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

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McLean (5-2, 3-1) at Fairfax (3-4, 2-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last Week: McLean beat Marshall, 24-21; Fairfax won at South Lakes, 27-22
PowerPoints: McLean - T5th (Div. 5); Fairfax - T10th (Div. 6)
Offensive Rank (Pts/Game): McLean - T4th (Div. 5); Fairfax - 14th (Div. 6)
Defensive Rank (Pts/Game): McLean - 5th (Div. 5); Fairfax - 10th (Div. 6)

Rebels, welcome to the playoff fringe.

While Fairfax needs to win out to have a shot at the postseason, it followed up a 28-20 loss to Stone Bridge with a 27-22 road win over South Lakes Monday. Senior running back Jack Carter scored his second final-minute, game-winning touchdown of the season.

It held standout running back Ja'Juan Jones to 22 yards on nine carries. Comparatively, McLean yielded 233 yards to Jones on 17 attempts in a 28-21 road loss in Reston in Week 5.

The other common opponent for these teams is Madison. The Warhawks beat the Rebels, 21-7, in Fairfax and lost to the Highlanders, 24-21, in McLean.

If you're keeping score at home, that's four one-sentence paragraphs of information with not much to show for it. It's worth -1.0 fantasy points in your handsome sportswriter fantasy leagues.

I hope you didn't start me.

Fairfax has beaten McLean in four of the last six all-time meetings -- 126-79 scoring advantage to the Rebels -- but the squads have not met since 2004.

The two X-factors Friday are the Highlander pass defense and the health of senior running back Riley Beiro.

The Rebels' passing game has come alive in the last five weeks, namely probable first-team all-district senior receiver Alex Young.

After seven total receiving yards in the first two games, he has 25 catches for 395 yards and seven scores in the last five. That's an average night of five grabs for 59 yards and a house call. Highlander junior Chase Mills and senior Cameron Payne are likely choices to make sure Young is restless.

As for Beiro's health, he was limited between-the-tackles last week against Marshall (0-7, 0-4) and McLean needed 24 points off turnovers to prevent a stunning upset. The Statesmen held a 32:02 to 15:58 advantage in time of possession.

After averaging 36.3 carries in his first four games, Beiro has had 6.5 in his last two. That includes one carry for two yards last week. He added a must-see 23-yard touchdown grab with :53 left in the half, but it was his only catch in four targets.

The Highlanders have a better record, but the Rebels have more momentum. This should be one of the more physical games of Week 8.

Win or lose, Fairfax will take a severe hit in PowerPoints over the final two weeks. It faces Marshall and Jefferson, who enter Week 8 with a combined 0-14 record.

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com