The Duke’s State Championship Preview: Central vs Graham

3/12/26 Richmond, VA- Central High School will take on Graham High School in the Class 2 VHSL Boys Basketball Championship game Friday with coverage starting at 2:10 pm for the 2:30 pm tip-off on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com and The River 95.3 app thanks to The Hike Kidz Foundation c/o Brickhouse Bar and Grill.

Central returns to the State Championship for the first time since 1980 while Graham is back to finish the job after ending last season as runner-ups.

Both the Falcons and G-Men fell to John Marshall in last year’s postseason and returned to the Class 2 playoffs while last year’s John Marshall team will play in the Class 3 State Championship game for Petersburg.

While many of the contributors to last year’s Graham runner-up team have moved on, coach Todd Baker feels his team does benefit some from understanding the travel required for a State Title trip but knows it won’t help him once the ball is in the air.

This year’s G-Men are led by guards Channing Disibbio (20 ppg) and Ty Martin (17 ppg) in scoring and football standout Gage Palmer has added leadership and physicality.

Graham does not have a ton of size (no contributors over 6’2″) which matches up nicely for Central who has played bigger than listed all year.

Jonathan Akasa epitomizes that with his 6’1″ frame that grabs rebounds like he’s 6’11”.

Akasa is coming off back-to-back double-doubles and is a huge reason the Falcons were able to comeback against Thomas Jefferson and dominated against Greensville.

After filling up the stat sheet in the quarterfinals with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists, he helped turn the tides in the semifinals to outrebound TJHS in the 2nd half and overcome a 14 point 2nd half deficit.

Dereck Batiz-Lugo has been the most consistent force for Central all season long, and after last year’s Class 2 2nd Team All State selection as a sophomore, he seems destined for 1st team this year.

Offensively, Batiz-Lugo has led Central in scoring in both state playoff games with 13 and 18 points.

Defensively, he is a pest for ball handlers and led the team with 2.6 steals per game in the regular season.

This game has all the makings of a coaching chess match with Central’s Jeff Whittle and Graham’s Todd Baker.

Whittle led First Baptist in South Carolina to four state titles in his first four years as coach and was named to the school’s Hall of Fame last year.

Now he has brought Central back to a State Championship for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Baker took over the program in 2018 and eclipsed 100 career wins in 2024 before advancing to his first state title appearance as a head coach in 2025.

While coaching maybe a push, it will come down to the players on the floor and like all championship games in every sport… Defense.

The Central defense has carried the Falcons to the State Championship game and will be the reason they bring home the hardware.

As a team, Central held opponents to under 45 points per game on the year and just held TJHS to 22 points below their season average.

Just like many Bull Run bashes, the first team to 50 will win and that tough district schedule will have the Falcons ready.

Unlike the football team in 2023, these Falcons will “go to war with the G-men” (if you know, you know) and win, Central 50- Graham 48.

For more coverage on the Class 2 Boys Basketball State Championship game, CLICK HERE for color commentator Josh Kirby’s interviews with both coaches and Derick Batiz-Lugo.

For previews of all our local state championship teams from the latest Sports Dogs Podcast, CLICK HERE.

The Duke’s Playoff Preview: Strasburg vs Central

11/21/25, Strasburg, VA– Strasburg High School hosts Central High School in the Region 2B Semifinals for tonight’s 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.

Central is coming off a first round win over Fort Defiance which eliminated former Head Coach Mike Yew.

Fort took an early 7-0 lead before Central settled in and separated themselves at the beginning of the second half.

The Falcons offense continued to show one of the most balanced attacks in Class 2 led by Noah Moss at QB with 209 yards and two total TDs while Chris Brown went over 75 yards with two TDs.

Central’s defense adjusted to the power run game of Fort Defiance well after the early score and will need a similar performance against Strasburg to knock-off the #1 seed in Region 2B.

The Rams have had the benefit of a first round bye due to the new format of the Region 2B playoffs and will be rested for Round 2 against their Shenandoah County foe.

While Strasburg has looked like a team on a mission since the early loss to Broadway, these two teams always find ways to play each other tight.

Since 2022, the squads have played six times with half of those games played within one possession.

Central and Strasburg have split those recent six games 3-3, but Central is 2-0 in playoff matchups in the stretch.

The most recent addition came just 14 days ago and saw the game go down to the wire before a late Brady Knight touchdown.

Central did not go out quietly as they responded with a Kyle McCabe kick-off return for a touchdown to pause the Strasburg celebrations for a moment.

Strasburg was led in that game by the backfield of Knight with 128 yard and 2 TDs and the Bull Run District Offensive Player of the Year Quincy Williams who added 165 yards and a TD.

The Rams defense is anchored by Williams Player of the Year counterpart in Hutson Conrad and the Strasburg D-Line.

Conrad joins Gage Gutierrez and Jacob Britton as 1st Team All-District selections, and the front has wreaked havoc all season long.

The Rams rode their defense to a trip to Salem and the State Title game in 2024, but this year’s version actually has given up 8 less points during the regular season and allowed 13 less total yards per game.

While Central’s balanced attack and big play potential through WRs Sean Stead and Vincent Charity will make them a tough out for any team in Class 2, Strasburg’s ability to run the football and play elite defense along the frontline is a seemingly winning recipe for playoff football at any level.

The Rams will clean-up some of the mistakes seen in the regular season finale but so will Central.

I predict the game will add to the total of single score contests in recent years but Strasburg will finally tally their first playoff win against the Falcons in over 20 years (according to records available on MaxPreps), Strasburg 14 – Central 8.

For a look back at Round 1 of the playoffs, a preview of all Round 2 matchups and more, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast 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.

Central wins $5,000 in T-Mobile contest

Central High School joins Strasburg as a recipient of a $5,000 prize through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights Contest.

Through the social media contest, the school accrued votes based on fans using the T-Mobile hashtag and tagging their school.

Winners were also entered into a pool where 25 finalists were chosen to receive $25,000 and a T-Mobile hosted home game.

The grand prize winning school will win $1 million towards school and stadium upgrades.

The 25 finalists were named Thursday and one school from Virginia made the cut, Madison County High School.

If you would like to vote for our friends down the road, click here.

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

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

Clarke County (5-0) visits Central (1-4) for a Monday night edition of the High School Football Game of the Week 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.

Clarke County enters the contest flying high with an undefeated start through non-district play including some tight contests against perennial playoff contenders and a few blowouts in typical Eagles fashion, tough defense and a strong running game.

Wyatt Palmer has taken over the role as the lead back totaling 667 yards this season for 9 touchdowns while averaging 9.4 yards per carry and is coming off his best game yet.

Palmer dominated Catoctin with 213 yards on the ground and two bookend touchdowns to secure the 21-13 victory.

Eagles linebacker Carson Chinn regularly stacks up defensive stats as one of the areas leading tacklers (63 total) and added Homecoming King to his accolades off the field during last week’s win.

Chinn, Palmer, and the rest of the Eagles will need to bring their A game to Woodstock to knock off a Central team that will be playing with a chip on their shoulder the rest of the season.

After three of the Falcons opening wins were forfeited due to an ineligible player, Central earned their first official victory of season last week against a tough King William team, 19-10.

While losing your starting quarterback is never an ideal situation, Central is fortunate to fall back on Nick Barahona.

The senior started at quarterback for two seasons including the Falcons run to the VHSL Class 2 State Championship game his sophomore season.

Central has lost a lot of production over the past few years due to graduation including Tyler Forbes, Nathan Lopez, Luc Retrosi and more, but like the Eagles, boast a strong rushing attack and tough defense.

The Falcons defense has not allowed more than 10 points in a game this season and is spearheaded by leading tacklers Brady Hecker (47 total) and Chris Brown (39 total, 2 INTs) along with one of the areas leaders in sacks Matthew Folk (5 sacks, 23 total tackles).

While Central has dominated the series lately, winning 5 of the last 6, the two teams have split the last 16 contests dating back to 2005.

On top of the change at quarterback and a recent tragedy in Woodstock that forced the game to be moved to Monday, Clarke County may be able to focus more on what lies between the chalk lines.

That clarity under longtime head coach Casey Childs will be an advantage over a Central team facing a lot of adversity with a first year head coach in Rowdy Hoover and help the Eagles to a tight victory, 20-16.

To listen to my interview with Clarke County Head Coach Casey Childs, click 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.