By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area

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Lake Braddock (5-2, 3-1) at Annandale (2-5, 1-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last Week: Lake Braddock beat South County, 27-3; Annandale lost at West Springfield, 30-27
PowerPoints: Lake Braddock - 3rd (Div. 6); Annandale - 10th (Div. 6)
Offensive Rank (Pts/Game): Lake Braddock - 3rd (Div. 6); Annandale - 8th (Div. 6)
Defensive Rank (Pts/Game): Lake Braddock - 7th (Div. 6); Annandale - 14th (Div. 6)

Lake Braddock has held its last five opponents to season-low rushing totals at the time of each respective game.

Yes, it yielded over 200 yards to Lee and Robinson -- the top two ground games in the region -- but those totals were both season-lows and were preceded 60 combined rushing yards allowed to Westfield and T.C. Williams. Then, last week, South County gained just 52 yards on 2.0 yards per carry.

It was the second time the Stallions were held under 4.0 yards per carry this year. The Atoms are the other club to keep them below that mark.

Annandale lost a shootout to West Springfield last week, 30-27, its fourth-consecutive loss.

The Atoms' running backs have had four of their worst five performances of the season in the last four weeks. They average 4.62 yards per carry in their four wins, 2.76 yards per carry in their four losses.

West Springfield was able to move the ball effectively through the air against Annandale in last week's game.

And Lake Braddock junior quarterback Michael Nebrich has been a buzzsaw in recent weeks.

The Bruins' third-ranked offense against a 14th-ranked defense -- out of 15 teams -- is a bad mix for the Neutrons.

If the Atoms are to return to the win column, senior quarterback Ricky Adams needs a flawless game running the zone-read offense. And, for the love of Renner, someone has to keep Bruin junior Emmanuel Adetunji and senior Khamrone Kolb (We are, Penn State) out of the backfield.

Also, there will be an amazing match-up out wide when Annandale has the rock. Junior receiver Melvin Robinson has 25 grabs for 506 yards and five touchdowns this year. Meanwhile, Lake Braddock senior defensive back Thomas "Picksy" Stickford has six interceptions and has returned four for scores.

With rain in the forecast, the Bruins' superior size helps them out. The Atoms, though, moved the ball just fine through the air in the rain last week, as junior quarterback Tony Hysjulien averaged 10.3 yards per attempt in the rain with a long touchdown pass to Robinson.

Annandale leads the all-time series 20-12, but the road team has taken the last three in this series.

That includes a 325-yard night by Lake Braddock running back Michael Harrison in a torrential downpour the last time these teams played on this field in 2007. The Bruins took that game, 37-13.

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com