Football Preview: James Wood at Skyline

When: Today, 7 p.m.

Where: Skyline High School, Front Royal

Records: James Wood (0-7, 0-1 Northwestern District); Skyline (3-4, 0-1).

Last game: James Wood lost to Sherando 41-6; Skyline lost to Washington (W.Va.) 63-0.

Last year: Skyline won 39-19.

Preview: Both the Hawks and Colonels are coming off short weeks and that’s probably for the best considering both teams would likely just put last week’s games in the rearview mirror.

The Colonels, who have lost 17 in a row dating back to last season, face a Skyline team that’s lost three consecutive games after starting the season 3-1. The Hawks are coming off a turnover-filled 63-0 loss at Washington (W.Va.) on Saturday.

Hawks coach Heath Gilbert said he scouted the Colonels last week, noting Wood continued to fight against a talented Sherando team on Monday.

“They play hard,” Gilbert said of the Colonels. “You’d like to see a team that hasn’t won roll over but they’re not — they’ve got a lot of pride. I know they’ll be ready to play and trying to get that first victory of the year.”

James Wood coach Mark McHale said senior quarterback Cam Butler (who was injured against Broadway) is out for the season along with right guard Haden Bridges (who had been out since the Fauquier game) and right tackle Jake Jenkins (who had missed the past two games).

“Offensively, we’re trying to get some continuity going but we’re banged up,” said McHale, who hired Gilbert as one of his assistant coaches when he was at Warren County. “The biggest challenge we’ve got is just getting over the hump and winning a ball game.”

Skyline is still seeking its first district win of the year after falling on the road at Millbrook 10-6 on Oct. 4. The Hawks have only scored a total of six points in their last three losses.

“We’ve been struggling to score points,” Gilbert said. “Outside of the Brentsville game, 14 points has been our max. We’d like to score points and we’ve had some good offenses in the past but this year it’s been tough. We’re trying to get the best situations for our kids to be successful.”

The Hawks committed six turnovers, including two blocked punts, and those giveaways doubled their season total, but Gilbert said the fact that this week is Homecoming might help his players turn the page on last Saturday’s lopsided loss at Washington.

“It was a tough pill to swallow [last week], but our kids are plugging along and keeping at it,” Gilbert said. “It’s Homecoming and we’ll be wearing our alternate jerseys [green with the players’ names on the back] and there’s excitement around the school so that’s definitely a plus.”

The Colonels struggled last week against Sherando, finishing with just 141 yards of total offense and seven first downs. James Wood’s offense averages just 11.1 points, while allowing 31.3 through seven games this year.

Tyler Bishop leads the Colonels, rushing for 369 yards and three touchdowns.

James Wood’s offense will again be led by Brady Hepner, who suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the year.

“Brady has got to to be the guy,” McHale said. “He played last week, but he had a separated shoulder and hadn’t played in two games and hadn’t been our quarterback since the opening game. That was a big challenge for Brady to run our offense [last week against Sherando].”