The RVA Sports Network is your home for high school sports and more in Central Virginia! We are the home for over 50 live high school and college game broadcasts annually, and producers of the "In The Red Zone Podcast"! Follow us on Twitter at @TheRVASportsNet and on Facebook and Instagram at rvasportsnetwork.

Monday, October 28, 2019

VHSL Football Region Standings: October 28

Two weeks remain in the regular season and, for some teams, just one game remains. The races get tighter, there are less teams alive for postseason play. Let's get you caught up on not just the standings, but the stories behind them, and what's left to be done for teams in the race for the playoffs!

New this week: teams which have wrapped up postseason bids will be noted with (**). Teams that have played a private school team and will have their final rating number divided by nine, not ten, at the end of the regular season, will still be noted with (*) beside their record. We also check the top schools in other regions. The A and B regions will face off in state semifinal play on December 7, while Regions C and D will square off.

**********

REGION 6A:

1) Oscar Smith (7-1): 31.875**
2) Ocean Lakes (6-3): 28.889**
3) Landstown (6-2): 28.25**
4) Thomas Dale (5-3): 27.75
5) Franklin County (4-4): 26.875
6) Cosby (5-3): 25.875
7) Grassfield (4-4): 25.125
8) Tallwood (3-5): 23.25
---
9) Western Branch (2-6): 23.0
10) Floyd Kellam (2-6) 22.125
11) James River (1-7): 20.125

ANALYSIS: The top seed likely belongs to Oscar Smith, as the Dolphins have but one game left. Landstown, with games remaining with teams with a combined record of 10-6, could grab the #2 seed with a pair of wins. Thomas Dale is in the mix for #2, but would need Ocean Lakes to lose their finale, Landstown to lose one, possibly both, and, of course, the Knights would have to sweep Granby and Dinwiddie. As we discussed on "On The Sidelines Extra" Friday, Cosby saw their lead for sixth place shrink with Grassfield, who won Friday, but the other teams behind them all lost, thus, losing an opportunity to draw closer to the Titans. Cosby finishes with Monacan and Manchester, but, by contrast, Western Branch ends with winless Lakeland, then 4-4 Hickory. Floyd Kellam's best chance to get into the top eight is Friday when they go to #8 Tallwood. For Thomas Dale, it's all about winning out, getting Chris Tyree healthy, and having at least one home game come playoff time.

OTHER CLASS 6 REGIONS:

Region 6B: 1) Colonial Forge 33.0, 2) Freedom-PW 32.0, 3) Massaponax 30.778
Region 6C: 1) South County 33.0, 2) Mt. Vernon 30.625, 3) Lake Braddock 30.0
Region 6D: 1) Westfield 35.0, 2) James Madison 30.75, 3) Yorktown 29.125

**********

REGION 5B:

1) Highland Springs (8-0*): 33.143**
2) Manchester (7-1): 31.125**
3) Deep Run (8-0): 31.0**
4) Varina (7-1): 29.875**
5) Prince George (6-2): 27.75
6) Clover Hill (6-2): 27.5
7) Douglas Freeman (6-2): 26.0
8) Henrico (5-4): 24.667
---
9) Matoaca (5-3): 24.5
10) L.C. Bird (4-4): 23.75
11) Glen Allen (4-4): 22.5
12) Atlee (3-5): 22.0
      Hermitage (2-6): 22.0
14) Mills Godwin (3-5): 20.875
15) Midlothian (2-6): 20.75
16) J.R. Tucker (1-7): 18.375
17) Meadowbrook (0-8): 17.375

ANALYSIS: The top four teams can add a week to their schedules, and, with another win, Prince George and Clover Hill should be able to do the same. As we discussed Friday night on "On The Sidelines Extra", Manchester did overtake Deep Run for the #2 seed. Both the Lancers and Wildcats play 4-4 teams in desperate need of a win to stay alive, as Manchester goes to L.C. Bird while Deep Run travels to Glen Allen for our Game of The Week on 102.9 The Mater on Friday. Clover Hill gets winless George Wythe, and would get 24 points for a win. Prince George must try to conquer Hopewell, who just lost the #1 seed in Region 3A despite still being undefeated. If Hopewell wins, Prince George would get 21 points in the loss. Thus, the teams could flip. Then there's Douglas Freeman, who suddenly find a John Marshall team coming in at 5-3. A victory for the Rebels could erase most of the deficit between themselves and both the Royals and Cavaliers.

Henrico finishes their regular season Friday with a two-win Lee-Davis team, while Matoaca has two games left, beginning with a trip to Petersburg, who is in a fight for the final playoff bid in Region 3A, just as the Warriors are here. A win by both "Warriors" would likely flip Matoaca back to the #8 seed, but, it gets tricky. What if L.C. Bird stuns Manchester? Then the Skyhawks likely disrupt everything and head to the #8 seed with a game left. Then there's Glen Allen, who missed a golden opportunity by losing to John Marshall Friday. The Jaguars find themselves, though, in a situation where two wins (Deep Run, Douglas Freeman), and maybe one or two other results in their favor, from trying to grab that final seed.

If Highland Springs wins out (Colonial Forge, Varina), they are the #1 seed. If they lose one, they could still be the top seed. If they lose both, the door is wide open for any of the three teams behind them to rise up. A reminder that we won't know the final projections for this region now until after the Varina/Highland Springs game is played Saturday November 9th at Hermitage High School at 1pm.

OTHER CLASS 5 REGIONS:

Region 5A: 1T) Salem-VB 32.0, 1T) Maury 32.0, 3) Indian River 29.375
Region 5C: 1) Stone Bridge 31.5, 2) Briar Woods 26.25, 3) Woodgrove 25.0
Region 5D: 1) Mountain View 29.5, 2) PH-Roanoke 25.333, 3) North Stafford 25.25

**********

REGION 4B:

1) Louisa (8-0): 28.0**
2) Eastern View (8-0): 26.5**
3) Monacan (7-1): 26.375**
4) Patrick Henry (6-3): 24.444
5) Dinwiddie (4-4): 24.25
6) Spotsylvania (6-2): 23.75
7) Huguenot (4-4): 22.625
8) Chancellor (5-4): 22.444
---
9) King George (4-4): 22.25
10) Powhatan (3-5): 21.75
11) Orange (3-5): 19.25

ANALYSIS: The Lions and Cyclones find themselves in familiar territory, unbeaten heading into November. Monacan has surged to the #3 seed and are on the doorstep of #2 Eastern View, who finish the season with 6-2 Spotsylvania and 5-4 Chancellor. The Chiefs have 5-3 Cosby, then 6-2 Clover Hill. If both teams win out, they might even take a shot at Louisa, who finish with teams with a current combined record of 6-10 (Western Albemarle, Albemarle). Patrick Henry only has Tomato Bowl 61 with Lee-Davis left, so maximizing points will be difficult in trying to stay in the #4 spot. Dinwiddie likely overtakes them by defeating Meadowbrook Friday. Then, the Generals end hosting Thomas Dale. Dinwiddie controls their own destiny when it comes to hosting in the region quarterfinals, just win out. But, Spotsylvania can change everything by handing Eastern View their first loss this Friday. Huguenot needs to win at Midlothian during Chancellor's bye week, while King George plays one-win Caroline. Powhatan really needs to beat one-win James River to stay close heading into Week 11, when they'll finish with the Falcons, while Chancellor ends with Eastern View while King George concludes with Spotsylvania. The Indians need the higher seeds to win, and to win out, to have a shot at a game November 15th.

OTHER CLASS 4 REGIONS:

Region 4A: 1) Lake Taylor 28.333, 2) Warhill 28.0, 3) Churchland 27.0
Region 4C: 1) Broad Run 30.5, 2) Tuscarora 29.5, 3) Liberty-Bealton 28.75
Region 4D: 1) Salem 29.125, 2) E.C. Glass 28.5, 3) Pulaski Co. 27.875

**********

REGION 3A:

1) Phoebus (7-1): 29.875**
2) York (8-0): 28.75**
     Hopewell (8-0): 28.75**
4) Lafayette (7-1): 24.75**
5) I.C. Norcom (5-3): 23.25
6) Tabb (4-4): 21.375
7) Booker T. Washington (3-5): 20.25
8) Petersburg (3-5): 19.0
    Southampton (4-4): 19.0
---
10) Park View-South Hill (4-4): 18.75
11) New Kent (3-5): 17.5

ANALYSIS: As expected, Phoebus races to the top after a win over previously unbeaten Woodside back on Thursday. York's win over Smithfield helps them catch Hopewell, who lost ground with a win over winless Meadowbrook. This week, Phoebus plays 2-7 Heritage, Hopewell has 6-2 Prince George, while York has its shot at an unbeaten in Warhill. If all three win, York may become the third team in as many weeks to take #1, with Hopewell and Phoebus right there with them heading into Week 11, where the Phantoms make up a game lost to Hurricane Dorian with Menchville (3-5), York plays winless Bruton, and Hopewell gets a Matoaca team currently 5-3 and fighting for their own playoff bid up in Region 5B. Meanwhile, Petersburg is tied for the eighth and final bid with Southampton. Southampton has Park View Friday in what could become an elimination game. Petersburg contends with Matoaca this week, finishing with Colonial Heights. New Kent may, or may not, play Jamestown this week, as Jamestown is struggling to field a full team right now. The Trojans end against two-win Smithfield. The Trojans are barely in the race.

REGION 3B:

1) Goochland (7-1*): 25.0**
2) James Monroe (5-3): 24.5**
3) Brentsville District (5-3): 22.75**
4) William Monroe (4-4): 19.5
5) Skyline (4-4): 19.375
6) George Mason (4-4): 18.75
7) Warren County (2-6): 16.875
8) Central Woodstock (3-5): 16.75
---
9) Manassas Park (4-4): 16.375

ANALYSIS: James Monroe defeated both Spotsylvania and Chancellor in the last two weeks, both Class 4 teams above .500. to almost catch the Bulldogs for the top seed. But they finish with two teams that currently have two combined wins (Courtland, Caroline), while Goochland plays Central-Lunenburg on Friday, currently 5-4, then finish with two-win Bluestone. If Goochland wins out, they should be the top seed.

OTHER CLASS 3 REGIONS:

Region 3C: 1) Spotswood 26.5, 2) Heritage-Lynchburg 26.125, 3) Liberty Christian 23.25
Region 3D: 1) Lord Botetourt 28.5, 2) Northside 26.0, 3) Hidden Valley 24.75

**********

REGION 2A:

1) Thomas Jefferson (7-1): 24.5**
2) Nottoway (6-2): 21.75
3) Poquoson (5-3): 21.25
4) Greensville (6-2): 21.125
5) John Marshall (5-3): 20.375
6) King William (5-4*): 19.375
7) Amelia (4-4): 18.5
8) Nandua (5-4): 17.889
---
9) Arcadia (4-3): 16.714
10) Brunswick (3-5): 16.0

ANALYSIS: We cannot understate the enormity of Thomas Jefferson's 27-26 win at Gretna Friday, dropping Gretna to the #4 seed in Region 2C, while padding the Vikings' lead atop 2A to 2.75 points. Nottoway's one-point win over Central-Lunenburg moves them from a tie for fourth to second, while King William really loses ground after playing a VISAA school (Benedictine), from third to sixth, thanks to wins for Greensville and John Marshall. Nottoway needs wins over Bluestone (2-6), then Buckingham (currently 6-2), and needs the Vikings to lose to Deep Run November 8th. Even then, all of that may not be enough. A win over J.R. Tucker at home Saturday should give the Vikings the #1 seed regardless of the result with Deep Run. If John Marshall can knock off 6-2 Douglas Freeman Friday, suddenly they are in play for the #2, #3 or #4 seed should Greensville and Poquoson fall. There is a lot, a whole lot, left to happen here before we know the top eight and, in what order. King William's finale with currently unbeaten King & Queen Central, if a victory, puts the Cavaliers in play for a home game in the quarterfinals.

OTHER CLASS 2 REGIONS:

Region 2B: 1) Stuarts Draft 26.5, 2) Buckingham 23.0, 3) Luray 22.75
Region 2C: 1) Radford 23.25, 2) Appomattox 23.0, 3) Dan River 20.111
Region 2D: 1) Ridgeview 24.75, 2) Union 22.875, 3) Graham 20.375

**********

REGION 1A:

1) King & Queen Central (8-0): 21.5**
2) Essex (7-1): 20.375**
3) Rappahannock (6-2): 20.125**
4) Washington & Lee (5-3): 20.0 **
5) West Point (6-3): 16.778
6) Colonial Beach (4-4): 16.75
7) Northumberland (4-4): 14.125
8) Middlesex (5-3): 14.0
---
9) Charles City (1-5): 10.833
10) Mathews (1-7): 10.625

ANALYSIS: While King & Queen keeps rolling, they have to. Essex, Rappahannock and Washington & Lee are all right on their heels. All four teams will be in the postseason, now it's a two-week race to determine seeding for the home teams. King & Queen is home to 5-3 Middlesex on Wednesday, and finishes with rival King William (5-4). Essex is the team with control here when it comes to the other teams. The Trojans host Washington & Lee Friday, then go to Rappahannock. Win those, you are definitely #2 and with a King & Queen slip, maybe #1. Rappahannock, meanwhile, deals with Northumberland Friday before they get the Trojans. In this region, you can earn your seeding on the playing field over the next 12 days.

OTHER CLASS 1 REGIONS:

Region 1B: 1) Riverheads 25.25, 2) Sussex Central 21.625, 3) Wm Campbell 18.25
Region 1C: 1T) Narrows 22.75, 1T) Galax 22.75, 3) George Wythe-W 21.143
Region 1D: 1) PH-Glade Spring 23.25, 2) Chilhowie 21.5, 3) J.I. Burton 20.5



(Daytione Smith reaches high to intercept a pass for Highland Springs in their 35-0 win over Atlee on the Game of The Week Friday night. Photo by Rachel Witham)

No comments:

Post a Comment