Rivalry game heats up with playoff implications

When it comes to private school football, there may be no bigger rivalry in the area than St. Anne’s-Belfield and Blue Ridge. So, it’s only fitting that the two teams have saved the best for last, as they face off in their regular season finale tonight.
The Saints (5-3), who have been playing their best football of the season as of late, have won five of their last six games. STAB won last year’s regular season showdown in St. George, 27-12.
“We’re excited to play,” said STAB coach John Blake, whose team hosts the Barons tonight. “The rivalry with Blue Ridge is one of those that is just great to be part of. I’ve been involved with a few of them around here, but this one’s intense. But it’s fun. It’s not ugly, it’s just two teams who really want to go out and beat each other.”
Two of the area’s most prolific quarterbacks will face off in the contest, with STAB’s Howie Long (1,434 yards and 23 touchdowns) going toe-to-toe with Blue Ridge’s Speedy McCauley (1,283 yards and 12 touchdowns).
Both STAB and Blue Ridge are coming off wins, and the Saints, the defending state champions, are already playoff-bound. But records don’t matter much in this game.
“Blue Ridge is always a tough game,” said STAB senior Quincey September. “Regardless of what our records are, when it comes down to Blue Ridge, it’s always a clean slate. We both try to come out as hard as possible.”
The Barons (3-4) are coming off a win over Nansemond Suffolk Academy, and the game means just as much to them. A win would mean a possible playoff bid for Blue Ridge.
“I’m from Richmond and I played against [STAB] and it was a big deal for us,” said Blue Ridge coach Del Smith. “Obviously being 30 miles down the road, this is a big game.”
All season long, the Saints try to stay level-headed, but they can’t help but get keyed up for this game.
“The kids look forward to it all year, they make a big deal out of it,” Blake said. “Our motto around here is not to look beyond. We take care of this week and what’s next week is next week. We try to do that as much as we can, but this is one of those weeks that you kind of circle in the back of your mind. You really want to play this one.”
And STAB, which has won two straight after a loss to a very good Collegiate team, hopes momentum from this game will carry over into the VISAA playoffs. Last year, the Saints beat Blue Ridge twice, winning 39-13 in the first round of the playoffs before beating Virginia Episcopal in the state championship game.
For the Saints, a repeat performance would be especially sweet.
“I wouldn’t want to jinx us,” said September. “But hopefully we could see it through this year again.”