Four weekends of high school football regular season remaining, and the race is on for the coveted four playoff berths in each region. Here are the latest standings as released Monday by the Virginia High School League.
CLASS 6, REGION A:
1T) Oscar Smith: 27.0
Franklin County: 27.0
Ocean Lakes: 27.0
4) Thomas Dale: 26.0
5T) Landstown: 21.0
Grassfield: 21.0
7) James River: 20.5
ANALYSIS: Three of the five teams tied for first last week were victorious Friday, and they remain in a tie, while Thomas Dale, who was idle due to the cancellation of their Saturday game with Hopewell, drops to fourth. James River stays in the race thanks to their win over Cosby, whose hopes in this truncated season took an early hit with the loss to drop to 0-2.
CLASS 5, REGION B:
1) Hermitage: 28.0
2) Midlothian: 26.0
3T) Deep Run: 25.0
Prince George: 25.0
5) Highland Springs: 24.0
6) Glen Allen: 21.333
7) Clover Hill: 21.0
8) Varina: 20.667
9) Manchester: 20.0
10) Atlee: 19.0
ANALYSIS: We know, we know. Why is Highland Springs fifth in the standings when the polls that are being published this shortened season have them as the top team in the area? Simple. Strength of schedule. Hermitage, with victories over a pair of two-win teams in Varina and Glen Allen, have the advantage, for now, over everyone. Midlothian's two wins are over teams with one combined win, the same for Deep Run and Prince George. But the Trojans have a win over a Class 6 team (Cosby) for two extra critical points.
As for the Springers? Two big shutout wins against two (so far) winless opponents. This Friday's trip to Glen Allen is big for both teams. If the Jaguars pull off the upset, they're right back in the thick of things with regards to the top four. With the Trojans (Meadowbrook) and Royals (Colonial Heights) playing teams without a victory so far, a Highland Springs win Friday likely puts them squarely in the top four, and with Hermitage playing winless Mills Godwin, they can draw closer to the Panthers.
The big game this week to affect these standings, other than Springers/Jaguars, is Deep Run/Varina. The Blue Devils need this one, and a win over Douglas Freeman in two weeks, to be in the middle of the conversation come Rivalry Night with Highland Springs on April 2.
CLASS 4, REGION B:
1T) Monacan: 25.0
Patrick Henry: 25.0
3) King George: 24.0
4T) Louisa: 23.333
Eastern View: 23.333
6) Courtland: 19.0
7) Chancellor: 18.667
8) Powhatan: 18.5
9) Dinwiddie: 18.0
10) Orange County: 17.5
11) Hanover: 17.0
ANALYSIS: Advantage unbeatens. Monacan grabs two wins against two Class 5 schools, but with only one win between them (Manchester over Powhatan), it allows Patrick Henry to tie them even though one of their opponents (Hanover) is Class 4. Remember, you earn 24 points for defeating a Class 5 team, 22 points for a Class 4. King George's overtime win at James Monroe was huge for their playoff hopes, as, right behind them, are a pair of 3-0 teams in Louisa and Eastern View. The Lions, normally used to being near or at the top of the standings, suffers from a weaker strength of schedule at this point. Will you need to go 5-1 to make the playoffs here? It's possible, which means teams like Powhatan and Dinwiddie have to run the table, and maybe get some help, since there are five unbeatens occupying the top five slots as of today.
CLASS 3, REGION A:
1T) Lafayette: 22.0
Phoebus: 22.0
3) Hopewell: 20.0
4T) I.C. Norcom: 17.0
New Kent: 17.0
6) York: 16.5
7) Tabb: 16.0
ANALYSIS: New Kent came THISCLOSE to a win Friday night, but certainly are right in the midst of this playoff race that may end up with just the seven teams listed as serious contenders. Petersburg's slow start has hurt them, but their early schedule was among the toughest in the area. As for Hopewell? We hope there's a way for them to make up the Thomas Dale game. If not, the question going forward, should they go 5-0 or 4-1 rather than play the full six-game complement is if that would hurt their seeding come playoff time.
CLASS 3, REGION B:
1) Goochland: 24.0
2) Brentsville District: 22.0
3) Lightridge: 20.333
4) George Mason: 17.667
5) Independence: 17.0
6) Skyline: 16.0
7) Central-Woodstock: 15.5
ANALYSIS: The area's only active team in this region takes a comfortable lead thanks to defeating Class 5 Albemarle Friday. Three of their last four opponents are Class 4.
CLASS 2, REGION A:
1) King William: 18.0
2) Amelia County: 14.0
3) Bruton: 12.0
4) Windsor: 7.0
(Rest of region teams have not played yet)
CLASS 1, REGION A:
1) King & Queen Central: 17.0
2) Rappahannock: 16.0
3) West Point: 11.0
4) Mathews: 8.0
5) Northampton: 6.0
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