Prep Football Capsules: Saturday’s local games

SEE ALSO: Region Final Week Stories

TODAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

Northwest Region, Division 5

MOUNTAIN VIEW (8–4)

at NORTH STAFFORD (10–1), 2 p.m.

Last meeting: North Stafford built a 28–0 lead and beat the Wildcats, 35–13, when they played Sept. 7. The Wolverines have a decided 6–2 edge in the series since Mountain View opened in 2005. Mountain View routed the Wolverines in 2008 and won a close game in 2010. The two schools have never met in the postseason.

Today’s matchup: Both teams will look significantly different from the two squads that met in the third week of the regular season.

North Stafford coach Joe Mangano did a lot of shuffling after the Wolverines lost to Colonial Forge (three weeks after the Mountain View game). Most notably: Von Purvis threw for 144 yards—including a 52-yard first-quarter touchdown pass to Brandon Ravenel—in the first meeting. But Purvis has been replaced at QB by Jalen Sarratt, who threw three touchdowns in last week’s playoff opener against Brooke Point.

For Mountain View, the biggest change will be the loss of Commonwealth District offensive player of the year DaeSean Hamilton. He broke his collarbone in last Friday’s playoff win against Potomac and won’t play again this fall.

Hamilton had just two catches (and a touchdown run) in the regular-season meeting. His absence will surely affect how North Stafford plays defense against the Wildcats, without having to focus on one of the area’s premier pass catchers.

Region I, Division 4

COURTLAND (8–4)

at SMITHFIELD (10–1), 1:30 p.m.

Last meeting: Courtland is 2–0 against Smithfield in the postseason, with a 24–15 win in 2000 and a 24–7 win in 2006.

Common opponents in 2012: Both teams have wins against Warhill this year—Smithfield beat Warhill, 42–7, on Oct. 19 and the Cougars topped the Lions, 21–7, in the first round of the playoffs. King George beat the Cougars, 21–10, on Sept. 21 and the Lions eliminated the Foxes, 21–14, in last week’s regional semifinals.

Today’s matchup: This could be a defensive battle as both teams have been adept at stopping opposing offenses. The Cougars are coming off a hard-fought 23–20 victory over Chancellor in which they collected four interceptions. Sophomore fullback Anton Jenkins led the way offensively with 55 rushing yards and a touchdown, but Courtland amassed just 102 yards of total offense.

However, the Cougars limited mistakes. They committed just one penalty for seven yards and lost only one turnover—an interception with time running out in the second quarter.

Courtland is hoping to use the same formula for a victory today, but Smithfield may not cooperate.

The Packers used a powerful rushing attack to knock of King George in the regional semifinals. Running backs Kyon Croker and Trevor Batten both topped the 100-yard rushing mark against the Foxes.

Smithfield jumped out to a 14–0 lead before King George rallied to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. The Packers won the game on a 55-yard drive capped by Batten’s 7-yard touchdown run with 2:44 remaining. Smithfield quarterback Jermaal Wells passed for just 25 yards in the contest.

Getting there: Follow I–95 south to I–295 south and on to I–64 east toward Norfolk. Once in Newport News, take exit 263 to merge onto US 258 south toward the James River Bridge. Follow for 10.8 miles; turn right onto US 258/VA 32. Follow for 2.8 miles; turn right to stay on US 258 (Benns Church Blvd). Follow for one mile; turn left on Turner Drive. Smithfield High School is on the left. Approximately two hours, 32 minutes from Courtland High School.

Region I, Division 3

PARK VIEW–SOUTH HILL (9–2)

at JAMES MONROE (10–1), 1:30 p.m.

Last meeting: The schools have played just one other time: James Monroe beat Park View in the 2006 Region I, Division 3 final. Dante Atkins blocked a pair of punts and the jackets outscored the Dragons 23–0 in the second half to win, 21–13.

Common opponents in 2012: None.

Today’s matchup: The Dragons shook up the Region I, Division 3 bracket with their 19–14 upset of top-seeded Lafayette last Friday. The Rams had led 14–0 early and 14–13 in the fourth quarter, but Brett Cliborne connected with NooNoo Patterson on a 54-yard scoring pass with less than seven minutes to play to lift Park View.

The Dragons played without leading rusher Jason Baskerville, who missed the game because of a shoulder injury. They surrendered 306 rushing yards to Lafayette but made two interceptions and recovered a fumble.

Tony Scott’s short touchdown run in the fourth quarter broke a 21–21 tie to lift JM past York last Friday. Sophomore Jay Scroggins had one of his best games since taking over as the Jackets’ quarterback, finishing 9-of-13 passing for 153 yards and two touchdowns and 70 rushing yards on 12 carries. Adrian Boone had 77 yards on 15 carries and Sean Bates should return to the JM backfield this Friday to give the Jackets another weapon.

—Justin Rice

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