varsity.roanoke.com

REGION III DIVISION 4

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY at JEFFERSON FOREST

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Records: Rockbridge County 6-4; Jefferson Forest 7-3.

Coaches: Rockbridge County, Jason White; Jefferson Forest, Don Rice.

Playoff appearances: Rockbridge County 5; Jefferson Forest 11.

Overall playoff record: Rockbridge County 3-5; Jefferson Forest 19-9.

Scouting report: Rockbridge enters the game minus four injured defensive starters including lineman Dylan Walsh and speedy Jaqwan Biggs. Forest has been led all year by running back Desmond Goode and tight end Dustin Engledove. Goode ran for 191 yards and two TDs in JF's 40-6 home win over Rockbridge on Aug. 29.

Quick kicks: Jefferson Forest is making its first postseason appearance since 1999 and the first under Rice, a Northside graduate. The Cavaliers won back-to-back Division 4 state titles in 1992-93. Rockbridge is in the playoffs for the fourth time in five years after missing out last season. White took the Wildcats to the

Division 3 state final in 2006.

WILLIAM BYRD at HARRISONBURG

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Records: William Byrd 7-3; Harrisonburg 7-3.

Coaches: William Byrd, Jeff Highfill; Harrisonburg, Tim Sarver.

Playoff appearances: William Byrd 6; Harrisonburg 22.

Overall playoff record: William Byrd 1-6; Harrisonburg 23-21.

Scouting report: Harrisonburg features UVa recruit Alex Owah, who rushed for 881 yards in six games and missed three with an injury and one because of a suspension. All three of the Blue Streaks' losses came with Owah out of the lineup. Byrd junior Derrick Palmer finished the regular season with 2,001 yards and 23 TDs on a whopping 306 carries. Palmer and QB John Conner will share the shotgun snaps in Byrd's power running game.

Quick kicks: Harrisonburg fans can get a glimpse of JMU recruit Tyler Snow, a Byrd senior. Harrisonburg is making its sixth straight playoff appearance, winning the Division 3 state title in 2001 and losing to Salem in the Division 4 final in 2004. The Streaks lost in the regional semifinals last year to Amherst County. Byrd posted its only postseason win in school history last year.

REGION III DIVISION 3

STUARTS DRAFT at NORTHSIDE

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Records: Stuarts Draft 5-5; Northside 5-5.

Coaches: Stuarts Draft, Rod Bowers; Northside, Burt Torrence.

Playoff appearances: Stuarts Draft 9; Northside 11.

Overall playoff record: Stuarts Draft 4-9; Northside 3-11.

Scouting report: Stuarts Draft runs a wing-T offense similar to Northside's without as much passing. Fullback Travis Shifflett (5-10, 178, sr.) has 1,200 rushing yards and 16 TDs, while wingback D.J. Hines (6-0, 145, soph.) has 1,000 yards and 12 TDs. Isaiah Martin leads Northside in rushing with 524 yards. Dustin Phelps has scored 10 TDs. Quarterback Ryan Keith has thrown for 930 yards and 12 TDs. Martin, Phelps and Andrew Mitchell all have at least 15 catches.

Quick kicks: Stuarts Draft won its first playoff game as a Group AA school last year before falling 28-20 to Brookville in the regional semifinals. Northside is in the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Vikings' last playoff victory was in 2000 when they beat Blacksburg. The winner plays at R.E. Lee-Staunton next week.

LORD BOTETOURT at LIBERTY

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Records: Lord Botetourt 3-7; Liberty 6-4.

Coaches: Lord Botetourt, Tater Benson; Liberty, Chris Watts.

Playoff appearances: Lord Botetourt 6; Liberty 8.

Overall playoff record: Lord Botetourt 1-6; Liberty 11-7.

Scouting report: Both teams have lost three of their last four games. Botetourt defeated Blacksburg 20-14 this year, while Liberty lost to the Bruins 28-13. Sophomore Thomas Clark leads Liberty with 800 yards rushing and nine TDs. Boo Payne (6-6, sr.) has 26 catches for 500 yards and eight TDs. Botetourt features running back Josh Colombini and QB Emory Straub, both of whom have battled injuries.

Quick kicks: This is a rematch of last year's first-round game in Daleville, which Liberty dominated 47-14. Botetourt is in the playoffs for the third straight year, but the Cavaliers haven't won a postseason game since 1984. Liberty is making its eighth trip in nine seasons. The Minutemen won the Division 3 state title in 2002.

VIS DIVISION III

ISLE OF WIGHT ACADEMY at NORTH CROSS

Kickoff: Today, 3 p.m.

Records: Isle of Wight 9-1; North Cross 9-1.

Coaches: Isle of Wight, Dale Chapman; North Cross, Lee Johnson.

Scouting report: Isle of Wight lost seven all-state players to graduation last year. QB Daniel Brown, who has passed for five TDs and rushed for three, leads the offense. Chapman has won 105 games in 16 seasons at Isle of Wight, which is located near Smithfield. RB Tyler Caveness (1,783 yards, 24 TDs), WR Sid Brown (34 catches, 813 yards, 20 TDs) and QB Glenn Williams (1,032 yards) lead North Cross, which has won nine straight games.

Quick kicks: Isle of Wight's last trip to Roanoke was in 2006 when the Chargers edged Roanoke Catholic 28-27 in a Division III semifinal. Isle of Wight has won the last three Division III championships. Both teams have lost to top-seeded Blessed Sacrament, with North Cross losing 17-7 and Isle of Wight falling 19-0. If Blessed Sacrament defeats Hampton Christian in the other semifinal, today's winner will visit Blessed Sacrament next week.