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: Handley @ Skyline

Skyline hosts Handley 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 the Tana Hoffman Pregame Show starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

The Hawks are still looking for their first win after a brutal schedule to start the season including two reigning State Runner-Ups while Handley seems to have picked up right where they left off last year, even with some new faces at key positions.

Skyline competed well in their opening matchups and showed signs of why the team had such high expectations entering the season.

The Hawks had an opportunity to go up two scores early against Strasburg before self inflicted wounds began to pile up and the Rams defense made a few adjustments at halftime to shutdown standout RB Zayden Burks for the final two quarters.

Skyline moved the ball well early against Kettle Run, the best public school in Class 3 last year, and kept the game 28 points closer than the previous go-round.

But the Hawks did not enter this season looking for quality losses, they have aspirations of a play-off run and everything they wanted in the offseason is still in front of them.

Last year the Hawks dropped 3 of the first 4 before rallying to 7 straight wins including the first round of the playoffs so a midseason surge could be in the cards once again as some very winnable games are on the horizon.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Handley’s first three opponents have a combined 1-7 record and the Judges have blown them out by a score of 111-37.

With that momentum, the Judges will enter Front Royal with tremendous confidence and a talented, deep roster featuring some of the top skill players in the Valley.

Will Yoder leads the area in receiving (215 yds, 2 TDS) and is coming into his own defensively at safety.

Last week, Yoder secured 83 receiving yards and receiving touchdown to go with an 84 yard pick-six in front of the home fans.

Jamir Washington has emerged as the go-to back for the Judges after playing primarily as a wide receiver last season.

Some of the new additions to step up include multi-sport standout Isaiah Baxter and new QB Duncan Hensler.

Baxter has two interceptions and is coming into his own as a tight end.

His block in the 2nd quarter vs Brentsville sealed the edge and allowed Hensler to scamper to the endzone untouched.

Not quite the deep ball or running threat of D-I prospect Triston Darling (out with injury), but the junior stayed ready for his number to be called and is leading Northwestern District Quarterbacks in passing yards (466) and passing touchdowns (7).

Hensler will look to add to those numbers against a defense that has allowed 41 and 36 points in their first two outings so it may be up to the Hawks offense to keep them in the ball game.

Skyline will need long, scoring possessions to hang with the Judges efficient and up-tempo offense.

The biggest advantage for this game appears to be Handley’s defense led by Jo-Jo Johnson (D-I offer to Campbell).

Johnson will do his best to shut down Burks while Baxter and Yoder patrol the backend and 300+ pounders Carson Green and Jaiquan Offut plug up the middle.

Handley’s playmakers at each level defensively should allow them the to snag a few more stops than Skyline and come out ahead in a shootout, Judges win 42-34.

For a preview of all of the area’s Week 4 games, a look back at Week 3, and more, check out the latest Sports Dogs podcast here. 

The Duke’s Preview: Millbrook vs Handley ft Coach Smith

The Handley Judges (8-1) head down Route 7 to take on the Millbrook Pioneers (3-5) in the High School Football Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, and streaming on The River 95.3 app and theriver953.com with coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

While Handley has a lot ahead of them including a looming showdown against Sherando with playoff seeding and the Apple Cup on the line, they can’t over look Millbrook.

When two Frederick County/Winchester teams matchup, the familiarity and hometown rivalry can overcome any perceived imbalance based on wins and losses.

Millbrook plays tough and physical football, but has been plagued by injuries this season and were missing 16 student-athletes against Sherando last week.

Most notably, the losses have came in the backfield with leading rushers Kyler Jackson and Cameron Clark missing multiple games this season.

Clark returned last week against the Warriors but was unable to finish the game.

The running game will be crucial to maintain possession of the ball and keep Handley’s high-powered offense off the field.

The Judges average 49.6 points per game without even playing the starters for the majority of second halves this season.

The backfield combination of senior running back Hassan Akanbi and freshman quarterback Triston Darling have taken the Valley by storm this season.

Akanbi averages 13 yards per carry and joined Skyline’s Zayden Burks as the lone running backs in the 1,000 yard club this season.

Darling and Akanbi both have reached the endzone 17 times a piece on the ground with Darling adding another 9 passing touchdowns to his total.

Handley’s explosive offense has allowed them to build leads quickly like the 49-0 advantage at halftime against Liberty last week.

If the Judges jump ahead of Millbrook early, the heavy rushing style of the Pioneers has had a difficult time overcoming leads.

Coach Jake Smith will have his team ready to avoid the “look ahead” game and set up a winner take all matchup with the Warriors next week, Judges 49-16.

To listen to my interview with Handley’s Coach Jake Smith, click here.

For a breakdown of all of this week’s games, a look back at last week, and much more, listen to the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here. 

The Duke’s Preview: Warren Co vs Handley ft Coach Breeden

It’s Homecoming Week in Warren County where the Wildcats (1-5) host the Handley Judges (5-1) in 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 app with coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

Handley brings one of the most potent rushing attacks (303 yards per game) in the Valley to Front Royal on Friday night led by the due of running back Hassan Akanbi and quarterback Triston Darling.

Akanbi has been dynamic in the Judges backfield for some time now while Darling has taken the region by storm during his freshman season.

Both ballcarriers average over 13 yards per carry and have combined for 24 rushing touchdowns and nearly 1500 yards.

If defenses lock-in on the run, Darling can win through the air.

He is coming off his best passing game of his young career and was named the Sports Dogs Player of the Week after finishing 9/13 with 182 yds and 3 touchdowns through the air to go with his 116 yards and touchdown on the ground.

Warren County’s defense has been the strength of the team this season and has shown the ability to slow down some of the area’s top offenses.

Frank Nelson, a transfer from Texas, has shined at the linebacker position this season and looks more comfortable each game leading the defense as just a sophomore.

The Wildcat’s offense has struggled stringing together first downs which leaves the defense on the field longer than Coach Josh Breeden and Co. would like.

Breeden and his staff will look to open up the playbook a bit more this week to try to create some more ways to get his playmakers like Gavin Dodson, Michael Hooper, and Blaise Skube in space.

In the last three games, Skube has shown his big play potential with two touchdowns over 40 yards.

As many games due, this one will come down to the play in the trenches where Handley has a massive advantage in size and experience.

Handley’s offensive line is led by the Offutt brothers along the left side including senior Jaishaun (6’4″ 315 lbs) and junior Jaiquan (6’3″ 305 lbs).

Jaishaun committed to Division-I Wake Forest University before the season started and has accumulated nearly 20 D-I offers.

The combination of talented ballcarriers and an offensive line that could pass for a college team will be too much for the Wildcats and dampen the Homecoming celebration, Judges 56 – Wildcats 6.

To listen to my interview with Warren County Head Coach Josh Breeden, click here.

For the latest Sports Dogs podcast covering all of this week’s games and more, click here.Â