Title Hopes High For Park View and Heritage
When: Friday October 13th, 2006
Where: Park View High School
Time: 7:30pm Kickoff
(Sterling, VA) - The path to a Dulles District championship may be carved on Friday for the Park View Patriots or the Heritage Pride. The first week of district play starts in Sterling Park this week for both teams. Park View (4-1) enters the contest as the favorite to win the Dulles District this season. Despite last week's tough loss to Martinsburg, the Patriots have shown they are the team to beat. Park View is averaging 26.4 points per game, and tailback Deric Dudinski is on pace to break the all time rushing mark held by Tony Conway at Park View High School. Dudinski has been electrifying so far this season, scoring 12 touchdowns in just 5 games.
Heritage split the district title with Park View a year ago, and the Pride are off to another good start this season. Heritage (3-2) is fresh off a good win over Briar Woods, and the Pride have possibly the area's best big play threat in returning All Gameday player Bobby Edmonds. Edmonds leads the Dulles District in receiving and is a threat to score in every aspect of the game. He has already returned a kickoff for a touchdown this year and continues to be a force on defense at the safety position.
Key Match-ups
Park View's defensive line has been stout in recent weeks. The Patriots have a size advantage against Heritage on the line, but it's their quickness that should worry the Heritage coaching staff. If Park View wins the battle in the trenches, look for it to be a long night for Heritage.
Skill position players are what everyone talks about, but the match-up that has our attention involves Heritage linebacker Zak Burkhard. Burkhard is a tough player who has proven in 5 games to be around the football on nearly every play. He will need to play big on Friday and keep Dudinski and the rest of the Patriots in check on offense.
Nuggets of the Game:
Presented by: Chick-Fil-A
For Park View:
Ø Score Early and Often
Ø Take Edmonds out of the game
Ø Make Pride QB Kyle Nelson Sore Saturday Morning
For Heritage
Ø Establish The Running Game
Ø Play Mistake Free Football
Ø Force Park View To Throw To Win
The Bottom Line:
This game should decide who takes the driver's seat for the 2006 Dulles District title. Park View has the experience and size advantage, but Heritage has the speed advantage with players like Bobby Edmonds and Sean McCoy. If the Pride can force Park View to have to throw the ball to win, they will have a shot. Heritage QB Kyle Nelson needs to play the game of his life to help the Pride win this one.
Our Predition:
Heritage will give Park View all they can handle, but in the end, the Patriots have too much for Heritage to overcome. Park View pulls it out in a close game in the 4th quarter.
Projected Final Score:
Park View - 31
Heritage 28
Friday's Weather Forecast:
Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the mid 30s.
