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.

The Duke’s Preview: James Wood vs Handley

The longest running rivalry in Frederick County-Winchester renews tonight with James Wood hosting Handley in the Dave’s Diversified Services Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sport Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com and The River 95.3 app with coverage starting at 6:30 for the 7 pm kick-off.

Both teams enter the matchup with some of their best squads in years and the game looks to be one of the most competitive in the series after a string of Handley wins including last year’s 57-16 win, the most lopsided in 63 total contests.

This year’s iteration looks to be a return to some of the more exciting versions of the rivalry like the infamous “Lights Out” game and more recently, the last James Wood win in 2018 which featured a 14 point comeback and overtime.

Handley enters Kelican Stadium with a 7-1 record and the lone loss coming to reigning Class 3 Runner-Ups Kettle Run.

The Judges boast one of the area’s top defenses and held Sherando’s powerful rushing attack which averaged over 225 rushing yards per game to just 30 in the 14-7 win.

Handley’s defense is led by the linebacker duo of Jo-Jo Johnson (58 tackles, 2.5 sacks)  and Trent Gomez (47 tackles, 2 sacks) who benefit from a talented defensive line anchored by DT Carson Green (5’9″ 305 lbs).

Offensively, Handley has shown a balanced attack with Duncan Hensler under center.

Hensler does best when simply getting the ball to his playmakers like Will Yoder (31 receptions, 462 yards, 6 TDs) and has stepped in nicely for injured Triston Darling.

Darling was in uniform and on the sideline against the Warriors last week, and if he can return to the lineup at any point this season, the Judges offensively ceiling would be hard to top in the Region.

Jamir Washington has continued to improve as the lead back and is coming off his best game of the season with 193 hard earned yards, bringing his season total to 827 with 7.9 ypc and 5 TDs.

James Wood’s leading rusher is also their quarterback, the area’s passing leader in yards (1,766) and touchdowns (19), Owen Neal.

Neal is the heart and soul of this Colonels team and would love nothing more than to keep their rivals from celebrating with the Barr-Lindon Apple Cup on their home field.

The JR QB and his squad have had to simmer on the one point loss to Liberty for two weeks while preparing for the Judges.

Prior to the loss, the Colonels had won 6 of 7 and appeared on pace for one of the best season’s in recent history before the surprising loss to then .500 Liberty.

James Wood will look to get back on track at home in this pivotal game for the Apple Cup (Handley’s with a win, Sherando’s with a James Wood win) and playoff standings in Region 4D.

Handley is currently 3rd and would host a home game while the Colonels are 5th and just 3 power points away from being on the outside looking-in.

Neal will look to his stellar receiving corps to go toe-to-toe with the Handley defense.

James Wood’s receivers include the area’s receiving touchdowns leader in Xavier Price (11) and yardage leader in Aidric Yurish (648).

Kaden McCullough is also dynamic with the ball in his hands and is the kick return leader averaging 36.1 yards per return.

The Colonels defense will need to step-up and get pressure on Hensler as they give up 264 passing yards per game and the Judges QB only trails Owen Neal in passing touchdowns with 17.

While the Colonels DBs have given up some big plays, they can make them as well with Xander Manzo and Xavier Price snagging 3 INTs each.

Both offenses appear to be relatively even in this matchup, but the advantage in this game goes to the Handley defense which has not allowed more than one offensive touchdown for five consecutive games.

James Wood averages 41.5 points per game and has not been held under 20 all season so they should score more than once, but I don’t think it will be enough to beat a Handley team that has shown they can win in a variety of ways.

I look for Handley to prioritize ball control again this week and the Judges to pull away late, 34-18.

For a preview of the rest of the Week 10 matchups, a look back to Week 9 and more, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here.

The Duke’s Preview: Warren County at James Wood

James Wood High School welcomes Warren County High School in tonight’s Dave’s Diversified Services High School Football Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and The River 95.3 app starting with the Tana Hoffman Pregame Show at 6:30 pm followed by the 7 pm kick-off.

Both teams are coming off big home losses and the Colonels will look to bounce back after a strong start while the Wildcats are still searching for their first win.

James Wood began their season 3-0 before last week’s 49-20 loss to Sherando.

In the Colonels three wins, the shotgun offense shined led by third year starter at QB Owen Neal and averaged over 41 ppg.

Neal has found success with any of his talented receiving corps led by Aidric Yurish (9 rec 272 yds 2 TDs), Xavier Price (7 rec 156 yds 1 TD), and Kaden McCullough (5 rec 118 yds 2 TDs).

The junior QB is not afraid to tuck it and run or call his own number as he has racked up 223 rushing yards and 6 rushing TDs on the ground.

Warren County’s Frank Nelson (17 tackles 1 INT) will need to bring his A game to contain Neal while the Cats DBs led by Nick Harlow at safety and Kaiden Clowser (1 INT) at corner will need to keep the Colonels deep threats in front of them.

The best defense may be a good offense to keep Neal off the field.

Warren County still has Blaise Skube leading the backfield and he is averaging 6.7 yards per carry in his senior campaign.

Warren County’s offense also features Harlow at WR where he has had multiple highlight reel catches this season and is second in the area behind Handley’s Will Yoder with 278 yards and 4 Touchdowns.

The James Wood defense will come out with a chip on its shoulder after giving up 49 points to Sherando last week and should feed off the energy of the Homecoming crowd.

Xander Manzo and Xavier Price patrol the backend with 2 INTs a piece while newcomers at LB Jackson Ledford (35 tackles) and Logan Lafollette (29 tackles 3 sacks) have stepped up after the graduation of Vincent Salvati.

James Wood should have too much fire power for Warren County to handle and big plays will eventually add up, Colonels win 41-13.

For a preview of all Week 5 matchups, a look back at Week 4, our Power 5 rankings, and Player of the Week, listen to the Sports Dogs Podcast here.

The Duke’s Preview: Skyline vs James Wood ft Coach Heath Gilbert

Skyline hosts James Wood in their home opener for the High School Football Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, and streaming at theriver953.com and The River 95.3 app with coverage starting at 6:30 pm for a 7 pm kick off.

This will be James Wood’s second trip into Front Royal this year after knocking off Warren County 21-0 in week 1 thanks to some great defense and special teams.

Last week, the Colonels defeated Brentsville in a 16-15 thriller.

The defense once again held strong when it mattered most and senior defensive lineman Jordyn Sweetser secured his second fumble recovery of the season but this one he took to the house.

Special teams shine once again with a clutch kick by Aidan Bell to take the lead and then a host of Colonels bursting through the line to block Brentsville’s potential game winning kick.

James Wood sophomore quarterback Owen Neal has the ability to keep his team in any game and has shown tremendous arm talent in just his second year of high school action.

Against the Tigers, he connected with junior wide receiver Xander Manzo for two deep balls including a 91 yard touchdown strike.

Skyline has the team speed to contain players like Manzo and rip off a few big plays themselves.

Six different Hawks recorded explosive plays of over 20 yards in the week one battle against Strasburg.

Skyline fell behind two scores before halftime after two back-breaking personal foul penalties cleared the way for the Rams.

The Hawks made some adjustments after the half and first year varsity contributor Day’shawn Haley took the edge and scored from 32 yards out on the opening possession, but Strasburg squashed the rally with back-to-back touchdown drives.

After an early bye week, Skyline has had plenty of time to study James Wood’s film and work on the miscues of week 1, but James Wood’s defense combined with the talented arm of Neal make them a dangerous opponent for any team.

Both offenses have explosive potential, but James Wood’s defense appears to have an edge based on their performance over the first two weeks.

Linebacker Vincent Salvati already has 22 tackles and a sack through his first two games while Sweetser leads the area in sacks with five.

That defensive core will help the Colonels to improve to 3-0 for just the second time since 2009, 31-26.

To listen to my interview with Skyline Head Coach Heath Gilbert, click here.

To hear the latest Sports Dogs Podcast previewing all of the Week 3 matchups and looking back at week 2, click here. 

The Duke’s Preview: Skyline Coach Heath Gilbert

Skyline High School Head Football Coach Heath Gilbert joins Ryan Rutherford ahead of the week 3 matchup between his 0-1 Hawks and 2-0 James Wood Colonels. Join Ryan and Randy for the High School Football Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River App at 6:30 for pregame coverage before the 7 pm kick-off.