http://www2.tricities.com/sports/2011/nov/18/fridays-playoff-predictions-ar-1467198/
Castlewood (8-3) at Galax (11-0)
Group A, Division 1 Western Section, 2nd Round
Tonight at 7
Last meeting: N/A
Castlewood earned its first playoff win since 1987 last Friday with a 38-24 victory over Rye Cove. Getting another postseason triumph will be a tough task as the Blue Devils travel to the Western Section’s top seed. … Galax is averaging 48.1 points per game and put 64 points on Holston last week in a first-round playoff win. … Jordan Vaughan (144 carries, 1,139 yards, 17 touchdowns) leads the Galax running game, while quarterback Austin Pack has 13 TD passes to his credit, while throwing just two picks. … Castlewood relies on a balanced offense and the Blue Devils have rushed for 1,880 yards and passed for 1,414 yards this season. … Castlewood’s Addison Rasnick is one of Southwest Virginia’s most versatile players as evidenced by the statistics: 131 carries, 761 yards; 15 receptions, 315 yards; 10 total touchdowns; team-leading 115 tackles. … All three of Castlewood’s losses this season have come on the road. … Castlewood’s defense will not be able to keep up with Galax’s speedy, high-octane offense. Then again, no team has been able to keep pace with the Maroon Tide all season.
Prediction: Galax 48, Castlewood 16
Radford (8-3) at George Wythe (11-0)
Group A, Division 1 Western Section, 2nd Round
Tonight at 7
Last meeting: George Wythe 10, Radford 7 (Sept. 9, 2011 in Wytheville, Va.)
For the second time in two months these old rivals get reacquainted at Pendleton Field. … The rivalry was born back when both schools were members of the now-defunct New River District. … This will be the sixth time the two teams have met in the postseason. George Wythe beat Radford in the 2002 playoffs, while Radford downed the Maroons in 2000, 2003, 2009 and 2010. … The Bobcats have ended GW’s season the last two years, winning 33-28 in 2009 and 26-0 in 2010. That should serve as plenty of motivation for the Maroons. … Both teams advanced by crushing Cumberland District teams in the first round – George Wythe rolled to a 73-35 victory over Twin Springs and Radford trounced Thomas Walker, 45-6. … GW won the regular-season matchup between the two teams on a Mikel Hawks field goal as time expired. Isaac Young had 101 rushing yards for the Maroons in that game. … Young needs just 94 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Two other Maroons – Hunter Tolley (1,023) and Jonathan Turpin (1,022) – have already reached that milestone. … Radford’s three losses this season have come to teams (Galax, GW and Giles) that have a combined 32-1 record. … Radford will certainly not be intimidated by George Wythe and its spotless record, so this game should be close once again.
Prediction: George Wythe 17, Radford 15
Tunstall (5-6) at Richlands (10-0)
Group AA, Division 3, Region IV 2nd Round
Tonight at 7:30
Last meeting: Richlands 28, Tunstall 0 (Nov. 15, 2002 at Richlands in the Region IV semifinals)
Everything appears in order for another state title run at Richlands. Because Cave Spring lost 41-39 to Hidden Valley on Nov. 4, the Blue Tornado could play at home until the state finals. …The long list of stars for the Blues is headed by 6-foot-3 senior Devon Johnson. The Marshall recruit has rushed for 1,501 yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging 12.5 yards per carry. … Quarterback Reece Strong has thrown for 1,585 yards and 20 scores, with 6-foot-4 senior Todd McGlothlin (28 receptions, 443 yards) and 6-foot junior A.J. Johnson (27 receptions, 482 yards) serving as the top targets. … Florida International University bound Josh Hess (6-7, 295) keys the massive offensive line. …Linebacker Devon Johnson (93 tackles), defensive end McGlothlin (43 tackles), defensive back Josh Compton (14 tackles for loss, four interceptions) and 6-foot-3, 255-pound tackle Hunter Brown (74 tackles) are defensive stoppers … Tunstall compiled 409 yards rushing last week en route to a 49-14 opening round win over Marion. Junior quarterback Evan Huffman accounted for 137 yards on just 12 carries while Elijah Motley added 169 yards. The Trojans were also able to harness a potent Marion offense which featured Ethan Richardson (958 yards rushing) and Marshall Wagner (1,515 yards passing). ...In the regular season, Huffman passed for 782 yards and ran for 232 yards. Junior Jacob Barnette (434 yards) and Motley (292 yards) were also effective. Senior Tight end Jake Whitaker (6-3, 190) is another player to watch. …Tunstall, a multi-time state baseball champion, defeated Rustburg (21-20) and Patrick County (21-13) but lost to Dan River (35-6) and Martinsville (21-14). Richlands drubbed Patrick County 49-0. The Trojans average 22 points per game but allowed 24 ppg. … Richlands opened its playoff charge last season with a 63-19 home win over Martinsville as Johnson rushed for 121 yards.
Prediction: Richlands 48, Tunstall 7