1) DINWIDDIE (3-0, was #2, vs. Salem Friday, 7pm): The Generals finally get a win over Highland Springs, at Highland Springs, and the key was defense. Down 21-14 at the half, Dinwiddie allowed zero, zero points in the second half and overtime to stun the Springers 28-21. Outside of Dinwiddie County before this game, 8 or 9 out of 10 high school football fans would have picked Highland Springs in a close one. The Dinwiddie defense tilted it the other way. Now, not to have a letdown at home with a program the Generals are very familiar with: Salem.
2) BENEDICTINE (3-0, was #1, vs. Georgetown Prep Saturday, 1pm): Speaking of defense! The Cadets have yet to allow a single point this season while scoring 138 points in their first three games. With 1-2 Georgetown Prep coming down from Bethesda, Maryland for a Saturday tilt, Benedictine could continue both the defensive dominance, and the offensive firepower. As of now, the defending state champions are one of four VISAA teams in the area that are 3-0, but arguably the best at this point. But there's a long way, and a lot of rivalry games, to go.
3) VARINA (2-1, was #3, at Hermitage Friday, 7pm): I.C. Norcom had no chance Friday as Varina went to the 757 with authority, taking out some frustration from letting a win over Maury slip through their fingertips the week before. Now comes the annual mid-September battle with county rival Hermitage, a 2-0 squad that, after a bye week, takes a huge step up in competition, having defeated two winless squads in Matoaca and Henrico to begin the season. We'll know a lot more about the Panthers late Friday night.
4) HIGHLAND SPRINGS (1-2, was #4, at South County Friday, 7pm): We need to put Friday's loss to Dinwiddie in perspective. Had Highland Springs made one, just one, final defensive stop in the final seconds of regulation, everything would be different. We'd be talking about the Springer defense. We still need to. No blame to them for the defeat. Thus, it's hard to consider punishing the team with a further drop. The trip to Northern Virginia to face South County (1-1) comes, we believe, at a good time. Occasionally, a road trip at a crucial point in a season can serve as a galvanizer.
5) MANCHESTER (3-0, was #5, vs. Clover Hill Friday, 7pm): After a first half struggle with an improved James River team, up 14-13 at the break, the Lancer defense clamped down, and did what winning programs do: put a game away after halftime. They'll be the big favorites in the friendly confines Friday against a rebuilding Clover Hill squad.
6) THOMAS DALE (2-0, was #6, vs. #10 Glen Allen Friday, 7pm): A veteran, successful coach knows how to use a bye week to their advantage. In the case of Kevin Tucker down in Chester, he takes two games to continue to paint the canvas of his team, one that went through such adversity a season ago, and put them in a position for a special season. Add to that just a tinge of a revenge factor with 2-1 Glen Allen coming in this Friday, and Ed Karpus Field should be filled with raucous Knight fans. The Jaguars held Thomas Dale to just three points in a loss last season. They'll look to slow down Ralphie Puccinelli and the Jags.
7) LOUISA (2-0, was #7, at Matoaca Friday, 7pm): Also coming off a bye week are the Lions, who make the 72 mile trip to face a Warrior program obviously in transition. Now, to be fair, Matoaca lost to teams still unbeaten in Hermitage and #2 Benedictine. But stopping Savion Hiter, Dyzier Carter, Levi Wilson and the Lions offense is a very tall task.
8) TRINITY EPISCOPAL (3-0, was #8, at St. Michael the Archangel Saturday, 5pm at Riverbend HS, Spotsylvania): In the season opener, Benedictine shut down their 2024 state championship opponents in St. Michael 38-0. Last Saturday, Trinity Episcopal handed Woodberry Forest their first loss in nearly two years with a 40-7 throttling. Davion Brown and the Titans are firing on all cylinders, but beware. St. Michael is coming off a come from behind 41-38 win over Paul VI where quarterback Austin Mawyer passed for 508 yards and scored six touchdowns, and their defense intercepted a would be game winning throw at the one yard line in the final seconds. They're better than 1-2.
9) ST. CHRISTOPHER'S (3-0, was #9, at Norfolk Academy Friday, 6:30pm): And another defensive gem, including a blocked field goal attempt, as the Saints stayed unbeaten with a 17-0 win over Bullis. While not putting up gaudy statistics, St. Christopher's is winning with a gritty style of play, which is made much easier to do when Darius Gray is on your line. The Bulldogs are also 3-0 on the season.
10) GLEN ALLEN (2-1, was #10, at #6 Thomas Dale Friday, 7pm): After the bitter disappointment of the walk-off loss at home to Manchester, the Jags took care of business in Ashland Friday defeating Patrick Henry. Now, it's another, and much bigger, road trip this week to face a Thomas Dale team who we mentioned earlier has long memories of a season ago. But the Knights haven't faced Puccinelli and this Jaguar offense, either.
11) HUGUENOT (1-1, was #11, vs. Cosby Friday, 7pm): They're fine. We all knew they would be. After their win last Thursday over Clover Hill which featured a record-setting performance from quarterback Charles Scott, they return home to face Cosby, coming off their first win of the year. Get a victory here, then the Falcons get set to go to.....
12) MIDLOTHIAN (3-0, was #12, vs. RSFA Thursday, 7pm): Powhatan did get a touchdown against the Trojan defense, but that's all. Midlothian's consistent performance Friday puts them in a position where, with a win Thursday against the Bulldogs, would have them 4-0 with Huguenot coming as the final opponent in this unusual five-game homestand on September 26th. Three wins, giving up just ten points total. Defense, defense, defense.
DROPPING OUT: None
ON THE CUSP: Hermitage (2-0), Armstrong (3-0), Caroline (2-0), Hanover (2-0), Collegiate (3-0)
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