Steady as they go

Another week and the Madison County High School football team is still undefeated and holding steady in The Associated Press Virginia high school football rankings.

The Mountaineers (7-0, 1-0 Bull Run District) are ranked No. 7 in Group A again this week, the third week in a row, after traveling to Falls Church on Friday and handling George Mason 35-14.

Madison’s Bull Run District rival, Clarke County, was once again ranked No. 1 in Group A. The Eagles and the Mountaineers will clash in the regular season finale on Nov. 13, but Madison could lock up a spot in the Division 1 playoffs with victories against Strasburg and Manassas Park.

The Mountaineers are also ranked No. 9 in Group A by VirginiaPreps.com

DEFENDING THE GOAL: Eastern View’s field hockey team suffered a tough loss Monday night in the Battlefield District tournament against Chancellor. The two evenly matched squads split their two regular season meetings and scored one goal apiece in regulation on Monday before the Chargers’ Ashley DuBeck was able to score the game winner in overtime.

Despite the loss, it was another fantastic effort by the Eastern View defense, which has led the team throughout the season. The Cyclones limited the Chargers to one goal in 60 minutes, despite being outshot 23-4. Chancellor also had an 18-4 advantage in corner opportunities.

Eastern View (12-5) rounds out the season today at 5:30 p.m. in the district consolation game against Courtland at Maury Stadium in Fredericksburg. The Cyclones swept the regular season series with the Cougars.

DIVING IN: Eastern View has a new swim coach as the Cyclones get ready for their second season in the pool with practice beginning in less than three weeks. Adam Hughes, who also serves as the choral director at Culpeper Middle School, takes over the EVHS swim team and brings some coaching experience to the job.

He began his coaching career with the Greater Richmond Aquatic League in Sandston and also coaches the Culpeper Rec Club Barnstormers in the summer. He has also swam competitively with Team Richmond Aquatic Club, a year-round swim team, the Mechanicsville Recreation Association and was a winter swim team member at Lee-Davis High School in Mechanicsville.

The Cyclones will start preseason conditioning Monday, Nov. 9. The first official practice is Nov. 16 and the first meet is Dec. 4 against Courtland at the Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Facility.

RECRUITING UPDATE: Woodberry Forest linebacker Aramide Olaniyan is reportedly being recruited heavily by Michigan after he originally committed to Duke, but reopened his recruitment.

Aramide took an unofficial visit to Michigan last month, according to Rivals.com, and is considering the Wolverines and Blue Devils, along with North Carolina, UCLA and Wake Forest, where Woodberry defensive lineman Duke Mosby has already committed.

Olaniyan also told Rivals.com he and Woodberry teammate Ed Reynolds are both considering Vanderbilt as well. Reynolds, the son of a former Virginia standout, has scholarship offers from Duke, North Carolina, Stanford and North Carolina State.