PARK VIEW VS BRIAR WOODS PREVIEW
What: #9 Park View (6-0) vs Briar Woods (5-1)
Where: Park View High School, Sterling, VA
When: Friday 7:30pm Kickoff
Broadcast Media:
Gameday Radio Network
Live Coverage Starts at 6:45pm
Online at www.GamedayMagazine.com
STERLING, VA - Showdown Friday starts with the biggest game in the Dulles District with Park View hosting Briar Woods. The Patriots (6-0) played a nail-biter last week against Potomac Falls and pulled out the win with a trick play late in the 4th quarter. Briar Woods breezed over Loudoun County to improve to (5-1) which sets up this highly anticipated match-up.
Park View is the two time defending Dulles District champion and Briar Woods is just in their second season playing varsity football period. So how can the Falcons hang with the Patriots you ask? They will do so with their senior leadership and the coaching of Charlie Pierce and his staff. Pierce took over the Briar Woods program three years ago after leading the Park View Patriots to several outstanding seasons. While some think that this game shouldn't be that close, the facts are all together convincing me otherwise.
Key Match-Ups
Presented By: Ourisman Chantilly Toyota
Briar Woods Offensive Line vs Park View Defensive Line:
If you are the Falcons, practice stopping one thing this week, Thomas Mulabah. Mulabah has been dominant this year registering 49 tackles, and 20 tackles for a loss in only six games. He has also recorded 7 sacks and continues to change the opposing offense's game plan. Game planning for Mulabah is a double edged sword, and if you put too much emphasis on stopping him, the other defensive linemen start to hurt you just as much. Briar Woods will have to frustrate Mulabah by getting rid of the football early and often and that means Munro will have to utilize the quick 3-step passing game more. In addition, Briar Woods has to establish some sort of running attack, which they didn't do last year in a lopsided defeat. If the Falcons can run it effectively and throw it quickly for big plays, they have a chance to neutralize the Patriots advantage in the trenches.
Park View Passing Game vs Briar Woods Secondary
Park View's C.J Leizear has thrown for more yardage and touchdowns than any quarterback in the area, but he has also thrown more interceptions as well. This leads me to believe the key match-up for the Patriots in this game lies with the decision making of their signal caller and senior leader. Briar Woods has the Dulles District's best skill position players in the defensive backfield, led by Devin Barber at corner. If Leizear gives the Falcons easy interceptions, they will make the Patriots pay. That being said, if the Patriots don't take care of the ball on Friday night, the Falcons can get on the scoreboard quickly. Look for Park View's Danny Foley to be a key factor in this game. Foley had two touchdowns last week and none more clutch than the one that saved the game for the Patriots with under two minutes left.
Nuggets of the Game:
Presented by Chick-fil-A
For Park View:
- Take Tim King Out Of The Game
- Make Briar Woods One Dimensional
- Avoid Turnovers and Play 4 Quarters
For Briar Woods:
- Establish The Running Game
- Win The Battle In The Trenches
- Score 30 points and You Win
All Gameday Performers In This Game:
Presented By: Paintworx
C.J Leizear - Quarterback - Park View (2005)
Leizear is showcasing his talents again this fall, leading the Dulles District in passing with (1,706 yards and 18 touchdowns. Nobody is close to those numbers and it is conceivable that Leizear could reach the 2,000 yard mark on Friday against Briar Woods.
Thomas Mulabah - Defensive End - Park View (2006)
Mulabah is on pace to match his 2006 totals of over 40 tackles for a loss as he stands with 20 now at the midway point in the season. His 7 sacks could easily be twice that as he has been close to many more. Mulabah will have a tremendous game against Briar Woods and could be a deciding factor in the outcome.
All Gameday 2007 Watch:
Presented By: Moe's Southwest Grill
Alex Munro - Quarterback - Briar Woods
Munro is completing 66% of his passes this season and has thrown for 16 touchdowns in the first 6 games of the year. Munro is the most accurate passer in the Dulles District and his ability to find the open man makes him a legit All Gameday possibility. Figuring into every All Gameday selection process is how a quarterback plays in the big games against great competition. Munro needs a win over a quality opponent like Park View to really separate himself from the other outstanding quarterbacks in the region.
Tim King - Wide Receiver - Briar Woods
King has 9 TD's in just 6 games into his senior season and continues to impress. With King's ability to go up and make a play on the deep ball, Briar Woods has a much better chance to win this game than they did last year. King will need to play big on Friday night and if he puts out a huge performance, the Falcons may be on the winning side of things for the first time against Park View.....
Expert Prognostication:
Park View should win this game based on what they have in the stable, but being the favorite means playing like it, and that is something they haven't done recently. Park View's close win over Potomac Falls concerned me because it showed they played down to their competition. Briar Woods has to gain confidence early in this game because last year's thumping given by the Patriots is still a somewhat recent memory. If the Patriots allow the Falcons to head into the half believing that they belong on the field, this should turn out to be an exciting finish. Park View is bigger, but Briar Woods is faster. Look for this game to be close with this scenario playing out. If Park View takes care of the football, they win by 14. If the Patriots are sloppy, Briar Woods wins by 7 in a huge Dulles District upset. How's that for riding the fence? I'm starting to sound like Bornarth on my predictions!
Listen to Gameday All Access this week to get the predictions of this game and the rest being played in the region and listen Friday night to this Dulles District showdown on the Gameday Radio Network with coverage starting at 6:45pm.
Weather:
Highs in the low 80's, chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the 60's.
