After, arguably, the deepest week when it came to quality matchups in the 2024 regular season schedule, what more have we learned? Let's look at the latest RVA Sports Network Super 12 High School Football Poll as mid-September approaches and some district games begin!
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1) HIGHLAND SPRINGS (1-1, was #1, vs. Maury): There is no shame losing to a team that has now won 36 consecutive games in Phoebus. But after a 42-point performance on opening night, the Springers could only muster seven points. Were parts of their offense exposed by the Phantoms? Can the Commodores, one of several Highland Springs rivals collected over the past decade, find the secret sauce in game film to lead them to victory? And when was the last time the Springers lost back to back home games? Huge intrigue, again, at Kreiter 2.0 this Friday.
2) DINWIDDIE (2-0, was #2, BYE): A ten-point win over North Stafford is a quality win, but not enough to vault the Generals over the Cavaliers. This week? Expect to see some Generals fans at Highland Springs Friday because Dinwiddie begins a five-game (FIVE!) road stretch on September 20th at Maury. Followed by trips to Hopewell, Thomas Dale, Colonial Heights and Petersburg, the cannon in the county won't fire again before October 25th.
3) TRINITY EPISCOPAL (2-0, was #3, at Woodberry Forest Saturday): The Titans' offense rolled again with a 42-29 win at Fork Union. The defense was likely unhappy with their overall performance, and now must get ready for another Saturday road trip west, this time to a Woodberry Forest team who lost two top players in Dyzier Carter and Savion Hiter, who joined from Louisa in 2023. Both have transferred back to their home school as juniors, and suited up for the Lions' loss at Courtland last Friday. Congratulations to QB Taegan Logan, breaking the 4,000 yard career passing mark, as well as accounting for 70 total touchdowns in his career, per Malcolm Bell.
4) MATOACA (1-0, was #4, at Henrico): A quality 35-0 win at a good Warhill squad is how the Warriors began 2024 on Friday night. The best news is pitching a shutout on the road. Matoaca's defense will need to be very stout this season, with the likes of Thomas Dale, Dinwiddie and Hopewell in the Central District. And, don't know if you've heard, but in Region 5C, William Fleming is off to a 2-0 start, defeating their opponents (Albemarle, Hidden Valley) by a combined score of 145-0. The Colonels' first big test is their game Friday at powerhouse Salem.
5) VARINA (0-1, was #5, vs. Hermitage): After two canceled games led to an unexpected bye week, the Blue Devils return, still with the taste of their double overtime loss to Indian River in their mouth. Remember, they led most of that game. Now comes the annual cross-county rivalry against a Hermitage team that was easily handled by Oscar Smith in their opener, before bouncing back with a win over Henrico at home last Friday.
6) THOMAS DALE (2-0, was #6, BYE): How about that Knights' defense! They almost outscored their opponent on their own, with two touchdowns in the second half of their 27-16 victory at archrival L.C. Bird Friday. That includes the dagger on a fumble return when the Skyhawks were driving for the go-ahead score in the final two minutes. Thomas Dale gets their bye week to heal the bruises of that battle, then they head to undefeated Glen Allen on September 20th in a suddenly very interesting game in Region 6A.
7) HUGUENOT (1-0, was #9, at Clover Hill): Few could have foreseen the Falcons' absolute romp, 53-13, over Region 4B rival Eastern View in their season opener. The Cyclones are almost always in the playoff mix in this region. This was as big of a statement win that you can make in early September. Dinwiddie, Varina, King George, take notice! Huguenot will be the heavy favorite this Friday, then face Richmond School For The Arts on September 21st before going to Powhatan in what is going to be a huge Region 4B game on September 27th.
8) BENEDICTINE (1-1, was #7, vs. Flint Hill): A great bounce back win on the road on Friday at Western Branch for the Cadets. They finally get a home game this week before trips to Georgetown Prep, then St. Christopher's, to finish off the September portion of their schedule.
9) POWHATAN (1-0, was #10, vs. #10 Manchester): The Indians handled Mechanicsville easily, as expected, to get 2024 underway with a victory. Now, an early test in the Dominion, with #10 Manchester, who haven't played since their season opening loss at home to Highland Springs August 29th, come out Route 60 West, inevitably looking to erase the pain of that disappointment and make a statement to rivals in Region 6A. Thus, Powhatan needs to be ready, especially the defensive front seven, to not allow Manchester quarterback Landen Abernethy to get into his familiar rhythm.
10) MANCHESTER (0-1, was #8, at #9 Powhatan): Head Coach Jason Harrell's biggest task this week may be tampering down the emotions of his Lancers come Friday night. Undoubtedly, they will take to the Powhatan gridiron hungry to show the world they are much better than their Highland Springs performance showed. But they'll want to be level headed about it, because, even in Week 3, both teams have a lot on the line here.
11) GLEN ALLEN (2-0, was #12, vs. Patrick Henry): It turned into a slugfest, but the Jaguars survived a last minute field goal miss that would have forced overtime for a 17-14 win Friday over one of the better, more consistent programs of the 21st century in Massaponax. Expect a very similar type game Friday for their third of four straight home games when Glen Allen battles Patrick Henry. Similar styles between the Jaguars and Patriots, along with a healthy dose of recent history with these schools, which are only separated by the Hanover/Henrico County line.
12) L.C. BIRD (1-1, was #11, at Monacan Thursday): The Skyhawks were achingly close to finally vanquishing their archrival last Friday. Now, with a short week, they hit the road at Dominion District rival Monacan, who blew a 14-point lead in a loss to Hanover last week. The thing to watch here is how Jason Wright and company bounce back here, knowing they have to collect as many wins as possible to likely keep pace with Matoaca and William Fleming in Region 5C.
OTHERS TO WATCH: Thomas Jefferson (2-0), Mills Godwin (2-0), Armstrong (2-0), Douglas Freeman (2-0), St. Christopher's (2-0), Hanover (1-0)
OUT OF THE AREA/INSIDE THE REGION: Watch out for Courtland, who handled Louisa Friday to move to 2-0. With an explosive offense, they look to be the next breakout team in Region 4B, a la King George in 2021 and Huguenot a season ago.
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH:
Atlee (1-1) at Mills Godwin (2-0), Friday, 7pm
Amelia (2-0) vs. Thomas Jefferson (2-0), Friday, 7pm, Hovey Field, VUU
Hopewell (0-1) at Lake Taylor (0-1), Friday, 7pm
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