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

COURTLAND— The undefeated Southampton Academy Raiders, 10-0, will host Cary Christian School, 7-3, at 7:30 Friday night in the semi-final round of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 8-Man state championship playoffs.

“They’re a well coached team,” said SA Head Coach Dale Marks. “They’re fundamentally sound, they play with as much effort as any team we play, they are very aggressive and a very intense team.”

The Raiders defeated Cary Christian earlier this season 56-41 on Friday, Oct. 5.

“After watching footage from their game Friday night we can tell they are not doing anything differently than what they have done all year,” Marks said.

The Raiders have outscored their opponents 594-292, while the Knights have outscored their opponents 361-253.

Marks looks for his team to be healthy, and for players like David Howell to make a return at center this week, as well as Matt Rose who has only been playing on offense the past few weeks to also play in his defensive line-up.

Despite school being closed on Monday and Tuesday for Hurricane Sandy, Marks held practice for the players that were able to attend.

“We weren’t able to get outside on Monday of course,” said Marks. “We watched film and ran drills in the gym, worked out a few wrinkles that we had, and went over how we are going to attack the game.”

Franklin / Windsor High School

The Broncos will host the Dukes in a Tri-Rivers District contest Friday at 7 p.m. at Armory Field. It is Senior Night for the Broncos.

The Broncos come into the game 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the district, while the Dukes are 3-6 overall and 1-2 in the district.

The Broncos come into tonight’s game ranked No.1 in this week’s VHSL Division 1 poll, and is the only undefeated team in Virginia High School League Division 1 football.

FHS is coming off its biggest game of the year after defeating previously No. 4 ranked Sussex Central on Saturday.

“We have to come out and execute on all three sides of the ball,” said WHS Head Coach Chuck Parrish. “Franklin is good football team and they’ve had a great year.”

FHS head coach Darren Parker did not return a call.

 

Isle of Wight Academy

The Chargers, 6-2, will host Atlantic Shores Christian, 2-8, at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Chargers are ranked No. 4 in the Division III poll of the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association and is one of three teams still looking for a playoff berth. The Chargers are ranked slightly higher than North Cross School, 5-4, and The Covenant School, 4-5.

IWA head coach Dale Chapman did not return a call.

 

Southampton High School

The Indians will travel to Southside District opponent Prince Edward High School at 7:30 Friday for their final game of the regular season.

Both teams come into the game 1-8 overall and 0-3 in the district.

“We are going to have to contain their jet sweeps and passing game,” said Wes Griffith, head coach for SHS. “We have to be able to capture the quarterback when he pulls it down and runs.”

Due to the Virginia High School League realignment this will be the final meeting of these two teams in the Southside district. Next fall Southampton will join the Tri-Rivers District while Prince Edward will move to the James River District.

“We have enjoyed playing them in football the last couple of years, they always have some good athletes,” Griffith said.