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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Rohrbaugh named Coordinator of Student Activities at Sherando

The Frederick County School Board announced the appointment of Taylor “TJ” Rohrbaugh as Coordinator of Student Activities at Sherando High School during the June 14th School Board meeting.

Rohrbaugh will continue to serve as Head Varsity Football Coach in addition to his role as CSA.

He is the only combination football coach and CSA in FCPS (Casey Childs serves in both roles at Clarke County High School).

The Sherando Alum has dedicated his entire career to FCPS with 17 years at Sherando and one year as a teacher and CSA at Millbrook High School.

As the head football coach, Rohrbaugh took the reigns in 2023 and has a record of 24-13.

The Warriors best season under his leadership came in 2024 when Sherando went 12-2 and advanced to the State Semifinals.

Rohrbaugh is just the second CSA in SHS history, and he will follow Jason Barbe who served in the role for 27 years.

FCPS announced in June that Barbe was selected as the new director of planning and construction.

Rohrbaugh holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from James Madison University, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from West Virginia University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from James Madison University.

Story cover photo c/o Kirby on Sports Podcast.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click 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 Warren County ft Coach Rohrbaugh

The undefeated Sherando Warriors (5-0) march into Front Royal to take on the Warren County Wildcats (1-3) in tonight’s High School Football Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and The River 95.3 App.

Sherando is led by one of the area’s most dominant rushing attacks and a true dual-threat at QB, senior Micah Carlson.

Carlson leads the area in rushing touchdowns with nine and has totaled 452 yards on the ground while averaging 8.2 yards per carry.

Through the air, Carlson has completed a staggering 85% of his passes for 465 yards and three touchdowns.

He has a variety of weapons behind him in Mason McKee, Tali Burgess, and Ethan Golightly or at wide out in Aiden Leatch, Tucker LaFever, and Hayden LaFever.

All of their jobs are made easier by an experienced offensive line with four returning starters anchored by All District selections last year Jarrett See (6′, 240 lb.) at center and Parker Fredman (6’3″, 248 lb.) at tackle.

Defensively, the Warriors have opportunistic playmakers on the back end including the current interception leader in the area Reth Puller and last year’s leader in the category and All District selection Hayden LaFever.

Edge rusher Kaleb Nowlin is an emotional leader on the defensive side of the ball with a motor that never stops.

He finished with 9.5 sacks last year and is on his way to eclipsing that number this year with 5.5 already under his belt.

Warren County will have their hands full with the undefeated Warriors but will have the home crowd behind them and are riding some momentum after their first win.

Last week against Fauquier, the Wildcats continued their gameplan of hard-nosed defense and a strong running game to knock-off the Falcons 14-7.

Running back Blaise Skube played his best game of the season finishing with 132 yards on 18 carries and the game winning touchdown in the 4th quarter.

Skube hit a hole and ran it in from 59 yards out before heading back out for defense and helping the Wildcats to a win

Fans could see the relief for Coach Josh Breeden and his squad as they celebrated the first win sliding around in the mud on Fauquier’s home field.

Warren County’s defense has looked much improved this year and the Wildcats will play to the final whistle like they have nothing to lose.

Sherando has sputtered at the start of some games and may be looking ahead to a slate of games including local rivals in James Wood, Handley, and Millbrook or the looming matchup with the other Northwestern District unbeaten team, Kettle Run.

If Warren County can come up with a few early stops like they did against Clarke and Fauquier and the offense with Skube and Gavin Dodson finds their stride, they could catch Sherando in a “trap game.”

Sherando coach T.J. Rohrbaugh preaches going “1-0” each week and his team has responded with that mentality so far this season.

The Warriors have some advantages in personnel, especially in the trenches, that will be too much for the Wildcats to overcome.

Micah Carlson and his host of backs will have a great evening on the ground while Nowlin, Puller, and Co. wreak havoc on defense to give Sherando the win, 56-7.

To hear my interview with Sherando Head Coach T.J. Rohrbaugh, click here. 

For the latest Sports Dogs Podcast previewing all of the week’s matchups, click here.

The Duke’s Preview: Sherando HC T.J. Rohrbaugh

Ryan chats with Sherando Head Football Coach T.J. Rohrbaugh ahead of the Warriors’ trip to Front Royal to take on Warren County 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.

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.