Sports Dogs Podcast: High School Football Week 1 recap, Week 2 preview

In this episode, The Sports Dogs are barking a day early due to the shortened week for many schools.

Check out the episode HERE featuring:

  • Week 1 recaps including:
    • Strasburg vs Skyline in the first Game of the Week
    • Big wins by Sherando, James Wood, and Handley
    • A heartbreaker for the Pioneers
  • Week 2 previews of:
    • Game of the Week-Millbrook vs Heritage
    • Rematches of Broadway vs Strasburg and Loudoun County vs Sherando
    • Handley’s new game change and more..
  • The first Player of the Week nominees including Millbrook’s Carter Kinley and James Wood’s Jackson Ledford
  • an updated Power Five rankings
  • and more…

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

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Millbrook vs Sherando doubleheader

1/16/26, Winchester, VA- Sherando takes the short trip to Millbrook for a classic Northwestern District rivalry basketball doubleheader in tonight’s Hike Kidz Foundation Game of the Week courtesy of Brickhouse Bar and Grill on Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app.

The boys are tipping off first at 6 pm with pregame coverage at 5:45 pm, and then the girls following a ceremony for Millbrook’s Love Loud campaign.

Millbrook High School’s Love Loud game has become an annual tradition to honor, remember, and bring awareness to all types of cancer.

This year’s game honors Millbrook alum and former wrestling standout Dylan Wisman, who was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer, and will support Wisman’s organization, The Outdoorsmen Fellowship, to raise awareness and encourage early screening.

Before the ceremony, the boys take the court with both teams sitting at 9-4 and heating up.

Sherando enters the matchup as winners of four in a row and seven of the last eight while Millbrook has won five of their last seven.

The Warriors have a balanced offensive approach led by Reth Puller (10.7 ppg) and Sean Benton (10.5 ppg) and a stifling defense.

Coach Garland Williams group has allowed only the Handley Judges to eclipse 70 points in a game and Skyline joins Handley as the only teams to go over 60 points.

Sherando will have their hands full with the Pioneers offensive attack led by Rylee Baker who is coming off the best game of his career.

Baker put up 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 steals in a dual against Ashby Copenhaver (31 points, 9 3-pointers) and James Wood.

Baker has been building to a performance like that all season long.

The senior leads the area in scoring by a wide margin at 21.5 points per game and already has105 more points on the season than the area’s second leading scorer on average, Wood’s Brodie Sirbaugh (17 ppg).

Keon Lewis is also coming off back to back double-digit scoring appearances and his best rebounding game against the Colonels with 9 (8 in the second half).

This should be a tightly contested matchup that comes down to the wire and will start early at 6 pm so call out of work early if you have to, it will be worth it!

The schools will then break for Love Loud’s ceremony and then the girls take the floor with both teams still looking to turn the corner in a waning season.

The Pioneers are coming off a win against James Wood that halted a six game losing skid and Strasburg ended a potential winning streak for Sherando after back-to-back wins against Warren County and Liberty.

While the teams haven’t quite put it all together, they both posses star power with two of the area’s most prolific scorers in Jane Moreland and Avery Ryan.

Moreland ranks 3rd in the area in points at 15.8 and 2nd in the area in rebounding with 9.7 per game.

Ryan is just behind her in scoring at 15.6 per game while shooting efficiently and ranking 2nd in 3-point, free throw, and field goal percentage.

Both have the ability to take over the game and may need to if their teammates are struggling.

Some of the younger pieces for these teams are starting to settle in like sophomores Grace Moreland for Millbrook and Kinsley Richardson for Sherando.

The younger Moreland recently put up 17 points against Handley and averages 8.9 per game while Richardson averages 11.3 points per game and is Sherando’s leading rebounder at 6.4 per game.

Both boys and girls matchups appear very even on paper and I predict a split decision for these district bouts with Millbrook’s offense led by Baker to become the 3rd team to reach the 60s against Sherando’s defense, Pioneers win 64-58.

For the girls matchup on the other hand, Sherando’s defensive focus under 1st year coach Regina Downing will start to pay-off.

Sherando makes some clutch free throws late for the 48-44 win.

For Josh Kirby’s chat with:

  • Millbrook girls coach Cary Bartlett, click here.
  • Sherando boys coach Garland Williams and Millbrook boys coach Erick Green Sr., click here.

For more local sports coverage, check out the latest Sports Dogs podcast here.

Sports Dogs Podcast: 2026 Kick-Off

Happy New Year from the Dogs!

We’re back from the Holiday Hiatus to talk about the Commanders’ recent Black Monday moves, a look at the College Football Playoff semifinals, and The Duke looks at what’s happening in local high school hoops.

A lot is going on in the sports world this first week of 2026, and we’re barkin’ about it, courtesy of Energy Windows LLC.

Visit Dave at https://energywindowsllc.com or by calling 540-671-9243 and bring your vision to life! 

To listen to the latest Sports Dogs Podcast on The River 95.3 online, Spotify, Amazon or iTunes, click here.

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

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Handley vs Sherando doubleheader

12/19/25, Winchester, VA- John Handley High School hosts Sherando High School in a Northwestern District doubleheader for tonight’s Hike Kidz Foundation Game of the Week courtesy of Brickhouse Bar and Grill on Fox Sports Radio 1450 WFTR, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with the girls tipping-off at 6 pm followed by the boys around 7:30 pm and a Tana Hoffman Pregame Show beginning roughly 15 minutes before each.

In the first matchup, both teams will continue to look for their identities in this young season with Sherando adjusting to a new head coach and Handley finding their footing after the return of their superstar.

Regina Downing made the move from Clarke County to Sherando this offseason after a State playoff appearance.

The Eagles have continued to soar since her departure and are undefeated while the Warriors are still searching for their first win.

Downing is inheriting a Sherando team that went just 12-11 last season but does have some exciting talent in Junior Avery Ryan and Sophomore Kinsley Richardson.

The duo combined for 20 of Sherando’s 22 points in the first half against Kettle Run on Tuesday and can fill-up the stat sheet with steals and rebounds as well.

While the Warriors enter at 0-6, they have closed the gap in recent outings losing the last three games by less than 10 points and will continue to gain confidence in Downing’s style which prioritizes strong man-to-man defense.

Handley has also struggled out of the gates and enters Friday night at 1-6, but the Judges have faced stiff competition mostly without the help of Reagan Edsell.

Handley’s six losses came against teams with a combined 26-5 record this season and the reigning Regional Player of the Year and James Madison commit was sidelined for the majority of those games.

She did return in the 55-50 loss to Loudoun Valley.

Handley also returns a solid roster around Edsell including All District Honorable Mention selection Cameron Hobson and Senior Center Amaya Smith, but the group will need their full lineup to take on top teams come playoff time.

When the boys take the floor following Game 1 of tonight’s doubleheader, Handley will also have the advantage in star power with Will Braun-Duin.

The First Team All-State selection as a Sophomore returns to the lineup after leading the area in scoring (26.4 points per game), steals (2.3 per game), and free throws (87.4 %).

Like Edsell, Braun-Duin will play at the Division-I level and has quite a few options fighting for his commitment including Old Dominion, Mount Saint Mary’s and more.

Coach Zach Harrell-Zook brings back essentially the entire roster around Braun-Duin from last year’s State Title contending squad including the areas returning leaders in rebounds (6.5) and blocks (1.1) Christian Dinges and assists(3.7) Kyren Oglesby.

Sherando also returns some solid talent, but it is more likely that the Warriors will be fighting for second place in the District with the expected dominance of Handley.

The Warriors pair of 6’4″ forwards Jackson Ogle and Sean Benton will need to dominate the paint and win the rebounding battle to give Sherando a chance.

In Sherando’s first win of the season over James Wood, the duo helped lead a 32-16 advantage on the glass and more than doubled the opposition in offensive rebounds.

Coach Garland William’s group could also benefit from a “look ahead” spot with Handley getting ready to hit the road for some holiday season tournaments which includes the Arby’s Classic and a date with national powerhouse Oak Hill.

I do not think that will happen as Coach Harrell-Zook has never been questioned about his intensity and he will have his team focused on knocking down a cross-town rival tonight, Handley wins big 84-54.

For the girls, I look for Reagen Edsell to take the floor and have her coming-out party this season with a double-double to lead the way and keep the Warriors searching for their first win, Judges 52-Warriors 38.

For more coverage of tonight’s matchup, click the links below for color commentator Josh Kirby’s conversations with:

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 Hoops Preview: Skyline vs Sherando

Tonight’s High School Basketball Game of the Week on Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and the Tune In Radio App features the Skyline Hawks (10-3) hosting the Sherando Warriors (10-5) with coverage starting at 7:20 pm.

The first meeting of the two teams was a Sherando victory in a 55-53 season opening thriller.

This matchup is expected to be no different as both team’s enter the game still holding high expectations for this season.

Sherando will arrive in Front Royal on a four game winning streak led by senior guard Trey Williams, who has averaged over 20 points per game in the stretch.

Williams is an early candidate for Player of the Year in the region as the second leading scorer with 17.2 per game, third in rebounding with 6.5 per game, and the leader in assists and steals with 4.4 apg and 2.3 spg.

Skyline enters the evening winning 7 of their last 8 games by an average differential of 22.4 points per game.

While the Warriors are led by Williams from the outside, the Hawks follow the lead of junior forward Dwayne Tucker on the interior.

Tucker has been a dominant force for Skyline in his second year of varsity action.

He led all scorers in the first matchup against the Warriors with 23 points, many of those coming against Sherando’s 6’4″ senior center Drew Tyson.

Tucker has also collected a few double-doubles this season and joined Williams on the All Tournament Team at the Ram Hardwood Classic.

Tonight’s heavyweight matchup could come down to the free throw line, an area that helped Sherando secure a few victories already this season including the first game against Skyline where the Warriors finished 14/21 from the line while the Hawks made just 5/16 free throw attempts.

Skyline’s aggressive defense could end them up in foul trouble and send the Warriors to the free throw line early and often, leading to the difference in a tight Sherando win, 57-54.

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