Byes:  Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, VA) (LB Kwontie Moore, WR Mario Nixon, DB/WR Wil Wahee, DE Courtnye Wynn) and St. Joseph (Hammonton, N.J.) ATH Max Valles

Visitors:  Valles, quarterback Matt Johns and defensive end Michael Moore were in Charlottesville for the Southern Miss game.

- After missing the first three weeks of the season due to a jaw injury, Demeitre Brim returned to action this week and led Victory Christian Academy (Lakeland, FL) to a 41-0 win over previously unbeaten Mount Dora Bible.  Brim, who projects as an outside linebacker at Virginia, starts at quarterback and safety for VCA (2-2).  He rushed for 159 yards and two scores in his first week back.

- WR prospect Jamall Brown and the Hampton Crabbers (VA), 2-1 so far in 2011, meet Woodside tomorrow night.

- ATH Maurice Canady was forced to move back to quarterback, the position he played for Varina (VA) all of last year, because of a suspension to starter Brandon Wood.  The speedy prospect posted over 100 yards passing and rushing, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Andre Miles-Redmond and the Hermitage Panthers (3-0).  Varina drops to 2-1.

Defensive tackle Tyrell Chavis and the Blue Devil defense held touted junior running back Derrick Green to just 40 yards on 16 carries.

- Bayside (Virginia Beach, VA) wide receiver Anthony Cooper had three catches for 108 yards in a 50-0 win over Kempsville on Saturday.  The Marlins, now 4-1, defeated First Colonial 34-23 on Tuesday.

- Landstown (Virginia Beach, VA), featuring the versatile Kyle Dockins, has dropped its first game of the season.  The Eagles are 3-1 after a 17-6 loss to Cox.

- Fork Union’s Postgraduate squad (with UVa recruits Ryan Doull and Adrian Gamble) destroyed St. Francis University 63-0 to improve to 2-1.  Tomorrow, John Shuman’s squad will take on Ashland University.

- LB/TE Mark Hall and the Green Run Stallions (Virginia Beach, VA) defeated Princess Anne 35-7 on Tuesday.  On Saturday, the Stallions fell to Bucky Hodges-led Salem by a score of 27-13.  Overall, Green Run is 2-3.

- Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA) picked up two wins this week, defeating Tallwood on Tuesday and First Colonial on Saturday.  The Dolphins (4-1) scored 54 points while holding its two opponents to just 13.  Head coach Chris Scott gave touted defensive end recruit Eli Harold some action at quarterback in the Wildcat formation against First Colonial.  He delivered, finishing with 13 carries for 50 yards and three touchdowns.

- Quarterback Matt Johns had a 27-yard touchdown pass, but Central Bucks South (Warrington, PA) fell to North Penn 28-13.  CBS is 2-2.

- Eastport-South Manor (Manorville, N.Y.), featuring Virginia-bound offensive tackle Sean Karl, is 2-1 after a 39-0 blowout victory.

- Wayne County (Jesup, GA) lost to Coffee 49-24, falling to 1-2-1 on the season.  Prior to this week’s match-up, quarterback Greyson Lambert had completed 39 of 73 passes for 583 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions.

- Malvern Prep (Malvern, PA), featuring OL Michael Mooney, improved to 3-1 after a blowout win over Penn Wood.

- CB/WR C.J. Moore and the Buford Wolves (GA) are 6-0 after defeating Lovett 35-7.  FB/LB Nathan Staub, an uncommitted senior scheduled to take an official visit to UVa the weekend of the Georgia Tech game, had a touchdown run in the win.

- Defensive end Michael Moore and the DeMatha Catholic Stags (Hyattsville, MD) downed Dunbar, 27-19, overcoming an early 13-point deficit for win no. 2 on the season.  The Stags (2-1) take on O’Connell next Saturday.

- Running back Kye Morgan had 15 rushes for 141 yards, including touchdown runs of 80 and 67 yards, in guiding Franklin (Somerset, N.J.) to a 21-13 win over Phillipsburg.  Franklin is 2-1.

- Stratford (Houston, TX), featuring cornerback recruit Kelvin Rainey, was down by only 10 heading into the fourth quarterback of Saturday’s game against Montgomery.  Things went south quickly in the fourth, though, and Stratford (1-3) lost big 38-7.

- Virginia’s newest commitment, wide receiver Canaan Severin, opened his senior season in style with a 4-catch, 73-yard performance as Worcester Academy (Worcester, MA) defeated Phillips Exeter 40-27.  Severin had a 25-yard touchdown reception in the win.

By Rachel Rose Ward

Reflecting on his team’s overtime loss to Charlotte just four days prior, Brian Span said, “that loss was the toughest that most of us have ever endured.” Virginia’s narrow 4-3 victory over the visiting Radford Highlanders on Tuesday night at Klockner Stadium, however, came far too close to rivaling the Hoos’ devastating loss just four days prior.

After beginning the game with a clinical display on offense, the Cavaliers weathered Radford’s second-half storm and depended on the four goals the Highlanders conceded in the first half to emerge victorious. The Cavaliers’ inspired offense yielded four goals in the first 30 minutes of the game, all of which were finished by Will Bates. Bates, whose only score against Charlotte came courtesy of a penalty kick, resembled the player to whom Cavalier fans became accustomed during the Wahoos’ 2009 National Championship season. Bates was quick to defer credit for his four-game performance to the talented trio responsible for assisting three of his four goals; the fourth came from a magnificent direct kick from 20 yards out that Bates curled around the four-man Radford wall that obstructed goalkeeper Ryan Taylor’s view of the ball. Eric Bird, Calvin Rezende, and Span, those credited with Bates’ assists, spearheaded the emotional Cavalier offense which performed so impressively in the first half.

While Span has established his position as a mainstay in the Cavaliers’ starting lineup, and Bird has started with increasing consistency, Rezende was one of four players inserted in the Hoos’ starting lineup who did not start against Charlotte. Through UVa’s first eight games of the season, the starting lineup has been inconsistent to say the least. While injuries have obliged some adjustments, coach George Gelnovatch appears also to be experimenting with his talent-laden freshman class. Five freshmen started against Radford and all three of the substitutes were also freshmen. Grant Silvester, a Cavalier freshman defender who has started each of the last seven games, insists the team’s collegiate inexperience is far from a handicap. “I’m pretty used to playing on big stages in high-stakes situations,” said Silvester, whose impressive play on the backline substantiates his claim. Silvester’s sentiment can be applied to several of his freshman peers whose collective credentials include numerous national-team appearances and international competitions.

(more…)

Quarterback Greyson Lambert (Wayne Co. H.S., Jesup, GA), defensive lineman Michael Moore (DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, MD), and cornerback Kelvin Rainey (Stratford H.S., Houston, TX) had bye weeks.  Here is a rundown of how the rest of UVa’s 2012 class performed this past weekend…

- WR prospect Jamaal Brown and the Hampton Crabbers (VA) dropped a 20-0 decision to Mike London’s alma mater, Bethel.  Hampton falls to 2-1.

- Varina (VA) moved to 2-0 with a 17-10 win over Thomas Dale.  Maurice Canady, who starts at wide receiver and cornerback, had four carries for 17 yards.  Varina’s defense, led by defensive tackle Tyrell Chavis, held the Knights to 181 total yards.

- Both University of Virginia commits came to play in big-time Beach District match-up Bayside versus Ocean Lakes.  Wide receiver/safety Anthony Cooper had five receptions for 87 yards and a 19-yard score as Bayside trumped the Dolphins, 26-21.  Eli Harold, who had eight catches for 82 yards in a losing effort, had a 94-yard touchdown reception from Corwin Cutler called back due to a penalty.

Junior running back target Taquan Mizzell enjoyed another big night, rushing 32 times for 142 yards and two scores.

Bayside improves to 2-1 while Ocean Lakes drops to 2-1  on the season.

- Landstown (Virginia Beach, VA) blanked Princess Anne 48-0 to improve to 3-0.  UVa-bound prospect Kyle Dockins, a player with potential at wide receiver, tight end, or linebacker, had four receptions for 91 yards and a score in the win.

- Fork Union’s Postgraduate squad (with UVa recruits Ryan Doull and Adrian Gamble) will take on St. Francis University Monday, September 19, at 3 p.m.

- LB/TE Mark Hall and the Green Run Stallions (Virginia Beach, VA) dropped to 1-2 after a 27-20 loss to First Colonial.

- Central Bucks South (Warrington, PA) destroyed Norristown 49-9, claiming its second victory of the season.  The Titans have won two straight after falling in the season opener.  Quarterback Matt Johns, who is approaching 3,000 yards passing for his high school career, was 6-12 for 53 yards in the big win.

- OL Sean Karl and Eastport-South Manor (Manorville, N.Y.) fell to Comsewogue 21-7, dropping to 1-1 on the season.

- Hermitage (Richmond, VA) handled Glen Allen 37-7, and the Panthers are now 2-0 on the season.  Panthers offensive lineman Andre Miles-Redmond and company once again paved the way for junior running back Derrick Green, who finished with 18 carries for 195 yards and three touchdowns.

- Malvern Prep (Malvern, PA) gained its second win of the season with a 27-17 decision over Archbishop Carroll.  OL Michael Mooney and company are now 2-1.

- Buford (GA) continues to roll in 2011, this week defeating Therrell 49-0.  CB/WR C.J. Moore and company are 5-0 and winning by an average of 42 points.

- Running back Kye Morgan said he was fine heading into last night’s game against Hillsborough.  It appears he was telling the truth.  The 5’11″, 175-pound senior had 17 carries for 148 yards and a touchdown as Franklin (Somerset, N.J.) gained its first victory of 2011, a 49-20 decision over Hillsborough.  Morgan and company have one win and one loss.

- Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, VA) evened its record at 2-2 after a 28-21 win over Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.  Virginia-pound prospects Mario Nixon and Wil Wahee each had six catches and over 100 yards receiving.  Linebacker Kwontie Moore and defensive end Courtnye Wynn also suit up for the Ambassadors.

- St. Joseph (Hammonton, N.J.) crushed Middle Township 51-0 to improve to 2-0 on the season.  UVa-bound Max Valles starts at wide receiver and defensive end for St. Joe.

- UVa was one of four schools represented at Marquette High School (Chesterfield, MO) over the past week, Marquette boys varsity basketball coach Shane Matzen said this afternoon.  The others included Missouri, Missouri State and Virginia Tech.  All were there to see 6’10″, 240-pound center Ryan Rosburg, who has narrowed his list to those four schools as well as Tennessee.

Rosburg has taken official visits to Missouri State and Tennessee, and he’ll take an official visit to Missouri the weekend of October 15.  At this point, no other official visits have been scheduled.

TheSabre.com hopes to have more with the standout senior next week.

- As reported in an EDGE article earlier this week, Worcester Academy (Worcester, MA) senior Canaan Severin will reveal his college choice early next week.  Boston College, Penn State and the University of Virginia are the three finalist for the 6’3″, 210-pound prospect, a potential wide receiver or safety on the next level.

**Update:  Severin will announce his choice Monday afternoon (September 19) at 12:30.

- Hampton (VA), which features wide receiver recruit Jamall Brown, edged Norcom 14-13 to move to 2-0.

- WR/CB Maurice Canady had 86 yards receiving, 53 yards rushing, and scored two touchdowns as Varina (VA) rolled Dinwiddie by 26 points in the season opener for both teams.  Canady gave his team the lead for good with a 50-yard run, a score that put the Blue Devils up 14-7.  He added a 20-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter to boost the lead to 28-7.

A stout Varina defense, led by defensive tackle Tyrell Chavis, held Dinwiddie to 14 points on the night.

- In a match-up that featured two University of Virginia-bound seniors, Bayside (Virginia Beach, VA) defeated Green Run 33-20.  Linebacker Mark Hall had two sacks for the Stallions (1-1).  The Bayside Marlins (1-1), led by all-state wide receiver/safety Anthony Cooper, rebound after a loss to Salem the previous week.

Bayside running back Taquan Mizzell, one of Virginia’s top targets in the 2013 class, came up big in the fourth.  He rushed 32 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns in total.

- Landstown (Virginia Beach, VA) improves to 2-0 with a 29-6 victory over Tallwood.  ATH Kyle Dockins hauled in three receptions for 65 yards for the victors.

- FUMA’s postgraduate program (OL Ryan Doull and WR Adrian Gamble) lost big to Louisburg College, 59-24.  John Shuman’s team is 1-1 on the year.

- Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA) downed Cox 33-21 and improves to 2-0 on the season.  Prized recruit Eli Harold had two receptions for 33 yards.

- Wayne County (Jesup, GA) scored a 50-14 win over Long County.  Senior quarterback Greyson Lambert and company now have one win, one loss and one tie in 2011.

- QB Matt Johns and his Central Bucks South (Warrington, PA) teammates defeated Council Rock North 42-6 for their first win of the season.  Johns had two touchdown passes a CBS evened its record at 1-1.

- Eastport-South Manor (Eastport, N.Y.) defeated Rocky Point 48-28 in its season opener.  UVa recruit Sean Karl headlines Eastport’s offensive line.

- Hermitage (Richmond, VA), the top ranked team in the Richmond Times-Dispatch Top 10, defeated Lee Davis 27-0 in its season opener.  Senior offensive lineman Andre Miles-Redmond helped pave the way for touted junior running back Derrick Green, who rumbled for 132 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries.

- A week after losing by a point in its season opener, Malvern Prep (Malvern, PA) rebounded with a 17-0 win over Roman Catholic.  Malvern features Virginia-bound offensive lineman Michael Mooney.

- Buford (GA) rolled Yulee (FL) 49-7 in a game that was televised on ESPN2.  Virginia-bound cornerback C.J. Moore, a corner, running back and wide receiver for the Wolves, had two carries for 52 yards including a 49-yard touchdown run.  Buford (4-0) has surrendered only 14 points on the year.  It has scored 175.

- Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, VA) gets to put one in the win column following a dominating 55-0 win over Hampton Roads Academy.  Kwontie Moore, Mario Nixon and Courtnye Wynn garner much of the attention as far as recruiting rankings are concerned, but Wil Wahee was perhaps the biggest star of this game, rushing five times for 149 yards and two scores and hauling in two catches for 26 yards and another sore.

The Ambassadors are 1-2.

- The Washington Post writes that defensive end Michael Moore and the defense kept DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) in contention against Calvert Hall, but ultimately the Stags (1-1) fell 18-0.

- Playing with a lingering shoulder injury, Franklin (Somerset, N.J.) running back Kye Morgan had 12 carries for 80 yards in a 39-28 loss to Elizabeth.  The talented senior added three receptions for 24 yards.  Franklin (0-1) will look to rebound this Friday against Hillsborough.

Franklin head coach Louis Solomon indicates that Morgan’s availability is week to week.

- Stratford (Houston, TX) scored its first win of 2011 this week with a 28-13 decision over Friendswood.  Cornerback Kelvin Rainey had an interception for the Spartans (1-2), who next take the field on September 24.

- Max Valles, featured in an EDGE Q&A this past Friday, had two receptions for 56 yards including a 22-yard touchdown reception in St. Joseph’s (Hammonton, N.J.) season opening win over Buena.  Valles and South Carolina-bound linebacker Kaiwan Lewis led a defense that did not surrender a first-half first down in the 48-point blowout.

The fact that Virginia played 12 true freshmen in Saturday’s season-opening football game continues to generate a lot of discussion around TheSabre.com and beyond. (Indiana, UVa’s opponent this weekend, played nine true freshmen in its opener by the way.) That’s not unusual. Redshirting decisions become popular message board fodder every season. And for good reason. It’s one of those areas that fans can put themselves in the coaches’ shoes and think about what they would do.

Last season, of course, the Cavaliers played just three true freshmen, including quarterback Michael Rocco. He appeared in six games and completed 13 of 25 passes for 143 yards. He threw 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. The decision not use a redshirt for Rocco naturally sparked discussion as well, particularly when Rocco saw limited time behind Marc Verica even in game situations where it looked like there were opportunities to give him snaps.

Rocco said Monday he had no problem with not redshirting.

“I trusted in their decision-making,” Rocco said. “I talked with my family about it and I believe if I was going to play this year, I should have some playing time under my belt.”

Rocco is expected to make the second start of his career this weekend at Indiana. Kickoff is Saturday at 7 p.m.

In response to many reader requests, I instituted an Opponent Strength Rating (OSR) number in the weekly grades. All 12 opponents have been assigned an OSR number based on where they rank among the 120 FBS schools. The top 15 make up Tier 5 and the bottom 15 programs make up Tier 1. The middle 50 teams are assigned a Tier 3 rating and the remaining 40 make up Tier 2 and Tier 4, respectively. So the breakdown looks like this:

• Teams 1-15, Tier 5
• Teams 16-35, Tier 4
• Teams 36-85, Tier 3
• Teams 86-105, Tier 2
• Teams 106-120, Tier 1

In games against Tier 5 teams, the net grade will be adjusted upward 5%. Games against Tier 4 teams will receive a 2.5% adjustment upward. Conversely, grades against Tier 2 opponents will be reduced by 2.5% and Tier 1 grades will be dropped by 5% to account for the lesser opposition. Games against Tier 3 teams will serve as the mean and will not incur any changes.

Here’s what the OSR looks like for this season’s opponents:

• Sat. 09/03/11 William & Mary (Tier 2)
• Sat. 09/10/11 at Indiana (Tier 2)
• Sat. 09/17/11 at North Carolina (Tier 4)
• Sat. 9/23/11 Southern Miss (Tier 3)
• Sat. 10/1/11 at Idaho (Tier 2)
• Sat. 10/15/11 Georgia Tech (Tier 3)
• Sat. 10/22/10 N.C. State (Tier 3)
• Thurs. 10/27/10 at Miami (Tier 3)
• Sat. 11/5/10 at Maryland (Tier 3)
• Sat. 11/12/10 Duke (Tier 2)
• Sat. 11/19/10 at Florida State (Tier 5)
• Sat. 11/26/10 Virginia Tech (Tier 5)

Tier rankings are subject to change throughout the season based on roster changes such as injuries, suspensions, etc.

- With senior standout Demeitre Brim still sidelined due to a broken jaw, Victory Christian Academy (Lakeland, FL) fell to Admiral Farragut 42-13.  Brim, one of Virginia’s earliest commits in the 2012 class, will likely play outside linebacker for the Cavaliers but starts at quarterback and safety at VCA (0-1).

- Hampton’s (VA) Jamall Brown, playing quarterback, threw a 26-yard touchdown pass in the Crabbers’ 43-0 win over Heritage.  Mike Smith’s squad is 1-0 on the season.  Brown has accepted a scholarship to play wide receiver at UVa.

- In a Beach district showdown, Salem made a statement with a 31-6 win over 2-time defending district champion Bayside (Virginia Beach, VA).  UVa wide receiver/safety recruit Anthony Cooper was held to just three catches for 40 yards in the loss.  Touted Salem junior quarterback Bucky Hodges (UVa, VT offers) was 7-9 for 113 yards with 3 touchdowns (2 passing, 1 rushing).  Bayside junior tailback Taquan Mizzell, who has also been offered by the Hoos, had 19 carries for 112 yards and a score.

- Landstown (Virginia Beach, VA) athlete Kyle Dockins had an interception in his team’s 27-7 win over Kellam.  Landstown is 1-0 on the season.

- Fork Union Military Academy’s (VA) postgraduate squad, which features 2012 offensive line recruit Ryan Doull and 2011 wide receiver signee Adrian Gamble, handled Hargrave Military Academy 28-7.

- LB Mark Hall and the Green Run Stallions (Virginia Beach, VA) scored a hard-fought Beach district win over Cox.  It was the season opener for both schools.  The Stallions will meet Bayside in week 2.

- Eli Harold will line up at defensive end at UVa, but on the high school level he plays wide receiver as well.  The 6’4″, 220-pound hauled in three receptions for 73 yards, including a 44-yard reception on Ocean Lakes’ (Va Beach, VA) first play from scrimmage.  The Dolphins (1-0) went on to defeat Princess Anne 40-7.

- QB Matt Johns completed 22 of 34 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown, but he threw three interceptions as Central Bucks South (PA) fell to Council Rock South 45-20.  CBS (0-1) will look to rebound against Council Rock North this Friday night.

Before last week’s game, the Philly Inquirer had a piece on some of the top signal callers in the state.  Johns was one of those featured.

- Wayne County (Jesup, GA), featuring UVa-bound QB Greyson Lambert, fell to Appling County 35-25.  HC Jody Grooms’ squad falls to 0-1-1 in 2011.

- OL recruit Michael Mooney and Malvern Prep (PA) lost a close one last Friday night, falling to Ridley by one point, 21-20.  This Saturday, Malvern (0-1) will take on Roman Catholic.

- Buford (GA) continued to roll in 2011 with a 35-7 win over Carver High School.  Buford, which features Virginia cornerback recruit C.J. Moore, will face Florida prep squad Yulee this Friday night.  The game is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2.

- The Elijah Brooks era is officially underway at DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD).  Brooks, who has taken over for legendary coach Bill McGregor, guided the Stags to a 24-20 win over Loyola Blakefield.  Virginia recruit Michael Moore, a defensive end, had a big play to help secure the win.

- North Cross fell to Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, VA) in the 2010 VIS Division 3 state championship.  North Cross scored some measure of revenge last week, when it defeated NCHS 34-27.  Virginia-bound wide receiver Mario Nixon led Norfolk Christian (0-2) with four catches for 102 yards and two scores in the loss.  Nixon, Kwontie Moore, Wil Wahee, Courtnye Wynn and company will look for their first win this week against Hampton Roads Academy.

- Virginia’s newest commitment, cornerback Kelvin Rainey, and his Stratford (Houston, TX) teammates fell big to Langham Creek 66-28 last week.  The team is now 0-2 on the season.