Week In Review: Playoffs Underway

Blackman at The Opening in Northern Virginia in the spring of 2015
Blackman at The Opening in Northern Virginia in the spring of 2015

Postseason play has begun on the high school football level. A number of Virginia’s class of 2016 recruits enjoyed success last week, but we begin with wide receiver Cole Blackman, who came up with a huge catch to keep his team’s state title dreams alive.

UVA RECRUITS STILL IN THE PLAYOFFS

Cole Blackman was huge in Mechanicsville (VA) Atlee’s 38-35 win over Mountain View in the 5A North Region playoffs last week. The Glen Allen transfer had five catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown reception with six seconds remaining.

Highlights of Blackman’s performance are below. The game-winning catch is the final clip in the highlight.

Atlee (8-3) is on the road against a tough Tuscarora squad this week in second round playoff action.

Chris Moore had three receptions for 103 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown reception, as Ashburn (VA) Broad Run (8-3) defeated Briar Woods, 44-17, in the first round of the 5A North regional playoffs. The Spartans will now face Stone Bridge in the second round on Friday night.

Moore, a two-way standout at Broad Run, projects as a defensive back at UVa. Highlights of his performance against Briar Woods are below (courtesy of Hudl.com).

– Tailback Tre Harbison had two rushing touchdowns in Shelby (N.C.) Crest’s 30-7 win over Piedmont in the first round of the 3AA playoffs. The defending 3AA state champion Chargers (12-0) meet Cuthbertson in the second round next week.

Laderrien Wilson rushed 11 times for 127 yards and four touchdowns as Kissimmee (FL) Osceola (10-1) downed St. Lucie Treasure Coast, 41-8, in the first round of the 8A-2 regional playoffs. Wilson, who has rushed for over 5,000 yards in his high school career, leads the Kowboys against Vero Beach this week.

Here are Wilson’s highlights from last week’s win.

– Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic, which features UVa-bound wide receiver Hasise Dubois, defeated previously unbeaten Camden Catholic, 40-13, in the first round of the NJISAA Non Public, Group 3 playoffs. The Spartans (4-6) move on to face Delbarton on Saturday.

In 10 games, Dubois has totaled 39 receptions for 651 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has 142 yards and one touchdown on the ground as well.

– Safety prospect Jordan Mack and the Norcross (GA) Wesleyan Wolves downed Model, 45-27, in the Class AA regional playoff action. They’ll face Jefferson County on Friday night.

– Harrisburg (PA) Bishop McDevitt (10-1) defeated Milton Hershey, 20-0, in the first round of the 3-AAA playoffs. Through 11 games, Virginia defensive back/wide receiver recruit Bryce Hall has totaled 42 catches for 670 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had two receptions for 28 yards and a score in last week’s win.

Northern York is up next in quarterfinal action.

Nick Grant‘s 31-yard touchdown reception gave Spotsylvania (VA) Courtland a 21-0 leading heading into halftime of last week’s 4A East playoff matchup with King George. The Cougars never looked back and cruised to a 42-0 win. Grant, a wide receiver/defensive back recruit, and his teammates take on Eastern View this week.

– Mishawaka (IN) Penn defeated Carmel, 16-10, to advance to the Class 6A state championship game, which will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28. Penn (12-1), which features Cavalier offensive line recruit Ben Knutson, meets Center Grove in less than two weeks.

– UVa-bound offensive line recruit Dillon Reinkensmeyer and the Highlands Ranch (CO) Valor Christian Eagles defeated Chaparral, 47-3, in the second round of the CHSAA Class 5A state playoffs. Valor Christian (9-2) will meet Ralston Valley on Friday in quarterfinal action.

– Hallandale (FL) blanked Suncoast, 42-0, in Class 5A regional quarterfinal action last week. American Heritage is up next.

Senior wide receiver Neru N’Shaka was expected to be one of Hallandale’s top players this season; however, the Cavalier commit missed virtually all of his senior season with a torn ACL.

– Virginia linebacker commit Robert Snyder and Suwanee (GA) Collins Hill defeated Lambert, 35-13, to advance to the second round of the AAAAAA regional playoffs. Newton awaits this Friday.

CHECKING IN ON THE REST OF UVA’s CLASS OF 2016

– Behind the blocking of UVa recruit Stephen Spanellis and the rest of the offensive line, Baltimore (MD) Gilman’s running backs rushed for 176 yards and two touchdowns as the Greyhounds defeated rival McDonogh on November 6 for the MIAA Division 1 title. Gilman finished the 2015 season with a 10-1 record.

– Quarterback Sonny Abramson of Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII missed the final three games of the 2015 season after suffering a lower left leg injury in a 34-point win over Morris Hills on October 17. Pope John XXIII finished with a 7-3 record after falling to Red Bank Catholic last week in the first round of the NJSIAA Non-Public, Group 3 playoffs.

In seven games, Abramson completed 24-of-48 passes for 287 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. The 6’2″, 200-pound signal caller also rushed 39 times for 333 yards and two scores.

– Clifton (VA) Centreville’s season came to an end last week with a 24-21 loss to Robinson in the first round of the 6A North playoffs. In his final season, 6’5″, 230-pound defensive lineman Christian Brooks, who is UVa’s most recent commitment, was credited with 45 tackles (31 solo) including four sacks and a forced fumble in eight games.

– Tampa (FL) Chamberlain finished with a 2-8 record in 2015. Virginia commitment Deedrick Daniels Jr., who figures to play cornerback for the Cavaliers, was credited with 90 tackles (61 solo, 29 assisted) including 21 tackles for loss. He returned two fumble recoveries for touchdowns and registered a safety as well.

– Ocean City (N.J.), which is led by tight end prospect Christian Baumgardner, did not make the playoffs at 3-6 but still has its annual Thanksgiving Day game left to play.

For the following future Hoos, the 2015 season has come to an end.

Darrius Bratton, CB/WR, Roanoke (VA) William Fleming (4-6); Aidan Howard, ATH, Monroeville (PA) Gateway (5-4); Stephen Moye, DE, Lilburn (GA) Parkview (6-5); Joseph Reed, WR, Randolph-Henry (Charlotte Court House, VA) (5-5); Kenneth Ruff, LB, Fort Lauderdale (FL) Dillard (6-5); Matt Terrell, OLB/DE, Lynchburg (VA) Liberty Christian Academy (7-4); Andrew Trainer, TE, Alexandria (VA) St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes (5-5); Landan Word, LB/ATH, Arlington (VA) Bishop O’Connell (1-9)