In Region I, where the Bay Rivers teams compete, Division 4 comes down to the final week. Even though they’re on the outside now, Tabb is sitting in the driver’s seat with a chance to leapfrog #6 Jamestown if the Tigers can win tonight against Smithfield. Jamestown and Grafton are also fighting for their playoff chances in the final week.
We’re down to the final week of the regular season and what does that bring? Phoebus and Hampton, squaring off against one another once again. The Phantoms and the Crabbers are battling for the Peninsula District title and better seeding in the Division 5 playoffs.
Just days before his team’s season finale against Woodside, Ricky Walker has added his fifth college scholarship offer. The Bethel lineman is impressive, dominating on the line in his junior season, and evolving into an All-State caliber player.
We’re now in the final week of the season and there are still playoff spots up for grabs. In Division I, five teams are vying for the last playoff spot. In Division II, four teams are contending for three spots. In Division III, three programs are chasing the last playoff bid, and in Division IV, four teams are going after the last berth.
The nightcap of Tuesday’s Eastern District action featured two tightly contested games: one for playoff position, and one just for the pride of the two teams involved. Maury and Norcom are each battling for a playoff spot in Division 5. Norview was trying to close the season with a few wins while Wilson was looking to get their first win of the year.
A quirk of rescheduling gave the region Tuesday night football and some games that had playoff implications. Games originally scheduled in the Eastern District on Saturday were moved because of the approach of Hurricane Sandy. Tuesday night brought two double headers: one at Powhatan Field and one at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.
The games from week nine of the Eastern District schedule have been set for Tuesday, October 30. Due to Hurricane Sandy, the games originally scheduled for Saturday will finally be made up in a pair of doubleheaders.
Hurricane Sandy has complicated the playoff picture just a bit. Ordinarily, we would have only one game left for each team at this point, but the Eastern District schools, including Division 6 Granby and Division 5 Lake Taylor, Maury and I.C. Norcom, still have two games to play since their Saturday contests were postponed. The games haven’t been officially rescheduled yet, but it looks like they’ll be played on Tuesday or Wednesday.
This week’s Freedom Ford Player of the Week is Oscar Smith quarterback Dashawn Blow. Last Friday night, Blow led his Tiger team to a convincing 27-0 win over district rival Grassfield.
Phoebus athlete Richie Staton has been a standout for the Phantoms all year. He transferred from Kecoughtan in the offseason and has flourished at his new address. Staton has been super productive, scoring touchdowns as a linebacker, tight end, punt returner and kick returner.