Games to Watch Week 5:

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are approaching the halfway point of the 2023 season (Still feels like week 1 was yesterday) and conference is underway! Here are a few games of note, as we start to find out who is a contender and who is a pretender:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">James Madison (4-0) vs Chantilly (3-1):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madison took care of business last Thursday in the 27-7 beating of Marshall, with the Statesmen only touchdown coming in the fourth quarter. They travel to face the Chantilly Chargers who are coming off a thrilling 14-7 victory over Hayfield. The Chargers will try to do what Marshall could not do last week and that is slow down junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1228836' first='Dominic' last='Knicely']. The Warhawks lead ball carrier has been on a terror through four games and he gashed the Statesmen for three scores and 149 yards rushing. Knicely has not slowed down from his all-state selection a year ago, the Chargers will have a tough task on their hands to try and stop him. <strong>Players to Watch- </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='157096' first='Cord' last='Yates'], [player_tooltip player_id='584175' first='Luke' last='Jarvis'], Landon Kelly, Shaker Mohammed</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">West Springfield (2-1) vs Yorktown (3-1):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You have to wonder (at least I do) what the West Springfield Spartans were thinking watching South County dismantle Fairfax last Thursday. After all the Spartans gave the Stallions everything they could handle earlier in the year, but came up short losing 14-9. That was weeks ago and Coach Parker's team does not tend to relish in the past as they face a dangerous Yorktown team. The Spartans are coming off their bye week and will look to get their offense going which has sputtered a bit after their monster performance in week 1. Meanwhile the Yorktown Patriots are coming off a heartbreaking defeat to rival Washington-Liberty and will be trying to put their foot down early. A doozy of a contest this Friday in Arlington, both teams look like serious playoff contenders, I guess will find out more later that evening. <strong>Players to Watch</strong>- [player_tooltip player_id='383256' first='Brady' last='Echols'], Shekhar Mishra, [player_tooltip player_id='855053' first='Brady' last='Owens'], Hudson Greene</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">South Lakes (4-0) vs Herndon (3-1):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first real test for the undefeated South Lakes Seahawks comes this Friday when they travel to face a Herndon squad looking for revenge. South Lakes bested Herndon 22-14 in a battle last season and so far this year they have yet to be challenged. South Lakes has mercy ruled all four opponents, but I would bet that will not be happening this Friday night. The Hornets are off to a great start as well and are prime for the upset win as they look to march back into the playoffs. It will not be easy for Coach Bachman's squad, particularly taking on the big man up front in Aiden Billings and Collin Rutland. Regardless of who is on what side, expect another classic in Herndon later this week. <strong>Players to Watch-</strong> Aiden Billings, Collin Rutland, Juver Sorto, Thatcher Swinton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fairfax (3-1) vs Lake Braddock (3-1):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boy to the Lions take one on the chin last week against the visiting Stallions, on top of that it appears they have lost 5 star Georgia Commit [player_tooltip player_id='293566' first='Kristopher' last='Jones'] for the season. All is not well over in Fairfax but winning can cure anything (so they tell me) as Fairfax welcomes the Lake Braddock Bruins this week. The Bruins are starting to find their rhythm offensively, have won two in a row and will need this win to keep pace in one of the best conferences in Virginia. <strong>Players to Watch</strong>- [player_tooltip player_id='1231319' first='Jeremiah' last='Brown'], Benjamin York, Cameron Love, Drew Taylor</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->