For the second straight year, Douglas Freeman has arrived at the final game of their regular season schedule with a perfect 9-0 record, and not nearly the respect that mark should deserve. Much of that has to do with their opponent this week, and the gap they admittedly need to narrow when it comes to the Hermitage Panthers, who are looking for their 10th straight Colonial District title.
RECORDS: (3)Hermitage 8-1 (6)Douglas Freeman 9-0
LAST WEEK: Hermitage def. Glen Allen 42-22 Freeman def. Godwin 20-7
SERIES: Hermitage has won 15 straight over the Rebels. Freeman’s last win came back in 2000
ON AIR: Fox Sports 910 with Gary Hess and Gary Criswell. Pregame at 6:30, Kickoff at 7:00
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Hermitage has won 73 straight games against Colonial District opponents, one of the longest such streaks in VHSL history. In his first year at quarterback, Woody Winborne has thrown for 11 touchdowns against only 1 interception and has over 1,000 yards passing. RB Jordan Hall is averaging 118 yards per game with 11 TDs.
Freeman is led by Trey Laughlin who has also thrown for over 1,000 yards and 11 TDs this year, and Tanner Dobrucky who has 15 touchdowns through 9 games. The Rebels have 3 shutouts this year but have not scored more than 10 points against the Panthers in the last three years.
Both teams should host first round games in 5A south.
QUOTEABLE: Patrick Kane, Hermitage head coach: “Our focus is to win a district championship. That’s why we work so hard in the offseason, to have opportunities like this.”
Mike Henderson, Freeman head coach : “We’re aware of the mystique and tradition they have over there. We told our guys, we’re 40-5 against everyone else over the last 5 years, and 0-4 against Hermitage. Until we knock that door down, we’re second fiddle to them.”
Sean Robertson has more on narrowing the gap between the two:
