Week 8 High School Football Previews

Posted: October 17, 2014

Skyline at James Wood

When: Today, 7 p.m.

Where: James Wood High School’s Jerry L. Kelican Stadium in Winchester.

Records: Skyline Hawks (5-2, 1-0 Northwestern District); James Wood Colonels (3-4, 0-1).

Last week: Skyline beat Washington (W.Va.) 34-21; James Wood lost to Sherando 44-7.

Last year: Skyline won 22-13.

Preview: Understandably, James Wood is just looking to put last week’s loss to Sherando behind them. At halftime, the Warriors led 42-0 and had surrendered only 15 yards.

“We’re just focusing on Skyline,” James Wood coach Mark McHale said. “The guys are looking to bounce back. We’re at home, it’s a district game, and it’s a chance to get back to .500.”

James Wood will have to do it against a Skyline team that is surrendering only 173 yards a game. The Hawks have worked in some different defensive schemes this year, and Skyline coach Heath Gilbert said his players have done a good job executing them.

“The defense is playing well together and playing good technique, and defensive line is allowing our linebackers to make plays,” said Gilbert, who will have to do make do this week without defensive linemen Gerren Butler because of an infraction he committed in last week’s game.

McHale notes that the Hawks like to stunt and blitz often and will play man coverage, and the Colonels’ plan will be straightforward and necessary given what happened against Sherando.

“We’ve got to establish the run,” McHale said.

On defense, James Wood will see some veer and Wildcat looks from a Hawks offense that is led by quarterback Corbin Ruch, who has thrown 14 touchdown passes and recorded almost 1,000 passing yards; running back Jerrius Baltimore, who has rushed for more than 500 yards this year; and wide receiver Jamal Parker, who has caught 10 of Ruch’s touchdown passes this year.

“James Wood does a good job with their formations, so we’ve got to do a good job with our alignment,” Gilbert said. “This should be a good competitive game, and it really probably will come down to who can be more physical and who doesn’t turn the ball over.”