Week 6 high school football previews: Local squads look to continue winning seasons

Clarke County and Sherando will attempt to stay undefeated while James Wood hopes to end a two-game losing streak in Week 6 high school football action on Friday night.

The Eagles have their Homecoming game against Catoctin (Maryland), while Sherando travels to Warren County and James Wood hits the road to face Meridian.

The following is a glance at each game:

Catoctin (2-2) at Clarke County (4-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Clarke County High School’s Wilbur M. Feltner Stadium

Series history: Clarke County leads 1-0

Last week: Catoctin beat Tuscarora (Maryland) 20-17; Clarke County had an off week.

Players to watch: Catoctin: QB Shaymus Stull; RB/LB Brady Koenig; RB/LB Jacob Bell. Clarke County: RB/DB Wyatt Palmer; QB/DB Tanner Sipe; TE/LB Carson Chinn; OL/DL Saia Tuivailala; OL/DL Joseph Stem; RB/DB Wilson Taylor.

Coaches: Catoctin — Mike Rich (second year). Clarke County — Casey Childs (fifth year).

Last year: Clarke County forced two turnovers on downs and had one interception inside its own 30-yard line in the second half, and an Eagles’ offense that only had 30 yards and one first down through almost 20 full minutes of the second half held the ball for the last 4:02 of the game to win 21-14 at Cougar Stadium. Clarke County had three takeaways in the first half and converted each of them into touchdowns for a 21-7 halftime lead. The Eagles’ Will Booker had 25 carries for 145 yards, two TDs and one pass breakup in the end zone.

Preview: After playing as a wide receiver last year, Stull has made the move to quarterback. Catoctin no longer has receiver Vincent Reaver, who had six catches for 142 yards in last year’s matchup. Bell had 15 carries for 55 yards against Clarke County last year. Catoctin is averaging 19.8 points per game.

The Eagles have yet to give up more than 250 yards in a game this year, and they’re coming off a dominant defensive effort in which they gave up only 33 yards to Warren County, including minus-2 on the ground on 29 carries.

Chinn leads the Eagles with 54 tackles. Tuivailala has 43 tackles. Both have caused two fumbles. Defensive lineman Ryan Hanley has 32 tackles and two sacks.

The Eagles are averaging 37.3 points and 338.5 yards per game but had a season-low 265 yards against Warren County after struggling with penalties. Clarke County is led by Palmer (50 carries, 462 yards, seven TDs), Taylor (31 carries, 445 yards, three TDs) and Sipe (31 carries, 151 yards, four TDs; 254 yards passing, two TDs, two interceptions). The Cougars are allowing 18.5 points per game.

James Wood (3-2) at Meridian (1-3)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Meridian High School, Falls Church

Series history: James Wood leads 7-4

Last week: James Wood lost to Handley 57-16; Meridian lost to Brentsville 28-14.

Players to watch: James Wood: LB/HB Vincent Salvati; QB Owen Neal; OL/DL Jordyn Sweetser; RB/DL Dominik Ramirez; WR/DB Xavier Price. Meridian: QB Cruz Ruoff; RB/DB Oumar Thompson; RB/DL Jack Villano.

Coaches: James Wood — Todd Wilson (second year). Meridian — P.J. Anderson (third year).

Last year: James Wood overcame two early first-quarter deficits and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns en route to a 28-16 victory at Kelican Stadium. Elijah Richards led the way for the Colonels, rushing for 150 yards on 22 carries. James Wood ran for 243 yards as a team. Dominik Ramirez had two rushing TDs. The Colonels held Meridian to 187 yards.

Preview: Meridian and its double-wing offense bring are looking to bounce back from a loss to Brentsville, a team the Colonels beat 16-15 earlier this season.

After surrendering more than 50 points in each of its previous two games, James Wood will take on a Mustangs team that is averaging 19 points a game and hasn’t scored more than 27 points in a game. The Colonels are led on defense by Salvati (49 tackles, including 37 solo, and three sacks), Ramirez (33 tackles) and Sweetser (24 tackles, five sacks).

Wilson said Mason will be a game-time decision after he got banged up against Handley last week. He’s rushed for 376 yards and three TDs on 61 carries. Neal has completed 52 of 94 passes for 783 yards, two TDs and seven interceptions. Price has 16 catches for 279 yards and Xander Manzo has eight catches for 245 yards and rwo TDs. Meridian is surrendering 28.8 points per game and the Colonels are scoring 24.6 points per game.

Sherando (5-0) at Warren County (1-3)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Warren County High School, Front Royal

Series history: Sherando leads 13-1

Last week: Sherando defeated Liberty 58-7; Warren County defeated Fauquier 14-7.

Players to watch: Warren County — RB/DB Gavin Dodson; RB Blaise Skube; QB Bryce Bergmann. Sherando — QB/DB Micah Carlson; WR/DB Mason McKee; WR/DB Aiden Leatch; WR/DB Tucker LaFever; WR/DB Reth Puller; RB/DL Kaleb Nowlin.

Coaches: Warren County — John Breeden (second year). Sherando — T.J. Rohrbaugh (second year).

Last year: In the two teams’ first meeting since 2008 last season, Sherando defeated Warren County 40-13. In the 27-point win, the Warriors outgained the Wildcats 467-208.

Hayden LaFever recovered a fumble on a blocked punt for a special teams touchdown to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Christian Ruiz led the way with 160 yards and two touchdowns — including a 69-yard score in the second quarter — on 16 carries. Carlson was 15-for-22 passing on the day and threw for 265 yards, 72 of which came on a long touchdown pass to Brady Hamilton that helped put the game away late in the third quarter.

Preview: Warren County secured its first win of the season last week against Fauquier and will look to carry that momentum into Friday’s game against the Warriors. But that will be easier said than done against a Sherando team that has outscored its opponents 212-41 and is holding opponents to 8.1 points per game.

Sherando quarterback Micah Carlson was once again a weapon for the Warriors’ offense last week. The senior signal-caller had a 90-yard rushing touchdown and finished the game with 156 yards on six attempts. Through five games, Carlson has 452 yards and nine touchdowns on 55 carries and has completed 45 of 65 passes for 465 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.

Warren County’s defense will look to contain Carlson and the Warriors’ offense, which is also highlighted by McKee (58 rushes, 297 yards, 3 TDs), running back Tali Burgess (23 rushes, 230 yards, 2 TDs) and Leatch (12 catches, 152 yards, one TD).

Sherando’s defense is coming off a stout performance last week, recording four sacks and holding Liberty to 182 total yards. The Warriors will have to contend with Skube, who had a game-winning 59-yard touchdown last week against Fauquier and finished with 132 yards on 18 carries.

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

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