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757Teamz Football Report: Western Branch’s turnaround gets a key test Friday against No. 1 Oscar Smith

larry rubama, the virginian-pilot

Whenever Western Branch coach Rashad Cook talks about this season, his favorite phrase is, “We want to go 1-0 each week.”

It’s a cliché, but it’s worked for the Bruins.

Western Branch has gone 1-0 in all but one week, including last week when it beat Deep Creek 21-14 to improve to 8-1 for the first time since 2013. The Bruins’ only loss was 17-3 against King’s Fork.

On Friday, the No. 9 Bruins will try to go 1-0 one more time when they play top-ranked Oscar Smith in their final regular-season game. At stake is a share of the Southeastern District title. The Bruins haven’t won a district title since 2006, when they shared it with the Tigers. They haven’t beaten Oscar Smith since 2003.

Western Branch finished 2-4 in the abbreviated spring season.

“The kids have done great. Ultimately, it feels good,” Cook said. “And watching our kids handle winning, after being in a program that hasn’t won as much recently, to me is very humbling. And I’m very proud of our guys.”

Rare feat: three pick-6s

Hampton coach Mike Smith said Ja’Quan Montgomery’s four interceptions in the Crabbers’ 55-0 win over Heritage on Friday were not a first in his 51-year career as a head coach. Smith recalls Craig Overton picking off four passes in the Crabbers’ 16-0 win over T.C. Williams in the 1985 Group AAA state championship game.

Montgomery’s three interception returns for touchdowns in the game are a first for Smith, who has won 504 games and 12 state titles during his tenure as the Crabbers’ coach.

“He came very close to four touchdowns and almost had five interceptions,” said Smith, whose team improved to 7-1. “He had a really good game and so did defensive ends Jaysun Simmons and Hasan Harris.”

Otherwise, Smith reserved his praise for a Heritage team still regaining its footing after lengthy interruptions this season due to COVID-19 protocols and a Sept. 20 shooting at the school.

“I was worried about Heritage coming into the game because they played Warwick tough and had every opportunity to win their first game back,” Smith said. Heritage coach “Scott Woodlief has done a good job with them.

“It’s hard to go through COVID and a school disturbance and come back. I admire the kids and the coaching staff.”

Tabb rebounds to win three straight

After losing its first five games, Tabb is flipping the script with its three-game winning streak — the latest a 21-7 victory at New Kent on Friday. The Tigers are poised to finish 5-5 and earn a Class 3 Region A playoff berth that seemed unlikely just a few weeks ago. Tabb finishes with games against Bruton (4-3) and Jamestown (1-6).

While the defense has been steady throughout, first-year coach Brent Ashley says an improved running game spearheaded by the blocking of two-way standout Connor Castle and steady play from quarterback Mike Alleyne has been key to the turnaround. Running back Dimarcus Gantt enters Friday’s game against Bruton with 968 yards rushing.

“You’d think when you start 0-5, the kids’ spirits would be down, but they’ve come out to practice every day just ready to go,” Ashley said. “Enthused, energized and positive.

“When you start 0-5, it hurts, especially high school kids. So you never know how they’ll respond. I’m extremely proud of them.”

Atlantic Shores rolls with explosive offense

Atlantic Shores has scored 50 or more points four times this season, including a season-high 70 points last week against Fredericksburg Christian.

The Seahawks (9-0) are averaging 49 points a game and are ranked No. 1 in the latest VISAA Division II poll.

Heading into last week’s games, quarterback Damien Mazil was second in Hampton Roads in passing. He’s completed 90 of 140 passes for 1,981 yards and 28 TDs. He has committed to Campbell.

Running back Kai Hodge was third in rushing with 1,303 yards and 24 touchdowns, and receiver Carlos Smith leads Hampton Roads in yards (1,123) and touchdowns (18). Hodge has received much interest, including from Wake Forest, Toledo and VMI.

Defensively, the Seahawks have allowed just 17 points a game. They are led by Kaden Beatty, who has 56 tackles, including 31 for loss. He also leads Hampton Roads in sacks with 14.

“We have been fortunate to have been put in some very good situations by our defense. They have done a great job,” said Seahawks coach Wayne Lance. “Our O-line has continued to improve in protection and the running game, and our receivers and backs have continued to step up and carry the load in their respective areas.”

Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com Follow @LHRubama on Twitter.

Infobox:

757Teamz Football Top 15

Team, record (first-place votes), total points and last week’s rankings are included.

1. Oscar Smith, 6-1 (7), 105; Last week: 1

This week: vs. Western Branch, 7 p.m. Friday

2. Phoebus, 7-0, 97; Last week: 2

This week: vs. Gloucester at Darling Stadium, 7 p.m. Thursday

3. Green Run, 8-0, 92; Last week: 3

This week: at Cox, 6:30 p.m. Friday

4. Maury, 3-1, 84; Last week: 4

This week: vs. Booker T. Washington at Powhatan Field, 7 p.m. Friday

5. Kempsville, 5-1, 71; Last week: 5

This week: at First Colonial, 7 p.m. Friday

6. Hampton, 7-1, 70; Last week: 6

This week: vs. Kecoughtan at Darling Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday

7. Lafayette, 6-1, 58; Last week: 7

This week: at Poquoson, 7 p.m. Friday

8. King’s Fork, 6-1, 51; Last week: 8

This week: at Lakeland, 7 p.m. Friday

9. Western Branch, 8-1, 50; Last week: 9

This week: at Oscar Smith, 7 p.m. Friday

10. Warhill, 8-0, 49; Last week: 10

This week: vs. York at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday

11. Churchland, 6-2, 40; Last week: 11

This week: at Manor, 7 p.m. Friday

12. Cox, 5-3, 25; Last week: 12

This week: vs. Green Run, 7 p.m. Friday

13. York, 7-1, 15; Last week: 13

This week: vs. Warhill at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday

14. Salem, 5-2, 13; Last week: 14

This week: Idle

15. Woodside, 5-2, 10; Last week: 15

This week: vs. Denbigh at Todd Stadium, noon Saturday

Dropped out: None

Also receiving votes: Ocean Lakes 4, Atlantic Shores 1.

Staffers Sonny Dearth, Jami Frankenberry, Greg Giesen, Ray Nimmo, Marty O’Brien, Larry Rubama and Sian Wilkerson voted in the poll.

VHSL Power Ratings

The top eight teams in each region qualify for the playoffs.

Class 6 Region A

Team;record;rating

1. Oscar Smith;6-1;31.0

2. Western Branch;8-1;29.78

3. Thomas Dale;7-1;29.13

4. Manchester;5-2;28.71

5. Ocean Lakes;5-3;27.0

6. James River;5-4;25.67

7. Franklin County;4-4;25.5

8. Kellam;3-5;22.75

9. Cosby;2-6;22.38

10. Grassfield;1-7;20.0

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11. Landstown;0-6;17.67

Class 5 Region A

1. Green Run;8-0;31.5

2. Kempsville;5-1;31.0

3. Salem;5-2;26.71

4. Indian River;4-2;25.33

5. Cox;5-3;24.5

6. Bayside;5-3;24.25

7. Hickory;2-6;20.75

8. Tallwood;2-6;20.13

T9. First Colonial;2-7;19.67

T9. Princess Anne;1-5;19.67

Class 5 Region B

1. Maury;3-1;28.0

2. Woodside;5-2;26.29

3. Norview;4-3;24.14

4. Nansemond River;3-4;23.14

5. Menchville;4-3;22.71

6. Kecoughtan;4-3;22.14

7. Bethel;3-6;20.56

8. Gloucester;1-7;17.88

9. Granby;0-7;16.71

Class 4 Region A

1. King’s Fork;6-1;27.71

2. Hampton;7-1;26.88

3. Warhill;8-0;26.75

4. Churchland;6-2;25.88

5. Deep Creek;4-4;22.88

6. Warwick;5-4;22.33

7. Manor;3-2;20.4

8. Smithfield;1-5;18.33

9. Jamestown;1-6;17.14

10. Heritage;0-4;16.25

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11. Grafton;1-7;15.75

12. Great Bridge;0-6;15.67

13. Denbigh;0-7;14.71

Class 3 Region A

1. Phoebus;7-0;32.0

2. Lafayette;6-1;24.57

3. York;7-1;24.0

4. Booker T. Washington;5-2;22.71

5. Lake Taylor;4-4;22.38

6. Hopewell;4-2;22.17

7. Petersburg;3-4;19.0

8. Tabb;3-5;18.63

T9. New Kent;3-5;18.0

T9. Norcom;1-4;18.0

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11. Southampton;2-3;17.0

12. Lakeland;2-5;16.71

13. Colonial Heights;2-6;15.63

14. Park View of South Hill;1-4;13.6

Class 2 Region A

1. Nottoway;7-0;25.43

2. King William;6-1;22.43

3. Thomas Jefferson;6-1;22.29

4. Poquoson;4-3;20.57

5. Amelia County;6-2;20.13

6. Greensville County;4-2;19.17

7. Brunswick;3-1;19.0

8. Randolph-Henry;4-4;15.75

9. Bruton;3-5;14.88

10. Nandua;2-5;13.14

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11. *John Marshall;0-4;12.75

12. Prince Edward;2-6;12.13

13. Windsor;0-7;10.29

T14. Bluestone;0-7;10.0

T14. Arcadia;0-8;10.0

*John Marshall has abandoned the season because of a lack of participation.

Class 1 Region A

1. Essex;4-0;21.5

2. King & Queen Central;7-0;19.43

3. Northampton;6-2;18.5

4. Northumberland;5-0;18.4

5. West Point;5-2;18.14

T6. Washington & Lee;3-3;16.67

T6. Colonial Beach;3-3;14.67

8. Middlesex;3-2;14.2

9. Rappahannock;3-4;12.29

10. Lancaster;1-7;9.13

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11. Mathews;0-8;8.38

Class 1 Region B

1. Riverheads;8-0;26.0

2. Central of Lunenburg;6-1;19.86

3. Buffalo Gap;5-3;18.63

4. Sussex Central;4-1;17.2

5. William Campbell;3-3;15.83

6. Surry County;4-4;15.75

7. Altavista;2-6;13.25

8. Rappahannock County;0-3;12.33

9. Cumberland;1-6;12.14

10. Franklin;2-5;11.86