And, just like that, we're down to only four football Fridays in the regular season. So let's dig into the latest Virginia High School League (VHSL) Region standings and see where teams are with three or four games remaining.
CLASS 6, REGION A:
1) Thomas Dale 30.333 (6-0, at Hopewell Friday)
2) Oscar Smith 30.0 (5-0, at King's Fork Friday)
3) Manchester 29.5 (5-1, vs. Midlothian Friday)
4) Western Branch 28.857 (6-1, vs. Hickory Friday)
5) Franklin County 28.333 (4-2, at William Byrd Friday)
6) Floyd Kellam 25.0 (4-2, vs Bayside Friday)
7) Landstown 22.667 (3-3, at Frank Cox Friday)
8T) James River 22.0 (2-4, at Monacan Friday)
Cosby 22.0 (2-4, at Huguenot Friday)
***
10) Ocean Lakes 19.286 (1-6)
11) Grassfield 18.143 (0-7)
ANALYSIS: Thomas Dale could win Friday at Hopewell and still lose the number one seed to Oscar Smith as the Tigers face unbeaten King's Fork out of Class 4. Thus, two bonus points for them as the Knights face a Class 3 school. In addition, a Manchester win over an undefeated Midlothian team (Class 5) places the Lancers in the discussion for the top seed with, then, three weeks left. Western Branch also faces a Class 5 school in Hickory, but they are 1-5. Remember, two bonus points are awarded for each win an opponent has. Strength of schedule, and results, matter. Down at the eight spot, rivals James River and Cosby are tied. And, yes, the first tiebreaker, if it came out that way after Week 11, is head-to-head. James River holds that with their 14-7 overtime win over the Titans back on September 8th.
CLASS 5, REGION C:
1) Highland Springs (31.714, 7-0, vs. Hanover Friday)
2) Midlothian 27.667 (6-0, at Manchester Friday)
3) Douglas Freeman 27.0 (6-0, at Hermitage Friday)
4) L.C. Bird 24.5 (4-2, vs. George Wythe Thursday)
5) Hermitage 23.857 (4-3, vs. Douglas Freeman Friday)
6) Glen Allen 22.833 (3-3, at Potomac Friday)
7) Mills Godwin 21.0 (2-4, vs Deep Run Friday)
8T) Clover Hill 19.333 (2-4, at Powhatan Friday)
Prince George 19.333 (1-5, at Matoaca Thursday)
***
10T) J.R. Tucker 18.5 (2-4, vs Thomas Jefferson Friday)
Meadowbrook 18.5 (1-5, at Colonial Heights Friday)
12) Deep Run 16.857 (1-6, at Mills Godwin Friday)
ANALYSIS: As we expected in August, there's Highland Springs, and then there's everyone else. The race is below them. Midlothian could extend their hold on the second seed by defeating Manchester Friday, while Douglas Freeman will have their hands full at Chester Fritz battling a Hermitage team talented enough to be 7-0, but a monster schedule (losses to Thomas Dale, Varina and Lake Taylor) puts them at 4-3. The Panthers, currently fifth, less than a point behind #4 L.C. Bird, could leapfrog the Skyhawks with a victory, no matter what Bird does against a winless George Wythe squad. Glen Allen, after an 0-2 start, look for their first winning record of the year at 2-4 Potomac out of Class 6 Friday. After the Jaguars, there's a definite drop. Mills Godwin comes off the bye week having struggled the past few weeks, but host 1-6 Deep Run. Then, there's legitimately four teams vying for the final spot, and likely the right to go to Highland Springs November 11th. Both Clover Hill and Prince George have tough Class 4 opponents, while J.R. Tucker could make a big move by handing Class 2 Thomas Jefferson their first defeat.
CLASS 4, REGION B:
1) Varina 28.667 (6-0, vs. Atlee Friday)
2) Dinwiddie 27.333 (6-0, vs. Petersburg Friday)
3) King George 27.0 (4-0, at Chancellor Friday)
4) Hanover 24.333 (5-1, at Highland Springs Friday)
5) Eastern View 23.714 (6-1, vs Spotsylvania Friday)
6) Patrick Henry 23.333 (4-2, at Armstrong Thursday)
7T) Powhatan 23.167 (5-1, vs. Clover Hill Friday)
Matoaca 23.167 (3-3, vs. Prince George Thursday)
***
9) Courtland 20.5 (3-3, at Caroline Friday)
10) Spotsylvania 19.333 (3-3, at Eastern View Friday)
11) Henrico 19.143 (2-5, at Mechanicsville Friday)
12) Atlee 17.667 (2-4, at Varina Friday)
13) Monacan 17.0 (1-5, vs. James River Friday)
14) Huguenot 16.0
15T) Chancellor 14.833
Mechanicsville 14.833
17) George Wythe 14.0
ANALYSIS: If a team like Courtland or Spotsylvania doesn't make a move soon, this most rugged of regions won't have an issue with who will be in the top eight, but there'll be plenty of movement within it. Varina will host a desperate Atlee squad, who have to go 3-1 down the stretch for any hopes of the postseason. Dinwiddie will not overlook Petersburg as they seek to crawl closer to the Blue Devils should both win. King George will be hurt by facing a winless Chancellor squad. Last week, Eastern View, in their renaissance season, overtook Patrick Henry for the #5 spot. This week, the Cyclones hope a win over 3-3 Spotsylvania will be enough to overtake Hanover for the four seed should the Hawks not pull the big upset at Highland Springs. Why is that important? The #4 seed gets a home game in the first round. The Patriots will have to handle an Armstrong team on the road who is definitely improved from the past several years. Then there's Powhatan and Matoaca, who both host Class 5, Region C teams in big need of victories as Clover Hill and Prince George are tied for the eighth and final seed there. Courtland gets 1-5 Caroline from Class 3, making it difficult for them to get closer to the top eight.
NOTE: In Class 4, Region D, Louisa, despite defeating previously unbeaten Orange, stays stuck in third place, less than a half point behind #1 Salem and #2 E.C. Glass.
CLASS 3, REGION A:
1) Phoebus 27.667 (6-0, at Kecoughtan Saturday)
2) Lake Taylor 26.0 (5-1, vs. Churchland Friday)
3) Lafayette 23.667 (5-1, vs. King William Friday)
4) I.C. Norcom 22.714 (5-2, vs. Booker T. Washington Friday)
5) York 21.333 (4-2, vs. Jamestown Friday)
6) Hopewell 20.833 (3-3, vs. Thomas Dale Friday)
7) Southampton 20.667 (4-2, at Greensville County Thursday)
8) New Kent 20.5 (3-3, vs. Grafton Friday)
***
9T) Petersburg 20.0 (4-2, at Dinwiddie Friday)
Colonial Heights 20.0 (3-3, vs. Meadowbrook Friday)
11) Booker T. Washington 16.667 (2-4, at I.C. Norcom Friday)
12) Lakeland 1-6
13) Tabb 0-6
ANALYSIS: For local teams, it begins with Hopewell, whose schedule doesn't get any easier with unbeaten Thomas Dale coming to Merner Field Friday. A victory goes a long way in helping the Blue Devils in their quest to move up to at least #4, and, with it, a first round home contest. But, lurking behind them are Southampton, New Kent, and Central District rivals Petersburg and Colonial Heights, all less than a point behind. The good news for Hopewell is they hold victories over both the Crimson Wave and Colonials.
CLASS 3, REGION B:
1) Brentsville District 22.714 (6-1, vs. William Monroe Friday)
2) Skyline 19.571 (4-3, vs. Central Woodstock Friday)
3) Armstrong 17.857 (3-4, vs. Patrick Henry Thursday)
4) Warren County 16.714 (3-4, bye week)
5) Culpeper County 16.5 (2-4, vs. James Monroe Thursday)
6) James Monroe 16.0 (1-5, at Culpeper County Thursday)
7) Caroline 14.667 (1-5, vs. Courtland Friday)
8) Goochland 14.333 (2-4, vs. Monticello Friday)
***
9) Meridian 14.0 (0-7, at Clarke County Friday)
10) William Monroe 13.667 (1-5, at Brentsville District Friday)
ANALYSIS: Goochland continues to struggle, not scoring offensively in their 7-6 win over Charlottesville Friday, but they do crack the top eight as they prepare to host 1-5 Monticello Friday. A win there, and a Caroline loss to Courtland, and the Bulldogs will move up to #7. Let's give big credit to Armstrong! Three big victories thus far, and can give Patrick Henry a hard time when they host the Patriots on Thursday night. The Wildcats will need at least one win in their last three games (PH, Atlee, Mechanicsville) to realistically expect a home game in the first round November 11th.
CLASS 2, REGION A:
1) Thomas Jefferson 24.667 (6-0, at J.R. Tucker Friday)
2) Poquoson 22.333 (5-1, vs. Warhill Friday)
3) Greensville County 20.333 (5-1, vs. Southampton Friday)
4) King William 20.0 (4-2, at Lafayette Friday)
5) Bruton 18.286 (5-2, bye week)
6) Nandua 17.333 (4-2, at Colonel Richardson Friday)
7) Prince Edward 17.0 (4-2, at Central Lunenburg Friday)
8) Amelia County 16.333 (3-3, at Cumberland Thursday)
***
9) Randolph-Henry 15.5 (3-3, vs. Arcadia Friday)
10) Brunswick 14.429 (3-4, at Franklin Thursday)
11) Nottoway 14.333 (2-4, vs. Buckingham Thursday)
12) John Marshall 1-6
ANALYSIS: Thomas Jefferson has its destiny, and the number one seed in this region, in its hands. The Vikings can go a long way towards clinching that top spot with a win at J.R. Tucker Friday, then a home win a week from Saturday against a surging Glen Allen. Two wins over Class 5 opponents would put them in excellent position. King William hopes to put more separation between themselves and the rest of the field behind them with a win at Lafayette, as, again the #4 seed does get a first round home game. Amelia really needed Friday's victory over Nottoway, and will be scoreboard watching regarding both Prince Edward ahead of them and Randolph-Henry behind them while they're home Friday night.
CLASS 1, REGION A: (Standings prior to Essex's victory over Northumberland and Charles City's loss to John Marshall on Monday)
1) Essex 24.0 (5-0, vs. Colonial Beach Friday)
2) Westmoreland 18.0 (3-2, at Northumberland Friday)
3) Northumberland 17.75 (3-1, vs. Westmoreland Friday)
4) King & Queen Central 16.5 (5-1, at West Point Friday)
5) West Point 16.286 (5-2, vs. King & Queen Central Friday)
6) Rappahannock 14.333 (3-3, at Lancaster Friday)
7) Northampton 11.8 (2-3, at Portsmouth Christian Friday)
8) Middlesex 10.0 (2-4, at Charles City Friday)
***
9) Lancaster 9.667 (1-5, vs. Rappahannock Friday)
10) Colonial Beach 8.667 (0-6, at Essex Friday)
11) Charles City 7.5 (0-5, vs. Middlesex Friday)
ANALYSIS: One of the best things about this region is, down the stretch, you'll get a bunch of games involving teams within the region, which isn't always the case with regular seasons still by and large dominated by "district play" when districts have not had any other relevance for nearly a decade. Essex's large lead will only grow when their Monday win over Northumberland is added into the equation. Northumberland can bounce back, and stay in the race for the #2 seed, with a win Friday against current #2 seed Westmoreland. King & Queen Central needs to beat West Point Friday to draw a step closer to at least clinching one home game in the playoffs.
NOTE: In Class 1, Region B, Central-Lunenburg leads by 1.4286 points over Riverheads. Franklin is fourth at 16.0 followed by Sussex Central at 14.0. Cumberland is the odd man out in this nine-team region, but less than a point behind #8 Altavista.
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