Week 2 high school football previews

After a resounding Week 1, the Frederick County football teams will try to keep the good vibes going in Week 2 on Friday night.

 

James Wood, Millbrook and Sherando combined to shut out their opponents 103-0 last week. The Colonels will host Sherando’s victim Brentsville in their Hall of Fame game, Millbrook will host James Wood’s vanquished foe Warren County, while Sherando will travel to West Virginia to take on another team that suffered a blowout shutout loss last week in Jefferson.

 

The following is a look at each game:

 

Brentsville (0-1) at James Wood (1-0)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

 

Where: James Wood’s Kelican Stadium

 

Series history: James Wood leads 7-4

 

Last week: Brentsville lost to Sherando 42-0; James Wood beat Warren County 21-0.

 

Players to watch: Brentsville — QB Samuel Richards; TE Wyatt Vonderhaar; WR/DB Charles McCullough; OL/DL Isaiah Garmon; DB Aaron Patterson. James Wood — LB/HB Vincent Salvati; RB/DB Kobe Mason; QB Owen Neal; OL/DL Jordyn Sweetser; RB/DL Dominik Ramirez; RB Jeremiah Hodel.

 

Coaches: Brentsville — Loren White (fourth year). James Wood — Todd Wilson (second year).

 

Last year: Brentsville took a 34-0 lead at the half and went on to win 41-7 in Nokesville. Caleb Alexander had 274 yards and two TDs passing and ran for a TD to lead the Tigers, who also got three rushing touchdowns from Nico Orlando.

 

Preview: James Wood shut down Warren County on defense and special teams last week, recording seven sacks, two fumble recoveries, a blocked punt and tackles for losses on two other punts. Sweetser had four of those sacks among his seven solo tackles, and Salvati had one in a 10-tackle effort that featured eight solo tackles. The Colonels only gave up 116 yards.

 

The Colonels have the chance to keep that going against a Brentsville team that has lost most of its starters, including Alexander and Orlando, to graduation or by transfer. The Tigers gained only 110 yards against Sherando and fell behind 35-0 at the half last week.

 

James Wood didn’t have much success in the passing game last week but performed well on the ground, rushing for 134 yards. Jeremiah Hodel had six carries for 58 yards and a TD. Dominik Ramirez (11 carries, TD) and Kobe Mason (seven carries) each ran for 34 yards. Brentsville surrendered 403 yards last week, including 329 on the ground.

 

Warren County (0-1) at Millbrook (1-0)

 

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

 

Where: Millbrook High School

 

Series history: Millbrook leads 4-3

 

Last week: Warren County lost to James Wood 21-0; Millbrook beat Harrisonburg 40-0.

 

Players to watch: Warren County — RB/DB Gavin Dodson; QB Bryce Bergmann; RB/LB Blaise Skube. Millbrook — RB/DB Julius Brown; RB/DB Cameron Clark; TE/LB Trey White; OL/DL Ezra Doyle-Naegeli; OL/DL Ty Jahnigen; OL/DL Dennis Portillo.

 

Coaches: Warren County — Josh Breeden (second year). Millbrook — Josh Haymore (12th year).

 

Last year: The Pioneers ran for 414 yards in a 44-12 win over Warren County in Front Royal. Kyler Jackson and Jonah Mihill each had more than 180 yards and two TDs rushing for the Pioneers, who had 20 first downs and punted only once.

 

Preview: Jackson did not play in the season opener against Harrisonburg, but the Pioneers still dominated on the ground. Millbrook did not attempt a pass and gained 275 yards on 42 rushing attempts, with six players recording 22 to 69 yards and combining for five TDs. Brown led the way with 22 carries for 69 yards and two TDs. Clark (seven carries, 58 yards, TD) had a 91-yard kickoff return for a TD.

 

Millbrook will take on a Warren County team that gained only 116 yards last week against James Wood and gave up seven sacks. The Wildcats also struggled mightily on special teams, having one punt blocked and getting tackled for losses on two other punts.

 

The Pioneers surrendered just 143 yards in defeating Harrisonburg last week. White had 11 tackles (two for loss), and Jahiden Nunez had five tackles and an interception.

 

Sherando (1-0) at Jefferson (0-1)

 

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

 

Where: Jefferson High School in Shenandoah Junction, W.Va.

 

Series history: Sherando leads 16-3

 

Last week: Sherando beat Brentsville 42-0; Jefferson lost to Springs Mills (W.Va.) 50-0.

 

Players to watch: Sherando — QB/P Micah Carlson; DL Kaleb Nowlin; RB/LB James Walters; RB Tali Burgess; RB Mason McKee; DL Hunter Ratchford. Jefferson — QB Dylan Harich, RB Tay’Shaun Roper.

 

Coaches: Sherando — T.J. Rohrbaugh (second year). Jefferson — Craig Hunter (12th year).

 

Last year: Sherando earned a thrilling 34-28 triple overtime victory at Arrowhead Stadium.

 

Nowlin forced a fumble that Parker Fredman recovered at the Sherando 29-yard line with 4:42 left; Christian Ruiz ran 66 yards for a touchdown on third-and-5 three plays later with 3:52 remaining; and Carlson connected with Brady Largent on a two-point conversion to tie the game at 21-21.

 

After two missed field goals in the first overtime and two touchdowns in the second, Sherando finally emerged with the win. It forced a fourth-down incompletion from the 31-yard line on the first possession and got a Carlson 2-yard TD run on third down when it got the ball on the second possession. Carlson completed 24 of 41 passes for 218 yards and a TD.

 

Preview: Jefferson went 9-3 last year, losing only to Sherando and twice to West Virginia powerhouse Martinsburg. The Cougars are coming off a stunning loss to Spring Mills in which they fell behind 37-0 at the half.

 

According to The Journal in Martinsburg (West Virginia), the Cougars still feature Harich at quarterback and Roper at running back. Roper ran for 104 yards — including a 65-yard TD run to open the scoring — and Harich went 17 of 29 for 175 yards and two TDs against the Warriors last year.

 

Sherando is coming off a dominant effort in which it outgained Brentsville 403-110. The Warriors were led by Carlson (six rushes for 40 yards and three TDs, 7 of 9 for 74 yards and two interceptions), McKee (12 carries, 73 yards), Burgess (six carries, 68 yards, TD) and Walters (40 rush yards, team-high 12 tackles).

 

Note: Sherando will now play its Homecoming game with Fauquier on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. due to transportation issues with Fauquier.

 

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.