Lots of questions, few answers. Plenty of movement, and still time for more. Here are the updated Virginia High School League (VHSL) football region standings with three weeks left in the 2021 regular season. A reminder that the top eight teams make the postseason.
Each team will be listed with VHSL rating, win-loss record, and next opponent with their record and classification.
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CLASS 6, REGION A:
1) Oscar Smith (30.0, 5-1, at Nansemond River, 3-3, Class 5)
2) Western Branch (28.625, 7-1, vs Deep Creek, 4-3, Class 4)
3T) Manchester (28.0, 4-2, vs Cosby, 2-5, Class 6)
Thomas Dale (28.0, 6-1 at Petersburg, 4-3, Class 3)
5) Ocean Lakes (25.857, 4-3, vs First Colonial, 2-6, Class 5)
6) Franklin County (25.0, 3-3, vs William Fleming, 1-6, Class 5)
7) James River (24.375, 4-4, vs Clover Hill, 2-5, Class 5)
8) Floyd Kellam (22.857, 3-4, at Salem-Va Beach, 4-2, Class 5)
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9) Cosby (21.857, 2-5, at Manchester, 4-2, Class 6)
10) Grassfield (19.5, 1-7, BYE)
THE BREAKDOWN: As expected, Oscar Smith assumed the top spot after Midlothian's upset win over Manchester, which now places the Lancers in a third place tie with county rival (though they rarely play) Thomas Dale. There is a definite separation now between the top four teams and the rest of the region. The Lancers and Knights can widen that gap with wins Friday. More importantly, they need to win to keep Western Branch in their sights. Will the Tigers run the table and take the top seed as they were expected to do preseason? It could come down to next Friday's showdown at Western Branch.
ELSEWHERE:
Region 6B: 1) Battlefield 33.143, 2) Patriot 28.714, 3) Freedom-PW 28.375
Region 6C: 1) Robinson 33.142, 2) South County 32.0, 3) Fairfax 31.0
Region 6D: 1) James Madison 31.571, 2) Centreville 28.143, 3) Westfield 26.857
CLASS 5, REGION C:
1) Midlothian (29.0, 6-0, vs George Wythe, 1-6, Class 4)
2) Highland Springs (28.0, 6-2, BYE)
3) Hermitage (26.167, 4-2, vs Mills Godwin, 3-4, Class 5)
4) Douglas Freeman (24.625, 6-2, vs J.R. Tucker, 3-3, Class 5)
5) Glen Allen (23.5, 3-3, vs Lake Taylor, 3-4, Class 3)
6) L.C. Bird (22.6, 2-3, at Powhatan, 5-2, Class 4)
7) Mills Godwin (21.857, 3-4, at Hermitage, 4-2, Class 5)
8) J.R. Tucker (20.167, 3-3, at Douglas Freeman, 6-2, Class 5)
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9) Prince George (20.0, 1-5, at Dinwiddie, 5-0, Class 4)
10) Clover Hill (19.857, 2-5, at James River, 4-4, Class 6)
THE BREAKDOWN: Midlothian has definitely proven themselves to be worthy of the top spot in the region. Highland Springs fans had to take notice of their comeback win over a Manchester team the Springers defeated, also by seven points, back in Week 2. Expect little change in the top two spots this week. However, below that, it could get wild. Mills Godwin has a huge opportunity to significantly strengthen their playoff hopes with a win at Chester Fritz against Hermitage, hoping to catch the Panthers down after a big win for themselves at Douglas Freeman Friday. Now that the Mavericks are in fourth, they see L.C. Bird with a chance to beat a better team this week than the one on Douglas Freeman's schedule, and tighten the race for the fourth seed, and with it, a home game in the first round of the region championship November 12th. But Glen Allen now faces a Lake Taylor team that is, admittedly, not to Titans standards, though they do own a win over Mills Godwin. Glen Allen at Douglas Freeman on November 5th looms large. What if Prince George can, again, knock off Dinwiddie? If the Royals do that, they are right back in the picture. Clover Hill, too, can be a disrupter with a win over James River.
ELSEWHERE:
Region 5A: 1) Green Run 31.429, 2) Kempsville 29.0, 3) Indian River 25.2
Region 5B: 1) Maury 26.75, 2) Woodside 26.667, 3) Norview 23.429
Region 5D: 1) Stone Bridge 32.571, 2) Mountain View 29.714, 3) Massaponax 28.2
CLASS 4, REGION B:
1) Dinwiddie (29.6, 5-0, vs Prince George, 1-5, Class 5)
2T) King George (28.0, 6-0, at Eastern View, 3-3, Class 4)
Varina (28.0, 6-0, d. Henrico 54-13)
4) Matoaca (27.571, 6-1, at Colonial Heights, 2-5, Class 3)
5) Patrick Henry (24.0, 5-2, vs Hanover, 3-3, Class 4)
6) Powhatan (23.429, 5-2, vs L.C. Bird, 2-3, Class 5)
7) Hanover (22.0, 3-3, at Patrick Henry, 5-2, Class 4)
8) Atlee (21.857, 4-3, at Armstrong, 1-5, Class 3)
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9) Chancellor (21.4, 2-3, vs Caroline, 0-7, Class 3)
10) Spotsylvania (21.0, 4-3, at James Monroe, 3-4, Class 3)
11) Monacan (20.857, 3-4, at Huguenot, 1-4, Class 4)
12) Huguenot (19.6, 1-4, vs Monacan, 3-4, Class 4)
13) Eastern View (19.167, vs King George, 6-0, Class 4)
14) Courtland (18.667, 2-4, at Culpeper Co, 4-4, Class 3)
15) Henrico (18.286, 2-5, at Varina, 6-0, Class 4, Thursday, 6:30)
THE BREAKDOWN: Lots to discuss here. We'll begin with the separation between the top four teams and the rest of the region. Teams like Patrick Henry and Powhatan have to hope for some losses by the top four to give them a shot at hosting a first round game. The Patriots have the best chance of doing that by running their table. That would include a win at Varina next Friday. First, they've got to fend off a Hanover team this Friday that is barely above a six-team battle for the eighth and final playoff bid. Should Hanover fall, the team with the best chance to overtake them is Spotsylvania based on records of this week's opponents. Should Hanover win, it is a huge step toward a playoff berth. Up top, playing a three-win team helps King George should all four schools win. The Foxes would earn 28 points, the Generals, Blue Devils and Warriors would all gain 26 points with victories. It wouldn't be enough to topple Dinwiddie, but the Foxes should draw closer. Could the top really come down to whether or not King George and Lafayette get to finish their game suspended since August 28th?
ELSEWHERE:
Region 4A: 1) King's Fork 27.167, 2) Hampton 26.857, 3) Warhill 26.286
Region 4C: 1) Broad Run 27.571, 2) Heritage-LC 27.5, 3) Tuscarora 26.143
Region 4D: 1) Western Albemarle 28.714, 2) GW-Danville 27.333, 3) Salem 26.8 (Of note, Louisa now #5 at 25.25 after handing Western Albemarle their first loss)
CLASS 3, REGION A:
1) Phoebus (30.0, 6-0, at Woodside, 5-1, Class 5)
2) Lafayette (23.5, 5-1, vs Jamestown, 1-4, Class 4)
3) York (23.167, 5-1, vs Smithfield, 1-4, Class 4)
4) Booker T. Washington (22.0, 4-2, at Granby, 0-6, Class 5)
5) Hopewell (21.4, 3-2, vs Meadowbrook, 0-6, Class 5)
6) Lake Taylor (20.857, 3-4, at Glen Allen, 3-3, Class 5)
7) New Kent (18.286, 3-4, vs Tabb, 2-5, Class 3)
8) Petersburg (18.167, 3-3, vs Thomas Dale, 6-1, Class 6)
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9) I.C. Norcom (17.25, 1-3, vs Churchland, 5-2, Class 4, Saturday)
10) Tabb (16.714, 2-5, at New Kent, 3-4, Class 3)
11) Lakeland (16.143, 2-5, BYE)
12) Colonial Heights (15.0, 2-5, vs Matoaca, 6-1, Class 4)
THE BREAKDOWN: The Phantoms are running away and hiding from everyone else. It's been awhile since a team held a lead of six and one half points with three weeks remaining! They'll have a shot at widening the lead with their trip to Woodside. Below them, the two through five seeds are all facing inferior competition, on paper, with few bonus points up for grabs. Lake Taylor could take fifth and threaten for fourth with a victory against their new opponent, Glen Allen, from Class 5. The big game here this week is Tabb at New Kent. The Trojans could take a giant step forward to a playoff spot with a win, but if Tabb is victorious, they're alive and well. And, what if I.C. Norcom knocks off Churchland? New Kent, Petersburg, Tabb, Lakeland and Colonial Heights all hope that doesn't happen.
CLASS 3, REGION B:
1) Brentsville District (22.571, 5-2, at Riverside, 0-7, Class 5)
2) Meridian (22.5, 6-2, BYE)
3) Goochland (20.571, 5-2, vs Albemarle, 5-2, Class 5)
4) James Monroe (19.429, 3-4, vs Spotsylvania, 4-3, Class 4)
5) Culpeper County (19.0, 4-4, vs Courtland, 2-4, Class 4)
6) Skyline (15.5, 1-5, vs Manassas Park, 0-7, Class 3)
7) Armstrong (14.833, 1-5, vs Atlee, 4-3, Class 4)
8) William Monroe (14.167, 2-4, at Warren County, 1-6, Class 3)
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9) Warren County (14.143, 1-6, vs William Monroe, 2-4, Class 3)
10) Manassas Park (13.286, 0-7, at Skyline, 1-5, Class 3)
11) Caroline (13.143, 0-7, at Chancellor, 2-2, Class 4)
THE BREAKDOWN: It's still anyone's race in the top five. With Brentsville playing a winless team and Meridian on a bye, this is a golden opportunity for the Goochland Bulldogs to play, and defeat, a five-win team from Class 5 in Albemarle. They would earn 34 points for the win. Brentsville can only earn 24 by defeating Riverside. That slices Brentsville's lead over Goochland in half. Armstrong could sure use at least one more victory to ensure a place in the top eight come season's end. After Atlee, their toughest opponent left, they face Mechanicsville and Park View-South Hill. Even Caroline is still alive, but they need to beat Chancellor Friday.
ELSEWHERE:
Region 3C: 1) Liberty Christian Academy 29.0, 2) Heritage-Lynchburg 25.0, 3) Brookville 23.5
Region 3D: 1) Christiansburg 26.571, 2) Hidden Valley 24.5, 3T) Abingdon & Bassett, 22.857
CLASS 2, REGION A:
1) Nottoway (25.0, 6-0, vs Prince Edward, 2-5, Class 2)
2) Thomas Jefferson (22.0, 6-1, IDLE (COVID Pause))
3) King William (21.167, 5-1, vs Mechanicsville, 1-6, Class 4)
4) Amelia County (20.857, 6-1, vs Buckingham, 3-2, Class 2)
5) Poquoson (19.167, 3-3, vs Bruton, 3-4, Class 2)
6) Greensville Co (18.8, 3-2, vs Windsor, 0-6, Class 2)
7) Brunswick Co (18.0, 3-1, at Park View-South Hill, 1-4, Class 3)
8) Randolph-Henry (15.2, 2-3, at Cumberland, 1-5, Class 1)
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9) Bruton (15.143, 3-4, at Poquoson, 3-3, Class 2)
10) John Marshall (12.5, 0-4, SEASON CANCELED)
11) Nandua (12.0, 1-5, vs Arcadia, 0-7, Class 2)
THE BREAKDOWN: This has been such a fun region to watch this year! King William's 61-42 explosive win over Lafayette Friday may have been a surprise to many, but not to Cavalier fans. This is the team they expected to see. Is there enough time and opportunity to catch Nottoway? That remains to be seen. Thomas Jefferson loses a big opportunity for points with their game against Glen Allen canceled due to the Vikings moving into COVID protocol. Depending on results, the top five, or at least spots two through five, could undergo a change this week. There's a great battle for the eighth playoff spot between Randolph-Henry and Bruton as well. Strength of schedule down the stretch favors Bruton by a hair.
ELSEWHERE:
Region 2B: 1) Stuarts Draft 23.0, 2) Central-Woodstock 21.667, 3) Clarke County 21.429
Region 2C: 1) Glenvar 23.0, 2) Appomattox 21.286, 3) Radford 18.714
Region 2D: 1) Graham 25.333, 2) Virginia 20.667, 3) Union 20.571
CLASS 1, REGION A:
1) Essex (22.0, 3-0, at Lancaster, 1-6, Class 1)
2) West Point (19.4, 4-1, vs King and Queen Central, 6-0, Class 1)
3) Northumberland (18.4, 5-0, at Colonial Beach, 3-3, Class 1)
4) King and Queen Central (18.333, 6-0, at West Point, 4-1, Class 1)
5) Northampton (17.429, 5-2, at Snow Hill (MD), 3-3, Class 1)
6) Washington & Lee (15.2, 2-3, vs Rappahannock, 3-3, Class 1, Saturday)
7) Colonial Beach (14.167, 3-3, vs Northumberland, 5-0, Class 1)
8) Middlesex (13.25, 2-2, at Mathews, 0-6, Class 1)
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9) Rappahannock (12.5, 3-3, at Washington & Lee, 2-3, Class 1)
THE BREAKDOWN: Huge weekend here. Lots of head to head competition, including the delayed showdown between West Point and King and Queen Central. Meanwhile, Colonial Beach could get right back in the thick of a home game in the first round with an upset of Northumberland. This region is most likely to see the most changes from week to week down the stretch.
ELSEWHERE:
Region 1B: 1) Riverheads 24.857, 2) Central-Lunenburg 19.333, 3) Buffalo Gap 17.0
Region 1C: 1) Galax 19.571, 2) Giles 18.5, 3) Parry McCluer 16.571
Region 1D: 1) Holston 22.0, 2) Twin Springs 20.167, 3) Chilhowie 20.0
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