Lakeland (3-0, 2-0) at Western Branch (3-0, 2-0) – 7 p.m.

Last season: Lakeland 26, Western Branch 23

The Cavaliers will likely face their greatest challenge yet this season against the Bruins, who routed both Deep Creek and Hickory in a manner similar to Lakeland.

“We’ll approach it just like we approach any other game — to win,” Cavaliers head coach Glenwood Ferebee said. “I don’t think (we’ve) played to our potential yet. One week it’s the offense, one week it’s the defense. If we can ever put both of them together, I think we’ll be fine.”

Ferebee said this game would signal a change back to the way the Cavaliers conducted their offense last season, when they made some adjustments due to quarterback Zach Super being out with an injury.

“We had some things going on that we did when he was hurt that we went back to (in order) to get our running game going,” Ferebee said. “So that’s what we’re going to do this year from now on.”

This change could manifest itself in some interesting ways, like seeing Raekwon Johnson or even Antonio Jefferson at quarterback.

“We’re going to start using everybody, as opposed to letting everybody loading up the box and bring them at Zach like they’ve been doing,” Ferebee said.

Senior offensive guard/linebacker Chris Rodgers will be out for a second game after officials in the Hickory game ruled he threw a punch at an opposing player. Lakeland’s appeal was not approved.

The Cavaliers will be on the lookout defensively for Bruins junior running back Josh Marriner, who has rushed for 592 yards and seven touchdowns through three games.

“He’s averaging almost 200 yards a game, so obviously that’s the guy that we’re focusing on, but they’ve got a few athletes here and there,” Ferebee said. “They’ve also got some potential weaknesses that we’re going to try and expose. But for the most part, we have to tackle Marriner.”

 

Nansemond River (1-2, 0-2) at Oscar Smith (2-1, 2-0) – 7 p.m.

Last season: Oscar Smith 21, Nansemond River 0

The Warriors come off a 29-10 loss to King’s Fork, and NR head coach Tracey Parker Sr. hopes his team can learn from its mistakes to aid in their game against Oscar Smith.

“I think we face the same challenges we were facing here the last couple weeks,” Parker said. “The challenge is for us to be consistent and when things need to be changed, for us to be able to respond to those changes and respond in a positive way.”

Oscar Smith is last year’s Virginia AAA Division 6 state champion and is coming off a 42-6 road win at Indian River.

 

Great Bridge (0-3, 0-2) at King’s Fork (3-0, 2-0) – 7 p.m.

Last season: Great Bridge 40, King’s Fork 18

The Bulldogs are fresh off of the winning side of last week’s cross-town game.

“We tell the guys we enjoy it ’til Monday at practice,” King’s Fork head coach Joe Jones said. “And then we put it behind us and try to correct the mistakes we made from the previous Friday.”

It will be homecoming for King’s Fork.

“A lot of emotion in homecoming, but also a lot of distractions,” Jones said. “We want to use that positive emotion to our favor, limit the distractions and stay focused to date through all that’s going on.”

Great Bridge fell prey on the road last Friday to Grassfield, 42-14.

 

Nansemond-Suffolk (1-2, 1-0) at Bishop Sullivan (3-0, 0-0) – Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Last season: Bishop Sullivan 38, Nansemond-Suffolk 23

The Saints bring some confidence with them after last week’s first victory of the season. Head coach Lew Johnston points to last year’s Bishop Sullivan game to help build some more.

“We rushed for 411 yards,” he said. “I hope they’re concerned about stopping our running game again, because now I feel like we’re just as strong throwing the ball, so we have that advantage.”

Bishop Sullivan last played two weeks ago, defeating Portsmouth Christian 35-28.

“They got three or four transfers that have certainly helped them,” Johnston said. “They’re a good football team and we’re going to have to be at the top of our game to have a chance with them.”