The second set of Virginia High School League Region Rankings are out with some expected changes, including two area teams moving from #2 to #1 in their respective regions, but no changes at the top in Region 5B, where the top two teams square off this Friday. Here are the standings and our exclusive RVA Sports Network analysis heading into Week 7!
A reminder that the top eight teams in each region are scheduled to qualify for postseason play unless an individual region decides to take in less than eight teams and award byes.
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REGION 6A:
1) Ocean Lakes (5-1): 29.333
2) Oscar Smith (4-1): 27.4
3) Franklin County (3-2): 27.2
4) Thomas Dale (3-2): 26.2
5) Cosby (4-1): 25.4
6) Landstown (4-2): 25.0
7) Western Branch (2-3): 22.6
8) Tallwood (2-3): 22.4
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9) Floyd Kellam (2-3): 22.2
10) Grassfield (2-3): 22.0
11) James River (0-5): 18.2
ANALYSIS: Ocean Lakes survives an upset bid to keep the top spot, while Thomas Dale moves down two spots to #4 after their loss at Hopewell. Oscar Smith jumps both the Knights and idle Franklin County for second place. The Dolphins now must face Region 5A leader, unbeaten Maury, While Oscar Smith and Franklin County both get sub .500 opponents Friday. Thomas Dale has winless Meadowbrook, so a win there yields no bonus points, while Cosby, with Landstown breathing down their throat, hosts a Powhatan team coming off a loss at home to L.C. Bird. They've dropped in the Region 4B standings, and wanting to bounce back.
REGION 5B:
1) Manchester (5-0): 30.0
2) Highland Springs (6-0*): 29.2
3) Deep Run (5-0): 28.8
4) Varina (5-1): 26.167
5) Matoaca (4-1): 25.4
6) Douglas Freeman (5-1): 24.833
7) Prince George (3-2): 24.2
8) Henrico (3-3): 22.5
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9) Clover Hill (3-2): 22.4
10) L.C. Bird (3-2): 22.2
11) Atlee (2-3): 20.8
12) Hermitage (2-4): 20.667
13) Glen Allen (2-3): 19.8
14) Mills Godwin (2-4): 18.333
15) Midlothian (1-4): 18.2
16) J.R. Tucker (1-4): 17.8
17) Meadowbrook (0-5): 15.6
ANALYSIS: The top three hold, while Varina moves up one spot with their thrashing of Lake Taylor, Matoaca advances two spots by defeating Prince George, who drops from fourth to seventh. Henrico holds on to the eighth and final spot, barely, after their loss to Highland Springs.
Obviously, the Highland Springs/Manchester winner grabs the top spot, and the inside track to the top seed, after Friday's game. As for remaining schedules, the Springers, after a bye week, get Atlee, Colonial Forge, and, of course, Varina. The Lancers still have Midlothian, Powhatan, L.C. Bird and Cosby. Strength of schedule favors Highland Springs.
The Deep Run/Douglas Freeman game this Friday is huge, too. Fans should not forget about some other very important games during the hoopla over Springers/Lancers. A Wildcat win puts them in prime position to possibly run the table, with Mills Godwin, J.R. Tucker, Glen Allen and Thomas Jefferson remaining. The finale with the Vikings, who could be playing for the top seed in Region 2A,is a home game. For the Rebels, they'll get a bye next week, then host Hermitage and John Marshall before going to Glen Allen to end the regular season.
After winning a huge game over Central District rival Prince George, Matoaca, up to #5, now must contend with a Dinwiddie team who is 2-3 and on the outside looking in in Region 4B. If Matoaca canmatch what Prince George did, win at Dinwiddie, there will be much more respect for Marcus Dreher and Matoaca.
Also big this week? Try Atlee at Henrico and L.C. Bird at Clover Hill. These four teams occupy the 8th through 11th spots in this week's rankings. The most pressure will be on the Raiders, who still have Varina and Highland Springs on their schedule, making Friday's game at Henrico almost a must-win. Both the Skyhawks and Cavaliers would love an Atlee win, clearing the win for either to make their numerical case for the #8 seed with a Friday win.
(*)--Highland Springs rating number based on nine games, not ten, due to playing a private school.
REGION 4B:
1) Louisa (5-0): 26.8
2) Eastern View (6-0): 24.333
3) Patrick Henry (4-2): 23.667
Spotsylvania (5-1): 23.667
5) Monacan (4-1): 22.6
6) Powhatan (3-2): 21.8
7) King George (3-2): 21.2
8) Chancellor (3-3): 21.167
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9) Huguenot (2-3): 21.0
10) Dinwiddie (2-3): 20.6
11) Lee-Davis (1-4): 16.8
12) Caroline (1-4): 16.2
13) Orange (1-5): 16.0
14) Courtland (1-5): 15.5
15) George Wythe (0-5): 14.8
16) Hanover (0-5): 13.8
ANALYSIS: Louisa continues with a comfortable lead at the top. Their win over Massaponax, now third in Region 6B, looms large. Patrick Henry jumps from sixth to a tie for third with Spotsylvania, both climbing over Monacan, who defeated winless George Wythe Friday. Powhatan's loss to L.C. Bird sends the Indians to sixth. The big winner Friday was King George, jumping back into the postseason top eight, dropping Huguenot to ninth. Just behind them? Dinwiddie, who ends their skid and gets set to welcome 4-1 Matoaca to Navy Nation Friday. A victory could jump the Generals right back into the top eight.
Both the Lions and Cyclones get one win teams Friday, while Patrick Henry must contend with red hot 5-1 Varina. Spotsylvania has a bye, while Monacan hosts Midlothian and Powhatan goes to Cosby. Powhatan could find themselves back in third place with a win over the Titans, should Patrick Henry fall to the Blue Devils. Lee-Davis has no margin for error, needing to beat Armstrong Friday, Atlee next Friday and either Henrico or Patrick Henry in early November to have any legitimate chance at the postseason. The Confederates will only have nine games count in the VHSL formula because they host St. Christopher's on October 25th.
REGION 3A:
1) Hopewell (5-0): 26.8
2) York (5-0): 26.0
Phoebus (4-1): 26.0
4) I.C. Norcom (4-1): 22.6
5) Lafayette (4-1): 22.2
6) Park View-South Hill (3-2): 18.2
7) Booker T. Washington (2-4): 17.5
8) Petersburg (2-3): 17.4
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9) Southampton (2-3): 16.2
10) New Kent (2-3): 16.0
11) Tabb (1-4): 15.8
12) Lakeland (0-5): 14.8
13) Colonial Heights (1-5): 13.333
ANALYSIS: As expected, Hopewell leapfrogs York for the top spot after winning over a three-win Class 6 school in Thomas Dale, while York struggled to beat one-win Tabb. Phoebus climbs into a second place tie despite a loss thanks to strength of schedule. Petersburg holds on to the eighth spot. New Kent has a golden opportunity to climb higher when they go to York on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Hopewell has to go to Petersburg, and the Crimson Wave see that as a golden opportunity as well, to both solidify playoff position and climb over Park View and Booker T. Washington. The top five have separated themselves from the rest of the region. This week is crucial for both New Kent and Petersburg.
REGION 3B:
1) Goochland (4-1): 21.2
2) Brentsville District (2-3): 19.0
James Monroe (2-3): 19.0
4) George Mason (3-2): 18.8
5) Central-Woodstock (3-2): 18.0
6) Skyline (2-3): 16.4
7) William Monroe (2-3): 15.8
8) Warren County (1-4): 15.2
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9) Manassas Park (2-3): 15.0
10) Armstrong (1-5): 13.167
11) Independence (0-6): 13.0
ANALYSIS: A big win over a then 4-1 Amelia team gets the Bulldogs into the top spot in their new region. James Monroe will look to draw closer to them when they play 3-2 King George out of Class 4 on Friday, while Goochland gets sub .500 Prince Edward. Armstrong's win over Park View Friday was critical, maybe even season saving. Now the Wildcats, despite their 1-5 mark, could jump into the playoff discussion with a win over Lee-Davis Friday night.
REGION 2A:
1) Thomas Jefferson (4-1): 21.0
2) Nottoway (5-1): 19.667
3) King William (4-1): 19.4
4) Poquoson (3-2): 19.2
5) John Marshall (3-2): 18.4
6) Amelia (3-2): 17.8
7) Greensville (3-2): 17.4
8) Arcadia (3-2): 16.2
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9) Nandua (3-3): 15.833
10) Brunswick (2-3): 14.8
11) Windsor (2-3): 13.0
12) Bluestone (1-4): 11.4
13) Prince Edward (1-4): 11.2
14) Bruton (0-5): 10.2
15) Randolph-Henry (0-6): 9.667
ANALYSIS: The Vikings come off their bye week with a slight lead in the region, one that won't last long should they fall to John Marshall come Saturday. The Justices hold steady at #5 coming off their bye week as well. Amelia's loss to Goochland hurt them in the short run, falling to sixth. As for King William, they're back from bye week, too, but must face unbeaten Warhill from Class 4. Nottoway is on their bye week this Friday. This has, essentially, boiled down to an eleven-team race for the eight playoff berths.
REGION 1A:
1) King and Queen Central (5-0): 20.4
2) Rappahannock (4-1): 19.4
3) Washington & Lee (3-2): 19.2
4) Essex (4-1): 17.6
5) Northumberland (4-1): 16.0
6) Middlesex (5-1):15.167
7) West Point (4-2): 14.5
8) Colonial Beach (2-3): 12.2
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9) Mathews (1-4): 9.6
10) Charles City (1-4): 9.2
11) Northampton (0-6): 7.833
12) Chincoteague (0-6): 7.5
13) Lancaster (0-5): 7.2
ANALYSIS: Congratulations to King and Queen Central, grabbing the top spot in the region without playing a down Friday as Washington and Lee lost to Class 4 King George. They go to 1-4 Mathews this week, then have West Point, Charles City, Middlesex, and King William to finish the regular season. Three of those four teams are currently over .500, so, to run the table would mean surviving a gauntlet of quality opponents. As for Essex, they return from a week off to face Northumberland. Both teams are currently 4-1. With Washington & Lee getting winless Lancaster this week, the winner would climb a lot closer to the #3 spot, especially Essex. Rappahannock is home to Colonial Beach, who see this as an opportunity to find separation from all the teams on the outside looking in when it comes to the top eight.
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