OUR PLAYOFF PROJECTIONS

Before we begin, two VERY important notes!

1) We have run the numbers in 6A, 5A and 4A. Explanations of rankings on our "Central Region Now!" Podcast, which you can stream at the top of the page.

2) ALL projections are UNOFFICIAL until the VHSL office releases official rankings and pairings Sunday before 12pm. As soon as they do, we'll have them here and across our Twitter network!


6A SOUTH:

#8 Cosby at #1 Manchester
#7 CD Hylton at #2 Colonial Forge/Thomas Dale
#6 James River at #3 Colonial Forge/Thomas Dale
#5 Freedom-Prince William at #4 Riverbend

NOTE: Manchester clinched #1 seed with thrilling come-from-behind win over Cosby, who they end up facing in the first round, for the second straight year (was #4/#5 game in 2015). Thomas Dale ties Colonial Forge for #2 seed, Forge upset by Freedom. James River awaits the tiebreaker announcement to see who they'll go to next Friday.

5A SOUTH:

#8 Deep Run at #1 Highland Springs
#7 Henrico at #2 Hermitage
#6 Varina at #3 L.C. Bird
#5 Lee-Davis at #4 Douglas Freeman

NOTE: Highland Springs clinches home-field with their 45-26 win over Varina, who still stay at #6 and go to Chester next week as Bird and Hermitage end tied for #2 at 325 points. The common opponent tiebreaker goes to Hermitage, as they beat Manchester, while Manchester beat L.C. Bird. For the second straight year, Douglas Freeman goes 9-0, loses to Hermitage, but earns a home date with Lee-Davis in Round 1. The Confederates won last year. Henrico must again start the postseason at Chester Fritz Stadium. After an 0-2 start, Deep Run finishes 6-2 in the last eight games for their first winning season since 2012 and first playoff bid in a decade.

5A NORTH:

#9 Briar Woods at #8 Patrick Henry
#14 Atlee at #3 Stone Bridge

NOTE: In spite of falling 14-7 to Lee-Davis in Tomato Bowl 58 Friday, Patrick Henry sees North Stafford and Briar Woods also lose and outpoint them for the #8 seed, earning the Patriots, in our projections, their first home playoff game in 15 years. Atlee earns a postseason bid with their win over Armstrong, but fall from #13 to #14 as Falls Church overtakes them, sending the Raiders to a first round date with the defending 5A North Region champions.

4A EAST:

#8 Courtland at #1 Dinwiddie
#7 King George at #2 Eastern View
#6 Powhatan at #3 Chancellor
#5 Monacan at #4 Louisa

NOTE: Dinwiddie completes their second 10-0 season in the last four years beating Meadowbrook, eliminating the Monarchs from 5A South contention. The last 10-0 team? 2013, when they ran the table and won the 4A State Championship. Despite losing in a shootout to Charlottesville, Louisa holds the #4 seed and get to host Monacan, who had a bye this week. Powhatan must hit the road to a Chancellor team playing very good football right now. Eastern View also finished 10-0, but six points behind Dinwiddie, 316-310.

3A EAST:

We project Hopewell as the top seed in the sub-region of Conferences 26 and 28, and both Thomas Jefferson and Petersburg as in the playoffs. George Wythe plays Huguenot Saturday but still could make the top eight win or lose.

2A EAST:

With Stuarts Draft's overtime win Friday, Goochland, who was idle, likely begins as the #2 seed in this 16-team, all conferences in bracket. King William may earn the #8 seed, and with it, a first round home game.