Friday Night Football -- Week 10 -- Live Blog (from the sports desk)

Tonight's Games:
Handley (7-1, 5-0) at James Wood (8-1, 6-0), 7 p.m.
Sherando (6-2, 4-2) at Millbrook (5-4, 3-3), 7 p.m.
Central (1-8, 0-6) at Brentsville (1-7, 1-4), 7:30 p.m.
George Mason (1-7, 0-3) at Clarke County (7-2, 3-0), 7:30 p.m.
Strasburg (1-7, 0-2) at Madison County (6-2, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Manassas Park (2-6, 2-1) at Berkeley Springs (W.Va.), 7:30 p.m.
Riverheads (6-2, 3-0) at Buffalo Gap (8-0, 3-0), 7:30 p.m.
Page County (3-5, 1-2) at Stonewall Jackson (3-5, 0-3), 7:30 p.m.
Wilson Memorial (2-6, 0-3) at Luray (4-4, 2-1), 7:30 p.m.

Final scores:
Handley 17, James Wood 10
Millbrook 24, Sherando 17
Brentsville 47, Central 20
Clarke County 41, George Mason 6
Buffalo Gap 21, Riverheads 14
Page County 16, Stonewall Jackson 7
Wilson Memorial 24, Luray 13
Madison County 35, Strasburg 16

4:24 -- Running down the games...
• Game of the Week -- Handley at James Wood
-- Tommy Keeler, who mans both the Handley and James Wood beats, will head out shortly to one of the most anticipated prep football games in recent memory. Handley can clinch a share of the Northwestern District title a win, but James Wood can with the league outright with a victory since it is the Colonels' final game of the season. Both teams have lost one game, but each is undefeated in league play.
• Sherando at Millbrook
-- Tim Tassa is heading to Winchester to cover this game that is sort of a "play-in game" for the Group AA playoffs. Millbrook is 5-4, but a win over Sherando will likely push the Pioneers into the postseason. On the other side of the ball, however, is Sherando. The Warriors are 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the district, but a loss this week may push the Group AA state runners-up from 2007 out of the playoffs.
Another story line from this game will be the status of Sherando quarterback Ross Metheny. The U.Va.-bound quarterback did not play last week after sustaining a knee injury in the Warriors' loss to James Wood on Oct. 17. He did not practice all of last week or this week, and rumors have swirled about the community and message boards. There is speculation, although unconfirmed from anyone in the know, that Metheny underwent knee surgery and is out for the season. Per his own policy, Bill Hall does not discuss the status of injured players until after the season. However, if Metheny is on crutches on the sidelines tonight, that will be a clear indication that there was some validity to the rumor mill this week.
• Page County at Stonewall Jackson
Craig Juer is going to Quicksburg for the final time (He is leaving the Daily on Nov. 7) to see if the Generals can notch their first Shenandoah District victory of the season.
• George Mason at Clarke County
And finally, Jeremy Stafford will be providing updates from Clarke County High School as the Eagles look to finish the regular season perfect in the Bull Run District. The visiting Mustangs have struggled mightily this season, going 1-7 overall and 0-3 in league play.
6:27 -- The first update has nothing to do with football at all. Tommy Keeler reports from the Handley/James Wood game that Matthew Stanmyre, a former Daily sports reporter, has appeared in the press box in Winchester. Stanmyre now works for the Washington Post. Haywood would be proud.
6:57 -- Handley gets the ball first.
6:59 -- Metheny in street clothes -- and on crutches -- but is out for the coin toss.
7:00 -- It's important to note that this is the first time that Metheny has been on crutches since injuring his knee against James Wood on Oct. 17. Simply speculation, but this could mean that Metheny did, in fact, have knee surgery this week. Rumors have circulated that Metheny underwent knee surgery at U.Va. this week, but Sherando coach Bill Hall, Metheny and other coaches refused to comment.
7:05 -- Millbrook will get the ball first against Sherando.
7:20 -- Handley jumps out to a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard run by Jeremiah Wilson.
7:21 -- Millbrook 7, Sherando 0. 4:17 to go of the first. Calvin Rodney scores on a six-yard run. The Pioneers just pounded the Warriors on a lengthy 16-play drive. An early lead, a ridiculous ball control offense and no Metheny could be the perfect formula for the homestanding Pioneers.
7:25 -- Handley 7, James Wood 0. End of 1st.
7:29 -- Millbrook 7, Sherando 0. End of 1st. Note: Tim Tassa was the only one who picked the Pioneers to win.
7:31 -- Tim Tassa reports that Sherando has played only Corey Rice, a junior, at quarterback in place of Ross Metheny tonight. "He's made a couple of nice passes on the first possession," according to Tassa.
7:34 -- Sherando's Roger Smith scores on the ground to tie the score at 7-7 early in the second quarter.
7:37 -- Corey Rice was 4-of-4 passing for 51 yards on the first drive for Sherando. Smith scored on a five-yard run.
7:38 -- After a 40-yard pass from Zach Shiley to Tyler Morley, Sam Shiley scores on a 33-yard run to give Clarke County the early lead over George Mason.
7:49 -- Schoolboard, any chance Warren County pulls off the upset tomorrow night?
7:50 -- Handley increases its lead to 10-0; George Mason puts the ball on the ground and the Eagles pick up a fumble recovery.
7:53 -- Sam Shiley breaks off another long TD run, this time for 27 yards as Clarke County takes a 14-0 lead. The Eagles are in good shape to finish the season at 8-2 and perfect in the Bull Run District.
7:55 -- Cody Fazenbaker nails a field goal to give Millbrook a 10-7 lead; Stonewall Jackson/Page County is scoreless at the end of the 1st.
7:56 -- Schoolboard, if you read my picks column today, I talked with Central coach Mike Yew about Coach of the Year candidates in the Northwestern District and the Daily's coverage area. I was a bit narrow-minded, thinking about the unbeatens in the Northwestern District, but Yew hinted that Heath Gilbert would get serious consideration, and perhaps his vote, at the postseason district meetings. Has Gilbert done the best job in our area this year, all things considered, or are you not as surprised with the Hawks' success considering you are a little more in tune with what kind of talent they had coming up the pipe?
7:58 -- Millbrook 10, Sherando 7. Halftime.
7:59 -- Handley 10, James Wood 0. Halftime.
8:00 -- Sam Shiley with 76 yards rushing in the first quarter.
8:01 -- Cody Fazenbaker's field goal at the end of the first half was from 22 yards.
8:01 -- Page County jumps out to a 6-0 lead over Stonewall Jackson on a 14-yard touchdown pass by Dakota Wolf.
8:03 -- Handley's field goal was 28 yards by Graham Sharples; James Wood's Andrew Lloyd missed a 27-yarder of his own. Odd. Also, the Colonels have three turnovers so far.
8:04 -- Jeremy Rhoads, younger brother of Chandler, rushes for 32 yards to set up a 49-yard run by -- who else? -- Sam Shiley to give Clarke County a 21-0 lead.
8:05 -- Page County 9, Stonewall Jackson 0. Second quarter.
8:10 -- Tommy Keeler reports that Graham Sharples just missed a 48-yard field goal. Total yardage: Handley 100; James Wood 96.
8:14 -- Umm, Sam Shiley. He is good. 138 rushing yards, 4 TDs. Eagles 27, Mustangs 0.
8:20 -- Sam Shiley runs for a 42-yard touchdown run, his fifth score, with 3:11 to go of the first half. So far he has 180 rushing yards, 5 TDs, took care of the 50/50 drawing and rescued a cat from a nearby tree in between possessions. Crazy.
8:21 -- Sherando's Dalton Boyd with a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG touchdown reception from Corey Rice. 74 yards on the play, Sherando 14, Millbrook 10. 3rd quarter.
8:31 -- Two updates in one: Trae Tinsman scores on a one-yard run to pull the Colonels with 10-7 against the Handley Judges. Neil Bishop catches a 37-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Oates to give Millbrook a 17-14 lead over Sherando.
8:34 -- Page County 16, Stonewall Jackson 0.
8:39 -- Central Falcons down 13-6. Mike Yew's team is fighting. Fighting for their coach, who has the last name of Yew. Heck, I'm compelled to nickname them something with "Fightin'" and....maybe a last name of a coach? I just can't decide.
8:40 -- Millbrook 17, Sherando 14. End 3rd.
8:42 -- Tim Tassa says that Millbrook is just dominating total yardage and time of possession.
8:43 -- Schoolboard, don't bail on your pick yet. James Wood 10, Handley 10. 3:03 left of the third quarter. A 30-yard field goal by Andrew Lloyd ties it.
8:45 -- I agree wholeheartedly, Schoolboard. And in fact, the two things he mentioned can be linked most of the time. If you are dominating total yardage -- unless every score is 80 yards or more -- you have time of possession, too. But that doesn't mean you are finishing off drives, executing in the red zone, making intermediate field goals, etc. Good point.
8:52 -- Sherando knocking on the door. Eric, are you a Redskins fan?
8:53 -- I blame the Falcons' struggles on the lack of fight. If only they had a nickname with "Fightin'" in it.
8:55 -- Sherando 17, Millbrook 17.
8:56 -- Sherando's Lukas Stump connects on a 37-yard field goal to tie the game. 4:28 left of the game. Pioneers ball.
8:57 -- And Bernie makes his long-awaited debut from the Bayou.
8:59 -- Millbrook knocking on the door. Are the Warriors' playoff hopes going to be dashed? Just under two minutes remaining...
9:00 -- Handley's Jeremiah Wilson rushes for a 22-yard touchdown to put the Judges up 17-10 with 6:52 left of the game.
9:01 -- Bernie's witty one-liners. Check. Remembering simple passwords. Fail.
9:05 -- Millbrook takes the lead...
9:06 -- Clarke County now up 41-0.
9:07 -- Millbrook 24, Sherando 17. 35 seconds left. Let's see what Corey Rice has.
9:08 -- James Wood with six turnovers (see: comment section)...man. I'm not an astute football mind, but I'd say that's damaging to their hopes of winning.
9:12 -- Millbrook intercepts Corey Rice. Time for the Victory Formation.
9:14 -- Millbrook 24, Sherando 17. Millbrook improves to 6-4 overall; Sherando falls to 7-3. The Joe Gibbs comment is killer.
9:15 -- Page County 16, Stonewall Jackson 7.
9:16 -- I'll have Millbrook/Sherando and James Wood/Handley stats very soon.
9:21 -- Don't stop commenting, I'm just swamped here. I'll post stats from games and othe results as soon as I receive them.
9:26 -- Handley 17, James Wood 10. Geremi Long intercepts a pass at the three-yard line with four seconds left to seal the victory. Handley takes an 8-1 record overall and a perfect mark in the district into its season finale next weekend against Brentsville. James Wood ends its season at 8-2, 6-1. Handley has at least a share of the district title, and can sew it up with a win over the Tigers. Both teams will make the playoffs. Thanks to Tommy Keeler for the call. It sounds like absolute madness in the background. Also, kudos to Eric for the updates in the comments.
9:39 --STATS TIME!
• Handley at James Wood
-- Jeremiah Wilson: 23 carries, 118 yards, 2 TD
-- James Wood led in first downs, 18-9
-- Judges outrushed the Colonels, 185-40
-- James Wood outpassed Handley, 280-32
-- Trae Tinsman: 20-43, 280 yards
-- James Wood rushing attack: 25 carries, 40 yards
-- Total turnovers: 10 (James Wood 7, Handley 3)
9:50 -- Page County 16, Stonewall Jackson 7. Final. All four Daily staffers picked the Generals. Womp, womp.
10:54 -- OK, things are starting to settle down now while my four writers work hard on their game stories. Sooo, I think it's...
STATS TIME!
Sherando at Millbrook
-- First downs: Millbrook 17, Sherando 8
-- Sherando: 25 carries, 42 yards as a team
-- No fumbles lost; Only one turnover
-- Millbrook held the ball for 11 more minutes than Sherando
-- Corey Rice: 9-14, 150 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT in place of the injured Ross Metheny
-- Andrew Oates: 14-16, 158 yards, 1 TD
-- Sherando's Dalton Boyd had 3 catches for 84 yards
-- Millbrook's Neil Bishop had 2 catches for 74 yards
11:01 -- Central coach Mike Yew called in to report the Falcons fell, 47-20.
11:17 -- Clarke County's Sam Shiley finishes with 190 yards on 12 carries. And don't forget about the five touchdowns. In the first half. Solid.