By Michael "Moe" Murphy
Editor/Clarke County Sports
BLUEMONT, VA - It’s hard to believe that another fall is upon us. Tomorrow night marks the start of the VHSL 2010 High School Football Season. For players, teams, managers and coaching staff personnel the season started some time ago.
The first few weeks of the season bring about many interesting match ups. Teams from other districts, regions and in the case of our area, other states play to fill open dates before each district starts league play.
Some games, such as Loudoun County vs. Mussleman, WV date back for decades. As new schools open up, especially in the Dulles District, open dates become scarce, and some old rivalries, such as Loudoun County vs. Loudoun Valley have been dropped, but not forgotten.
First year schools sometimes will drop down in class to get a full schedule, such as in the case of Bull Run Single A George Mason playing at Dulles Double A Woodgrove. This will probably not turn into a long range series, but makes for an interesting matchup.
Smaller districts have the luxury of shopping around more, as half their schedule will consist of non league opponents. Many times old coaching buddies will schedule games with their old teams as a favor to one another.
This week finds about half the teams playing, the others not opening up till next week. All of the Dulles District with the exception of Freedom in action; only Clarke and Strasburg play from the Bull Run, Warren County and Fauquier County are the only Evergreen District, Sherando and Millbrook representing the Northwestern District open up tomorrow. Spotswood at E. Rockingham is the only game in the Shenandoah District being played.
Clarke County opens at home this year facing the AA Berkeley Springs, WV Indians, a team Clarke has built a good relationship with.
One of the games in the area generating the most interest is a Dulles / Northwestern matchup between Park View (D) and Sherando (NW) at Arrowhead Stadium in Stephens City. A rematch of last year’s classic, Justin Haines hit a 43 yard game winning field goal at the end of the game. Park View will look to enact revenge, at a noisy Arrowhead Stadium.
The 2 time Defending Champion Broad Run Spartans will play the Fauquier Falcons. The Falcons want to be the team to knock the Spartans off the 28 game win streak.
Strasburg and Warren County match up in a local area rivalry. Both teams want to make a statement about this year.
Finally, two new schools make their VHSL Debut tomorrow as the Tuscarora Huskies host the Woodgrove Wolverines as both teams play their first ever game in the Dulles District. A free tailgate party is being offered by the school, check their website at www.lcps.org
Local Teams in action
Friday 8/27
Berkeley Springs, WV at Clarke County
Strasburg at Warren County
Loudoun Valley at Dominion
Loudoun County at Mussleman, WV
Potomac Falls at Jefferson County, WV
Fauquier at Broad Run
Woodgrove at Tuscarora
Briar Woods at Millbrook
Park View at Sherando
Rappahannock County at E. Hardy, WV
Heritage, Stonebridge, Skyline, James Wood, Liberty, Freedom, Brentsville District, George Mason, Manassas Park, Madison County, and Kettle Run all have BYES
contact the reporter moe@clarkecountysports.com
No comments:
Post a Comment