Rod Johnson's High School Football Thoughts

Rod Johnson, of Virginia Preps.com, is always kind to contribute greatly to "The Sports Buffet", here is his blog entry this week.

I looked at the calendar the other day and realized that in less than two weeks, teams will begin scrimmaging. In fact, by the time that your read this blog entry, we'll be just over a week away from pads-popping practices against opponents. That means the start of the season is even closer than I thought. In about three weeks from now, I'll be spending weekends tracking down game scores that matter and, most importantly, I'll be travelling the state trying to check out the biggest games.I won't make all of these, but if gas and hotel money was no object, here's what I'd be doing...

August 28 - Venice (Fla) @ Oscar Smith...the Tigers will carry the Virginia state flag on the field against a Florida program sending their quarterback to the University of Florida next season. Those who can't make the game (sure to be a sell out) will be able to check it out on ESPNU, it's that big.

September 4 - Westfield @ Stone Bridge...Anything less than a regional championship at these two schools and people walk away disappointed. Any discussion of either of the AAA state championships starts with these two programs as each routinely ranks among the top ten teams in the state. Can't wait to see who plants their flag atop the NR mountain early.

September 11 - Varina @ Dinwiddie...the top-ranked team in the Central Region visits last year's Division five state runners up in a game that will surely test each of them early in the season.

September 18 - R.E. Lee (Staunton) @ Harrisonburg...Seeing the big line of Harrisonburg battle R.E. Lee's speed and athleticism would be fun and it would give us a nice early season look at two teams looking to establish themselves as AA contenders.

September 25 - C.D. Hylton @ Battlefield...As the Bulldogs try to climb back atop the Northwest Region mountain, they be racing Battlefield to the peak because the Bobcats have been on the verge of a deep playoff run for a couple of seasons now.

October 2 - Amherst County @ Pulaski County...A rematch of the stare semifinal game that wasn't decided until late in the fourth quarter smack dab in the middle of the season? Perfect!

October 9 - Westfield @ Oakton...the Concorde District is almost indisputably the best in the state and these two programs have been the best in the district for a couple of years now. No doubt the Northern Region powerhouses will give the crowd a game to remember and it may be only their first meeting of the season.

October 16 - Green Run @ Ocean Lakes...the Dolphins play host to the Beach's district's second place team last year and the one expected to most challenge them for this year's title. Division I athletes abound in this game with the Stallions carrying three with offers and Ocean Lakes carrying at least four.

October 23 - Phoebus @ Hampton...a crowded and loud neighborhood battle that features two schools who circle each other year round as fans ask the kids about the game at street fairs, McDonald's, school and the barber shop. There is no escaping this game.

October 30 - Chancellor @ James Monroe...two AA regional powers square off in a late season meeting as both likely prepare for postseason runs. The Battlefield District championship could be on the line in this one so bragging rights and the postseason will be in play.

November 6 - Franklin @ Sussex Central...The defending Division I state champions travel to meet the #5-ranked Tigers in a game played just weeks before the playoffs start. Both teams should be primed for a battle.

November 12 - Varina @ Highland Springs...the two highest ranked teams in the Central Region meet up just one week before the playoffs start. The game might decide who gets in and who is left out or it could just be a prelude to a second meeting. Either way, the action will be intense and playing it on a Thursday night could raise the stakes even further as a huge crowd will gather.

What will Rod have next week? What do you want to ask Rod? E-Mail me at TheSportsBuffet@verizon.net and we'll forward along your question to Rod for use in a future blog.