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.
There’s still time to vote for this week’s Freedom Ford Player of the Week on recruit757. Throughout the regular season, fans will select the Freedom Ford Player of the Week for the region from the nominees provided. Go to recruit757 on Facebook now to register your vote. The poll question is pinned to the top of the page.
With a “Frankenstorm” bearing down on the east coast and conditions not being the best for a football game, undefeated Franklin hosted undefeated Sussex Central at noon Saturday at Armory Field. The wind was blowing at kickoff at about 20 mph, but that did not deter either of the competitors from coming out strong. Fans were still “filtering” into Armory Field when the Tigers of Sussex County kicked off to give the Broncos the first possession.
It was a hard fought battle, but Oscar Smith wore down the Grizzlies, kept them off the scoreboard, and bulled their way to another Southeastern District title.