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-Frederick County and Winchester football

In Part 2 of our High School Football “Road To Week 1” series, The Dogs feature previews of the Winchester & Frederick County teams.

Ryan and guest Sports Dog Josh Kirby interview coaches:

  • Jake Smith- Handley
  • TJ Rohrbaugh- Sherando
  • Todd Wilson- James Wood
  • Nick Manuel- Millbrook

To look back to Part 1 of “The Road to Week 1” highlighting Skyline and Warren County, click HERE.

For more of Josh Kirby’s interviews and video coverage from high school training camps, click HERE.

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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: Millbrook vs Sherando

Millbrook hosts Sherando 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 pregame coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

The Pioneers return home after an upset win over Kettle Run, 14-7, and giving the Cougars their first regular season loss since 2023.

Millbrook’s defense forced crucial turnovers against Kettle Run in the redzone and only gave up a score after the Cougar offense started the drive 3 yards away from the endzone following a Pioneer turnover.

The Pioneer defense has flown to the ball this year and is led by 5 of the area’s top 6 tacklers leading tacklers in Chris Bradford (56 tackles), Jude Cusic (50 tackles), Parker Edwards (43 tackles, 4.5 sacks), Chase Jones (39 tackles), and Mason Turner (39 tackles).

QB Keon Lewis (55/84, 645 yards, 5 TDs, 6 INTs) has managed turnovers better over the past few games but did throw an interception and fumble on back-to-back possessions last week.

The first year starter will need to know when to just take a sack or throw the ball away against a Sherando defense that loves to get after the quarterback.

The Warriors can get pressure without needing to blitz and Sophomore Evan Combs (6’1″ 240 lbs.) leads the area in sacks with 7 including 1.5 last week against Brentsville.

In addition to Combs sack total, Gabe Vallejos, Sean Benton, and Andrew Taylor have combined for 8.5 QB takedowns.

Offensively, the Warriors pound the rock behind a talented offensive line led by All-State Center Jarrett See (6’1″ 250 lbs.).

See and Co. open holes for whoever takes the ball out of the backfield whether it’s QB Jacob Henry ( 474 rushing yards, 8.5 YPC, 3 TDs) or RBs Jaylen Tasco-Murray (460 rushing yards, 9 TDs) and Mason McKee (229 rushing yards, 2 TDs).

McKee stepped up in the 28-7 win over Brentsville with 100 yards by the halftime break in a game that Tasco-Murray was sidelined.

Sherando should control the line of scrimmage and time of possession with their ground attack.

I predict a Warriors win 28-20, and Sherando takes over the driver’s seat for The Apple Cup with a 2-0 lead over Frederick/Winchester schools.

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

The Duke’s Preview: Sherando vs Millbrook featuring Sherando Coach T.J. Rohrbaugh

Tonight’s Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and the Tune In Radio App will feature a contrast of styles when Sherando (5-3) travels to Millbrook (5-2).

This game comes at a crucial stretch in the season as teams are jockeying for playoff positioning.

In the recent VHSL Power Rankings, Millbrook was ranked third and Sherando fifth, with the top eight teams making the postseason.

The Warriors deploy an offense led by a talented and experienced quarterback, Micah Carlson.

Carlson leads the area in passing with 1,481 passing yards, a 59% completion parentage, and 15 touchdowns.

He will spread the ball around to a variety of receivers including the speedster, Brady Hamilton.

Hamilton leads the area in receiving yards (541), receiving touchdowns (7), and receptions (26).

Millbrook on the other hand would be completely content without attempting a pass the entire game.

The single wing offense has dominated games with its rushing attack totaling 360 yards per game.

Kyler Jackson has led the backfield and the area this year with 1,083 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Pioneers recently got Tyson Mallory back from injury after he led the area in rushing last season.

On the sidelines, Sherando Head Coach T.J. Rohrbaugh makes his return to Millbrook where he briefly served as the Coordinator of Student Activities.

In his role, he worked closely with Millbrook Head Coach Josh Haymore and the two share a mutual respect heading into this rivalry game.

Millbrook will try to control the clock and the line of scrimmage, but if Sherando can come out to an early lead like Jefferson, it may be too much for the Pioneers to overcome.

I predict Micah Carlson to have success through the air and Sherando will bounce back from a really poor showing last week with a win over a cross county rival, 31-21.

To hear my interview with Sherando Head Coach T.J. Rohrbaugh, press play below.

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

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

This edition of the Friday Night Lights High School Football Game of the Week features Millbrook (1-0) travelling to Warren County (0-1).

The two teams have not played since 2013 and have split the all time series 3-3.

Millbrook’s season debut saw an incredible rushing attack pile up nearly 400 yards without attempting a pass against Harrisonburg.

Junior running back Kyler Jackson made his varsity debut with 5 carries for 182 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Millbrook ran away with a 40-0 victory after pulling the starters in the second half.

The Pioneers will have a tougher test this week against a Warren County team coming off a strong season last year.

Warren County struggled finishing drives but in my discussion with Head Coach Josh Breeden, he did not seem too concerned about it.

He felt they just had a few things to clear up, and he is confident his squad will have better execution on Friday.

New QB PJ Dellinger and RB Gavin Dodson were the main contributors on offense while Dodson scored the lone TD for Warren County on a pick six.

Warren County’s defense responded well after an opening drive touchdown and did not allow a score in the second half

The defense will face a familiar formation when they see Millbrook’s single wing offense.

The Wildcats ran the same formation the past few seasons under Coach Jerry Sarchet.

When Warren County is on offense, keep an eye on the battle between the Wildcat’s offensive line led by four seniors against the Millbrook defensive line which features All-District selections Cole Purdy (6’3″ 250) and Ezra Doyle-Naegeli (6’0″ 245).

This game will truly be decided in the trenches as the skill positions look very even.

I predict Millbrook will win the battle up front as they dominated the line of scrimmage last week and come away with the victory, 27-14.

Tune in to the action on Fox Sports Radio 1450 WFTR, The River 95.3, streaming on theriver953.com and the Tune In Radio App.

My interview with Warren County Head Coach Josh Breeden is available below.

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