Sports Dogs Podcast: Week 2 recap, Week 3 preview

The Sports Dogs are barking about High School Football again this week as we put Week 2 in the books and look ahead to Week 3.

Click HERE to listen to the latest episode on The River 95.3 app or website, iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon music.

This week, the Dogs:

  • Look back at big wins for Sherando, Skyline, Handley, and James Wood
  • Tough losses for Strasburg, Millbrook, Clarke County and Central
  • Select Brady Lupton’s one-handed snag as Play of the Week
  • Select Owen Neal and Jaylen Tasco-Murray as Players of the Week
  • Rank our Power 5 (with some big shakeups in the rankings)
  • Look ahead to Game of the Week-Strasburg vs Warren County and all other Week 3 matchups
  • and more…

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Sports Dogs Podcast: Road to Week 1- Bull Run Preview

The Sports Dogs continue their ramp-up to the high school football season by previewing our Bull Run teams: Central, Clarke County, and Strasburg.

Listen HERE on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, or The River online.

Special guests joining the Dogs this episode include:

  • Author Ryan Sonner, “Until It Was Ours”
    • Discuss the new book
    • Strasburg’s coaching legacy
    • 2025 Championship Run
    • All Time Strasburg Football Team
    • Book available HERE.
  • Head Coach Casey Childs- Clarke County High School
    • Bull Run redistricting
    • Rebuilding a still young team
    • Standouts like Grady Ferrell
  • Head Coach Rowdy Hoover- Central High School
    • Strength of Shenandoah County football
    • New QB in Woodstock
    • Talented returning players like Chris Brown, Kyle McCabe, and Brookyln Minor and rising stars

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For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

The Duke’s Preview: Central @ Clarke County

Central heads to Berryville to take on Clarke County in the Dave’s Diversified Services Game of the Week tonight on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

Both teams are struggling this season much more than years past.

Some seniors on these squads have experienced an undefeated regular season for Clarke County and a State Championship run for Central, but that seems long ago at this point.

Central is sliding backwards and finds themselves in their first 3 game losing streak since the COVID shortened season, but the Falcons remain in the playoffs based on the Region 2B rankings and have everything they wanted to accomplish this season still in front of them.

Central’s offense boasts explosive play potential led by quarterback Noah Moss (51/85 908 yds 9TD 3INT) and receivers Vincent Charity and Sean Stead.

Both Charity and Stead average over 21 yards per catch and have combined for 7 of Moss’s 9 TDs.

While most teams in the Valley rush by committee, Chris Brown leads the region with 109 carries, just one of two backs in the area with over 100 carries.

The bell-cow is efficient averaging 5.5 yards per carry and adding 7 TDs.

Brown also leads the defense in tackles (43) from his linebacker position.

Central’s defensive line led by Tavion Dodson, Matthew Folk, and Carter Steed add 3 sacks a piece.

The Central defense is looking forward to a struggling Clarke County offense after allowing 42 points in the loss to Skyline last week.

Clarke’s offense has yet to find its way for this young and inexperienced roster.

Last week, the offense was kept in the negatives for total yardage thanks to some bad snaps and has only scored two offensive touchdowns all season.

Ball control through stringing together first downs and avoiding penalties will be the key for the Eagles to keep this one close.

Sophomore running back Grady Ferrell runs hard and averages 4.1 yards per carry with many of those coming after early contact.

Ferrell is the other area back joining Brown with over 100 carries.

The Clarke County defense is anchored by one of two seniors on the roster, Joseph Stem, and he has led by example with 26 tackles and special teams touchdown on a fumble recovery.

The defense will need to play fundamentally sound football to keep Central’s playmakers in front of them and watch for the underneath plays to Stead that often lead to big gains.

I look for Clarke County to continue to take steps forward but Central’s offense should be able to put up enough points regardless to keep this game out of reach, Central wins 34-6.

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

Mike Yew resigns as Central football coach

ryan lingle

Mike Yew has resigned as head coach for Central High School’s football program.

Yew led the program for the last 17 years and has coached football at various levels in the Shenandoah Valley for over 25 years.

He helped build Central into a powerhouse in the region and the state level, winning two regional titles in the last three seasons and advancing to the Class 2 State Championship game in 2022.

His Falcons earned the second undefeated regular season in school history last year.

Before Yew took over, Central had not won a playoff game or regional title.

He finished his first two seasons with a 2-18 record before building up the program and going 119-53 the rest of his career.

The Falcons advanced to the playoffs 7 of the last 8 years with the only exception being the COVID shortened season.

Yew continues to serve as the interim athletic director.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

The Duke’s Playoff Preview: Strasburg vs Central featuring Coach Roller

For the sixth time in the last three years, Central (11-0) and Strasburg (8-2) meet on the gridiron; this time in the second round of the VHSL playoffs.

In their first meeting this year, Central emerged victorious and claimed the Bull Run District Championship with a 28-7 win.

That game was closer than the final score implies as Central added a few late scores.

Strasburg had numerous opportunities in that game to put points on the board where they came up short and a few defensive plays that allowed 4th down conversions.

If Strasburg can correct those mistakes, they will be able to go toe-to-toe with one of the most dominant teams in Virginia over the last two years in Class 2 football, the Central Falcons.

Central has not lost since last year’s State Championship against Graham and has looked to be on a mission to get back to Salem.

The Falcon’s dynamic running game was too much for the Rams in the last matchup which allowed star running back Tyler Forbes to reach 164 yards and Jacob Williams-Warner to reach 140 yards on two carries.

Forbes recently claimed the Central High School career rushing record in the first round matchup against Stuarts Draft when he passed Johnnie Williams with 3,308 yards.

Central’s gameplan will once again revolve around Forbes and his bruising style, but they have shown some big play capability through the air as the season has progressed.

Both team’s have been dominant in the trenches and it will basically be a Bull Run All District All Star game between both team’s lines.

The more physical team who can limit mistakes will win the game.

Strasburg has a nasty taste in their mouth after losing to Central in last year’s playoffs and in the regular season finale, but the Falcons playoff experience and home field advantage should give them the boost they need to get past the Rams in a tight one, 22-14.

Press play below for my interview with Strasburg Head Coach Mark Roller.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

The Duke’s Preview: Central vs Page County featuring Coach Mike Yew

Central (8-0) hosts Page County (1-7) for their Senior Night in the penultimate regular season High School Football Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450 WFTR, theriver953.com and the Tune In Radio App.

Central has continued their great success from last season which ended in a State Championship game appearance into an undefeated regular season so far this season.

They have used the same formula including a bruising rushing attack led by an experienced offensive line and a battering ram at running back, senior Tyler Forbes.

Forbes leads all area rushers in Region 2B with 1,172 yards and 19 touchdowns.

The Central defense has remained stout all season long, allowing only 7.8 ppg with only two opponents scoring more than once all season.

Page County and Coach James May continue to try to build up their program and the offense has been able to produce points at times.

Quarterback Hunter Petit has been dangerous on the ground and in the air.

Last week against Madison County, he had a passing touchdown and a highlight 51 yard touchdown run.

He has two young weapons that he has formed a great connection with including tight end Isaac Foltz and wide receiver Dawson Richards, both of who are sophomores.

Defensively, Page County has struggled, allowing 46.6 points per game and 69 points last week against Madison County.

Central will need to avoid looking ahead to a potential, de-facto Bull Run District Championship Game against Strasburg.

The Falcons should be able to stay focused on their game plan and get the win due to their experience and control over the line of scrimmage, 56-8.

Press play below to hear my interview with Central Head Coach Mike Yew.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

The Duke’s Preview: Clarke County vs Central featuring Coach Casey Childs

The battle of the unbeatens is finally here.

Central (5-0) will travel to Berryville for their 4th consecutive road game to take on Clarke County (5-0) for our Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and the Tune In Radio App.

The last few matchups in the series have been instant classics and this game looks to fit the same mold.

Last year, Clarke County took an early 14-0 lead, but Central made a comeback moving Tyler Forbes (121 yards and two touchdowns) from fullback to tailback to win 21-14.

Forbes would stay put as the lead back for the rest of the season, and Central advanced all the way to the state championship game using the same formula of a hard nosed rushing attack and stifling defense.

This year looks to be a lot more of the same as they are off to a hot start with some quality wins and players like Forbes and defensive end Nathan Lopez (52 tackles and 4 sacks) picking up where they left off last season.

Central’s passing game looks to have taken a step back with quarterback Nick Barahona completing just 9 passes and one touchdown through the air to his receiving corps which features mainly underclassmen.

The Falcons will meet a Clarke County team that has made huge strides this season after a difficult year in 2022 plagued by injuries.

Clarke County is led by an experienced offensive line (four seniors, one junior) and a variety of gifted backs including Will Booker, Wyatt Palmer, and Carson Rutherford, who may be available Friday night for the first time since the King William game on September 1st.

Booker has been featured heavily the past few games including a 25 carry, 145 yard, and two touchdown performance against Catoctin last week.

Defensively, the Eagles have been stout allowing just 8.2 points per game and 111.8 yards per game.

They have also been opportunistic in forcing turnovers.

Basketball standout Moses Day has adapted quickly to the gridiron and had two interceptions against Catoctin from his defensive back position.

This game will truly come down to execution and limiting turnovers, but I believe Clarke County’s edge in team speed, experienced skill players, and a rowdy Feltner Stadium crowd will give the Eagles the victory, 26-21.

Press play below to hear my full interview with Clarke County Head Coach Casey Childs.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.