757Teamz predictions: No. 6 King’s Fork travels to No. 11 Indian River for Southeastern District showdown
King’s Fork and Indian River haven’t played a football game against each other since 2019 because of the pandemic, but the latest matchup is a big one: The Bulldogs, ranked sixth in Hampton Roads, visit No. 11 Indian River at 7 p.m. Friday in the first key game of the Southeastern District season.
Indian River (2-0) has won six straight in the series, but King’s Fork (1-0) is coming off its first region title and the program’s first state semifinal trip last season.
The Bulldogs dominated Smithfield 41-0 in their season opener, led by quarterback Cameron Butler, who completed 12 of 15 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He also did it on the ground with 47 yards and another score. His top targets are wide receivers Kaletri Boyd (four receptions, 80 yards, one TD) and Jahmel Mackey (five receptions, 90 yards).
The Bulldogs also have talented sophomore running back Javon Ford, who rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener. He already has scholarship offers from North Carolina and Duke.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are led by Boyd (three tackles), DB Antoine Gray (eight tackles, one forced fumble), LB Latavion Wynn (six tackles), DE Ronald Rhodes (five tackles, one sack), DL Jacolbe Leonard (five tackles, two sacks) and LB Nazman Gates (five tackles).
“We are really excited to play a well-coached team in Indian River,” King’s Fork coach Anthony Joffrion said. “We have to play our brand of football and be able to play disciplined football.”
The Braves (2-0) have outscored their first two opponents 71-12, with victories over Hickory and J.R. Tucker.
Larry Rubama’s pick: King’s Fork, 35-21
Marty O’Brien’s pick: King’s Fork, 28-27
Thursday’s games
No. 2 Phoebus (1-0) vs No. 13 Warwick (2-0) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Phoebus, 34-13
Marty: Phoebus, 28-7
Warhill (0-2) vs Tabb (0-1) at Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry: Warhill, 33-13
Marty: Warhill, 20-14
Friday’s games
757Teamz Top 15
Grassfield (0-2) at No. 1 Oscar Smith (1-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Oscar Smith, 55-0
Marty: Oscar Smith, 62-0
New Bern, N.C. (3-0) vs. No. 3 Maury (0-0) at Powhatan Field, 7 p.m.
Larry: Maury, 34-27
Marty: New Bern, 35-31
Kellam (1-1) at No. 4 Green Run (2-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Green Run, 41-14
Marty: Green Run, 58-6
No. 5 Western Branch (2-0) at Nansemond River (2-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Western Branch, 34-20
Marty: Western Branch, 24-10
No. 7 Kempsville (1-1) at Ocean Lakes (0-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Kempsville, 34-20
Marty: Kempsville, 45-7
Currituck County, N.C. (2-0) at No. 8 Lake Taylor (1-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Lake Taylor, 33-20
Marty: Lake Taylor, 35-14
No. 9 Woodside (1-0) vs. Hampton (1-1) at Darling Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Woodside, 33-13
Marty: Woodside, 31-6
No. 14 Landstown (2-0) at Tallwood (0-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Landstown, 28-20
Marty: Landstown, 30-22
Cox (1-1) at No. 15 Bayside (1-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Bayside, 21-20
Marty: Cox, 17-14
Bay Rivers District
Lafayette (0-1, 0-0) vs. Grafton (1-0) at Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry: Lafayette, 27-16
Marty: Lafayette, 30-8
York (1-0) vs. Poquoson (1-0) at Poquoson Middle School, 7 p.m.
Larry: York, 26-23
Marty: York, 24-21
Beach District
First Colonial (0-1) at Princess Anne (0-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: First Colonial, 27-26
Marty: Princess Anne, 28-20
Peninsula District
Bethel (0-2) at Gloucester (0-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Bethel, 16-13
Marty: Bethel, 21-20
Denbigh (0-2) vs. Menchville (1-1) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Menchville, 33-6
Marty: Menchville, 52-0
Southeastern District
Deep Creek (1-1) at Hickory (0-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Deep Creek, 41-13
Marty: Deep Creek, 44-18
Non-district
Lakeland (1-1) at Booker T. Washington (1-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Booker T. Washington, 27-26
Marty: Booker T. Washington, 42-21
Norcom (1-1) at Hopewell (0-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Norcom, 23-20
Marty: Hopewell, 19-17
Norview (1-1) at Holmes, N.C. (1-1) 7 p.m.
Larry: Holmes, 26-23
Marty: Holmes, 27-21
Great Bridge (0-1) at Manor (0-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Manor, 26-20
Marty: Great Bridge 25-6
Private schools
Atlantic Shores at Norfolk Christian, 7 p.m.
Isle of Wight at Smith Mountain Lake, 7 p.m.
Norfolk Academy at Catholic, 7 p.m.
Perquimans (N.C.) at Portsmouth Christian, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Peninsula District
Kecoughtan (0-1) vs. Heritage (2-0) at Todd Stadium, noon
Larry: Kecoughtan, 23-20
Marty: Kecoughtan 21-12
Bay Rivers District
New Kent (1-0, 0-0 Bay Rivers) vs. Bruton (2-0, 0-0) at Bailey Field, noon
Larry: New Kent, 27-20
Marty: New Kent, 27-14
Greenbrier Christian at Broadwater Academy, 1 p.m.
Nansemond-Suffolk at Christchurch, 1 p.m.
Last week
Larry: 19-4, 30-13 overall (70%)
Marty: 19-4, 33-10 overall (77%)
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com. Twitter @LHRubama
Marty O’Brien, 757-247-4963, mjobrien@dailypress.com. Twitter @MartyO’BrienDP
