Opening Drive: Week 2
By Carl Lukat
The second week of the 2008 football season features Loudoun Valley playing its first game under new coach Danny McGrath. Here's a look at each of the games:
Potomac Falls (1-0) at Hedgesville (0-1)
When: Sept. 5, 7 p.m.
Last season: Hedgesville, 27-26
Last week: Potomac Falls 39, Martinsburg (W.Va.) 30; Washington (W.Va.) 14, Hedgesville (W.Va.) 6
Quick glance: Potomac Falls was explosive and diverse on offense in its opener. The Panther passing game was expected to be stout, and RB Michael Baker provided a solid running game.
Handley (1-0) at Loudoun County (1-0)
When: Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Last season: Handley, 42-12
Last week: Loudoun County 20, Musselman (W.Va.) 2; Handley 35, Harrisonburg 21
Quick glance: Loudoun County second-year coach Todd Hill faces his former school. Hill coached Handley from 1995 through 2001 and also was the school's athletic director before taking the Raider job in 2007. County has won three of its last four games, dating back to 2007.
Ballou (0-0) at Broad Run (1-0)
When: Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Last season: Broad Run, 40-0
Last week: Broad Run 31, Wakefield 6; Ballou (D.C.) did not play
Quick glance: Broad Run extended its regular-season winning streak to 11 with the victory over Wakefield in Arlington. The Spartans are loaded at the skill positions, and their defense held Wakefield scoreless until the fourth quarter. Former Ballou QB Emmanuel Yeager, a Louisville commit, has transferred to Coolidge (D.C.).
North Hagerstown (0-0) at Heritage (1-0)
When: Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Last season: Heritage, 26-20
Last week: Heritage 28, South Lakes 21; North Hagerstown (Md.) did not play
Quick glance: Heritage rallied to win last year's meeting between the teams. The Pride also earned a comeback victory in the 2008 opener against South Lakes.
Loudoun Valley (0-0) at Forest Park (0-0)
When: Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Last season: Forest Park, 40-28
Last week: Neither team played
Quick glance: The Danny McGrath coaching era begins at Loudoun Valley. McGrath, 25, was a standout offensive lineman at Herndon High School and Virginia Tech, where he was a senior captain in 2006. McGrath served as an offensive line coach at Park View last season.
Jefferson (0-1) at Park View (0-1)
When: Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Last season: Park View, 35-22
Last week: Herndon 34, Park View 6; Brooke (Ohio) 14, Jefferson (W.Va.) 6
Quick glance: Both teams are looking to rebound after losing their openers. Park View has only three days to prepare for this game after having its opener postponed to Sept. 1.
Freedom (0-1) at Brentsville (0-0)
When: Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Last season: Brentsville, 24-20
Last week: Broadway 48, Freedom 7; Brentsville did not play
Quick glance: Freedom played Broadway even until late in the first half last week, but was outscored 34-0 in the second half. Freedom, seeking its first win since the final game of the 2006 season, was competitive against Brentsville last year.