The Duke’s Preview: Skyline vs Meridian

11/14/25, Front Royal, VA- The high school football playoffs begin tonight with Skyline hosting Meridian in the Region 3B Quarterfinals for 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.

The Hawks fly into this matchup on a seven game win streak and outscoring opponents in the stretch 301-127.

Skyline’s offensive production is based on the ground game led by Virginia’s top running back in rushing yards, Zayden Burks.

Burks eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark after 11 straight carries to start the game vs Warren County and went on to finish the night with 331 yards and a third River Rivalry win.

Burks has rushed for over 250 yards in six straight games and was only under the mark against Manassas Park.

Due to the lopsided score, he carried the ball just three times for 130 yards and 2 TDs.

He also ran all over Meridian in their previous matchup just two weeks ago and accounted for 345 rushing yards and an 86 yard kick-off return for a touchdown.

After their season finale against Manassas Park was cancelled, the Mustangs have spent a long time thinking about Skyline.

Meridian limped into the playoffs winning just two of the last six games and those wins came against Fauquier and Warren County who have combined for just three wins this season.

While struggling in the W/L column, Meridian still possesses an offense that can give you nightmares led by their tandem of 1st Team All District running backs Duke Dawson and Oumar Thompson.

The duo combined for three touchdowns in the first matchup against Skyline and will not want their high school careers to end Friday night.

Defensively, Meridian is led by JR LB Keaton Grace.

Grace is a two-sport standout in lacrosse and football and already claimed 1st Team All District at linebacker.

Skyline’s defense has benefitted from a deep line led by Jonathan Leach which opens up space for linebackers Andre Ford and Marques Lockhart-Wright to fly around and make plays.

Burks has also stepped up defensively this year and joined Leach, Ford, and Lockhart-Wright as 1st Team All District selections.

When these teams take the field, I look for Skyline to use there momentum entering the playoffs to come out of the gates firing.

QB Day’Shawn Haley will attack over the top if the defense keys in on Burks.

Haley has benefitted from defenses focusing on the run game and against Meridian two weeks ago he put up a stat line of 11/14, 174 yds, and 3TDs.

His early success followed by the ground attack of Burks will push the Hawks to the Region Semifinals, Skyline wins 43-24.

For a preview of all the local playoff matchups, a look back at the final week of the regular season, Player of the Year acknowledgements, and more, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast.

The Duke’s Preview: Strasburg @ Skyline

Skyline High School hosts Strasburg High School in the first 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.

Strasburg enters Front Royal off one of the best seasons in school history that ended in a State Championship game appearance in Salem.

The Rams started off in a big hole before settling in and eventually falling to State Championship game regulars, Graham.

Coach Lamb and Co. return a lot of talent from that team, especially along the trenches.

Strasburg’s offensive line has elite size for the Class 2 level and returns elite talent in First Team All-State selections Gage Gutierrez and Jacob Britton.

Benefitting from their blocking is returning QB Braden Hough (545 passing yards, 7 touchdowns) and RB Quincy Williams (933 yards, 12 touchdowns).

Defensively, the Rams return linebacker and tackling machine Nate Turner who combined with Williams for nearly 250 tackles last season.

Britton will also be a force on the defensive line again this season along with Hutson Conrad.

Conrad missed time with injury last season but is a game-wrecker for offenses trying to run the ball near his 6’4″ 250 lb frame.

Strasburg will certainly miss the speed of Takhi Coates and Riley Walker against a Skyline squad that also returns talent in the trenches and one of the top skill groups in the Valley.

Skyline’s offense looks dangerous this year with the backfield combination of athletic QB Day’Shawn Haley and dynamic running back Zayden Burks.

Burks is back for his junior season after running around defenses last season to the tune of 1,642 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.

The multi-sport athlete is finally getting D1 attention after contributing at the Varsity level since his freshman year.

Barrett Stephens (6’3″ 260 lb.) will lead the convoy to help open holes for Burks along a deep and experienced offensive line.

Playmakers Andre Ford and Marques Lockhart-Wright can line-up anywhere from TE, WR, H-Back, or take direct snaps in the Wildhawk.

Ford and Lockhart-Wright bring that same energy to the defensive side of the ball to lead the linebacking crew with physicality.

The duo combined for 13 touchdowns and 166 tackles last season for the Hawks.

Along the defensive line, Skyline returns area sack leaders Jonathan Leach (85 tackles and 6 sacks) and Tytus Drake (5.5 sacks).

Like Strasburg, the defensive backfield will have some new faces after the graduation of Isiah Maxwell and Donnell Turner.

When both teams take the field tonight, fans will see experienced teams that have played a lot of football together at this point in their careers and enter the season with high expectations.

Both teams elite line play is a relative push while Skyline appears to have the advantage at skill positions, but Strasburg will be playing for something bigger than themselves as Coach Lamb continues his battle with cancer and is anticipated to be on the sidelines tonight.

Skyline is 1-3 against Strasburg in season openers since 2021 with the lone win coming via forfeit after an off-field incident.

I look for the Rams to continue their hot streak against Skyline and come out with a tight win by controlling the clock, 27-24.

For a look at all of the Week 1 games, 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.