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: Clarke County @ Strasburg

Clarke County travels to Strasburg in 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 coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

Clarke County finally found their way into the win column on Homecoming with a classic performance by a squad coached by Casey Childs.

In the 34-8 victory, the Eagles did not punt or pass the entire game as Grady Ferrell led the way with 197 yards and 2 TDs.

The young Eagles had a long journey to the first win of 2025 and will look to carry that momentum into Strasburg to take on an experienced Rams squad.

After a one score loss to 7-1 Broadway, Strasburg has averaged 40.8 points per game and allowed just 8.8 points per game with a shutout.

The Rams are using the same combo that brought them to Salem last season: winning at the line of scrimmage, a strong running game, and swarming defense.

Leading the backfield is Quincy Williams, who is coming off nearly 200 total yards and 3 TDs against Luray last week.

Williams was one of the few offensive standouts in last year’s bash between unbeatens.

The game was ultimately decided by a Rams missed PAT, but Coach Lamb and Co. would rally from that loss for six straight wins and a trip to the State Championship game while Clarke County continued an undefeated regular season before falling in the first round of the playoffs.

Strasburg will look for revenge against their Bull Run rival after falling to the Eagles in Feltner Stadium and looking up to a Clarke County student section full of “I hate Strasburg” shirts.

Maybe the memory of that loss will prompt the Strasburg seniors to ask Coach Lamb for one more drive when up big in the second half.

This game appears to be all Rams on paper and I am predicting another big Strasburg win, 49-12.

For a preview of all the Week 9 matchups, a Week 8 recap, Power 5 rankings, and more, 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.

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

The High School Football Game of the Week features two unbeatens as Strasburg (7-0) travels to Clarke County (7-0) with coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick off on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app.

While both team’s are fueled by a strong rushing attack and tough defense, they do so in different ways.

Schematically, Clarke County’s single wing creates an unbalanced look out by beefing up the strong side of the offensive line with an additional blocker and then letting the senior-filled backfield of QB Tanner Sipe, RB Wyatt Palmer, and WB Wilson Taylor make plays utilizing misdirection and speed off-tackle.

Palmer leads the area in rushing yards with 959 on a staggering 9.2 yards per carry to go with 13 touchdowns.

Sipe and Taylor have also combined for another 911 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Strasburg’s T-formation provides a more traditional look with the quarterback under center and a balanced line, but the confusion starts after the snap with misdirection and perfectly executed ball-fakes by Braden Hough before he hands it off to any of the three talented backs behind him.

Senior Takhi Coates leads the team with 643 rushing yards and 10.9 yards per carry in his return to Strasburg after spending last year at a different school.

The backfield’s newest edition is sophomore Quincy Williams, and he brings explosive play potential averaging 14.1 yards per carry while leading the Rams with nine rushing touchdowns.

In last year’s matchup vs Clarke County, RB Lucas Martinez dominated with three rushing touchdowns while Hough added two more on the ground.

Clarke County’s senior linebacker and the area’s leading tackler (87) Carson Chinn had a front-row seat to that onslaught and will be flying from sideline-to-sideline Friday night looking to avoid a repeat performance.

Strasburg’s defense has retooled from last year with Nate Turner (62 tackles) and Jacob Britton (37 tackles, 3 sacks) now leading the charge.

While recent history has favored the Rams who have won the last two meetings, the all-time series remains about as tight as it can be with Clarke County leading 31-30-2.

While brainstorming my prediction for this game, I  initially leaned towards Clarke County due to some of the individual talent on the roster and the experience of Casey Childs against first year coach Tripp Lamb.

But as I looked more into these specific team’s and how they matchup, the Rams may have an edge when their offense is on the field.

Strasburg ran away with last year’s matchup after Clarke County struggled to figure out the T-formation and the Rams scored on each drive of the game until zeros hit the scoreboard.

While a few team’s in the region run variations of Clarke’s single-wing, Strasburg’s T-formation can be very difficult to gameplan against because it is difficult for the scout team to learn in just a week’s preparation.

Clarke County is also coming off two games in one week including a physical battle with Central.

Due to that, Strasburg may be able to wear down Clarke County if they can string together some long drives.

I predict Strasburg comes away with a tight win by going for 2 late in the 4th quarter in an instant classic, Rams 29- Eagles 28.

To hear my interview with Strasburg Head Coach Tripp Lamb, click here.

For a breakdown of all of the week’s high school football games, a look back at last week, and much more, listen to the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here.

The Duke’s Preview: Clarke County vs Page County featuring Coach James May

Clarke County (5-1) welcomes Page County (1-5) to their Homecoming festivities for tonight’s Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and the Tune In Radio App.

The Eagles will look to rebound from their first loss of the season against Central last week, 20-7.

Clarke County set themselves back early 14-0 against the Falcons after giving up a touchdown on their opening drive and allowing Central to capitalize on a Clarke County fumble from their first possession for a touchdown.

The running game struggled for most of the game with running back Will Booker leading the way with 68 yards.

Quarterback Tanner Sipe found some success up the middle on the lone scoring drive for the Eagles, but Central did a great job containing anything to the outside all night.

Defensively, the Eagles settled in to hold Central to just one score in the second half and linebacker Carson Chinn was flying around the field totaling 20 tackles in the contest.

This week they will look to regroup against a Page County team that has struggled this season but is making strides towards building the program up for the future.

Senior Quarterback Hunter Petitt is one of the vocal leaders of the team and has shown to be dangerous on the ground and through the air.

His best game of the season came against Mountain View when he finished with 5 total touchdowns and over 100 yards rushing and passing.

Page County struggled last week against Strasburg, falling 56-14.

The Panthers were outgained in the first half 304 yards to 0 and did not gain their initial first down until the 4th quarter.

Linebacker Brennan Welch provided the lone highlight of the game with a scoop and score from 80 yards out.

I predict Clarke County will use the frustration of last week’s loss and the excitement of Homecoming week to come out to an early lead and will come away with a big win, 48-8.

To hear my interview with Page County Head Coach James May, press play below.

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.

The Duke’s Preview: Warren County vs Clarke County featuring Coach Breeden

This week’s Friday Night Game of the Week on Fox Sports Radio 1450, The River 95.3 and streaming at theriver953.com and the Tune In Radio App features Clarke County (3-0) hosting Warren County (0-2), two team’s trending in opposite directions.

There is still plenty of time for Head Coach Josh Breeden’s Wildcats to turn things around and they have showed some bright spots.

Sr. Sully Zewar has looked strong at wide receiver, a position featured much more in the new spread offense.

Sr. QB PJ Dellinger has showed confidence at quarterback, his first year in the position.

Before the bye week, Millbrook applied a lot of pressure on Dellinger, but he stayed calm and confident in the pocket throughout the game.

The early bye week could help Warren County get their offense back on track, as they are still scoreless in the second half of their first two games.

Clarke County looks to be back in their usual form as a power in Class 2.

They have destroyed their opponents through the first three games averaging 38.7 points per game and allowing just 6.7 points per game.

Clarke County relies on a balanced rushing attack with a number of ball carriers who carry the ball efficiently.

The entire offensive line returned from last season and features four seniors.

They helped lead the Eagles to 305 yards on the ground against Buffalo Gap last week.

Warren County’s bye week and recent experience against Millbrook’s single wing offense could help the Wildcats keep it close early, but Clarke County’s rushing attack may be too much, Eagles 34- Wildcats 16.

Press play below to hear my interview with Warren County Head Coach Josh Breeden.

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