VA Preps Richlands @ Brookville Preview & Prediction

[Nadoball 18]

Patrick Mauney, Double A Football Editor

 

 

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Talk about it in FOOTBALL AA - REGION IV

Richlands Blue Tornado (12-0) @ Brookville Bees (12-1)

 

Saturday, 130pm | Brookville High School, Lynchburg

 

 

 

Last Meeting: Brookville 47, Richlands 0 on November 29th, 2008 (2008 State Semifinals)

 

 

 

 

 

Richlands coach Greg Mance

Richlands Blue Tornado | Coach Greg Mance | Offense: 50.2 ppg | Defense: 12.0 ppg

 

Last State Semifinal Appearance: 2008. The Blue Tornado lost 47-0 at Brookville that season. Richlands is 4-2 in six previous state semifinal appearances.

 

 

 

Brookville Bees | Coach Jeff Woody | Offense: 37.7 ppg | Defense: 15.8 ppg

 

Last State Semifinal Appearance: 2008. The Bees beat Richlands 47-0 that year. Brookville is 5-3 in eight previous state semifinal appearances.

 

 

 

Richlands Season Recap

 

The Blue Tornado have won 10 games or more in six of the past seven seasons (2008 the exception when they finished 9-3) and have been virtually unstoppable during the first 12 games of the 2010 season. Their unbeaten regular season included three shutouts, all against playoff bound teams (Gate City, Carroll County and Grundy) and their closest game was a 42-20 win over Powell Valley. The Richlands' starters rarely played much in the second half of games during the regular season and they mowed through the Southwest District for their seventh straight district championship. In the playoffs, Richlands was challenged early by Martinsville, but eventually won 63-19 and then defeated Cave Spring 36-23 to avenge their 2009 region IV title game loss.

 

 

Provided by DLowePhotography.com

 

Richlands kicker Reece Strong

 

 

Brookville Season Recap

 

The Bees opened their 2010 campaign with a seven-game winning streak with victories over playoff teams Martinsville (55-13), Liberty (28-14) and Heritage (31-28). Brookville's lone loss of the 2010 season came against Amherst on October 15th, a game the Bees led at halftime before losing 31-14. Still, they rebounded from that setback to post a five-game winning streak spanning the last two games of the regular season and the region III, division 3 playoffs. Brookville's playoff run started with a 42-18 win over Stuarts Draft and the Bees have won two straight road games in tough environments. Two weeks back, they beat defending state division 3 champion Northside 12-10 and the Bees knocked off Liberty for the second time this year with a 26-9 win in last week's region III championship.

 

 

 

Richlands Overview

 

The Blue Tornado are in the state semifinals for the sixth time in seven seasons, but this year's group has been dominant on both sides of the ball from start to finish. Averaging over 50 points per game, Richlands' offense has been a balance of power running and a good passing attack complemented by strong special teams play. Running back Devon Johnson (6-2, 210) is the leading rusher for Richlands with over 1,200 yards through 12 games, with most of those yards coming in the first halves of games. Johnson has scored 20 touchdowns this year and he is an excellent back that combines power and speed. At quarterback, Richlands has done well with the combination of senior Cody Lockhart (over 1,400 yards and 22 touchdowns) and junior Reece Strong. Lockhart is the starter and has a very good arm and can move out of the pocket. Wide receivers Bradley Strong, Sean Overton and Austin Johnson are the big playmakers for the Blue Tornado passing game. Strong leads the team with 42 receptions and 12 touchdwons and is a big special teams threat, while both he and Overton are over 600 yards receiving on the year. The offensive line is big with guards Josh Hess (6-6, 295) and Aaron Daugherty (6-0, 280) flanking center Chandler Blankenship. Tackles Todd Smith and Joseph Guerriero are also solid on the outside.

 

 

 

The Blue Tornado defense flies to the ball and has good speed in the secondary and at linebacker to go along with a strong defensive front. Defensive end Will Lowe is the leader of the defensive line and was the 2009 region IV defensive player of the year as a junior and is among the team leaders in tackles. On the other side, look for Skyler Bunker and Nick Wolfe, while Hunter Brown, Jeremy McGlothlin and Blankenship rotate in the interior line. Senior Cody Thomas is the leader of the Richlands' line backing corps and Thomas is a hard-hitting, quick defender who epitomizes what the Blue Tornado defensive persistence is all about. Devon Johnson and Tanner Smith are two more to watch at linebacker. In the secondary, Brad Strong and Albert Fajardo are the top cornerbacks with Overton, Austin Johnson and Jack Vance also key players in the defensive backfield.

 

 

 

Brookville Overview

 

 

 

Brookville QB Kendall BeCraft

With a 9-1 regular season and a share of the Seminole District title with Amherst County and Liberty, Brookville opened some eyes this season thanks to an explosive spread offense that averages over 37 points per game. However, it's been the defense's turn to turn some heads in the playoffs as the Bees have won a couple of low-scoring contests the past two weeks. Offensively, the team's passing attack revolves around sophomore quarterback Kendall Becraft, who took over as a starter midway through last season and has turned into one of the best quarterbacks in AA this season. Becraft has thrived in the wide-open attack, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. Deshon Foxx is a versatile player on offense and the Bees can line him up at running back or any receiver position and take advantage of his great speed. Foxx has over 1,200 combined yards for the year and is a dangerous kick returner, as well. Receiver Holton Walker leads the team with 35 catches for 799 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Guy Morris and Travis Riley are two more receivers to contend with and tight end Chris Anderson is one more target for Becraft. In the backfield, Ben Simmons is the leading rusher, along with Foxx. Up front, the Bees have a solid offensive line led by all-district left tackle Brett Woolard and center Victor Montalbano. Guards Chris Higgins and Brett Thomas and freshman tackle Josh Mason are the other starters on the line.

 

 

 

Defensively, the Bees have saved some of their best performances for the past two weeks against Northside and Liberty. Both teams had some success running the ball, but the Bees' defense kept them from putting many points on the board and forced five turnovers in the two games. Woolard, Montalbano, Korren Kirven and Daniel Sale give Brookville a good defensive front with Kirven and Montalbano especially difficult for opposing offensive lines to handle. Anderson, Simmons and Michael Carwile are the Bees' top linebackers, with Simmons and Carwile possessing good speed on the outside. In the secondary, senior Dustin Maner is joined by Riley and Foxx for the Bees and they will not be beaten with speed very easily. Kicker and punter Shane Wood is very solid for Brookville on special teams.

 

 

 

Prediction

 

Two very good offenses. Check. Two special teams' units with big-play capability. Check. This one has all the makings of a shootout from the start, until you factor in the two defenses which are often overlooked given the offensive firepower available to each team. When it comes down to it, the defenses are going to have to be the difference in this game, either by implementing a game plan to effectively handle the opponents' offensive talents or by coming up with a big turnover or two. Both teams are among the fastest and most well-coached in the state, so whoever can win the turnover battle or come up with a big stop on defense has the advantage. With home field in their favor, I give the slightest of edges to Brookville.

 

 

 

Brookville 35 Richlands 30

[great_state 12]

Just wanted to point out one correction that was made after the original preview was posted - obviously, Taylor Wade is the starting center, rather than Chandler Blankenship.