757TEAMZ FOOTBALL STATE SEMIFINALS BREAKDOWN AND PREDICTIONS
Class 6
Battlefield (1 3 -0 ) at
Oscar Smith (1 1 -1 ), 2 p.m. today
About the Bobcats: These two teams have met just once, and that was in the 2011 state semifinals. Oscar Smith won 42-14 and went on to win the state title. The Bobcats, averaging 33 points a game, are led by senior RB Graham Jones (890 yards, eight TDs), senior QB Jonathan Walters (1,794 yards, 19 TDs and five INTs) and sophomore WR Braden Boggs (52 receptions, 967 yards, 11 TDs). Battlefield is located in Haymarket.
About the Tigers: Outside of a 49-0 loss to nationally ranked St. John Bosco of California, Oscar Smith’s defense has allowed just 36 points this season, including six shutouts. Offensively, the Tigers are averaging 48 points a game, including a school-record 77 in a win over Cosby in the region quarterfinals. They are led by quarterback and Old Dominion commit Ethan Vasko, who set a state record with 10 TDs in that win over Cosby and has thrown for 2,508 yards and 32 touchdowns.
The other semifinal: South County (11-2) at James Madison (12-1), 1 p.m. today
Larry Rubama’s pick: Oscar Smith, 42-7. Marty O’Brien’s pick: Oscar Smith, 31-14.
Class 5 Maury (7 -1 ) at
Green Run (1 3 -0 ), 2 p.m. today
About the Commodores: The two teams have met just once, in a 2013 region semifinal won by Green Run 46-7. Maury, winner of four straight region titles, is making its fourth consecutive appearance in a state semifinal, including a title in 2019. The Commodores are led by QB Saquan Miles, who has accounted for 2,485 all-purpose yards and 32 touchdowns.
About the Stallions: Green Run is playing in the program’s first state semifinal after beating Kempsville last week to win its first region title. The Stallions are led by QB Xavier Davis, the 2021 Beach District Offensive Player of the Year. Davis has completed
134 of 196 passes for 2,563 yards and 39 touchdowns — the most in a single season by any South Hampton Roads player.
The other semifinal: Highland Springs (10-2) at Stone Bridge (13-0), 2 p.m. today
Larry: Maury, 35-21. Marty: Maury, 28-24.
Class 4 King’s Fork (1 1 -1 ) at Varina (1 1 -1 ), 2 p.m.
About the Bulldogs: King’s Fork is rolling, with its only loss coming against Oscar
Smith on Oct. 15. The Bulldogs have scored 34 or more points in the six games since. QB Cameron Butler has thrown for 1,540 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while Kyree Moyston has a team-high 16 sacks and Kalteri Boyd has five interceptions.
About the Blue Devils: Varina, of Henrico County, has won two of its three playoff games by a combined three points with QB Myles Derricott leading the way (1,192 yards, 15 touchdowns, four interceptions in the regular season). WR Anthony Fisher is the Class 4 Region B Player of the Year, while OL/ DE DeAndre Crump is a key in the trenches.
The other semifinal: Broad Run (12-1) vs. Salem (12-1) at Salem City Stadium, 2 p.m. today
Larry: King’s Fork, 26-20. Marty: King’s Fork, 21-10.
Class 3 Brentsville District (1 1 -2 ) vs. Phoebus (1 2 -1 ), 2 p.m. today at Darling Stadium
About the Tigers: Sophomore quarterback Caleb Alexander passed 49 yards to senior running back Bryce Jackson for a touchdown with no time left to give the Tigers a 13-7 win over Meridian in the Class B final and their first state semifinal berth. The pass is not their favored method of attack, however, as Jackson has led a run-heavy offense with 184 carries for 1,245 yards and 24 touchdowns.
About the Phantoms: The Phantoms, seven-time state champs from 2001-11, are in their third state semifinal since their 2015 move into Class 3. Other than a 42-0 loss to Oscar Smith, Phoebus’ stingy defense has kept opponents in single digits all but once. QB Mark Wagner has been the standout offensively, throwing for 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns and Kymari Gray has 37 receptions for 686 yards and 17 TDs.
The other semifinal: Abingdon (12-1) vs. Liberty Christian (12-0), 2 p.m. today at Liberty University
Larry: Phoebus, 34-20. Marty: Phoebus, 28-14. Last week: Larry 5-0, Marty 5-0. Overall: Marty 212-42 (83%), Larry 202-52 (80%).