No. 12 Booker T. Washington (6-4) at No. 4 King’s Fork (9-2) – 7:30 p.m. Friday

Friday’s game demonstrates how King’s Fork High School’s football team has continued to raise the bar over previous years. The Bulldogs earned its first home playoff game this year, a game they won last week, and their No. 4 seeding ensured they would play at home in tonight’s second round, as well.

“We’re excited to be at home again,” Jones said, noting this is the reason why defeating Western Branch High School in the regular season finale was especially important.

Last year, King’s Fork, seeded ninth, played exclusively on the road in the playoffs, facing exclusively higher seeds. The Bulldogs have earned the right to play lower seeds in the early rounds this year, but Jones did not place any emphasis on that.

“During the season, we don’t look at records, and definitely in the postseason we don’t look at records and seeding,” he said. “Seeding hasn’t had an effect on Booker T. (Washington High School).”

The No. 12 Bookers traveled a significant distance last Friday to face No. 5 Powhatan High School, which was 9-1. Nevertheless, the Bookers prevailed 40-37.

“They jumped on them pretty quick and then kind of held on, on the back end,” Jones said.

Powhatan rallied late, but Booker T. Washington snapped the Indians’ eight-game winning streak. The Bookers benefited from key contributions in all three phases of the game to bring about the win.

“They’re big, they’ve got good athletes, good speed, and they’ve got some momentum going now,” Jones said. He later added, “They’re definitely a lot better than their seeding dictates.”

He broke down what Booker T. likes to do when it has the ball behind its big line.

“Offensively, they’re more of a power football team,” Jones said. “They’re going to line up a lot with two backs and play power football, running off tackle, running the fullback trap, running the toss.”

Bookers senior running back Michael Lewis is effective, and scored twice last Friday.

Jones also highlighted the size and ability of sophomore quarterback Brandon Gaddy, who is 6’5” and 230 pounds according to Booker T. Washington’s roster.

“He does a good job, throws the ball well,” Jones said.

The coach said, defensively, the Bookers are aggressive up front, bringing a lot of pressure, with as many as eight or nine defenders in the box. The key for the Bulldogs will be to cut down on backfield penetration and to sustain blocks in order to take advantage of the abundant opportunities beyond the line.

“When you get the running lanes, they don’t have a lot of people in the second and third level,” Jones said. “You can get some big plays.”

King’s Fork will have a familiar face back that it hopes will come up with some big plays — junior feature back Deshaun Wethington.

“He’s a full go,” Jones said of his star running back who was held out last week while recovering from a hamstring injury.

The Bulldogs must also be alert on special teams, as the Bookers had two special-teams touchdowns last week.