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Virginia Playoff Thread


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Just be thankful I didn't make a regular season thread. Pairings are here:

https://www.vhsl.org/brackets/football/

Interesting games don't really start until next week, so here's a quick overview:

Region 6A--Helped by a couple returnees from Bishop Sullivan, Ocean Lakes posted their first unbeaten regular season since 2015 to snag the top seed. Oscar Smith is still the favorite until someone beats them.
Region 6B--Colonial Forge and Manchester both unbeaten and heavy favorites to meet for the region championship again. Manchester outscored their opponents 610-46, but Colonial Forge's tougher schedule got them the top seed.
Region 6C--Three 9-1 teams, Freedom is probably the favorite. Top seeds WT Woodson have their first winning record since 2009. All four first-round matchups are regular-season rematches.
Region 6D--Despite some personnel shuffles, Westfield is once again unbeaten and up to 34 straight wins. #3 Madison gave them their toughest challenge of the regular season.

Region 5A--Top seed Indian River knocked off Oscar Smith on their way to a perfect regular season, but will get a stiff challenge from Maury and Salem.
Region 5B--Unbeaten Highland Springs has won the last three state championships, but the last time they had a perfect regular season was in 2014, when they lost in the second round of the playoffs. The Springers have outscored opponents 505-39 and it would be a huge shock if they lost here.
Region 5C--Top-seeded Broad Run was unbeaten on the field but had to forfeit their opener due to an ineligible player. They actually have a tougher route to the final than second-seed Stone Bridge, since #4 Tuscarora is likely much stronger than #3 Falls Church. Lots of district rematches here and anything could happen.
Region 5D--Massaponax's only loss to Colonial Forge and they beat the #2, #3, and #4 seeds during the regular season. 

Region 4A--Everyone is looking forward to a Lafayette-Lake Taylor matchup. LT first has to avenge last year's upset loss to Smithfield.
Region 4B--Last year's state runners-up Louisa are unbeaten again. Monacan and Dinwiddie are perennially strong teams that play against a lot of bigger schools during the season.
Region 4C--Top seeded Woodgrove has been hot recently, but #2 Sherando is the favorite.
Region 4D--Three-time defending state champs Salem are only 7-3, but those three losses came to opponents with a combined record of 28-2. One of those opponents was top-seeded Blacksburg, and no one will be surprised if those teams meet again in the region final.

Class 3--Hopewell took last year's state title after a 6-4 regular season; this year they went 8-1 including an upset of Dinwiddie. Is this finally the year for Phoebus? Northside, Lord Botetourt, and Heritage-Lynchburg look like the top teams from the western half of the state.

Class 2--Appomattox hasn't lost to a Class 2 team since 2014.

Class 1--Defending champs Riverheads lost a game, but are on the thinner side of the bracket and still look like favorites. Last year's runner-up Chilhowie are the only unbeaten team.

VISAA (private school) brackets:
http://www.visaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-fb-brackets.pdf

Division 1--Flint Hill has won 20 in a row. St. Christopher's gave them a decent game during the regular season. 
Division 2--Top seed Fredericksburg Christian's only loss came to #3 North Cross.
Division 3--Roanoke Catholic has won 29 straight and averages 54 points a game.

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57 minutes ago, Gospeeder said:


You should make a reg season thread... at least occasionally. Seems like MD get all the pub from that area and hearing about VA would be welcome.

With all due respect to Damascus and Wise, at a minimum, Westfield is their equal.

The real shame is that the best MD schools will not play the best VA schools.  At a time when soccer/fusbal are pulling crowds equal to many hs football games here the exposure is desperately needed but the coaches and administrations don’t get it.  Each year there are fewer people in the stands, fewer parents who will let their kids play.

And soccer fields with nowhere to park let alone to stand.

High school football in the DC area needs all the exposure and publicity it can get.  It will be too late when “decision makers” realize this.

Meanwhile DC United and Wayne Rooney are huge.

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2 hours ago, BigDrop said:

Every year Westfield scrimmages the best they can find.  This year DeMatha (at least eleven years in a row) and Quince Orchard.  The results do not matter; rather they are preparing themselves for the upcoming season...and another VA state championship.

And SJC too.

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11 hours ago, BigDrop said:

With all due respect to Damascus and Wise, at a minimum, Westfield is their equal.

The real shame is that the best MD schools will not play the best VA schools.  At a time when soccer/fusbal are pulling crowds equal to many hs football games here the exposure is desperately needed but the coaches and administrations don’t get it.  Each year there are fewer people in the stands, fewer parents who will let their kids play.

And soccer fields with nowhere to park let alone to stand.

High school football in the DC area needs all the exposure and publicity it can get.  It will be too late when “decision makers” realize this.

Meanwhile DC United and Wayne Rooney are huge.

Quince Orchard is in serious talks with a top NOVA team for a regular season game next season. If the MD publics change their playoff format, as rumored, getting to the playoffs won’t be as tough with an OOC loss. Big MD vs Nova public games may be a regular thing in a year or two. 

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They have to play.  We literally live 50 yards from South Lakes football stadium.  I know how many are in their brick walled stands on Friday night and often it is no more than who show up at several turf fields which better youth soccer teams use.  My grandson is on a traveling team that goes as far south as Stafford  county and as far north as Westminster, MD.  I’ve seen five hundred to a thousand people for some of these games.  Youth soccer.

We moved here 30 years ago when youth soccer’s “crowds” were nonexistent and South Lakes’ 6,000 seat stadium hosted state playoff games with the stands almost full.

Many kids no longer go out for football-their and their parents’ interest is soccer.  It may be too late to stir up interest in football games outside of schools like Westfield.  For that matter if an athlete is gifted he is better off playing for a WCAC team than his local school.  This actually seems to be why several private schools are so well stocked with talent.

Damascus and Wise need to play a top WCAC program each year.  They also need to go to Chantilly or Centreville.  Or play somebody that will generate interest in their program or buy a $5.00 ticket to sit in their stands.

Otherwise a Maryland state football championship will, very soon, mean little more than say baseball. And, Damascus’ 51 game winning streak will (and does) attract little attention outside of upper Montgomery county.

The biggest crowds will come out when these schools embrace soccer.

Of course then it will still be DeMatha and Gonzaga who they refuse to play...

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Games to watch this week:

Class 6: Lake Braddock (7-3) at South County (6-4)--rematch of South County's 17-14 win last Saturday, which gave them homefield advantage in the playoff meeting. Both teams have been among the top teams in Northern Virginia in recent years but the talent has dropped off a little recently. Lake Braddock rebounded from an embarrassing 70-3 loss to Stone Bridge to win six straight before last week's loss.

Class 5: Varina (8-2) at Henrico (8-1)--Henrico, featuring former SFA quarterback and Florida commit Jalon Jones, won the regular-season meeting 28-27. Both teams were beaten soundly by Highland Springs and will be hoping for a shot at revenge in the region final.

Class 4: Jefferson Forest (7-3) at Salem (7-3)--Jefferson Forest brings their 49ppg offense to the three-time defending state champs. Also their 36ppg defense.

Class 3: BT Washington (6-4) at Norcom (6-4)--BTW has the lower seed but won 31-28 in September. The Booker's sophomore RB Rodney Hammond already has numerous big-time offers.

VISAA: St. Christopher's (5-4) at Benedictine (5-3)--Battle of Richmond rivals. Benedictine missed the state championship game for the first time since 2012 last year.

 

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20 hours ago, MA Fan said:

Games to watch this week:

Class 6: Lake Braddock (7-3) at South County (6-4)--rematch of South County's 17-14 win last Saturday, which gave them homefield advantage in the playoff meeting. Both teams have been among the top teams in Northern Virginia in recent years but the talent has dropped off a little recently. Lake Braddock rebounded from an embarrassing 70-3 loss to Stone Bridge to win six straight before last week's loss.

Class 5: Varina (8-2) at Henrico (8-1)--Henrico, featuring former SFA quarterback and Florida commit Jalon Jones, won the regular-season meeting 28-27. Both teams were beaten soundly by Highland Springs and will be hoping for a shot at revenge in the region final.

Class 4: Jefferson Forest (7-3) at Salem (7-3)--Jefferson Forest brings their 49ppg offense to the three-time defending state champs. Also their 36ppg defense.

Class 3: BT Washington (6-4) at Norcom (6-4)--BTW has the lower seed but won 31-28 in September. The Booker's sophomore RB Rodney Hammond already has numerous big-time offers.

VISAA: St. Christopher's (5-4) at Benedictine (5-3)--Battle of Richmond rivals. Benedictine missed the state championship game for the first time since 2012 last year.

 

This is off topic and almost selfish, but when Paul VI moves out to their new Loudoun County campus, what are the chances they ramp the football program up like Good Counsel did years ago after they built a campus in the MD boonies? Thoughts? That seems like a massive untapped resource for the WCAC and PVI is frontiering. 

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6 hours ago, NicholasMalibu said:

This is off topic and almost selfish, but when Paul VI moves out to their new Loudoun County campus, what are the chances they ramp the football program up like Good Counsel did years ago after they built a campus in the MD boonies? Thoughts? That seems like a massive untapped resource for the WCAC and PVI is frontiering. 

I don't have any particular insight into what they're planning--they certainly haven't shown a ton of interest in football in the past, although they've had a good season and seem to be on the upswing under the current coach. It's obviously an intriguing possibility--they'll be further from the population center of the area, but they'll be in position to dominate the Loudoun/Western Fairfax talent pool, and could open up some further out areas, Winchester, even Martinsburg. Of course, they'd need a coach who can get players and can credibly sell the idea that they are going to compete with the big-time programs. Getting over that initial hump of convincing top talent that they are serious about competing seems tough with the numbers of players needed in football, especially now with the two divisions--do you have to move up to the top division before you're ready to compete, just to show future recruits that you're serious? If you move up with the current talent level and lose 60-0 every week won't that scare off all the recruits?

One thing that would work against them is that Loudoun County has school choice, so strong players can find their way to the stronger public school programs, you don't have to go private to avoid being stuck on a terrible team or to play with all your youth team friends. 

I'm curious to see what will happen to their basketball programs. The new campus is going to be a long way from the talent hotbeds in the area. 

If John Paul the Great in Dumfries ever decided to get serious and join the WCAC fray they could put together some legit football teams with Prince William/Stafford/Southern Fairfax talent. 

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5 hours ago, MA Fan said:

I don't have any particular insight into what they're planning--they certainly haven't shown a ton of interest in football in the past, although they've had a good season and seem to be on the upswing under the current coach. It's obviously an intriguing possibility--they'll be further from the population center of the area, but they'll be in position to dominate the Loudoun/Western Fairfax talent pool, and could open up some further out areas, Winchester, even Martinsburg. Of course, they'd need a coach who can get players and can credibly sell the idea that they are going to compete with the big-time programs. Getting over that initial hump of convincing top talent that they are serious about competing seems tough with the numbers of players needed in football, especially now with the two divisions--do you have to move up to the top division before you're ready to compete, just to show future recruits that you're serious? If you move up with the current talent level and lose 60-0 every week won't that scare off all the recruits?

One thing that would work against them is that Loudoun County has school choice, so strong players can find their way to the stronger public school programs, you don't have to go private to avoid being stuck on a terrible team or to play with all your youth team friends. 

I'm curious to see what will happen to their basketball programs. The new campus is going to be a long way from the talent hotbeds in the area. 

If John Paul the Great in Dumfries ever decided to get serious and join the WCAC fray they could put together some legit football teams with Prince William/Stafford/Southern Fairfax talent. 

Great points. It’s going to be interesting. 

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Games to watch this week:

Quote

Class 6: Lake Braddock (7-3) at South County (6-4)--rematch of South County's 17-14 win last Saturday, which gave them homefield advantage in the playoff meeting. Both teams have been among the top teams in Northern Virginia in recent years but the talent has dropped off a little recently. Lake Braddock rebounded from an embarrassing 70-3 loss to Stone Bridge to win six straight before last week's loss.

South County won another close one, 15-9.

Quote

Class 5: Varina (8-2) at Henrico (8-1)--Henrico, featuring former SFA quarterback and Florida commit Jalon Jones, won the regular-season meeting 28-27. Both teams were beaten soundly by Highland Springs and will be hoping for a shot at revenge in the region final.

Varina won 28-13 but Jalon Jones was ejected for fighting and will be suspended. 

Quote

Class 4: Jefferson Forest (7-3) at Salem (7-3)--Jefferson Forest brings their 49ppg offense to the three-time defending state champs. Also their 36ppg defense.

Jefferson Forest ended Salem's championship reign, 35-33, after Salem failed a late two-point conversion. Keenan Cupit ran for 208 yards for JF.

Quote

Class 3: BT Washington (6-4) at Norcom (6-4)--BTW has the lower seed but won 31-28 in September. The Booker's sophomore RB Rodney Hammond already has numerous big-time offers.

Norcom shut down BTW 14-0. Demonte Dunlap ran for both scores.

Quote

VISAA: St. Christopher's (5-4) at Benedictine (5-3)--Battle of Richmond rivals. Benedictine missed the state championship game for the first time since 2012 last year.

Benedictine rolled 42-6. QB Jay Woolfolk ran for three touchdowns and passed for the other three. I went to the other VISAA Division 1 semifinal, where Flint Hill crushed Norfolk Academy 52-0, all the scoring coming in the first half. Mismatch is putting it lightly. Would have been interesting to see Flint Hill play one of the stronger IAC teams.

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24 minutes ago, MA Fan said:

Games to watch this week:

South County won another close one, 15-9.

Varina won 28-13 but Jalon Jones was ejected for fighting and will be suspended. 

Jefferson Forest ended Salem's championship reign, 35-33, after Salem failed a late two-point conversion. Keenan Cupit ran for 208 yards for JF.

Norcom shut down BTW 14-0. Demonte Dunlap ran for both scores.

Benedictine rolled 42-6. QB Jay Woolfolk ran for three touchdowns and passed for the other three. I went to the other VISAA Division 1 semifinal, where Flint Hill crushed Norfolk Academy 52-0, all the scoring coming in the first half. Mismatch is putting it lightly. Would have been interesting to see Flint Hill play one of the stronger IAC teams.

How did Flint Hill’s RB look? I’ve heard he’s legit. Like you said, a game against GP or Bullis would of been nice to see. We’ll see if he stays committed to UMD. I know he said he is still strong on them, but you never know with everything going on in CP. 

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1 hour ago, NicholasMalibu said:

How did Flint Hill’s RB look? I’ve heard he’s legit. Like you said, a game against GP or Bullis would of been nice to see. We’ll see if he stays committed to UMD. I know he said he is still strong on them, but you never know with everything going on in CP. 

He had three touchdowns, one of them a long run, and got to the edge every time against this level of competition. Hard to tell just how fast he is since he was mostly running into a heavy wind, but he was faster than the other guys. Was finished for the afternoon before halftime. The other kid who just decomitted from Maryland made some plays as well. 

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Second round matchups:

Class 6
Cox (9-2) at Ocean Lakes (11-0)--Ocean Lakes won the regular-season matchup 31-14. Three of the four remaining teams in the region are from Virginia Beach. Cox QB Tayvion Robinson (Virginia Tech commit) has rushed for 23 touchdowns despite missing some time due to injury.

Landstown (7-4) at Oscar Smith (10-1)--Oscar Smith has only conceded double-digit points twice this season. Landstown played Ocean Lakes close but has slumped since then.

Franklin County (7-4) at Colonial Forge (10-0)--Franklin County coming off their first playoff win since 2011. That previous win came against...Colonial Forge.

Thomas Dale (9-2) at Manchester (11-0)--Manchester averages 60 points a game; Thomas Dale had a shutout win last week.

South County (7-4) at WT Woodson (10-1)--Woodson won the regular season meeting 18-7. South County has won five straight since then.

Hayfield (10-1) at Freedom-Woodbridge (10-1)--Freedom's Tyquan Brown has over 6,000 career rushing yards.

South Lakes (9-2) at Westfield (11-0)--Westfield beat South Lakes in the state semis two years ago, the quarters last year, and they'll probably beat them in the second round this year. SL has done a good job getting to nine wins after graduating the core of their team, but they haven't really beaten anyone good.

Madison (9-2) at Centreville (9-2)--Madison won 14-0 the last week of the regular season. Centreville averaging 40 points in their wins and got shut out in both losses.

Class 5
Nansemond River (8-3) at Indian River (11-0)--Indian River handed Oscar Smith their only defeat, and QB Dominique Brooks, who played for OS last year, has tossed 36 touchdown passes.

Salem-VB (9-2) at Maury (10-1)--Private school transfers Alvonte Lawton (29 touchdown passes after coming from Norfolk Christian) and Clemson commit Sheridan Jones (Bishop Sullivan) have upgraded Maury after four straight losing seasons.

Glen Allen (9-2) at Highland Springs (11-0)--Glen Allen won the first playoff game in school history last week. No one is expecting a second.

Henrico (9-1) at LC Bird (9-2)--Going to be tough for Henrico if Jones can't play but they do have some other talent.

Tuscarora (8-3) at Broad Run (10-1)--Broad Run won 23-7 early in the season. Only three teams have scored more than seven points against the Spartans.

Falls Church (7-4) at Stone Bridge (9-2)--Falls Church has won seven straight after an 0-4 start. Dakwandre Marshall has run for 37 scores in those seven games. None of those games were against a team remotely the caliber of Stone Bridge, however.

Brooke Point (7-4) at Massaponax (10-1)--All four remaining teams in this region are in the same district. Massaponax has bounced back from their first losing season in seventeen years and won the regular season meeting 42-7.

Mountain View (7-4) at North Stafford (8-2)--North Stafford won the regular-season game 49-14. The Wolverines feature a surprisingly diverse offense considering that they possess one of the nation's top-rated running backs in Devyn Ford.

Class 4
Warhill (8-3) at Lafayette (11-0)--Lafayette has won all thirteen meetings between these Williamsburg-area rivals, including a 26-3 win three weeks ago.

King's Fork (6-5) at Lake Taylor (10-1)--Lake Taylor has handed three teams (Phoebus, Maury, and Freedom-Woodbridge) their only losses of the season.

Eastern View (11-0) at Louisa (11-0)--Louisa looking to get back to the championship game for the second straight year behind one of the nation's top linebackers, Brandon Smith.

Dinwiddie (10-1) at Monacan (9-2)--Dinwiddie eliminated Monacan in 2015 and 2016.

Loudoun County (9-1) at Woodgrove (7-2)--Woodgrove snagged the top seed over a pair of one-loss thanks to a tough schedule, which included a 27-6 win over Loudoun County late in the regular season. 

Kettle Run (9-2) at Sherando (10-1)--Sherando won 27-14 in October, the week after suffering their only loss against Martinsburg.

Pulaski County (8-3) at Blacksburg (11-0)--Pulaski gave Blacksburg one of their toughest challenges of the regular season, falling 21-14 in October.

Jefferson Forest (8-3) at EC Glass (10-1)--Expect points. Glass won 63-34 in October and 57-36 last year.

Class 3
York (8-3) at Phoebus (10-1)

Norcom (7-4) at Hopewell (9-1)--Hopewell won 13-0 the first week of the season.

Brentsville (6-5) at Culpeper (7-4)

Thomas Jefferson-Richmond (6-5) at Spotsylvania (7-4)--Thomas Jefferson won just seven games in fourteen years from 1999-2012, but they won a playoff game last week.

Brookville (8-3) at Heritage-Lynchburg (10-1)

Liberty-Bedford at Western Albemarle (9-2)

Tunstall (7-4) at Northside (10-1)

Abingdon (9-2) at Lord Botetourt (9-2)--Botetourt and Northside split a pair of close games. Botetourt's other loss came to unbeaten Blacksburg.

Class 2
King William (9-1) at Goochland (11-0)

Poquoson (8-3) at Amelia (10-1)--Poquoson plays bigger schools and is always going to be a tough out at this level.

Buffalo Gap (7-4) at East Rockingham (11-0)

Luray (8-3) at Woodstock Central (10-1)

Gretna (9-2) at Radford (10-1)

Appomattox (9-1) at Glenvar (10-1)--Gretna won five state championships between 2003-2011. Last week was the first time they've won a playoff game since then.

Richlands (7-4) at Ridgeview (10-1)

Graham (10-1) at Union (9-2)

Class 1
West Point (8-3) at Northumberland (10-1)

Washington & Lee (5-6) at Essex (8-3)--W&L pulled off the stunner of the year in the first round, when they ripped top-seeded Franklin 42-19.

Altavista (4-7) at Riverheads (9-1)

Lunenburg Central (7-4) at William Campbell (6-4)

George Wythe (7-4) at Galax (9-2)

Parry McCluer (7-4) at Narrows (9-2)

Grundy (7-4) at Chilhowie (11-0)--Chilhowie has posted six shutouts and their smallest margin of victory was 23 points.

JI Burton (9-2) at Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (10-1)

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Second Round Scores. Biggest upsets were Norcom over defending champs Hopewell in Class 3, and Eastern View over Louisa in Class 4 (even though both teams were unbeaten, this was definitely an upset). Henrico pulled off a good win over LC Bird in Class 5. No surprises in Class 6.

Class 6
Ocean Lakes 39 Cox 28
Oscar Smith 35 Landstown 3
Colonial Forge 42 Franklin County 7
Manchester 48 Thomas Dale 7
WT Woodson 20 South County 10
Freedom-Woodbridge 29 Hayfield 19
Westfield 35 South Lakes 7
Madison 20 Centreville 10

Class 5
Indian River 20 Nansemond River 8
Maury 31 Salem-VB 28
Highland Springs 51 Glen Allen 6
Henrico 21 LC Bird 7
Broad Run 28 Tuscarora 14
Stone Bridge 69 Falls Church 0
Massaponax 36 Brooke Point 26
North Stafford 36 Mountain View 0

Class 4
Lafayette 48 Warhill 0
Lake Taylor 42 King's Fork 0
Eastern View 19 Louisa 14
Dinwiddie 38 Monacan 32
Woodgrove 28 Loudoun County 21
Sherando 16 Kettle Run 14
Blacksburg 28 Pulaski County 21
EC Glass 63 Jefferson Forest 28

Class 3
Phoebus 21 York 13
Norcom 14 Hopewell 12
Culpeper 38 Brentsville 13
Spotsylvania 21 TJ-Richmond 3
Heritage-Lynchburg 21 Brookville 0
Liberty-Bedford 35 Western Albemarle 14
Northside 51 Tunstall 7
Lord Botetourt 63 Abingdon 27

Class 2
Goochland 21 King William 0
Poquoson 24 Amelia 14
East Rockingham 51 Buffalo Gap 22
Woodstock Central 63 Luray 21
Radford 21 Gretna 7
Appomattox 24 Glenvar 21
Richlands 31 Ridgeview 21
Graham 28 Union 7

Class 1
Northumberland 31 West Point 26
Essex 31 Washington & Lee 6
Riverheads 65 Altavista 7
William Campbell 27 Lunenburg Central 24
Galax 42 George Wythe 14
Narrows 56 Parry McCluer 28
Chilhowie 63 Grundy 14
Patrick Henry-GS 61 JI Burton 36

 

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Name-dropping in the upper classes:

Class 6
Oscar Smith (11-1) at Ocean Lakes (12-0)--As the saying goes, tradition never graduates, sometimes it transfers out, but sometimes it transfers back in. Ocean Lakes is back in the regional final after a two-year absence, 4* Maryland commit "Tank" Land, back after two years at Bishop Sullivan, has been a big part of that on both sides of the ball. Xander Jedlick has tossed over 30 touchdown passes. Oscar Smith is in the state quarterfinals for the twelfth straight year. 4* Auburn commit Cam'Ron Kelly will probably play CB in college, but he's taken over as the starting quarterback this season and thrown 10 touchdown passes in two playoff games.

Manchester (12-0) at Colonial Forge (11-0)--Manchester has put up crazy scoring numbers behind Notre Dame commit Brendon Clark, who has thrown 30 touchdown passes without an interception. Clark's main targets are Alston Robinson (Old Dominion) and Collin Harding, while DE Hakeem Beamon (Penn State) leads the defense. Forge often seems to fly a little under the radar, just outside the coverage areas of the state's major newspapers, but the Eagles have knocked out Manchester the last two years, including a 48-27 whipping last year. Transfer QB Madden Lowe has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards, while Ernesto Bowen has run for about 900. Forge's defense has notched four shutouts.

Freedom-Woodbridge (11-1) at WT Woodson (11-1)--History says that this is an improbable matchup. Freedom has the big numbers, with Tyquan Brown up to 2,381 rushing yards after posting 547 in the first two playoff games, while Quest Powell has added 25 TD passes. Woodson has been doing just enough to win, but Freedom's speed will present a different challenge.

Madison (10-2) at Westfield (12-0)--Madison is an excellent defensive team that has played Westfield to 17-15 and 10-6 games the last two seasons. In recent years, however, Westfield has dominated playoff rematches with opponents that gave them tough games in the regular season. Westfield's main RB from last year, Eugene Asante, is almost exclusively playing LB this season, and key receiver Taylor Morin (Wake Forest, 879 yards, 14 TDs) is also playing DB, but fearless personnel shuffles have paid off for the Bulldogs in the past. Junior RB Isaiah Daniel has noted 945 yards and 12 touchdowns after stepping in for Asante, 

Class 5
Maury (11-1) at Indian River (12-0)--Battle of big-number quarterbacks in Maury's Alvonte Lawton and Indian River's Dominique Brooks. Maury's junior RB CJ Beasley has added well over 1,000 yards rushing.

Henrico (10-1) at Highland Springs (12-0)--Henrico's defense carried them to a 21-7 win over Bird last week, but it'll take even more to overturn a 40-6 regular season loss to the Springers. Highland Springs got a rare three punt return touchdowns from three different players against Glen Allen last week, and a fourth player added a score from a kickoff return. When the offense is required to come onto the field, returning QB D'Vonte Waller throws to an array of receivers including West Virginia commit Ali Jennings, while Rayquan Smith (Norfolk State) and Shy're McKeiver anchor the running game. Junior DBs David Laney and Malcolm Greene both have lots of major-conference interest.

Stone Bridge (10-2) at Broad Run (11-1)--Broad Run won 26-20 the final week of the regular season, but anything could happen when these nearby rivals (less than three miles apart) meet in the playoffs for the fourth time in six years. Broad Run is led by their junior backfield of QB Mitch Griffis (Wake Forest commit) and Tim Baldwin (Michigan). Stone Bridge racked up 63 first-half points against a badly overmatched Falls Church team last week, and running backs Nick Mell (Army), Jared Cole, and Zakias Moore all average around ten yards a carry.

North Stafford (9-2) at Massaponax (11-1)--North Stafford diversified their offense this year and it has paid off bigtime, as first-year starting QB Jamir Boyd has throwd for 27 touchdowns, while the Wolverines have been able to pick their spots with 5* RB Devyn Ford. However, the one team to shut them down was Massaponax, who dominated the regular-season matchup 44-7, holding Boyd to just 28 passing yards. Massaponax QB Evan Schickel has struggled with injuries recently, but came off the bench to lead to Panthers to a fourth quarter comeback against Brooke Point last week.

Class 4
Lake Taylor (11-1) at Lafayette (12-0)
Eastern View (12-0) at Dinwiddie (11-1)
Sherando (11-1) at Woodgrove (8-2)
EC Glass (11-1) at Blacksburg (12-0)

Class 3
Norcom (8-4) at Phoebus (11-1)
Spotsylvania (8-4) at Culpeper (8-4)
Liberty-Bedford (7-5) at Heritage-Lynchburg (11-1)
Lord Botetourt (10-2) at Northside (11-1)

Class 2
Poquoson (9-3) at Goochland (12-0)
Woodstock Central (11-1) at East Rockingham (12-0)
Appomattox (10-1) at Radford (11-1)
Richlands (8-4) at Graham (11-1)

Class 1
Essex (9-3) at Northumberland (11-1)
William Campbell (7-4) at Riverheads (10-1)
Narrows (10-2) at Galax (10-2)
Patrick Henry-GS (11-1) at Chilhowie (12-0)

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Quarterfinal recaps:

Class 6
Ocean Lakes 21 Oscar Smith 7--Ocean Lakes held Oscar Smith to just 129 yards of offense. Ocean Lakes's iced it when Shawn Hamilton caught a pass from Xander Jedlick and ran over two Oscar Smith defenders on his way to the endzone.

Manchester 21 Colonial Forge 7--Forge came away empty from inside the Manchester 5-yard line on their first two possessions, and they didn't get many more chances as the Lancers avenged last year's regional final defeat. Manchester was held to by far their lowest scoring total of the season, but still managed 479 yards of offense, with QB Brendon Clark accounting for 235 passing and 142 rushing.

Freedom-Woodbridge 21 WT Woodson 16--Woodson took a 16-14 lead with under two minutes to go, but a long kickoff return set up a 30-yard pass from Quest Powell to Umari Hatcher with 48 seconds left, giving Freedom their first regional title.

Westfield 17 Madison 7--After failing to get anything going in the first half in freezing rain, Westfield recalled Asante to the offensive side of the ball, mixed in some wildcat, and pounded their way to 17 unanswered points and their 37th consecutive win.

Class 5
Maury 42 Indian River 21--Alvonte Lawson threw four touchdown passes and Maury raced to a 28-0 halftime lead over the top seed.

Highland Springs 40 Henrico 6--Same score as the regular season meeting as Henrico managed less than 100 yards of offense.

Stone Bridge 35 Broad Run 6--Stone Bridge scored three touchdowns in a four-minute stretch across the third and fourth quarters to pull away. Jared Cole and Nick Mell each ran for two touchdowns.

North Stafford 46 Massaponax 21--North Stafford turned the tables on a regular-season rout. Devyn Ford ran for three touchdowns (and 170 yards), and caught a fourth from Jamir Boyd, as the Wolverines racked up 561 yards of offense. Massaponax had 347 rushing yards and 0 passing yards.

Class 4
Lake Taylor 35 Lafayette 14--Lake Taylor's sophomore backfield of QB Jeff Foster and RB Malik Newton hooked up for two touchdowns in the air, and each added a rushing touchdown as LT broke open a game that was tied 14-14 late in the third quarter.

Eastern View 45 Dinwiddie 35--Tre Holmes and Matt Lowry combined to run for 298 yards and four tochdowns for the Cyclones.

Woodgrove 27 Sherando 3--Graham Walker threw for two and ran for two as Woodgrove dominated injury-hit Sherando.

Blacksburg 35 EC Glass 14--Four of Blacksburg's five touchdowns were 25 yards or longer, and Virginia commit Tiquest Terry scored three times for the Bruins.

Class 3
Phoebus 7 Norcom 6 (3 OT)--The teams were deadlocked through two overtimes in nasty conditions. Norcom finally broke through in the third overtime, but missed a long extra point after a celebration penalty. Phoebus answered with a score of their own and Anthony Wallace converted the extra point for the win.

Culpeper 34 Spotsylvania 12--Javae Colclough (115 yards) and D'aron Colbert (145 yards) each scored twice as Culpeper ground out a win in the mud. Only one completed pass in the game.

Heritage-Lynchburg 44 Liberty-Bedford 28--Liberty led 21-14 after the first but Heritage shut them down after that. Heritage's Jabari Blake completed just 2 of 11 passes, but those two went for 101 yards and two scores. Blake and KJ Vaughan (207 total yards) each ran for a pair of touchdowns as well.

Lord Botetourt 23 Northside 7--A rare third meeting in one season, and the smashmouth team won the rubber match on a cold night. Hunter Rice and Evan Eller both topped 100 yards rushing for Botetourt.

Class 2
Goochland 21 Poquoson 14--Devin McCray ran for two touchdowns and then hit Perry Snead-Johnson for the winning touchdown pass with under five minutes remaining.

East Rockingham 44 Woodstock Central 29--Dylan Williams threw for three touchdowns, and ran for the first and last scores as East Rock advanced to their first state semifinal.

Radford 28 Appomattox 25--Radford rallied from a 17-7 deficit and recovered a late onside kick to end Appomattox's three-year championship run. Justice Marshall scored on a run, a reception, and a blocked field goal attempt for the Bobcats.

Graham 38 Richlands 10--Purdue bound Cam Allen ran for 188 yards and two touchdowns, threw for two, and added an 82-yard punt return.

Class 1
Essex 14 Northumberland 6

Riverheads 49 William Campbell 14--Three Riverheads backs crossed the 100-yard mark on their way to 428 team rushing yards.

Galax 55 Narrows 0--Galax outgained Narrows 410-41 and led 41-0 at halftime.

Chilhowie 49 Patrick Henry-GS 6--Chilhowie led 42-0 at halftime. Zack Cale ran for three touchdowns and threw for another.

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Semifinals. Some of these games aren't actually "at" the host school because they've been moved to nearby turf fields:

Class 6

Manchester (13-0) at Ocean Lakes (13-0)--Last week Manchester showed that they can beat a good team even without scoring a million points, and Ocean Lakes showed that they don't need twenty D1 players to beat Oscar Smith. Now Ocean Lakes will have to show that they can shut down a team with a real quarterback.

Freedom-Woodbridge (12-1) at Westfield (13-0)--Rain forecasted in Northern Virginia for something like the 11th time in 15 weeks this season. Westfield couldn't throw at all in the rain last week, and while they were able to get it done on the ground they'll want to have all weapons at their disposal.

Class 5

Maury (12-1) at Highland Springs (13-0)--Lots of athletes on the field for this one, but impossible to pick again Highland Springs.

North Stafford (10-2) at Stone Bridge (11-2)--Stone Bridge is 8-1 all-time in state semis. North Stafford lost three in a row from 2011-2013, by a combined total of five points. In theory rain could favor Stone Bridge since they don't depend on the pass as much, but then North Stafford has a 5* running back so maybe not.

Class 4

Eastern View (13-0) at Lake Taylor (12-1)--Lake Taylor trying to make it back to the championship game first the first time since 2015, is led by soph RB Malik Newton (1,801 yards, 27 TD), who already has Virginia and Virginia Tech offers, and soph QB Jeff Foster, who has thrown and run for 17 touchdowns apiece. LT handed Class 6 semifinalist Freedom and Class 5 semifinalist Maury their only losses. Eastern View, looking to knock off a perennial power on the road for the third straight week, has their own dymanic backfield duo of QB Matt Lowry (27 rushing touchdowns), and Trey Holmes (195 yards against Dinwiddie last week).

Woodgrove (9-2) at Blacksburg (13-0)--Blacksburg is 26-2 since a 4-5 start in 2016. Bruins QB Grant Johnston, who quarterbacked that 2016 to a state title as a sophomore, has thrown for 2,559 yards. Virginia commit Tiquest Terry is his biggest-name target, but Thomas Coffey has added 45 receptions for 890 yards and 11 scores. Woodgrove impressively shut down a shorthanded Sherando last week, but they haven't faced a passing attack this potent. QB Graham Walker has run for over 100 yards in each of the last two games, and KJ Lewis has also rushed for 1,000 yards on the season. 

Class 3

Culpeper (9-4) at Phoebus (12-1)--Phoebus! When they VHSL went to six classes and the Phantoms dropped to Class 4, and then Class 3, everyone awarded them the next thirty state championships. Instead, they haven't even made a championship game. On paper this is finally the year, but last time Culpeper came to town in 1999, they stunned a heavily favored Hampton team with a 25-game winning streak. Javae Colclough has topped 1,000 rushing yards for the visitors.

Lord Botetourt (11-2) at Heritage-Lynchburg (12-1)--Heritage's loss came back in August when they were routed 61-26 by Northside. Botetourt beat Northside in two of three meetings this year. Heritage has been able to overcome the graduation of record-setting back Elijah Davis thanks to QB Jabari Blake and RB KJ Vaughan, each over 1000 yards rushing. Botetourt's star sophomore back Hunter Rice is just short of 2,000 yards for the season.

Class 2

Goochland (13-0) at East Rockingham (13-0)--East Rockingham had never reached double-digit wins before this season. Goochland has done it nine times in the last fourteen years, including state championships in 2006 and 2012. Both teams have allowed less than 100 points on the season.

Graham (12-1) at Radford (12-1)--Graham's dual-threat QB Cam Allen has thrown for 2,167 yards and 21 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,717 yards and 26 touchdowns. Radford went just 2-8 last year but is on fire after upsetting three-time defending champions Appomattox last week. Sophomore RB PJ Prioleau, son of former NFL DB Pierson Prioleau, has amassed almost 1,500 yards for the Bobcats.

Class 1

Essex (10-3) at Riverheads (11-1)--Two-time defending champs Riverheads lost only to Class 2 semifinalist East Rockingham. Last year's 17-14 semifinal nailbiter against Essex was their only tough game of the playoffs and that may be the case again. Riverheads's running game is almost unstoppable against Class 1 opposition, but Essex will have literally the biggest rushing thread in 270-pound KJ Dameron, who will play defensive end at Old Dominion next year but has notched 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns on the offensive side this fall.

Galax (11-2) at Chilhowie (13-0)--Another semifinal rematch. Last year it was a three-loss Chilhowie pulling the 25-21 shocker over the 2015 state champs; this year the Warriors are undefeated and no one is overlooking them. Chilhowie has outscored opponents 673-86. Galax usually has a guy with crazy rushing stats but this year they've gone the opposite route and use two quarterbacks who have both thrown for over 1,000 yards.

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Semifinal recaps:

Class 6

Manchester 42 Ocean Lakes 3 (Highlights)--Total domination by the undefeated Lancers, who led 28-3 at halftime. KJ McNeil scored a touchdown on both sides of the ball as Manchester forced four turnovers. Brendon Clark ran for Manchester's first score and added two touchdown passes in the second quarter.

Freedom-Woodbridge 35 Westfield 28 (Highlights)--Freedom stopped Westfield on 4th and 1 from the 6-yard line with 25 seconds left. The Eagles had led 35-14 in the middle of the fourth quarter, but 37-game winning streaks don't end that easily, so Westfield scored twice and blocked a punt to put themselves within striking distance in the final seconds. With the score tied 7-7 in the second quarter, Westfield QB Noah Kim left the game with an apparently serious leg injury, and by the time Westfield recovered their footing they were down 28-7. Taylor Morin accounted for all four Bulldog scores--rushing, receiving, passing, and returning a fumble. Freedom had injury issues of their own as star back Tyquan Brown was banged up and limited to seven carries. Sophomore Julian Edwards carried the ball 27 times for 116 yards in his place. Eagles QB Quest Powell threw three touchdown passes.

Class 5

Highland Springs 71 Maury 28 (Highlights)--Maury went toe to toe with Highland Springs for a half, but the Springers scored 47 points in the second half to run away with it. Tremayne Talbert had 99-yard punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns, and added a touchdown reception. Shaquez Cosby added a 100-yard interception return and a 20-yard blocked punt return in the fourth quarter. Alvonte Lawton threw three first-half touchdown passes for Maury.

Stone Bridge 49 North Stafford 26--Nick Mell led the way with 201 rushing yards and five touchdowns as SB advanced to play Highland Springs in the final for the third time in four years. QB Mason Tatum added 143 rushing yards for the Bulldogs, who only attempted two passes. 

Class 4

Lake Taylor 35 Eastern View 31 (Highlights)--Malik Newton ran for the winning score with 1:03 remaining, and LT stopped EV at the Titans' 10 on the final drive to cap an epic battle. LT came out throwing more than expected, and Javon Harvey burned EV for 211 yards on just five receptions, including a 96-yarder following a goal line stand and a 53-yarder to set up the winning touchdown. Eastern View moved the ball effectively throughout the game behind Matt Lowry (two TD passes, one TD run) and Trey Holmes (124 rushing yards and a score).

Woodgrove 26 Blacksburg 23 (OT) (Highlights)--Graham Walker's pass to Ben Castellano in overtime sent Woodgrove to their first state final. Woodgrove had been able to control the ball for most of regulation, scoring on drives of 19 and 20 plays, before Blacksburg was able to strike twice in the fourth quarter and tie the game.

Class 3

Phoebus 35 Culpeper 14 (Highlights)--Chris Daniels threw three touchdown passes, two to Barry Hargraves, and Hargraves added a 60-yard first quarter touchdown run to help Phoebus to the championship game for the first time since 2011. 

Heritage-Lynchburg 42 Lord Botetourt 39 (Highlights)--Jabari Blake three for three touchdowns and ran for two in a back and forth game. Heritage led 28-10 in the third quarter before three straight touchdown runs by Hunter Rice (284 yards) put Botetourt in front. Heritage toook the lead for good on fourth-quarter TD runs by KJ Vaughan and Blake.

Class 2

Goochland 35 East Rockingham 21 (Highlights)--Goochland QB Devin McCray ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns before Conner Popielarz sealed the win with a 75-yard TD run with five minutes remaining.

Graham 57 Radford 13 (Highlights)--Graham led 48-0 at halftime as Cam Allen threw for four touchdowns and ran for two.

Class 1

Riverheads 28 Essex 6 (Highlights)--Riverheads ran for their customary 355 yards, with Jaden Phillips going for 155 and three tochdowns.

Chilhowie 28 Galax 7 (Highlights)--Chilhowie led 21-0 in the second quarter and shut down Galax's comeback attempts. Greg Sanchez ran for 168 yards and a touchdown while Zack Cale ran for the other three scores.

 

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Championships on Saturday

Hampton University

12:00 Class 5: Highland Springs (14-0) vs. Stone Bridge (12-2)

4:30 Class 6: Manchester (14-0) vs. Freedom-Woodbridge (13-1)

Liberty University

12:00 Class 3: Phoebus (13-1) vs. Heritage-Lynchburg (13-1)

4:30 Class 4: Lake Taylor (13-1) vs. Woodgrove (10-2)

Salem Stadium

12:00 Class 1: Riverheads (12-1) vs. Chilhowie (14-0)

4:30 Class 2: Goochland (14-0) vs. Graham (13-1)

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Championship results:

Class 6

Manchester 49 Freedom 7 (Highlights)--Manchester shook off an early Freedom score and finished an absolutely dominant season by crushing the Eagles and taking their first state championship. Brendon Clark threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns, finishing the season with 35 TDs and just one interception, and added a 79-yard touchdown run. KJ McNeil scored rushing and receiving and threw a touchdown pass as well. The Lancers defense, which proved just as dominant as their offense during the playoffs, intercepted Freedom three times.

Class 5

Highland Springs 37 Stone Bridge 26 (Highlights)--Stone Bridge dropped to 1-7 in state championship games, giving the Springers their most competitive game of the year but never really threatening to win. With the score tied 7-7 midway through the second quarter, Highland Springs was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the one, but forced a safety on the next play and then added two touchdowns in the next five minutes to take a commanding 23-7 halftime lead. D'Vonte Waller threw for 277 yards and four touchdowns, while Ahmad Foster-Powell ran for a pair of scores. Stone Bridge got three touchdown passes from Mason Tatum, two to sophomore receiver Tai Felton.

Class 4

Woodgrove 38 Lake Taylor 33 (Highlights)--Woodgrove's Graham Walker threw for 343 yards and rushed for 134, accounting for five touchdowns, as Woodgrove took their first state championship in a back-and-forth game. For Lake Taylor, Jeff Foster hit Ikeem Wright for a pair of TD passes and Malik Newton ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns. The Titans' two-way standout Javon Harvey left the game with a first-quarter injury.

Class 3

Heritage-Lynchburg 24 Phoebus 20 (Highlights)--QB Jabari Blake ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns and Chris Megginson's late interception sealed the win for Heritage. Chris Daniels threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns in a losing cause for the Phantoms. Fourth year in a row that "the 757" has been shut out of a state championship.

Class 2

Graham 31 Goochland 9 (Highlights)--Cam Allen ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns, and threw for two more scores to lead the G-Men to the champonship. Allen accounted for 57 touchdowns on the season. Goochland, who managed only 122 yards of offense, wasn't helped by an injury to QB Devin McCray.

Class 1

Riverheads 35 Chilhowie 7 (Highlights)--Riverheads held Chilhowie to 157 yards of offense and crushed Chilhowie in the final for the second year in a row. Jaden Phillips ran for 106 yards and also returned an interception for a touchdown for the victorious Gladiators.

Manchester and Woodgrove both move to Class 5 next season.

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