Previewing Virginia first-round playoff games

To do so, the Wolverines must shake off two consecutive losses and rediscover the formula that helped them beat the Wildcats, 27-20, in the second game of the season. Back in the fold will be Demornay Pierson-el, who has been cleared to play after missing the last game-and-a-half with a leg injury. The junior tailback gave Centreville trouble in the teams’ first meeting, rushing for 239 yards and two scores to help the Wolverines rally for the win.

“People try to say that we’re a one-man show even though we’re not, but our one man does a lot so we try to get him the ball when possible,” Davis said of Pierson-El, who has scored 25 total touchdowns this season. “But the last couple weeks have been good for our guys to see that they can play without him and it was good for [Demornay] in becoming a better teammate.”

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West Potomac’s Demornay Pierson-El switched positions before the season but that hasn’t stopped his highlight reel-worthy plays or slowed interest from colleges. He leads West Potomac into a key playoff game against Centreville.

Centreville will look to match this firepower with its own playmaking tailback in A.J. Turner. The sophomore racked up a career-high 264 yards and four touchdowns on just 16 carries in last week’s win against Oakton, giving the Wildcats some much-needed momentum entering the postseason.

Virginia AAA Northern Region Division 6 quarterfinal: Robinson at Chantilly, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Chantilly Coach Mike Lalli has encountered a lot in eight seasons but Friday’s first-round playoff game against Robinson will bring a first for him – playing the same team in consecutive weeks.

After beating Robinson, 41-21, on the road in last week’s regular-season finale, the fourth-seeded Chargers (7-3) drew the fifth-seeded Rams (5-5) again in the Division 6 bracket with this week’s contest taking place at Chantilly.

In some ways, the scenario makes life easier. Both teams have plenty of film and a fresh memory of their opponent, and in the Chargers’ case, they know what it takes to win. But Lalli knows full well that last week’s regular-season result means little for this week’s postseason tilt.

“We know Robinson is going to make adjustments based on what they saw, so we’re going to have to be prepared for a whole new type of game,”Lalli said.

In the case of Robinson tailback Joe Wilson, the junior hopes this new game brings more yards and less turnovers. Despite rushing for 194 yards and three scores, Wilson coughed up the ball twice, which eventually resulted in two Chantilly touchdowns.

“I see the rematch as a chance to improve because after those fumbles, it kind of got me out of my rhythm,” said Wilson, who was named Concorde District Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 2,125 yards and 31 touchdowns. “Coach [Trey Taylor] has been telling us all season to learn from our mistakes and make plays, so here’s our chance when it really counts.”

Virginia AAA Northwest Region Division 6 quarterfinal: Woodbridge at Battlefield, Friday, 7

Since playing its first varsity football game in 2005, Battlefield has gone 67-26. Not counting a loss to 2011 Virginia AAA semifinal opponent Oscar Smith, there is only one program that has beaten the Bobcats without losing at least once to them.

That team is Woodbridge (6-4), Battlefield’s home opponent Friday in the first round of the Virginia AAA Northwest Region Division 6 playoffs.

The Vikings are 3-0 against Battlefield, having caught them during their first two seasons when the Bobcats went a combined 6-14 and then edging them 20-17 in the Virginia AAA Northwest Region Division 6 semifinals in 2007.