Raiders 24, Eagles 20
Coach’s game notes: The Raiders enter this game after playing a make-up game Monday in which they beat visiting Cumberland 67-12. They got in only one quarter of a game Friday, Sept. 28, due to lack of lights at Randolph-Henry, but they already led 22-0.
They are quite good offensively. Senior quarterback Jalen Brown runs the show, distributing to a talented receiving corps that includes, 6-foot-3-inch senior Ziayahn Jackson, senior Howard Divens, junior Na-shawn Greene and a couple tight ends, senior Justin Pollock and junior Elijah Marshall.
Senior Justin Wilson and Marshall lead the Raiders’ run game, helping balance the offense.
Amelia’s solid defense features impressive athletes at linebacker, including Pollock.
GOOCHLAND (5-0) AT CUMBERLAND (0-5)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last season: Bulldogs 49, Dukes 7
Coach’s game notes: The Dukes come into this game far from 100 percent health-wise. Joining the list of linemen sidelined by injury, which includes senior Christian Jackson and junior Wyshawn Gilliam, is now junior center Blake Barker, who suffered a mild concussion during Monday’s make-up game, a 67-12 road loss to Amelia.
Cumberland may also still be without star senior Ziahir Berry, who injured his hand against Nottoway on Friday, Sept. 28.
With their new coach, the Bulldogs like to throw more, as junior Devin McCray passes to tall, rangy receivers, like senior Jonathan White.
Goochland’s defense features two of the district’s best linebackers — seniors Justin Woodson and Sam Brooks.
FUQUA (1-3) AT ROANOKE CATHOLIC (4-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
2017 state title game: Celtics 51, Falcons 36
2017 regular season: Celtics 14, Falcons 7
Coach’s game notes: The Celtics have won the VISAA Division III state championship three out of the last four years and appear to be a favorite this year.
Interestingly, they are nowhere near as complex up front in terms of scheme as they have been in the past, but they’re just as good. The Celtics have averaged 63.3 points per game this season and have won by an average of 52.3 points.
Last year’s state Player of the Year Mykah English is gone, but Celtics sophomore running back Kawuan Ray is a star along with the team’s fullback.
Defensively, the Celtics’ secondary is outstanding, as is senior defensive tackle James Carpenter.
BYE: BUCKINGHAM (2-4)