757Teamz predictions: No. 11 Warwick, No. 10 Woodside battle for Newport News city crown
Incentives abound for No. 11 Warwick (5-1) and No. 10 Woodside (5-0) as they meet on Friday in a Peninsula District matchup at Todd Stadium.
From a historical perspective, Warwick can remain on track for the program’s first nine-win regular season in 67 years. More to the moment, the Raiders, No. 3 in the Virginia High School League’s playoff ratings in Class 4 Region A, will likely leapfrog Churchland for the No. 2 spot with a victory, positioning them for two home playoff games.
Woodside is currently No. 1 in Class 5 Region B and a win Friday would at least solidify the No. 2 spot in the playoffs and make Todd Stadium a busy place in November. It would also set the Wolverines up for a winner-take-all meeting with Phoebus (5-0) on Oct. 21 for the Peninsula District title.
Perhaps most important, for now, Friday’s game will determine the Newport News city champion, a prize dominated mostly by Woodside in recent years.
“This is a big game in terms of teams jockeying for playoff position,” Warwick coach Corey Hairston said. “We’re Newport News high schools, so of course a lot of kids from both teams know each other and played rec league together.
“One of our goals each season is to be city champs, so it’s a big game all-around.”
Hairston calls Wolverines’ coach Danny Dodson “the standard” for district coaches and says his defense will have to stop their traps and sweeps out of the wing-T to succeed. The Wolverines pack a 1-2 rushing punch in Paul-Stephen Davis (495 yards rushing, six touchdowns) and Ri’jon Hammond (433 yards rushing, five touchdowns).
Hairston adds the Raiders can’t sleep on the long pass with Woodside quarterback Tayvon Tyler averaging 18.8 yards on his 20 completions. Warwick will counter with a defense led by Richard Martin (42 tackles), Xavier Carter (38 tackles), Antonio Deloatch (seven sacks) and Messiah Delhomme (four interceptions, two returned for TDs).
Woodside’s defense has been stout as usual, posting three shutouts while allowing more than one touchdown in just one game. But its secondary will face its biggest test in Warwick quarterback Eduardo Rios Jr., who has thrown for 960 yards and 14 touchdowns, five of them to wide receiver Josh Hubbard.
Rios is among six Raiders to run for more than 100 yards this season. With 1,000-yard rusher Bryce Buchanan rounding back to form after a late start because of a knee injury, the Raiders can move on the ground or through the air.
“Warwick is the best team we’ve played so far,” Dodson said. “They are athletic, physical and well-coached.
“It should be a very competitive game.”
Woodside (5-0) vs. Warwick (5-1) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Warwick 26-23
Marty’s pick: Woodside 17-14
Thursday’s games
BAY RIVERS DISTRICT
Smithfield (2-3) vs. No. 14 Lafayette (4-1) at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Lafayette 41-14
Marty: Lafayette 45-6
New Kent (2-3) vs. York (4-1) at Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry: York 33-13
Marty: York 28-14
PENINSULA DISTRICT
Gloucester (0-5) vs. Denbigh (0-6) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Gloucester 14-13
Marty: Gloucester 41-0
Private schools
Portsmouth Christian at Nandua, 6 p.m.
Friday’s games
757TEAMZ TOP 15
Great Bridge (2-3) at No. 1 Oscar Smith (4-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Oscar Smith 42-6
Marty: Oscar Smith 54-7
No. 4 Maury (3-1) at No. 9 Churchland (4-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Maury 27-20
Marty: Maury 31-21
Deep Creek (4-1) at No. 5 King’s Fork (5-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: King’s Fork 27-20
Marty: King’s Fork 35-21
No. 6 Kempsville (5-1) at Landstown (3-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Kempsville 42-14
Marty: Kempsville 37-6
No. 12 Indian River (3-2) at No. 7 Western Branch (5-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Western Branch 28-26
Marty: Western Branch 34-27
First Colonial (2-3) at No. 15 Salem (4-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Salem 42-14
Marty: Salem 48-8
BAY RIVERS DISTRICT
Jamestown (0-5) at Poquoson (4-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Poquoson 28-7
Marty: Poquoson 41-6
Tabb (0-5) vs. Grafton (2-3) at Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry: Grafton 35-28
Marty: Grafton 21-20
BEACH DISTRICT
Kellam (3-2) at Tallwood (0-5), 7 p.m.
Larry: Kellam 26-20
Marty: Tallwood 24-23
Princess Anne (0-6) at Ocean Lakes (0-6), 7 p.m.
Larry: Ocean Lakes 21-14
Marty: Ocean Lakes 20-6
EASTERN DISTRICT
Booker T. Washington (2-3) at Norview (2-4), 7 p.m.
Larry: Booker T. Washington 33-26
Marty: Booker T. Washington 34-21
Manor (0-5) vs. Granby (0-4) at Powhatan Field, 7 p.m.
Larry: Manor 20-13
Marty: Manor 20-6
SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT
Grassfield (0-6) at Hickory (0-5), 7 p.m.
Larry: Hickory 20-14
Marty: Grassfield 22-21
Nansemond River (3-2) at Lakeland (1-5), 7 p.m.
Larry: Nansemond River 33-20
Marty: Nansemond River 35-7
NON-DISTRICT
Bruton (5-2) at Arcadia (0-4), 7 p.m.
Larry: Bruton 34-12
Marty: Bruton 42-6
King William (5-1) at Norcom (4-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: King William 28-20
Marty: Norcom 28-26
Lake Taylor (4-1) at Hermitage (4-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Hermitage 24-22
Marty: Lake Taylor 35-34
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Catholic at Nansemond-Suffolk, 7 p.m.
Norfolk Christian at Isle of Wight, 7 p.m.
Rappanhannock County at Greenbrier Christian, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
757TEAMZ TOP 15
No. 2 Phoebus (5-0) vs. Hampton (1-5) at Darling Stadium, noon
Larry: Phoebus 38-6
Marty: Phoebus 42-8
No. 3 Green Run (5-0) at Bayside (3-3), 2 p.m.
Larry: Green Run 33-20
Marty: Green Run 31-13
PENINSULA DISTRICT
Heritage (2-3) vs. Menchville (3-3) at Todd Stadium, noon
Larry: Menchville 24-6
Marty: Heritage 21-19
Kecoughtan (4-1) vs. Bethel (3-3) at Darling Stadium, 5 p.m.
Larry: Kecoughtan 21-20
Marty: Kecoughtan 28-13
LAST WEEK
Larry: 18-1, 107-22 overall (83%)
Marty: 18-1, 112-17 overall (87%)
