Sports Dogs Podcast: Duke meets The Royal Family? Commanders Draft, Skyline Signing Day

In this edition, The Dogs:

  • discuss the King and Queen coming to Front Royal and how The Duke plans to join in on the festivities
  • review and grade the recent Commanders’ NFL Draft picks
  • The Duke also chats with several Skyline HS athletes who are looking ahead to the next level including Day’Shawn Haley and Barrett Stephens.

Click HERE for the latest episode of the Sports Dogs Podcast on TheRiver953.com, Spotify, iTunes, or Amazon Music.

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The Duke’s River Rivalry Preview: Skyline vs Warren County

The River Rivalry resumes tonight when Warren County hosts Skyline in the Dave’s Diversified Services Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with the Tana Hoffman Pregame Show starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

Skyline has claimed the first two River Rivalry trophies and leads the All-Time series vs Warren County 14-7.

The Wildcats last win came in 2018 and was the final of four game winning streak.

Just like any other great rivalry, you can throw out the record books when these teams take the field and upsets can emerge when least expected.

Warren County has shown improvement over last year’s squad and displayed great perseverance when bouncing back from a five game losing streak to start the season to win there next two in a row to get back in play-off positioning.

While equaling last year’s win total, the Wildcats have already out scored the 2024 iteration and allowed 161 less points.

Injuries have started to accumulate for Warren County in the later stages of this season and former leading rusher Blaise Skube is no longer on the roster.

Junior QB Bryce Bergmann has looked solid and recently eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark on the season with over half of those going to SR WR Nick Harlow (45 rec 552 yds 7 TDs).

Warren County’s offense must string together drives and prepare to answer Skyline, which has averaged 43.2 points per game during its six-game win streak.

The Hawks AND THE STATE OF VIRGINIA are led by Jr Running Back Zayden Burks.

Burks currently sits at 1,894 yards rushing and should easily surpass the current leading rusher for The Commonwealth, Anton Carter.

Carter currently sits at 1,932 yards but Nottoway High School’s regular season is over.

With the single season school record behind him, the next milestone for Burks is the 2,000 yard mark which was last seen in Warren County by Wildcat Alum H.B. Banjoman.

Like Burks, Banjoman’s squad was also led by Heath Gilbert, Skyline’s current head coach.

Reaching the 2,000 yard threshold would be another feather in the cap for the future All-State back but an even bigger source of pride for one of the best offensive lines in Skyline history led by seniors Barrett Stephens and Isaiah Caton.

Injuries have pushed Warren County’s LB Frank Nelson to take more snaps at running back, so fatigue for the team’s leading tackler could lead to an even bigger day for Burks.

Skyline’s defense is also led by the linebacker position in the duo of Andre Ford and Marques Lockhart-Wright.

Both basketball standouts fly around the field forcing turnovers, tackles for loss, and delivering punishing blows while eliminating offensive mismatches due to their size and speed.

In addition to The River Rivalry Trophy, these teams are playing for crucial playoff positioning.

Skyline is clinging to the #2 seed which would provide a couple home playoff games and keep them away from reigning State Runner-Ups Kettle Run a little longer.

Warren County is fighting for the chance to play Kettle Run as the #8 seed and gain valuable playoff experience for a young roster.

When these teams take the field, don’t be surprised to see some early trick plays as both coaches dig a little deeper in the playbook for the final week of the regular season.

As the dust settles, I anticipate the Hawks will pull away thanks to a few huge runs from Zayden Burks as he eclipses 2,000 yards and leads the way for his third straight River Rivalry win, 46-12.

For a preview of all of the regular season finale matchups, listen to the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here. 

The Duke’s Preview: Skyline vs Millbrook

Skyline heads to Millbrook tonight in the Dave’s Diversified Services Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with pregame coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

The Pioneers will look to end a two game losing skid while the Hawks have rebounded from losing their first three games to a three game win streak.

The game has all the makings of a high scoring affair where both team’s strengths appear to matchup with the other’s weaknesses.

Millbrook boasts a high flying passing attack led by one of the area’s top quarterbacks Keon Lewis.

Lewis leads the area in passing completions and attempts, but also interceptions with 7.

He has two dangerous receiving threats in Rome Johnson and Cam Clark who have combined for over 600 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.

This duo could cause problems for a Skyline defense that has given up big games to some of the other top receivers in the area.

Handley’s Will Yoder put up 145 yards and 3 TDs on 9 receptions against the Hawks and Central wide outs Vincent Charity (6 rec 162 yds 3 TDs) and Sean Stead (4 rec 133 yds TD) had huge games two weeks ago in the 42-40 shootout Skyline win.

The Hawk’s offense has been able to take some pressure off the defense as their strength comes from the ground game led by Zayden Burks.

Burks is a dynamic back with breakaway speed and an array of moves to get into space.

He’s the only area back with over 1,000 rushing yards and is starting to distance himself from the pack.

Strasburg’s Quincy Williams is second with 813 yards then Central’s Chris Brown at 633.

Burks would be the first to tell you he couldn’t do it without his offensive line led by Sr. OT Barrett Stephens (6’3″ 260 lb.).

The junior back could run wild against the Pioneers who have given up chunk rushing plays in their two game losing skid.

Both Sherando and James Wood had huge days on the ground with JWHS QB Owen Neal rushing for 145 yards last week and Sherando’s combo of QB Jacob Henry and RB Jaylen Tasco-Murray helping the Warriors to 392 rushing yards.

As many high school games do, this one could come down to who makes the fewest mistakes as Skyline has had issues with penalties and Millbrook’s turnovers have loomed in losses.

I look for the Hawks to ride their current momentum and running game to another high scoring win,

Millbrook scores a late touchdown but the two point attempt comes up short, Skyline 40-Millbrook 38.

For a preview of all this week’s games, a look back at last week, and more, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here.

The Duke’s Preview: Skyline vs Strasburg ft. Coach Tripp Lamb

Strasburg welcomes Skyline to Glenn Proctor Field Thursday night to kick-off The River 95.3 and Fox Sports Radio 1450’s coverage of high school football at 7 pm, with pregame coverage starting at 6:30 pm.

The Hawks and Rams have kicked off the last three seasons against each other with Strasburg taking away two wins and one game cancelled due to threats on the event.

Last year’s contest was tight throughout before Strasburg took the 18-16 victory.

Skyline’s offensive production came almost exclusively from Aidan Vaught, who is now at Ferrum.

Vaught added 20 and 44 yard touchdown runs on his way to 133 rushing yards.

Strasburg battled back from trailing twice to secure the victory on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Brayden Hough to Griffin Carter in the 4th quarter to take an 18-14 lead.

Skyline and Vaught had an opportunity to retake the game from Strasburg  at the 10 yard line late in the 4th quarter, but the back fumbled in a mass of Ram defenders.

This year’s matchup will feature some new stars and a new head coach on the sideline in Strasburg’s Tripp Lamb.

Lamb previously led the defense and was a member of Mark Roller’s staff for 16 years before taking over.

The Rams hope to pick up where they left off with the T-formation and hardnosed defense.

Strasburg returns QB Brayden Hough under center in the run-heavy offense.

He completed 37/72 passes last year for 468 yards and 10 touchdowns to 4 interceptions along with 185 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground.

Hough will have plenty of options to hand it off behind him including the speedy Sr. Riley Walker and Sr. Takhi Coates.

Coates has returned to Strasburg after a year at Battlefield.

During his sophomore season, he accumulated 1,039 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Hough and the running back group will all benefit from Strasburg’s continuity at offensive line including 4 of 5 starters from last season.

Defensively, the Rams will have to replace the production of their leading tackler Colby Shaw and will need members of the linebacker room to fill that void.

Across the defensive front, Strasburg returns 6’4″ 225 lb. Jr. Hutson Conrad who led the team in sacks with six as a sophomore.

On the other sideline, Skyline starts the season with a limited but talented core of players.

The Hawks lose star running back Vaught to graduation but bring back Zayden Burks who was electric towards the end of his freshman season on the gridiron and the basketball court.

Burks ended the season with two touchdowns and an ankle breaking spin move in The River Rivalry game against Warren County and earned the Player of the Game nomination.

Sr. Nate Ballard takes over at QB after last year’s starter Nick Mrad has transferred out of the area.

Ballard has waited his time and is one of the leaders in the locker room.

He will have some talented weapons to throw it to including Isiah Maxwell and Marques Lockhart-Wright.

Isiah Maxwell can go up to get any ball over his defender and Marques Lockhart-Wright’s strength, size, and speed are a mismatch for any defense.

Skyline also welcomes back Sr. Roger Williams, Jr. Barrett Stephens, and Soph. Adrian Schmitz who have all shined along the offensive line.

Due to the smaller roster for Skyline, the Hawks will have plenty of players playing both ways.

Lockhart-Wright wreaks havoc from his linebacker spot in addition to receiver and his linebacking counterpart Andre Ford led the team with 84 tacklers last season.

While watching Skyline’s scrimmages, Maxwell seems to have improved defensively and looks more natural in the defensive backfield.

6’2″ Sr. DB Brandon Baldwin also shined during Skyline’s preseason scrimmages and looks to carry that momentum over to the regular season.

I look for tonight’s game to stay close like last year’s contest, but Strasburg’s depth and power run game could wear down the undermanned Hawks, who already are experiencing injuries, during a hot and humid August day.

The Duke predicts Strasburg will pull away in the second half and utilize a few big plays from Takhi Coates and Riley Walker to secure the victory, 34-20.

To listen to Ryan’s chat with Strasburg’s Head Coach Tripp Lamb, click here.