When the ball is inside the 5-yard line, football strategy is fairly universal. On the opposing team’s goal line, punch it in; from your own goal line, protect the ball and play it safe.

The way Lee Coppock sees it, the stats aren’t that important. The Covenant quarterback might be the area’s most prolific passer, but he’s just doing what he has to do.

But a slugfest is exactly what happened Thursday evening between St. Anne’s-Belfield and Covenant in an LIS volleyball match as the Eagles stopped the Saints 3-2 (22-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-20, 15-9).

Western Albemarle has established its place at the top of the Jefferson District, going unbeaten in its first seven games. The battle for second place is heating up though, with a pair of one-loss teams — Louisa County and Goochland, which are set to play Friday night.

Behind strong efforts from Alex Howerton and Sallie Cathcart, the Covenant volleyball team defeated St. Anne’s-Belfield 3-1 (25-18, 25-11, 17-25, 25-20) on Wednesday night.

With the aid of three non-offensive touchdowns and a strong rushing effort from tailback Chris Shifflett, Covenant defeated Norfolk Christian 40-28 Friday afternoon on a rain-soaked field.

For the first time in three years, the St. Anne’s-Belfield football team enters the season without a state championship to defend.

Rich Little has been appointed as interim head coach at Covenant, replacing newly-hired Dan Baranik, who resigned earlier this summer, citing personal reasons.

Scottsville native Russell Bodine, a rising senior at Fork Union Military Academy, verbally committed to play football for the University of North Carolina on Monday.

Top-seeded Covenant repeated as VISAA Division 2 girls soccer champions with a 2-0 victory over Tandem Friends at St. Catherine’s Goochland fields on Saturday.

Chapin Speidel and Michael Morris scored four goals each as the St. Anne’s-Belfield boys lacrosse team defeated Collegiate 18-11 to advance to the VIS Division 1 final.

For the last decade, the VIC boys lacrosse championship trophy has been Covenant property. That didn’t change on Saturday when the Eagles — coming in with a chip on their shoulder after Thursday’s loss to rival St. Anne’s-Belfield — outlasted Virginia Episcopal 13-9.

In a matchup between last year’s VIS Divison I and Division II boys lacrosse state champions, it was a one-sided affair as St. Anne’s-Belfield cruised past Covenant, 19-7.

Following a drubbing of Steward in the LIS semifinals, the Covenant girls soccer team again jumped out to an early lead, leading to a 10-0 dismantling of Fredericksburg Academy in Thursday’s championship game.

Playing host in the LIS semifinals against Steward, the Eagles made quick work of the Spartans, scoring early and often in a 9-0 victory.