BY ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@yahoo.com

FRANKLIN—The only two undefeated teams in Virginia High School League Division 1 football will face off at noon on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Ranked No.1 in this week’s VHSL Division 1 poll, Franklin will host No. 4-ranked Sussex Central during the Tri-Rivers District match at 7 at Armory Field. Both teams are 8-0 overall and 2-0 in the district.

“We’ve had a great week of practice, and we are very excited about the game,” said FHS Head Coach Darren Parker. “Every game is a big game; this game is a little bit bigger than the others.”

“Ranking means nothing to me,” said Sussex Central Head Coach Curtis Jefferson. “It’s irrelevant when it comes to a game. Anybody can beat anybody on any given day.”

Tonight’s game will determine which two teams will have home-field advantage during the playoffs and will likely decide who will be the district champion.

“We need to execute in all three phases of the game, making sure everybody does their job,” said Parker.

The Broncos have outscored their opponents 427-115, while the Tigers have outscored their opponents 398-88.

“We are playing an aggressive and well coached team, and my kids are going to give 110 percent effort,” Jefferson said. “At the end of the game, we will see who comes out on top.”

 

SOUTHAMPTON ACADEMY

The undefeated Raiders, 9-0, will host Lawrence Academy, 2-7, at 7 tonight in the first round of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 8-Man state championship playoffs.

The playoffs consist of the top eight teams from the Colonial Carolina Conference, which is the only eight-man conference in the state.

“We are just keeping fresh in our minds what we saw last week,” said SA Head Coach Dale Marks.

SA beat Lawrence Academy 60-7 on Oct. 19 to wrap up the regular season.

“Feels good, to go undefeated,” said Marks. “We want to keep riding this wave we’ve been riding all year.”

Like last week, Marks would like to rest his starters and get his second team some game time experience.

“We will only do that if Lawrence puts in their second team, like they did last week as well,” said Marks.

Marks looks for second team players like Nate Williams, SA’s second leading rusher last week with five carries for 71-yards and a touchdown, to gain more experience.

 

ISLE OF WIGHT ACADEMY

The Chargers, 5-2, return home this week to host Alliance Christian, 0-7, at 7 p.m. Friday.

Alliance Christian is in the first year of its football program.

“The guys are motivated after a heartbreaking loss last week,” said IWA head coach Dale Chapman.

Despite last week’s loss to Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot, the Chargers remain No. 4 in Division III poll of the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association.

“We didn’t have a good game last week,” Chapman said. “We are looking to try and fix things we didn’t do well last week, just looking to be technically and fundamentally sound.”

 

SOUTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL

The Indians, 1-7 overall and 0-2 in the district, will host Southside District opponent Brunswick High School, 3-5 overall and 2-0 in the district, at 7:30 Friday for Senior Night.

“We have to put our offense and defense together this week,” said Wes Griffith, head coach for SHS. “Both sides of the ball have to play with intensity. Brunswick is quick and athletic.”

Griffith looks for an excited and emotionally charged group of seniors for their last home game.

 

WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL

The Dukes, who are 3-6 overall, have a bye week before traveling to Tri-Rivers District opponent Franklin at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, to close out the regular season.