Gameday Notebook - NWD (5th Ed.)
The James Wood Colonels ended a 9+ year winless streak against the Sherando Warriors with the 17-14 win last Friday.
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday
Trae Tinsman has helped lead the James Wood Colonels to their best start in over 9 years with a 7-1 mark. They must beat Skyline this week to keep their district title hopes alive.
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday
Skyline's Andrew Thorne had another big night last week against Brentsville, hauling in 3 TD catches on just 5 receptions.
Photo By: Jeff Schryver / Gameday
WINCHESTER, VA - What a week we had in the Northwestern district! The Handley Judges kept their district title hopes alive by beating the Millbrook Pioneers, without Jeremiah Wilson in the 2nd half. Skyline bounced back against Brentsville, with Andrew Thorne and Nathaniel White having big games. And finally, the James Wood Colonels toppled the Sherando Warriors in a Gameday Instant Classic that came down to the wire.
I have to start this week's notebook by congratulating the Colonels on a hard fought victory. James Wood made the plays when it mattered in the game and kept their undefeated district record in tact, and will have to beat another tough opponent I Skyline this week before ending the season against Handley at home. We will dive into the Northwestern district standings, some of the top performers from a week ago, and take a look at the rest of the district season, as we are only 3 weeks away for the playoffs.
DISTRICT STANDINGS
James Wood (7 - 1; 5 - 0)
Handley (6 - 1; 4 - 0)
Sherando (5 - 2; 3 - 2)
Skyline (6 - 2; 3 - 2)
Millbrook (4 - 4; 2 - 3)
Brentsville (1 - 6; 1 - 3)
Warren Co. (3 - 5; 1 - 4)
Central (1 - 7; 0 - 5)
TOP PERFORMERS
Passing
Ross Metheny, Sherando: 28-45 for 403 yards; 2 TD and 2 INT
Nathaniel White, Skyline: 12-23 for 210 yards; 3 TD
Trae Tinsman, James Wood: 6-9 for 115 yards; 1 TD Passing and 1 TD Rushing
Rushing
Marty Haley, Warren Co.: 33 carries for 140 yards; 3 TD
Philip Johnson, Brentsville: 21 carries for 121 yards; 1 TD
Kieren Caison, Skyline: 7 carries for 116 yards; 1 TD
Jeremiah Wilson, Handley: 11 carries for 116 yards
Timar McFarlane, Handley: 18 carries for 105 yards; 1 TD
Receiving
Derrick Dehaney, Sherando: 14 catches for 186 yards; 1 TD
Dalton Boyd, Sherando: 5 catches for 117 yards
Andrew Thorne, Skyline: 5 catches for 115 yards; 3 TD
REMAINING DISTRICT SCHEDULE
10/24/2008
Millbrook at Central
Brentsville at Sherando
James Wood at Skyline
10/25/2008
Warren Co. at Handley
10/31/2008
Central at Brentsville
Handley at James Wood
Sherando at Millbrook
11/1/2008
Skyline at Warren Co.
11/7/2007
Handley at Brentsville
Kettle Run at Sherando
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Currently there are 4 teams in the district that would be in the playoffs if they started this week, both James Wood and Sherando in Division 4, and both Handley and Skyline in Division 3. There is still plenty of football left to be played, but there is a good possibility that we will see 4 teams from the Northwestern in the postseason, which begins on Nov. 14th. Also, the Millbrook Pioneers are currently just a few points behind the Skyline Hawks for a playoff spot in Division 3. As you can see above there are still a few games left to be played in these final 3 weeks that will sort out the playoff races.
DISTRICT GAME TO WATCH
James Wood at Skyline
Friday October 24, 2008; 7:30PM
Both programs are coming off winning weeks with the Colonels beating the Sherando Warriors and the Hawks taking out the Brentsville Tigers. Skyline is currently holding onto the #4 seed in the Region II playoffs as James Wood is the #3 seed for the playoff race. These two teams played last year for the first time ever with the Colonels winning 28-13, and with the improved Hawks this year's game should be even closer.
This is a great match-up between the stingy James Wood defense and the high powered Skyline offense. The Colonels forced two key turnovers last week in their win and they will have to do the same this week against the Hawks passing attack of Nathaniel White to Andrew Thorne. I believe that the Hawks will try to get the ball into Thorne's hands any way they are able to I this one. Thorne has quickly become one of the best deep threats in the entire district week in and week out. The James Wood secondary will be tested against the receiver's size and speed. Another match-up to watch will be the Colonels rushing attack against the front 7 for Skyline. Last week Brentsville was able to run for over 130 yards against the Hawks. If James Wood can get ahead in this one early they have the big boys in the trenches that can open running lanes for their backs and therefore eat up game clock, something the Hawks cannot afford to happen.
GAMEDAY PREDICTION: JAMES WOOD 28 - SKYLINE 20
