Raiders hit road for Region B game in Berryville

One hundred and seventy-five miles separate Appomattox from Berryville, but somehow, the Raiders’ football team is classified in the same region of the state as Clarke County’s.

That will give the Eagles, champions of the Bull Run District, a decisive home-field advantage when they host Appomattox, which finished third in the Dogwood District, in tonight’s Division II, Region B semifinal.

“It’s a long trip, a good three-and-a-half-hour drive for our guys,” Appomattox first-year coach Ben Martin said. “It’ll be a different experience than they’ve ever faced before.

“That’s probably one of my biggest concerns,” he added. “It’s such a long road trip, they’ll be going to an environment they’re not used to, playing a team we’re not familiar with. If we’re able to weather the storm of those different elements early on, we’ll be OK.”

Appomattox (8-2) last won a district title in 1999 when it was a member of the Seminole. In 2007, it had the same regular-season record but lost at Gretna, now the defending Group A, Division 2 state champions, 55-0.

The Raiders are seeking their first postseason triumph since 1979, when first-year athletic director Ron Carter played on the team.

After going 2-8 in 2006, Clarke County has put together back-to-back 8-2 regular seasons under coach Chris Parker.

The Eagles lost to Goochland 34-28 in last year’s Region B semifinal. Their only losses this fall were to Group AA opponents — James Wood, 24-23, in the season opener, and Eastern View, a first-year school in Culpeper, 12-7.

Clarke County’s offense could be a mirror image of the Raiders’ from last fall.

“They run a lot of single wing, which is very similar to what was run last year at Appomattox,” said Martin, who introduced the triple option after arriving from Amherst. “They also get into the spread offense,” which is what the Eagles used predominantly in the past.

Appomattox’s biggest challenge could be containing Clarke County tailback Sam Shiley, who rushed for 177 yards and five touchdowns on just 11 carries in the first half of a 41-6 regular-season-ending win over George Mason two weeks ago.

“He’s one of the better players in their district,” Martin said. “He’s a hard runner.

“They’re senior-loaded and they’re big up front,” he added. “They’re a power football team and they run right at you. For us, it’s going to start with … being able to match their size and control the line of scrimmage. It’s power football, smashmouth football, and we’ve just got to be able to be physical and be prepared to stop their run.”

Appomattox is coming off one of its better performances of the season in a 49-0 rout of Chatham, even without Michael St. John, who injured his back two weeks ago against Nelson County. Rico Rose takes his place in the backfield as the third option behind quarterback Kenny Scott and running back Joe Reed on attack. Also, Cliff Ray has shifted from tight end to tackle to strengthen the Raiders’ offensive line.

“We’re always a run-first team — we throw the ball to keep the defense honest,” Martin said. “It always helps, offensively, if you can get the ball into several peoples’ hands and keep the pressure off of (Scott).”

He doesn’t expect another 350-yard rushing effort from Scott, as he had two weeks ago against Nelson.

“He definitely has that capability of taking over a game if need be,” Martin said. “(But) we still have to do what’s been successful all season long — allowing Joe (Reed) and Kenny to run the ball, but also getting other guys involved.”