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NORTHWEST REGION DIVISION 6

FRANKLIN COUNTY (8-2) AT COLONIAL FORGE (9-1)

Kickoff: Saturday, noon

Location: Liberty-Bealeton High School

Coaches: Franklin County (Chris Jones), Colonial Forge (Bill Brown).

Nicknames: Franklin County (Eagles), Colonial Forge (Eagles).

Season summary: Franklin County won the Western Valley District title, losing nondistrict games to Salem and Osbourn Park at home. Colonial Forge took the Commonwealth District title, putting up more than 50 points in three games. Its only loss was 51-44 to unbeaten Woodbridge in three OTs.

Scouting report: Franklin County senior TB Tae Gilbert (1,421 yards, 18 TDs) and junior QB T.J. Shaw (773 yards, 10 TDs, seven INTs) lead the offense. LB Tre' Preston leads a defense that held William Fleming to seven points. Franklin County switched from the split-back veer to the I-formation after losing to Salem. RBs Tyler Wilson and Trey Reed each ran for more than 700 yards for Colonial Forge. Blake Frohnapfel passed for 1,431 yards and 17 TDs. Timothy Scott was the team's leading receiver and No. 3 rusher.

Fast facts: Franklin County has never won a postseason game in three tries. Jones won back-to-back state titles at Bath County (2001) and Heritage (2002). Brown won state titles at C.D. Hylton and Potomac and was inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame in 2001.

Prediction: Colonial Forge 28, Franklin County 14.

NORTHWEST REGION DIVISION 5

WILLIAM FLEMING (7-2) VS BROOKE POINT (6-4)

Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Location: Liberty-Bealeton High School

Coaches: William Fleming (Rob Senseney), Brooke Point (Jeff Berry).

Nicknames: William Fleming (Colonels), Brooke Point (Black Hawks).

Season summary: Fleming earned a wild-card bid after losing to Franklin County and Salem. Fleming was 2-2 against playoff teams. Brooke Point lost three straight Commonwealth District games -- giving up 54 points to Massaponax and Colonial Forge -- but still had a higher VHSL rating than Fleming.

Scouting report: Fleming uses two QBs, Devin Dean (362 passing yards) and Kevin Waid (552 yards), but the Colonels run out of the shotgun formation most of the time. Dean (959 yards, 17 TDs) and Devin Richardson (612 yards) get most of the work. Brooke Point throws 60 percent of the time. QB Gary Pisall (2,304 yards, 19 TDs) looks for TE E.L. Smiling (39 catches, 727 yards), a Virginia Tech recruiting target. Alex Figueroa has 39 receptions. The top rusher is Arturo Brown with 489 yards and four TDs. Kicker Josh West has four field goals.

Fast facts: Senseney, who won back-to-back Division 3 state titles at Gretna, was 0-2 against Brooke Point in two seasons as the head coach at North Stafford. Berry succeeded his father, Tom, as Brooke Point's coach.

Prediction: William Fleming 27, Brooke Point 26.

REGION III DIVISION 4

WILLIAM BYRD (5-5) AT TURNER ASHBY (8-2)

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Dayton

Coaches: William Byrd (Jeff Highfill), Turner Ashby (Charlie Newman).

Nicknames: William Byrd (Terriers), Turner Ashby (Knights).

Season summary: Byrd won three straight games, including a 22-21 comeback victory, at Alleghany after a 2-5 start to earn its third straight playoff berth. Turner Ashby sandwiched eight consecutive wins including three shutouts between losses to Western Albemarle (23-9) and Harrisonburg (36-19).

Scouting report: Byrd's offense consists primarily of direct snaps to quarterback Derrick Palmer (288 carries, 1,764 yards, 26 TDs). Palmer's career totals are 3,951 yards and 51 TDs. Brian Fuquay is the top tackler for Byrd, which at times has started six freshmen. Turner Ashby's top player, QB Kyle Linn (861 passing yards, 460 rushing yards) is questionable with an ankle injury. He is the two-time Massanutten District defensive player of the year at free safety. FB Chandler Knight (654 yards, 11 TDs) and HB Alex Collins (649 yards, 9 TDs) are the top rushers.

Fast facts: Three of Byrd's eight playoff appearances have come in the last three years. The Terriers' lone win was in 2007. Turner Ashby won the Group AA Division 3 championship in 2005 under Newman.

Prediction: Turner Ashby 20, William Byrd 14.

STAUNTON RIVER (5-5) AT SPOTSWOOD (8-2)

Kickoff: Today, 7 p.m.

Location: Penn Laird

Coaches: Staunton River (Rick Witt), Spotswood (Eric Phillips).

Nicknames: Staunton River (Golden Eagles), Spotswood (Trailblazers).

Season summary: Staunton River broke a 28-game losing streak with a 48-42 win at Patrick Henry, then reeled off four more victories that ultimately earned a wild-card berth. Spotswood started 7-0 before losing back-to-back games to Massanutten District rivals Harrisonburg (20-0) and Turner Ashby (39-12).

Scouting report: RB Meech Coles rushed for 1,464 yards and 14 TDs for Staunton River. Wesley Gates caught 25 passes for 628 yards and 7 TDs and returned four kicks for scores. Cody Jones, moved from FB to QB at midseason, threw for 717 yards and completed 51 percent of his passes. Senior QB Chad Williams (918 passing yards, 11 TDs) completed 73 of 109 passes for Spotswood. FB Nick Wimer (936 yards, 21 TDs) is the top runner. Spotswood, located just east of Harrisonburg, is a veteran team with 23 seniors.

Fast facts: Staunton River's lone playoff victory and lone playoff berth came in 1996. Spotswood will lose much of its enrollment next year when East Rockingham High School opens as a Group A school.

Prediction: Spotswood 28, Staunton River 13.

REGION III DIVISION 3

ALLEGHANY (6-4) VS. BROOKVILLE (8-2)

Kickoff: Today, 7 p.m.

Location: Amherst County High School

Coaches: Alleghany (Jack Baker), Brookville (Jeff Woody).

Nicknames: Alleghany (Mountaineers), Brookville (Bees).

Season summary: Alleghany started 5-1 before finishing 1-3 in the Blue Ridge District. Three of the losses were to playoff teams -- Cave Spring, Northside and Staunton River. Brookville clobbered Hidden Valley 34-7 and lost only to Seminole District rivals Liberty (35-20) and Amherst County (54-6).

Scouting report: Two-way lineman Daniel Shifflett leads a solid corps up front for Alleghany. RB Phillip Lewis (709 yards, 11 TDs) and lefty QB Seth Bradley (521 yards, 9 TDs) averaged more than 5 yards per carry. Bradley (952 passing yards) took over at QB after an injury to starter Dakota Nicely. Taylor Carter caught 29 passes for 513 yards. Brookville uses two QBs -- freshman Kendall Becraft (262 yards passing, 3 TDs) and Deshon Foxx (639 rushing yards, 9 TDs), who runs in the Wildcat formation. Brookville lineman Zack McCray has committed to Virginia Tech.

Fast facts: Alleghany's last postseason victory was in 1986. The Mountaineers broke a 19-year drought with a 2007 appearance. Brookville, which lost 50-46 to James Monroe in last year's state final, is making its fifth straight trip.

Prediction: Brookville 24, Alleghany 6.

REGION IV DIVISION 4

BASSETT (3-7) AT CHRISTIANSBURG (7-3)

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Christiansburg

Coaches: Bassett (Jay Gilbert), Christiansburg (Tim Cromer).

Nicknames: Bassett (Bengals), Christiansburg (Blue Demons).

Season summary: Bassett qualified as a wild card despite losing its last two Piedmont District games to Patrick County and Magna Vista. The Bengals lost at Christiansburg 49-0 earlier this season. Christiansburg started 6-0 before losing successive close games to Hidden Valley, Salem and Cave Spring.

Scouting report: Bassett scored just 114 points this season and failed to score a TD in three games. QB Mason Maples passed for 685 yards but completed just 36.4 percent and threw 12 INTs. RB Shaq Finney scored 7 TDs. Tyler Martin kicked three field goals. LB Desmond Woods had 74 solo tackles. HB Greg Lee (846 yards, 9 TDs) led Christiansburg's ground game. Sophomore Zach Snell (660 yards) and Ryan Fisher (504 yards) also stood out. Sophomore Brenden Motley took over the QB duties in Week 7. LB Zach Weller missed a game with an injury but still had 63 solo tackles. PK Patrick Rasnake kicked five field goals, three last week against Blacksburg.

Fast facts: Bassett has won six playoff games and one Region IV title in the last five years under Gilbert. Christiansburg's last playoff appearance was in 2006. The Demons last won a regional title in 1988.

Prediction: Christiansburg 41, Bassett 7.

MAGNA VISTA (6-4) AT CARROLL COUNTY (6-4)

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Hillsville

Coaches: Magna Vista (Joe Favero), Carroll County (Tom Hale).

Nicknames: Magna Vista (Warriors), Carroll County (Cavaliers).

Season summary: Magna Vista ended a 21-game losing streak early in the season and won the Piedmont District title in Favero's second year. Losses were to Morehead (N.C.), William Fleming, Franklin County and William Campbell. Carroll started 6-2 before losing Southwest District games to Richlands and Graham.

Scouting report: Magna Vista QB Harvey Taylor was premier dual threat with 1,058 passing yards, and 960 rushing yards and 18 TDs. T.C. Carter ran for 685 yards and 11 scores. Tyler Davis and Trevor Kellam each caught 28 passes. LB's Kiefer Mosely and Byron Becker combined for 156 solo tackles. Carroll County got 722 yards rushing from Dillon Caviness and 710 from Zack Surratt in the Wing-T. QB Blake Bowman passed for 582 yards. Tyler Reavis had 33 of Carroll's 44 completions. NG Jacob Mollett had nine sacks and 18 tackles for loss. Surratt intercepted five passes.

Fast facts: Magna Vista set a VHSL record for losses in one season, forfeiting 11 games because of an ineligible player to officially finish 0-13 in 2003. Carroll County beat Piedmont member Patrick County 28-27 on a last-second Hail Mary play.

Prediction: Carroll County 22, Magna Vista 20.

REGION IV DIVISION 3

GRUNDY (5-5) AT MARION (7-3)

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Marion

Coaches: Grundy (Greg Rowe), Marion (Mike Briscoe).

Nicknames: Grundy (Golden Wave), Marion (Scarlet Hurricane).

Season summary: Grundy finished 1-5 in the Southwest District but had two early wins over Group A teams and two victories out of state. Marion was 3-3 in the SWD. Its other three wins were against Group A schools. Marion won at Grundy 29-26 in the regular season on TD with 12 seconds to play.

Scouting report: Grundy sophomore TD Tyler Berglowe led the SWD in rushing with 1,087 yards on 193 carries, but Marion held him to just 43 yards in the first game. QB Jon Kelly (1,237 passing yards) and WR Cody Justus (50 catches) lead the passing game. Marion's run-oriented attack is led by RB Brett Johnson (893 yards, 10 TDs on 102 carries). Mickey Holman had nine tackles for loss, while Garrett Johnson had four interceptions including one for a TD last week against Abingdon. Matt Noe had the winning TD on a 12-yard run in the first meeting.

Fast facts: Grundy lost to Liberty in a 2002 Division 3 semifinal. The Wave lost 7-0 in overtime to Salem in the 1996 Division 4 semis. Marion won the Region IV Division 4 title in 2001 before losing to Pulaski County in a state semifinal.

Prediction: Marion 14, Grundy 7.

REGION C DIVISION 2

GILES (6-4) AT RADFORD (7-3)

Kickoff: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Location: Radford

Coaches: Giles (Jeff Williams), Radford (Matthew Saunders).

Nicknames: Giles (Spartans), Radford (Bobcats).

Season summary: Giles kicked off with blowout losses to Blacksburg and Christiansburg before going 6-2 the rest of the way, losing at Radford last week 23-19. Radford swept the Three Rivers District with three of the wins by a combined 18 points. The losses were to Pulaski County, George Wythe and Gretna.

Scouting report: Giles spreads the wealth in its Single-Wing offense among Justin Gautier (884 yards, 10 TDs, Travis Robertson (690 yards) and Andrew Eppling (624 yards, 8 TDs). Gautier and Robertson also combined for seven INTs in the secondary. Radford DT Josh Oliver (8 12 sacks, 18 12 tackles for loss) is one of Timesland's top linemen. RB Kevin Adkins (606 yards, 12 TDs) is Radford's leading rusher. QB Dontae Carter (794 passing yards, 550 rushing yards) is a dual threat. Christiansburg transfer D.J. Palmer had 28 catches.

Fast facts: Giles and Radford have played each other three times in the playoffs, with the Spartans winning all three, the last a 20-6 victory in the 2000 regional final. Both schools are former Group AA state champions.

Prediction: Giles 24, Radford 17.

JAMES RIVER (5-5) AT FORT CHISWELL (9-1)

Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.

Location: Max Meadows

Coaches: James River (Philip King), Fort Chiswell (Stephen James).

Nicknames: James River (Knights), Fort Chiswell (Pioneers).

Season summary: After a 1-5 start, James River won the Pioneer District title with no game closer than 19 points. The Knights' only win over a playoff team was against Bath County. Fort Chiswell won the Mountain Empire District. The Pioneers beat George Wythe 28-21 and lost only a 6-0 nondistrict game to Chilhowie.

Scouting report: James River junior QB Jordan Talbott passed for 2,099 yards and 14 TDs, completing 144 of 241 throws. He also rushed for 488 yards and 13 TDs. Top targets are Chris Ware (45 catches, 635 yards, 7 TDs) and Jeff Johnson (34 catches, 656 yards, 5 TDs). Ian Johnson rushed for 396 yards and 9 TDs. Fort Chiswell's Chris Rodriguez ran for 1,625 yards and 24 TDs. Hody Viars ran for 560 yards and also was the Pioneers' leading tackler with 83 solo hits and 13 tackles for loss. Zack Cook had 11 ¹₂ quarterback sacks.

Fast facts: Fort Chiswell ended Timesland's longest playoff drought with its first appearance since 1990. The Pioneers won the 1989 regional title. James River has never won a postseason game in three tries, the last in 2006.

Prediction: Fort Chiswell 27, James River 23.

REGION C DIVISION 1

NARROWS (3-7) AT BATH COUNTY (6-4)

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Warm Springs

Coaches: Narrows (Kelly Lowe), Bath County (Will Fields).

Nicknames: Narrows (Green Wave), Bath County (Chargers).

Season summary: Narrows made the playoffs despite going 1-3 in the Mountain Empire and losing five of its last six games. Close losses were to James Monroe (W.Va.) and Giles. Bath made the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 years despite two straight losses to end the season and an early 53-27 loss to Eastern Montgomery.

Scouting report: Bath County RB Dana Richmond averaged 9.3 yards per carry, picking up 542 yards. Dillon Fry had 7 TDs on his 61 carries. Fry also caught 26 passes for 550 yards and 6 TDs. QB Michael Robertson passed for 1,004 yards and 10 TDs and also scored 6 TDs. Derek Brinkley had 21 ¹₂ tackles for loss. Narrows QB Brock Lusk completed 60 percent of his passes for 877. Hunter Light had 19 catches for 336 yards and two TDs. Light had 7 TDs total. Narrows' leading tackler is 5-6, 146-pound sophomore LB with 32 solos.

Fast facts: Narrows made seven straight playoff trips from 1988-94 with a Division 1 semifinal appearance in 1994. Bath County has won eight Region C Division 1, including four in a row from 2000-03.

Prediction: Bath County 34, Narrows 6.

RURAL RETREAT (3-7) AT COVINGTON (6-4)

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Covington

Coaches: Rural Retreat (Quinton Hensley), Covington (Steve Dressler).

Nicknames: Rural Retreat (Indians), Covington (Cougars).

Season summary: Rural Retreat ended a two-year playoff drought with a wild-card berth from the Hogoheegee District. The seven teams RR lost to were a combined 49-21. Covington rebounded from an 0-10 season last year with a wild-card berth. The combined record of the five teams Covington defeated is 10-39.

Scouting report: Rural Retreat QB Zayne Williams passed for 944 yards including 229 last week against Chilhowie. WR Travis Foster has 34 catches for 708 yards. He picked up 10 receptions last Friday. RB Tyler Caudill has rushed for more than 500 yards at 5.5 yards per carry. Covington's Adam Simmons and freshman Troy Helton had a team-high 6 touchdowns. Simmons was the team's leading receiver. QB Roland Jeter threw for more than 600 yards. Josh Laprade and Mikeal Thrasher were the top solo tacklers for the Cougars.

Fast facts: Rural Retreat has won seven Region C titles including three straight in Division 1 from 2004-06 but has never made a state final. Covington won the Group A championship in 1984, prior to divisional play.

Prediction: Rural Retreat 19, Covington 13.

VIS DIVISION III

BLESSED SACRAMENT-HUGUENOT (8-2) AT NORTH CROSS (8-2)

Kickoff: Today, 2 p.m.

Location: Roanoke

Coaches: Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot (Mike Henderson), North Cross (Lee Johnson).

Nicknames: Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot (Knights), North Cross (Raiders).

Season summary: Both of Blessed Sacrament's losses came to the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the Division III playoffs, Isle of Wight and North Cross, respectively. North Cross won 28-7 at BSH in September. The Raiders' losses were to strong North Carolina teams, Greensboro Smith and Charlotte Christian.

Scouting report: Harvard-bound RB Tyler Caveness ran for 1,647 yards and 19 TDs, and averaged 10.1 yards per carry for North Cross. He gained 170 yards in the first game between the two teams on Sept. 11. Brandon Trent added seven TDs. LB Devin Cain had 57 solo tackles, 19 for loss. Jamual Allen had 25 TFLs, while Dillon Meacham had 17 TFLs and 10 sacks. Blessed Sacrament was led by RB Deon Watts (864 yards, 12 TDs in eight games), QB Austin Wingfield (977 passing yards) and WR Chris Howard (20 catches, 363 yards, 13 TDs).

Fast facts: Blessed Sacrament won the 2004 VIS title on the Raiders' home field, and North Cross returned the favor last year with a victory in Powhatan. The VIS volleyball state tournament also is taking place today at North Cross.

Prediction: North Cross 26, Blessed Sacrament 13.

-- Robert Anderson