(Scroll down for the Tuesday edition of #amRVA, available weekdays at 5am!)
FIELD HOCKEY:
Maggie Walker GS 4, James River 1
Mills Godwin 3, Atlee 0
Midlothian 1, Hanover 0
BOYS VOLLEYBALL:
Douglas Freeman 3, Matoaca 1
Hermitage 3, Meadowbrook 0
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL:
J.R Tucker 3, Manchester 1
Hermitage 3, Meadowbrook 0
*****
TUESDAY LIVE TWEET COVERAGE:
GOLF:
Atlee, Hanover, Lee-Davis vs. Patrick Henry, 1pm on @hanoversports
BOYS VOLLEYBALL:
Patrick Henry at Midlothian, 7pm on @hanoversports and @cfieldsports
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL:
Mills Godwin at Hanover, 7pm on @TaylorRVASN
Monday, August 21, 2017
#amRVA: Tuesday August 22
Mills Godwin, Midlothian and Maggie Walker all win field hockey openers, plus the latest on former Hermitage football standout Curtis Grant, and a look ahead to tons of high school action Tuesday, all on #amRVA! Listen weekdays after 5am to our exclusive morning mini-podcast by CLICKING HERE!
Sunday, August 20, 2017
#amRVA Returns!
CLICK HERE to listen to the return of the morning mini-podcast of The RVA Sports Network!
Friday, August 11, 2017
Field Hockey: Monday Jamboree Schedule Set
The biggest gathering of field hockey teams in the Richmond area happens in the preseason as squads play controlled scrimmages at River City SportsPlex, hosted by Clover Hill High School.
This year, the Jamboree is Monday, August 14th. The schedule of scrimmages is below!
**********
FIELD #7:
9am: Midlothian vs. Mills Godwin
9:35am: Patrick Henry vs. Cosby
10:10am: Monacan vs. Matoaca
10:45am: Mills Godwin vs. Cosby
11:20am: Monacan vs. Glen Allen
11:55am: Powhatan vs. Thomas Dale
12:30pm: Trinity Episcopal vs. Midlothian
1:05pm: Monacan vs. Hopewell
1:40pm: Patrick Henry vs. Midlothian
2:15pm: Matoaca vs. Glen Allen
FIELD #8:
9am: Powhatan vs. Trinity Episcopal
9:35am: Maggie Walker GS vs. Clover Hill
10:10am: Glen Allen vs. Hopewell
10:45am: Thomas Dale vs. Henrico
11:20am: Maggie Walker GS vs. Trinity Episcopal
11:55am: Matoaca vs. Hopewell
12:30pm: Henrico vs. Clover Hill
1:05pm: Cosby vs. Maggie Walker GS
1:40pm: Thomas Dale vs. Mills Godwin
2:15pm: Powhatan vs. Henrico
2:50pm: Patrick Henry vs. Clover Hill
NOTE: Expect a full photo gallery from the Jamboree on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rvasportsnetwork !
This year, the Jamboree is Monday, August 14th. The schedule of scrimmages is below!
**********
FIELD #7:
9am: Midlothian vs. Mills Godwin
9:35am: Patrick Henry vs. Cosby
10:10am: Monacan vs. Matoaca
10:45am: Mills Godwin vs. Cosby
11:20am: Monacan vs. Glen Allen
11:55am: Powhatan vs. Thomas Dale
12:30pm: Trinity Episcopal vs. Midlothian
1:05pm: Monacan vs. Hopewell
1:40pm: Patrick Henry vs. Midlothian
2:15pm: Matoaca vs. Glen Allen
FIELD #8:
9am: Powhatan vs. Trinity Episcopal
9:35am: Maggie Walker GS vs. Clover Hill
10:10am: Glen Allen vs. Hopewell
10:45am: Thomas Dale vs. Henrico
11:20am: Maggie Walker GS vs. Trinity Episcopal
11:55am: Matoaca vs. Hopewell
12:30pm: Henrico vs. Clover Hill
1:05pm: Cosby vs. Maggie Walker GS
1:40pm: Thomas Dale vs. Mills Godwin
2:15pm: Powhatan vs. Henrico
2:50pm: Patrick Henry vs. Clover Hill
Friday, August 4, 2017
Recruiting: Dinwiddie's Pope Chooses Ohio State
K'Vaughan Pope, the rising senior standout from Dinwiddie, raved about Ohio State and all but said they were his choice in an interview published online in July.
But afterwards, the team said no decision would be forthcoming for awhile. That period ended Friday evening when, before family, friends and teammates in the Dinwiddie High School auditorium, Pope left no doubt his future home.
Pope has committed to Ohio State of the Big Ten Conference, choosing the Buckeyes over Georgia. There were many schools who came calling for the two-way General, who is expected to be a linebacker for head coach Urban Meyer's Buckeyes. But, in the end, Ohio State ran away with the recruiting win.
The usual National Signing Day period for football begins on February 7th, but there is a new "early window" this season, from December 20 to 22. We will see if Pope puts pen to paper prior to Christmas. But first things first. The Generals, who finished 14-1 and fell just short in the 4A State Championship Game last December, begin their quest for their first state title since 2013 on August 25th hosting Denbigh.
But afterwards, the team said no decision would be forthcoming for awhile. That period ended Friday evening when, before family, friends and teammates in the Dinwiddie High School auditorium, Pope left no doubt his future home.
Pope has committed to Ohio State of the Big Ten Conference, choosing the Buckeyes over Georgia. There were many schools who came calling for the two-way General, who is expected to be a linebacker for head coach Urban Meyer's Buckeyes. But, in the end, Ohio State ran away with the recruiting win.
The usual National Signing Day period for football begins on February 7th, but there is a new "early window" this season, from December 20 to 22. We will see if Pope puts pen to paper prior to Christmas. But first things first. The Generals, who finished 14-1 and fell just short in the 4A State Championship Game last December, begin their quest for their first state title since 2013 on August 25th hosting Denbigh.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
SPECIAL REPORT: The New VHSL Configuration
Here we go again.
Four years removed from the largest reclassification effort that the Virginia High School League (VHSL) had undertaken in over forty years, the league is making major adjustments to classifications, regions, the postseason structure and more.
As the 2017-18 high school season officially begins in full this week with all fall sports teams reporting for practices and tryouts, now is a good time to let you know what you can expect as a player and as a fan of your school, or alma mater, as sports get underway.
We will list the new Classes and Regions within the RVA Sports Network coverage area at the end of the article. First, let's review the major changes that are now in effect:
1) No Conferences, Just Regions: The four-year experiment of having "conferences" replace the formerly used "districts" for playoff purposes at the most "local" level have been eliminated. So no more Conference 3, Conference 11, etc. In theory, the conferences "replaced" the districts in the major reclassification effort of 2013, but, in reality, the districts never fully resolved, in that schools have continued to use districts for the basis of the bulk of all regular season sport schedules, and will continue to do so into the future. In case you are not familiar with your district, these are the four major districts that encompass most of the Metro Richmond area:
CAPITAL: Atlee, Armstrong, Hanover, Henrico, Highland Springs, Lee-Davis, Patrick Henry and Varina.
CENTRAL: Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Matoaca, Meadowbrook, Petersburg, Prince George, Thomas Dale
COLONIAL: Deep Run, Douglas Freeman, Glen Allen, Hermitage, J.R. Tucker, John Marshall, Mills Godwin, Thomas Jefferson, Maggie Walker Governors School
DOMINION: Clover Hill, Cosby, George Wythe, Huguenot, James River, L.C. Bird, Manchester, Midlothian, Monacan
When school begins September 5th, no classes in high school will have played sports under the old "Central Region" format; they've only known the Conference/Region/State model. Now, with conferences dissolved, sports will begin immediately at the region level, as football has done in the past.
2) Regions And Their Tournaments: Here's the murky part, currently. The VHSL has yet to officially announce all Region Tournament formats in most sports. For example, we still don't know how field hockey, volleyball, and competition cheer will work at the first level of the postseason (regionals) this fall. How many teams will qualify? Different regions have different numbers of teams (as you will see below).
We do know football doesn't change. The top eight teams will advance to the postseason in each region.
We do know that each classification now has four regions instead of two. When it comes to later rounds of the playoffs (State Quarterfinals and Semifinals), regions will be paired on a rotational basis. This year, the rotation places Region "A" and Region "B" together in one half of the bracket, Regions "C" and "D" in the other. As you'll see shortly, it means little change in football, but some changes elsewhere.
3) "Classes", Not "Groups", And "Goodbye 'A'": There are still six classifications, so six state champions crowned in various sports (save the few that aren't played statewide like boys volleyball and lacrosse). But they are no longer called "groups", so, "Group 6A", "Group 5A", etc, are dead.
The new names are "Class 6", "Class 5", "Class 4", "Class 3", "Class 2" and "Class 1". Each class has four regions named A, B, C and D respectively. So, for example, no more "5A South Region Champion", it will be the "Class 5, Region B Champion". These are simply semantics, but information everyone needs to know.
4) The Region Set Up: Below, you can find your team in their new region. The only school in Metropolitan Richmond that moved classification was Patrick Henry, going down from Class 5 to Class 4 (your Class is based on school enrollment, and they are updated every two years in odd-numbered years).
CLASS 6:
REGION A (12 Teams): Bayside, Frank Cox, First Colonial, Granby, Grassfield, Floyd Kellam, Landstown, Ocean Lakes, Oscar Smith, Tallwood, Western Branch, Woodside
REGION B (8 Teams): Clover Hill, Colonial Forge, Cosby, Thomas Dale, Franklin County, James River, Manchester, Riverbend
REGION C (18 Teams): Annandale, Charles Colgan, Fairfax, Forest Park, Freedom-PW, Gar-Field, Hayfield, CD Hylton, Lake Braddock, Mount Vernon, Robinson, South County, JEB Stuart, West Potomac, West Springfield, TC Williams, Woodbridge, WT Woodson
REGION D (17 Teams): Battlefield, Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon, Stonewall Jackson-PW, Langley, James Madison, George Marshall, McLean, Oakton, Osbourn, Osbourn Park, Patriot, South Lakes, Washington & Lee, Westfield, Yorktown
CLASS 5:
REGION A (15 Teams): Bethel, Gloucester, Green Run, Hampton, Hickory, Indian River, Kecoughtan, Kempsville, Maury, Menchville, Nansemond River, Norview, Princess Anne, Salem, Warwick
REGION B (15 Teams): Atlee, L.C. Bird, Deep Run, Douglas Freeman, Glen Allen, Mills Godwin, Henrico, Hermitage, Highland Springs, Lee-Davis, Matoaca, Meadowbrook, Prince George, J.R. Tucker, Varina
REGION C (13 Teams): Briar Woods, Broad Run, John Champe, Thomas Edison, Falls Church, Freedom-LC, Thomas Jefferson S&T, RE Lee-SP, Potomac Falls, Rock Ridge, Stone Bridge, Tuscarora, Wakefield
REGION D (12 Teams): Albemarle, Brooke Point, William Fleming, Halifax, Harrisonburg, Patrick Henry-Roanoke, Massaponax, Mountain View, North Stafford, Orange, Potomac, Stafford
CLASS 4:
REGION A (13 Teams): Churchland, Deep Creek, Denbigh, Grafton, Great Bridge, Heritage-Newport News, Jamestown, King's Fork, Lafayette, Lake Taylor, Smithfield, Warhill, Woodrow Wilson
REGION B (13 Teams): Caroline, Chancellor, Courtland, Dinwiddie, Eastern View, Hanover, Patrick Henry (Ashland), Huguenot, King George, Louisa, Midlothian, Monacan, Powhatan
REGION C (14 Teams): Dominion, Fauquier, John Handley, Heritage (Leesburg), Kettle Run, Liberty-Bealeton, Loudoun County, Loudoun Valley, Millbrook, Park View-ST, Riverside, Sherando, James Wood, Woodgrove
REGION D (12 Teams): Amherst, Bassett, Blacksburg, William Byrd, Carroll County, Charlottesville, EC Glass, Jefferson Forest, Liberty Christian, Pulaski, Salem, George Washington-Danville
CLASS 3:
REGION A (12 Teams): Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Lakeland, New Kent, IC Norcom, Park View-South Hill, Petersburg, Phoebus, Southampton, Tabb, Booker T Washington, York
REGION B (12 Teams): Armstrong, Brentsville District, Culpeper, Thomas Jefferson, Manassas Park, John Marshall, James Monroe, William Monroe, Skyline, Spotsylvania, Warren County, George Wythe
REGION C (13 Teams): Broadway, Brookville, Fluvanna, Fort Defiance, Heritage (Lynchburg), Liberty (Bedford), Monticello, Rockbridge County, Rustburg, Spotswood, Turner Ashby, Waynesboro, Western Albemarle
REGION D (11 Teams): Abingdon, Alleghany, Cave Spring, Christiansburg, Hidden Valley, Lord Botetourt, Magna Vista, Northside, Patrick County, Staunton River, Tunstall
CLASS 2:
REGION A (14 Teams): Amelia, Arcadia, Bluestone, Bruton, Brunswick, Goochland, Greensville, King William, Nandua, Nottoway, Poquoson, Prince Edward, Randolph-Henry, Maggie Walker GS
REGION B (12 Teams): Buffalo Gap, Central-Woodstock, Clarke County, East Rockingham, RE Lee-Staunton, Luray, Madison County, George Mason, Page County, Strasburg, Stuarts Draft, Wilson Memorial
REGION C (13 Teams): Appomattox, Buckingham, Chatham, Dan River, Floyd County, Fort Chiswell, Giles, Glenvar, Gretna, James River-Buchanan, Nelson County, Martinsville, Radford
REGION D (13 Teams): John Battle, Central-Wise, Gate City, Graham, Grayson, Lebanon, Lee, Marion, Richlands, Ridgeview, Tazewell, Union, Virginia
CLASS 1:
REGION A (17 Teams): Colonial Beach, Charles City, Chincoteague, Essex, Franklin, King & Queen, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Rappahannock, Surry, Sussex, Washington & Lee, West Point, Windsor
REGION B (10 Teams): Altavista, Appomattox Regional GS, William Campbell, Carver College & Career Academy, Central-Lunenburg, Cumberland, Galileo, Stonewall Jackson (Q), Rappahannock County, Riverheads
REGION C (12 Teams): Auburn, Bath County, Bland County, Covington, Craig County, Eastern Montgomery, Galax, Highland County, Parry McCluer, Narrows, Rural Retreat, George Wythe (W)
REGION D (15 Teams): J.I. Burton, Castlewood, Chilhowie, Council, Eastside, Grundy, Patrick Henry Glade Spring, Holston, Honaker, Hurley, Northwood, Rye Cove, Twin Springs, Twin Valley, Thomas Walker
NOTES:
1) The VHSL is scheduled to launch a new website on August 1st. We are hoping that, at that time, playoff formats for all fall sports will be available and we can better help everyone understand what to expect later this fall sports season and beyond. Golf is the first sport to be affected.
2) The State Quarterfinal round, which has already returned to basketball, but has not been seen outside football in other sports since the Spring of 2013, will return in most sports. Thus, on state championship week, teams can expect a quarterfinal early in the week (by Tuesday), and, with a win, will advance to the usual neutral site for state semifinals and championship games.
Have questions? Send them to robwitham1@gmail.com and we'll do our best to answer them. The road to a trophy is different. Again.
Four years removed from the largest reclassification effort that the Virginia High School League (VHSL) had undertaken in over forty years, the league is making major adjustments to classifications, regions, the postseason structure and more.
As the 2017-18 high school season officially begins in full this week with all fall sports teams reporting for practices and tryouts, now is a good time to let you know what you can expect as a player and as a fan of your school, or alma mater, as sports get underway.
We will list the new Classes and Regions within the RVA Sports Network coverage area at the end of the article. First, let's review the major changes that are now in effect:
1) No Conferences, Just Regions: The four-year experiment of having "conferences" replace the formerly used "districts" for playoff purposes at the most "local" level have been eliminated. So no more Conference 3, Conference 11, etc. In theory, the conferences "replaced" the districts in the major reclassification effort of 2013, but, in reality, the districts never fully resolved, in that schools have continued to use districts for the basis of the bulk of all regular season sport schedules, and will continue to do so into the future. In case you are not familiar with your district, these are the four major districts that encompass most of the Metro Richmond area:
CAPITAL: Atlee, Armstrong, Hanover, Henrico, Highland Springs, Lee-Davis, Patrick Henry and Varina.
CENTRAL: Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Matoaca, Meadowbrook, Petersburg, Prince George, Thomas Dale
COLONIAL: Deep Run, Douglas Freeman, Glen Allen, Hermitage, J.R. Tucker, John Marshall, Mills Godwin, Thomas Jefferson, Maggie Walker Governors School
DOMINION: Clover Hill, Cosby, George Wythe, Huguenot, James River, L.C. Bird, Manchester, Midlothian, Monacan
When school begins September 5th, no classes in high school will have played sports under the old "Central Region" format; they've only known the Conference/Region/State model. Now, with conferences dissolved, sports will begin immediately at the region level, as football has done in the past.
2) Regions And Their Tournaments: Here's the murky part, currently. The VHSL has yet to officially announce all Region Tournament formats in most sports. For example, we still don't know how field hockey, volleyball, and competition cheer will work at the first level of the postseason (regionals) this fall. How many teams will qualify? Different regions have different numbers of teams (as you will see below).
We do know football doesn't change. The top eight teams will advance to the postseason in each region.
We do know that each classification now has four regions instead of two. When it comes to later rounds of the playoffs (State Quarterfinals and Semifinals), regions will be paired on a rotational basis. This year, the rotation places Region "A" and Region "B" together in one half of the bracket, Regions "C" and "D" in the other. As you'll see shortly, it means little change in football, but some changes elsewhere.
3) "Classes", Not "Groups", And "Goodbye 'A'": There are still six classifications, so six state champions crowned in various sports (save the few that aren't played statewide like boys volleyball and lacrosse). But they are no longer called "groups", so, "Group 6A", "Group 5A", etc, are dead.
The new names are "Class 6", "Class 5", "Class 4", "Class 3", "Class 2" and "Class 1". Each class has four regions named A, B, C and D respectively. So, for example, no more "5A South Region Champion", it will be the "Class 5, Region B Champion". These are simply semantics, but information everyone needs to know.
4) The Region Set Up: Below, you can find your team in their new region. The only school in Metropolitan Richmond that moved classification was Patrick Henry, going down from Class 5 to Class 4 (your Class is based on school enrollment, and they are updated every two years in odd-numbered years).
CLASS 6:
REGION A (12 Teams): Bayside, Frank Cox, First Colonial, Granby, Grassfield, Floyd Kellam, Landstown, Ocean Lakes, Oscar Smith, Tallwood, Western Branch, Woodside
REGION B (8 Teams): Clover Hill, Colonial Forge, Cosby, Thomas Dale, Franklin County, James River, Manchester, Riverbend
REGION C (18 Teams): Annandale, Charles Colgan, Fairfax, Forest Park, Freedom-PW, Gar-Field, Hayfield, CD Hylton, Lake Braddock, Mount Vernon, Robinson, South County, JEB Stuart, West Potomac, West Springfield, TC Williams, Woodbridge, WT Woodson
REGION D (17 Teams): Battlefield, Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon, Stonewall Jackson-PW, Langley, James Madison, George Marshall, McLean, Oakton, Osbourn, Osbourn Park, Patriot, South Lakes, Washington & Lee, Westfield, Yorktown
CLASS 5:
REGION A (15 Teams): Bethel, Gloucester, Green Run, Hampton, Hickory, Indian River, Kecoughtan, Kempsville, Maury, Menchville, Nansemond River, Norview, Princess Anne, Salem, Warwick
REGION B (15 Teams): Atlee, L.C. Bird, Deep Run, Douglas Freeman, Glen Allen, Mills Godwin, Henrico, Hermitage, Highland Springs, Lee-Davis, Matoaca, Meadowbrook, Prince George, J.R. Tucker, Varina
REGION C (13 Teams): Briar Woods, Broad Run, John Champe, Thomas Edison, Falls Church, Freedom-LC, Thomas Jefferson S&T, RE Lee-SP, Potomac Falls, Rock Ridge, Stone Bridge, Tuscarora, Wakefield
REGION D (12 Teams): Albemarle, Brooke Point, William Fleming, Halifax, Harrisonburg, Patrick Henry-Roanoke, Massaponax, Mountain View, North Stafford, Orange, Potomac, Stafford
CLASS 4:
REGION A (13 Teams): Churchland, Deep Creek, Denbigh, Grafton, Great Bridge, Heritage-Newport News, Jamestown, King's Fork, Lafayette, Lake Taylor, Smithfield, Warhill, Woodrow Wilson
REGION B (13 Teams): Caroline, Chancellor, Courtland, Dinwiddie, Eastern View, Hanover, Patrick Henry (Ashland), Huguenot, King George, Louisa, Midlothian, Monacan, Powhatan
REGION C (14 Teams): Dominion, Fauquier, John Handley, Heritage (Leesburg), Kettle Run, Liberty-Bealeton, Loudoun County, Loudoun Valley, Millbrook, Park View-ST, Riverside, Sherando, James Wood, Woodgrove
REGION D (12 Teams): Amherst, Bassett, Blacksburg, William Byrd, Carroll County, Charlottesville, EC Glass, Jefferson Forest, Liberty Christian, Pulaski, Salem, George Washington-Danville
CLASS 3:
REGION A (12 Teams): Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Lakeland, New Kent, IC Norcom, Park View-South Hill, Petersburg, Phoebus, Southampton, Tabb, Booker T Washington, York
REGION B (12 Teams): Armstrong, Brentsville District, Culpeper, Thomas Jefferson, Manassas Park, John Marshall, James Monroe, William Monroe, Skyline, Spotsylvania, Warren County, George Wythe
REGION C (13 Teams): Broadway, Brookville, Fluvanna, Fort Defiance, Heritage (Lynchburg), Liberty (Bedford), Monticello, Rockbridge County, Rustburg, Spotswood, Turner Ashby, Waynesboro, Western Albemarle
REGION D (11 Teams): Abingdon, Alleghany, Cave Spring, Christiansburg, Hidden Valley, Lord Botetourt, Magna Vista, Northside, Patrick County, Staunton River, Tunstall
CLASS 2:
REGION A (14 Teams): Amelia, Arcadia, Bluestone, Bruton, Brunswick, Goochland, Greensville, King William, Nandua, Nottoway, Poquoson, Prince Edward, Randolph-Henry, Maggie Walker GS
REGION B (12 Teams): Buffalo Gap, Central-Woodstock, Clarke County, East Rockingham, RE Lee-Staunton, Luray, Madison County, George Mason, Page County, Strasburg, Stuarts Draft, Wilson Memorial
REGION C (13 Teams): Appomattox, Buckingham, Chatham, Dan River, Floyd County, Fort Chiswell, Giles, Glenvar, Gretna, James River-Buchanan, Nelson County, Martinsville, Radford
REGION D (13 Teams): John Battle, Central-Wise, Gate City, Graham, Grayson, Lebanon, Lee, Marion, Richlands, Ridgeview, Tazewell, Union, Virginia
CLASS 1:
REGION A (17 Teams): Colonial Beach, Charles City, Chincoteague, Essex, Franklin, King & Queen, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Rappahannock, Surry, Sussex, Washington & Lee, West Point, Windsor
REGION B (10 Teams): Altavista, Appomattox Regional GS, William Campbell, Carver College & Career Academy, Central-Lunenburg, Cumberland, Galileo, Stonewall Jackson (Q), Rappahannock County, Riverheads
REGION C (12 Teams): Auburn, Bath County, Bland County, Covington, Craig County, Eastern Montgomery, Galax, Highland County, Parry McCluer, Narrows, Rural Retreat, George Wythe (W)
REGION D (15 Teams): J.I. Burton, Castlewood, Chilhowie, Council, Eastside, Grundy, Patrick Henry Glade Spring, Holston, Honaker, Hurley, Northwood, Rye Cove, Twin Springs, Twin Valley, Thomas Walker
NOTES:
1) The VHSL is scheduled to launch a new website on August 1st. We are hoping that, at that time, playoff formats for all fall sports will be available and we can better help everyone understand what to expect later this fall sports season and beyond. Golf is the first sport to be affected.
2) The State Quarterfinal round, which has already returned to basketball, but has not been seen outside football in other sports since the Spring of 2013, will return in most sports. Thus, on state championship week, teams can expect a quarterfinal early in the week (by Tuesday), and, with a win, will advance to the usual neutral site for state semifinals and championship games.
Have questions? Send them to robwitham1@gmail.com and we'll do our best to answer them. The road to a trophy is different. Again.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Top 10 Moment/Game/Team Of 2016-17: #1: Highland Springs Is #AngieStrong In Football Repeat
After finally winning their first on the field state football championship in 2015, the target was squarely on the backs of the Highland Springs Springers entering 2016. L.C. Bird, Hermitage both loomed large, as usual, the Springers getting the best of the Panthers in their season opener.
A few weeks later, a scare for the Springers when quarterback Juwan Carter exited their game against Meadowbrook, and they suffered an 8-7 upset loss to the Monarchs. But Carter returned, and things returned to normal as Highland Springs dealt with Capital District play, getting big wins against Atlee, Hanover and Lee-Davis.
But as November, and the postseason, loomed, real life interrupted. One of the team's biggest supporters, not just in 2016, but for years, Angie Johnson, the mother of wide receiver Chris Thaxton, battled her final stages of cancer. Some team members had known Johnson for almost as many years as they could remember.
Angie, amazingly, rallied the strength and courage to attend the October 28th Senior Night against Patrick Henry, walking with Chris onto the field.
Springer Nation lost Johnson just two weeks later, November 12th, a day after their opening postseason win over Deep Run. The black and gold added purple to their uniform colors. An entire team lifted their teammate, strengthening each other in their grief and time of loss.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving, after a cloudy, gloomy sky dominated Kreiter Stadium during warm-ups for their 5A South Region Semifinal showdown with L.C. Bird, just as the game began, the sun suddenly appeared, brilliantly bright for a chilly November day. Springer fans knew who made that happen.
A win over the Skyhawks, then a last-minute win in the state semifinal over Norview, 28-25, setting up a rematch with Stone Bridge, this time at Hampton University, for the 5A State Championship on December 10th. The 2015 matchup was an all-Highland Springs affair, a coronation for a team, a program, who had waited for so long.
The Bulldogs remembered, and the 2016 game was much, much different. The early lead this time went to Stone Bridge, 13-0, while the Springer offense sputtered before finally starting to strike, taking their first lead at 14-13 with 3:17 left in the third quarter on a Carter pass to Isaiah Winstead.
Stone Bridge took the lead at 29-28 with less than ninety seconds left. But a short kickoff was taken back to the Stone Bridge 34 by Billy Kemp. After a false start penalty, Carter runs for six yards, then finds Thaxton for 12 and a first down with the final minute underway.
Here's how our article at HenricoCountySports.net picked up the final moments (CLICK HERE to read it).
"Then, in a play Carter said after the contest was designed to go elsewhere, he saw an advantage.
'I saw they had one on one coverage with my man, and I knew if I put it up, he'd get it,' Carter said.
'He' was Winstead, who caught the jump ball at the three-yard line. It's first and goal with 30.5 seconds left. The time had come for a final appearance from the spirit of Angie Johnson.
On a day bathed in sunshine at Hampton University, Carter went back to pass, and found a second option, a streak of purple appeared in the middle of the end zone. It was Chris Thaxton. Carter threw a fastball, and Thaxton squeezed the football like he never had before. Touchdown Highland Springs with 26 seconds left.
Springer fans experienced cheers and tears in unison as the storybook ending unfolded. But there was one chapter left to be written. Stone Bridge began their final drive at their 40, but forced to do what they aren't comfortable doing: pass the football. It took over 31 1/2 minutes for the Springers to force Stone Bridge into a corner, but when they did the seized the opportunity.
After an intentional grounding call, a pass to midfield was easily intercepted by Billy Kemp. Sheer elation engulfed Springer Nation as Bulldog fans fell to the seats in disbelief. The Springers jumped, danced, even a backflip once the clock hit 0:00."
Angie's son, Chris, scores the winning touchdown, four weeks to the day she passed away. The Springers were champions again, and no one more deserving than Thaxton.
In the months since that Saturday in Hampton, the crowds have dispersed, the cheering faded, graduation has come and gone. But we sincerely hope, for the rest of Chris' life, his heart, on good days and on tough days, will be carried by not just the events of December 10, 2016, not just securing the catch of a lifetime, but in knowing all the love that will always be there for him, for his teammates.
A love that will forever be #AngieStrong.
CLICK HERE to see the championship-clinching touchdown as it was tweeted live on @henricosports from Hampton.
A few weeks later, a scare for the Springers when quarterback Juwan Carter exited their game against Meadowbrook, and they suffered an 8-7 upset loss to the Monarchs. But Carter returned, and things returned to normal as Highland Springs dealt with Capital District play, getting big wins against Atlee, Hanover and Lee-Davis.
But as November, and the postseason, loomed, real life interrupted. One of the team's biggest supporters, not just in 2016, but for years, Angie Johnson, the mother of wide receiver Chris Thaxton, battled her final stages of cancer. Some team members had known Johnson for almost as many years as they could remember.
Angie, amazingly, rallied the strength and courage to attend the October 28th Senior Night against Patrick Henry, walking with Chris onto the field.
Springer Nation lost Johnson just two weeks later, November 12th, a day after their opening postseason win over Deep Run. The black and gold added purple to their uniform colors. An entire team lifted their teammate, strengthening each other in their grief and time of loss.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving, after a cloudy, gloomy sky dominated Kreiter Stadium during warm-ups for their 5A South Region Semifinal showdown with L.C. Bird, just as the game began, the sun suddenly appeared, brilliantly bright for a chilly November day. Springer fans knew who made that happen.
A win over the Skyhawks, then a last-minute win in the state semifinal over Norview, 28-25, setting up a rematch with Stone Bridge, this time at Hampton University, for the 5A State Championship on December 10th. The 2015 matchup was an all-Highland Springs affair, a coronation for a team, a program, who had waited for so long.
The Bulldogs remembered, and the 2016 game was much, much different. The early lead this time went to Stone Bridge, 13-0, while the Springer offense sputtered before finally starting to strike, taking their first lead at 14-13 with 3:17 left in the third quarter on a Carter pass to Isaiah Winstead.
Stone Bridge took the lead at 29-28 with less than ninety seconds left. But a short kickoff was taken back to the Stone Bridge 34 by Billy Kemp. After a false start penalty, Carter runs for six yards, then finds Thaxton for 12 and a first down with the final minute underway.
Here's how our article at HenricoCountySports.net picked up the final moments (CLICK HERE to read it).
"Then, in a play Carter said after the contest was designed to go elsewhere, he saw an advantage.
'I saw they had one on one coverage with my man, and I knew if I put it up, he'd get it,' Carter said.
'He' was Winstead, who caught the jump ball at the three-yard line. It's first and goal with 30.5 seconds left. The time had come for a final appearance from the spirit of Angie Johnson.
On a day bathed in sunshine at Hampton University, Carter went back to pass, and found a second option, a streak of purple appeared in the middle of the end zone. It was Chris Thaxton. Carter threw a fastball, and Thaxton squeezed the football like he never had before. Touchdown Highland Springs with 26 seconds left.
Springer fans experienced cheers and tears in unison as the storybook ending unfolded. But there was one chapter left to be written. Stone Bridge began their final drive at their 40, but forced to do what they aren't comfortable doing: pass the football. It took over 31 1/2 minutes for the Springers to force Stone Bridge into a corner, but when they did the seized the opportunity.
After an intentional grounding call, a pass to midfield was easily intercepted by Billy Kemp. Sheer elation engulfed Springer Nation as Bulldog fans fell to the seats in disbelief. The Springers jumped, danced, even a backflip once the clock hit 0:00."
Angie's son, Chris, scores the winning touchdown, four weeks to the day she passed away. The Springers were champions again, and no one more deserving than Thaxton.
In the months since that Saturday in Hampton, the crowds have dispersed, the cheering faded, graduation has come and gone. But we sincerely hope, for the rest of Chris' life, his heart, on good days and on tough days, will be carried by not just the events of December 10, 2016, not just securing the catch of a lifetime, but in knowing all the love that will always be there for him, for his teammates.
A love that will forever be #AngieStrong.
CLICK HERE to see the championship-clinching touchdown as it was tweeted live on @henricosports from Hampton.
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