Virginia Football Recruiting Week In Review: Laughlin, Patterson To Meet In Playoffs

A thrilling week of football yielded mixed results for University of Virginia football’s class of 2021. We begin the latest “Week In Review” in Georgia, where four Cavalier commits helped their respective schools to playoff wins. Two of the four are now set to face off this week in playoff action.

Athens Academy (Athens, GA), which features UVA defensive line recruit Hugh Laughlin, needed a touchdown in the final minute of regulation to send its Class A Private first round playoff matchup with Mount Vernon to overtime. The Spartans ultimately captured a 49-42 victory to advance to the second round, where they will face an undefeated Fellowship Christian (Roswell, GA) team.

Fellowship Christian, which features Virginia-bound offensive tackle prospect Charlie Patterson, cruised to a 49-7 first-round playoff win over Mount Paran Christian last week. The Paladins (9-0) will be a tough challenge for the Spartans (9-1), as they boast an average margin of victory of 40.2 in 2020.

Elsewhere in the Peach State, Cavalier linebacker commit West Weeks and Oconee County (Watkinsville, GA) escaped the first round of the 3A playoffs with a 21-7 win over Westminster. The unbeaten Warriors, a regional top seed, take on Dawson County (6-5) next.

Here are highlights of Weeks’ performance, courtesy of Hudl:

Ty Furnish, a line prospect with potential on both sides of the line, helped Blessed Trinity (Roswell, GA) down Chapel Hill, 49-14, in the first round of Class 5A playoffs. The Titans (7-0) meet Decatur (7-1) in the second round.

Gaffney Headed To State Championship

Spanish Fort (AL) finds itself in the Class 6A state championship game after defeating Saraland, 13-7, in semifinal action last week. Future Cavalier cornerback Micah Gaffney sealed the victory with an interception.

The Toros have been exceptional on defense this postseason, allowing 14 points or less in all four playoff wins. The title game opponent, Pinson Valley, has scored no fewer than 27 in its playoff run.

More UVA Commits In Action

Jacob Rodriguez, Quarterback, Rider (Wichita Falls, TX)

Rider let a 24-7 fourth quarter lead slip away and fell to Cooper, 25-24. Rodriguez threw for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the first half to catapult the Raiders (7-2) to a 17-point halftime edge. He finished the contest with 10 completions in 22 attempts for 191 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Rider looks to cap off the 2020 regular season with a win over Wichita Falls. The Raiders downed WFHS, 53-17, earlier in the year.

Amaad Foston, Running Back, John Milledge Academy (Milledgeville, GA)

John Milledge Academy scored its second consecutive shutout victory with a 37-0 decision over Creekside Christian Academy. The Trojans advance to the Class AAA state semifinals, where they will face Westfield School (7-2). Foston has not played this season due to a leg injury.

Jack Witmer, Tight End, Cy-Fair (Cypress, TX)

In a battle of unbeatens, Cy-Fair lost to Bridgeland, 41-29, to finish the regular season at 9-1. The Bobcats begin postseason action on December 10 with a matchup against Westside in the 17-6A Football Bi-District Playoff.

The 6’7”, 230-pound Virginia-bound senior was spotted showing good sportsmanship following last week’s tough loss.