Lakeland (3-1, 2-1) at Western Branch (1-3, 1-2) – 7 p.m.

Last season – Western Branch 28, Lakeland 14

Lakeland lost its good mix between running and passing, and lost the idea of taking good care of the ball, in last Friday’s 42-0 loss vs. Great Bridge. Lakeland’s still in good shape as far as Div. 5 playoff mix, but can’t afford dropping a game againsta Bruin team that has suddenly fallen to near the bottom of the Southeastern District after going 8-3 last season.

After three excellent games to start the season, Cedric Johnson was held to 15 rushing yards by Great Bridge. Western Branch allowed a big game on the ground by Nansemond River’s Lamont Brown last Friday night.

The last two times the Cavaliers visited Western Branch, one game was played in the remnants of a tropical storm and the last game was played in a chilly, steady rain. The forecast for Friday at 7 p.m. is 71 degrees and 0 percent chance of rain; that would seem to be great news for Lakeland’s offense.

Great Bridge (4-0, 3-0) vs. King’s Fork (1-3, 1-2) at Lakeland – 7 p.m.

Last season – Great Bridge 38, King’s Fork 17

Last October, King’s Fork traveled to Great Bridge trying to keep its playoff hopes alive. Great Bridge won that contest handily and went on to the regional playoffs.

This season, Great Bridge is off to its best start since 1989. King’s Fork got its first win of the season last week. The 2009 Bulldog Tour continues with Lakeland as KF’s home field.

KF head coach Joe Jones wasn’t worried about the shortened week after Monday’s conclusion of KF’s 35-14 win vs. Indian River. Mondays, Jones said, usually include only about an hour of action on the field, which is what the rest of the Indian River game was. Jones said his schedule Tuesday through Thursday wouldn’t change.

KF’s realigned backfield, with Laray Kindred now at tailback and sophomore Matt Hommell at quarterback, had repeated long, time-eating drives against Indian River. Doing the same against Great Bridge will be important, but a much bigger test.

Nansemond River (0-4, 0-3) at Deep Creek (2-2, 2-1) – 7 p.m.

Last season – Deep Creek 27, Nansemond River 26

With two of the last three Warrior losses coming in one-possession games, Nansemond River faces the team it had the best chance for a district win against last season.

Deep Creek has clearly improved from last season to this though. The Hornets have wins against Indian River and Hickory in the last two weeks. DC got a 99-yard kickoff return from Derrick Boone to take the lead late in the fourth quarter against Indian River. Last Friday, DC scored two touchdowns in the first quarter and beat Hickory 23-13.

Nansemond River nearly beat Western Branch for the first time in 14 games last Friday. Sophomore Lamont Brown rushed 26 times for 164 yards. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Moore connected with junior Bernard Jennings for a 25-yard touchdown pass.