The Duke’s Preview: Millbrook vs Heritage

9/3/26 Winchester, VA– Millbrook hosts Heritage in tonight’s Hike Kidz Foundation Game of the Week c/o Brickhouse Bar and Grill with coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off on The River 95.3, Fox Sports 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app.

The Pioneers will try to get the taste of a heartbreaking 39-37 loss to Loudoun Valley out a day earlier than normal thanks to the holiday weekend.

Millbrook took last year’s Dulles District champions to the wire and actually led by two scores in the second half before Loudoun Valley began to rally then march down the field for a game winning field goal.

RB Carter Kinley had a strong Week 1 showing and finished with 33 carries, 148 yards, and 4 TDs to earn Randy’s Player of the Week.

Last year against Heritage, Kinley led the way on the ground with 20 carries for 102 yards while Rylee Baker (now at Hargrave) finished the drives with 3 touchdowns.

With the graduation of Baker and departure of last year’s QB Keon Lewis to focus on basketball, Kinley will be asked to do a bit more for the Pioneers this season and he appears to have the skillset and toughness to handle 20+ carries a game.

In the 26-15 win over Heritage last season, Head Coach Nick Manuel secured his first win and Millbrook’s defense and special teams helped provide short fields for the offense, especially in the first half.

Heritage actually outgained 266-219, but the Pioneers converting on the shortened fields and a 2-for-1 stretch before halftime proved to be the difference.

Millbrook’s defense will see a few familiar faces for Heritage including QB Jonathan Heckman (started last year in place of injured starter) and RB Luke Olszewski.

Olszewski was a 1st Team All Region selection on offense and defense, both as an “all-purpose” player which highlights his versatility.

The Pioneers will miss Parker Edwards (now at Sherando), but defensive end Karl Moutemy set the edge well against Loudoun Valley and came up with 2 sacks.

Jude Cusick moved to linebacker this season after earning 2nd Team All-Area honors at defensive back last year, and led Millbrook with 11 tackles in Week 1.

On the outside, Millbrook will need to account for Heckman’s favorite returning target Brock Zakrzewski.

Last year, the Class of 2029 athlete accumulated 18 total TDs (10 receiving, 6 rushing, 1 kick return, and 1 punt return) and 1,140 yards with ZERO drops on offense and two INTs on defense.

He is a big play machine and in 2025 averaged 15.7 yards per carry, 22.6 yards per catch, and 64 yards per kick/punt return.

If Millbrook can contain Zakrzewski and Olzewski, while the offensive line continues to win battles for Carter Kinley then Coach Manuel’s crew should be able to extend the Pioneer’s winning streak vs Heritage to four straight.

I would like to see Rome Johnson get more involved through screen passes and reverses due to his home run hitting potential, but the offense may be a bit more basic this week due to shortened practice time and a QB making just his second varsity start.

Regardless, the Pioneers should be able to win the line of scrimmage and benefit from the hometown crowd while feeding off the disappointment of last week’s tough loss to take home win 1 of 2026, Millbrook 24-Heritage 14.

For a preview of all Week 2 matchups and a look back to Week 1, listen the Sports Dogs Podcast HERE.

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.