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

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Wakefield (0-4, 0-1) at Stuart (2-2, 1-0)
Last Week: Wakefield lost to Edison, 48-13; Stuart def. Mount Vernon, 19-17
Current Playoff Seeding: Wakefield 14th Div. 5; Stuart 8th Div. 5

Last week, Stuart beat Mount Vernon for the first time since Oct. 15, 1999. Wakefield lost to Edison for the 11th-consecutive time since that date.

Wins are paramount for the Raiders, though, more than any team. Including this week, their AAA opponents-to-date are a combined 2-14. Their 10-point loss to George Mason (4-0) in Week 1 is killing Stuart in Power Points.

A loss to a single-A team with a 10-0 record gets it the same Power Points as a loss to a 2-8 triple-A team.

Spreadsheet detriment aside, the Raiders are doing all they can on the field to prove they are deserving of their first playoff berth since 1990.

Last week, senior running back Chris Ventura rushed 24 times for 171 yards and all three Stuart touchdowns.

He has 367 rushing yards and five house calls in the last three weeks.

Wakefield, meanwhile, is still searching for its first win. Warrior sophomore quarterback Drew Powell has three rushing touchdowns, two more through the air, in the last three weeks. He only has two interceptions on the year.

Wakefield has beaten Stuart three-consecutive times and seven of the last 10 meetings.

The Raiders beat the Warriors three-straight years, 2003-05. In that span, Wakefield was a combined 2-28.

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com