COURTLAND—Southampton Academy Football Coach Dale Marks expects a tough game against top-ranked Blessed-Sacrament Huguenot today, especially without three of his key players.

However, even if the Raiders lose their final regular season game, they have a shot at the playoffs. It would involve fifth-ranked Roanoke Catholic High School (5-3) also losing to Massanutten Military (1-3) on Saturday.

Southampton Academy (6-3) is ranked fourth out of 12 teams in Division IV of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association. The top four teams go to the playoffs. Blessed Sacrament (8-1) and Fuqua School (7-2) have first and second sewn up. Greenbrier Christian Academy (5-4) is in third.

“If we hold on to the fourth spot, we will go to Blessed Sacrament next week,” Marks said. “If we get up to the third spot, we would go to Fuqua.”

SA lost its first game of the season to Fuqua, 28-6.

Marks said he expects a tough home game at 7 tonight against Blessed Sacrament.

“They’re a very good football team or they wouldn’t be ranked number one,” Marks said. “They have beaten two teams that we lost pretty severely to.”

One was Fuqua and the other, Isle of Wight Academy, which defeated the Raiders 48-6 on Oct. 29.

The Raiders for this week will see the return of senior running back David Bogese, who missed last week due to an injured shoulder. However, senior running back John Hinkle, two-way junior starter Thomas Taylor and senior Blake Drewry are not expected to play due to injuries.