757Teamz predictions: Unbeatens Lafayette and Smithfield play in a key Bay Rivers District game

It would be overhyping to label No. 15 Smithfield (3-0) vs. No. 8 Lafayette (3-0) at Wanner Stadium on Friday as a much-anticipated showdown. As their rankings suggest, the Rams are the favorites and the Packers are looking at the game as a measuring stick for their surprising progress this season.

Both entering unbeaten conjures memories when it was annually one of the biggest games on the Bay Rivers District schedule. The Packers beat the Rams five times in an eight-season span from 2005-12 — a success few can claim against Lafayette since 1997 — and the games were almost always competitive until Smithfield’s program took a downturn seven years ago.

Rams coach Andy Linn is impressed with a Smithfield team that has opened with wins over Norview, Churchland and Jamestown by a combined 69-13.

“I think Smithfield is vastly improved from last year,” said Linn, whose team won 42-7 in 2023. “They’ve got a fast defense that can run, they’ve got skill all over the place that can run and they’ve got, arguably, one of the best, if not the best, running back in the district.”

That running back is Kinye Martin, a 5-foot-7, 180-pound senior who ran for more than 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago. He had the game-winning touchdown run in the Packers’ 7-0 triumph over Jamestown last week.

“We’ve just got to maintain our lanes (on defense) and stay where we’re supposed to stay,” Linn said. “He’s very good at cutting it back and finding a seam, so we’ve got to stay in our fundamental rush lanes to slow him down a little bit.”

The Packers have more to offer. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Buggs “has really stepped up for us,” Smithfield coach Tracey Parker said. “Merlin Lance, Jakeim Montgomery and Ammon Rawlings have really solidified our receiving corps, and our young offensive line is giving 100% effort.”

But a formidable Smithfield defense, led by linemen William Flythe and Mike Williams, will have its work cut out for it against a Lafayette offense averaging 50 points. The Rams boast six players with at least two touchdowns apiece, led by Brayden Smalls, who’s averaging 8.6 yards per carry and has five touchdown runs. Tyree Wilson has an 11.7-yard average on his 18 carries and has scored twice.

“I think we’re very hard to defend in that way,” Linn said. “We’ve got four wings that can run, two fullbacks that can run, a quarterback who can run and throw, and we’ve got two really good wide receivers.

“Plus four of the offensive linemen came back from (the Class 3 state runner-up team of) last year. It makes the Wing-T tough when you’ve got to defend everybody.”

Linn said sophomore quarterback Baum Hogge, 6-2, 215 pounds, is a running threat and has come on very quickly at running the offense. He’d like to see Hogge improve his passing touch a hair, but with 13 of 19 completions for 268 yards and three touchdowns, he acknowledges he is improving.

Hogge is a standout linebacker on a defense that has allowed only six points. Breon Stokes, Tristan Harris and Daniel Jackson comprise one of the best defensive fronts in the area, while the secondary is athletic and experienced, so the Packers face a challenge moving on the Rams.

It’s a challenge the Packers are eager to face.

“The kids are excited about it,” Parker said. “They relish the opportunity and we’re going to put forth our best effort.”

No. 15 Smithfield (3-0) vs. No. 8 Lafayette (3-0) at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Lafayette 28-14. Marty’s pick: Lafayette 35-7.

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Tonight’s games

No. 3 King’s Fork (3-0) at Nansemond River (2-1), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: King’s Fork 26-20. Marty’s pick: King’s Fork 31-15.

Grassfield at No. 4 Oscar Smith, 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Oscar Smith 35-14. Marty’s pick: Oscar Smith 31-7.

Peninsula District

Kecoughtan vs. Menchville at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Menchville 21-10. Marty’s pick: Menchville 42-7.

Southeastern District

Great Bridge (1-2) at Hickory, (2-1) 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Hickory 27-13. Marty’s pick: Hickory 37-7.

Non-district

Lakeland (2-1) at Southampton (2-1), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Southampton 14-8. Marty’s pick: Southampton 21-18.

Friday’s games

757Teamz Top 15

Lake Taylor (0-3) vs. No. 1 Maury (3-0) at Powhatan Field, 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Maury 63-6. Marty’s pick: Maury 48-0.

Kempsville (2-1) at No. 5 Green Run (4-0), 6 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Green Run 28-21. Marty’s pick: Green Run 34-14.

No. 6 Warwick (3-0) at Gloucester (1-3), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Warwick 55-0. Marty’s pick: Warwick 55-0.

No. 7 Indian River (3-0) vs. Deep Creek (2-1) at Deep Creek MS, 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Indian River 33-13. Marty’s pick: Indian River 28-8.

No. 9 Granby (3-0) at Booker T. Washington (0-4), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Granby 55-0. Marty’s pick: Granby 52-0.

No.10 Salem (3-0) at First Colonial (0-4), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Salem 35-7. Marty’s pick: Salem 38-6.

Tabb (3-0) vs. No. 11 Poquoson (3-0) at Poquoson MS, 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Tabb 26-20. Marty’s pick: Poquoson 14-10.

Princess Anne (0-4) at No. 12 Ocean Lakes (3-0), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Ocean Lakes 34-0. Marty’s pick: Ocean Lakes 41-0.

No. 14 Cox (3-1) at Kellam (1-2), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Cox 35-13. Marty’s pick: Cox 24-13.

Bay Rivers District

Grafton (1-2) at Bruton (4-0), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Bruton 14-13. Marty’s pick: Bruton 28-21.

Jamestown (0-4) at York (2-1), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: York 20-13. Marty’s pick: York 27-7.

Beach District

Bayside (1-3) at Landstown (2-2), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Bayside 26-23. Marty’s pick: Bayside 14-13.

Eastern District

Churchland (2-2) at Norview (0-4), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Churchland 27-14. Marty’s pick: Churchland 44-6.

Manor (0-3) at Norcom (2-2), 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Norcom 34-0. Marty’s pick: Norcom 45-7.

Peninsula District

Woodside (1-3) vs. Heritage (1-3) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.

Larry’s pick: Woodside 23-13. Marty’s pick: Woodside 11-10.

Private schools

Isle of Wight Academy at Washington Academy and High School (Princess Anne, Maryland), 6 p.m.

Fork Union Military Academy at Norfolk Academy, 6:30 p.m.

Atlantic Shores Christian at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, 7 p.m.

Greenbrier Christian Academy at Rappahannock County, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Peninsula District

Bethel (1-2) vs. No. 1 Phoebus (3-0) at Darling Stadium, noon

Larry’s pick: Phoebus 41-0. Marty’s pick: Phoebus 42-0.

No. 13 Hampton (3-1) vs. Denbigh (1-2) at Todd Stadium, noon

Larry’s pick: Hampton 33-6. Marty’s pick: Hampton 42-14.

Bay Rivers District

Warhill (1-3) at New Kent (0-3), noon

Larry’s pick: Warhill, 28-14. Marty’s pick: Warhill 20-13.

How they fared

Larry Rubama: 20-5 last week; 81-14 overall (85.3%)

Marty O’Brien: 19-6 last week; 80-15 overall (84.2%)

Marty O’Brien, mjobrien@dailypress.com