Now polling gets interesting! #1 and #2 go down against highly ranked out of town opponents in very close games, while #3 and #4 stay unbeaten with huge blowouts. And, two of the four do battle this Friday! Let's see how they stack up in our latest poll.
1) BENEDICTINE (2-0, was #3, at Blue Ridge Friday, 3pm): We need to take a moment and give huge props to the area private school teams, who begin 2025 a combined 8-0. The Cadets thought, however, scheduling Matoaca would be an upgrade, but, it came a year late with the Warriors clearly in rebuilding mode. Next up? The 2024 VISAA Division II state champions in Blue Ridge. Champ vs. Champ Friday afternoon.
2) DINWIDDIE (2-0, was #4, at #4 Highland Springs Friday, 7pm): There was a couple of 804 wins over the 757 last week, including the Generals' dismantling of Granby on the road. Zion Boisseau has ten touchdowns in two games. He'll be hard pressed to get five in Kreiter 2.0 Friday night, as the Springers have no interest in a 1-2 start.
3) VARINA (1-1, was #1, at I.C. Norcom Friday, 7pm): The Blue Devils came sooooo close to the win with Maury. They'll head east to regroup against a Norcom team playing their third consecutive 804 school, losing to both Thomas Jefferson and Petersburg. Expect a big win for the Blue Devils.
4) HIGHLAND SPRINGS (1-1, was #2, vs. #2 Dinwiddie Friday, 7pm): The Springers had their chances against North Carolina powerhouse Hough (by the way, they are in the "8" classification, the largest in the Tar Heel state. And people complain we have too many state champions with just six classes.....), but will look to regroup and stop Boisseau and the Generals. This game will say a lot about who is at the top of both Region 5C and Region 4B come November.
5) MANCHESTER (2-0, was #5, at James River Friday, 7pm): A gritty performance on the road in an evenly matched showdown with Glen Allen that ends in the Lancers' favor with a game-winning field goal as time expired. Now, Manchester returns to the Dominion District for the rest of the regular season. They'll be the favorites in their next three games (James River, Clover Hill, Cosby), then it's all eyes on a home date with 2-0 Midlothian on October 3rd.
6) THOMAS DALE (2-0, was #6, BYE): The Knights post a Saturday shutout in the Battle of Chester, and now get a week to break things down and get ready for the gauntlet that is the 2025 Central District. But first, another non-district showdown a week from Friday hosting fellow ranked team Glen Allen.
7) LOUISA (2-0, was #9, BYE): Remember a week ago when the Lions dropped two spots through no fault of their own? They definitely earned them back in their Jungle debut Friday, as Savion Hiter ran wild, 328 yards, in his return as the Lions throttled a Courtland team that expected to give Louisa all they could handle. Instead, it was a 36-0 shutout as Louisa hits the bye week, then heads to a reeling Matoaca next Friday night.
8) TRINITY EPISCOPAL (2-0, was #7, vs. Woodberry Forest Saturday, 2pm): The Titans roll in week two, taking care of Fork Union 48-0. Woodberry Forest opened their season Saturday with a big win over Flint Hill.
9) ST. CHRISTOPHER'S (2-0, was #10, vs. Bullis Friday, 6:30pm): A 30-19 win over Episcopal shows no hangover from the Saints' opening victory at Huguenot. They are quickly staking their claim to try to wrest the top of VISAA Division I away from the two rivals who have dominated the 2020's, and the two ranked ahead of them currently. Bullis comes in 1-1, having won and lost games by three points, both in defensive battles. They are also coming off their bye week.
10) GLEN ALLEN (1-1, was #8, at Patrick Henry Friday, 7pm): A heartbreaking, but certainly not a backbreaking, loss at the horn Friday to Manchester is only seeming to galvanize this Jaguar team. They'll need to be. After the trip to Ashland, the Jags head to Chester to face a #6 Thomas Dale team who'll have revenge on their minds, then it's Hampton, and then they spend most of October in the Western Henrico gauntlet. Oh, and Trinity Episcopal looms October 24th. With a quality schedule, so much opportunity here for Glen Allen to fight for a top seed in their return to Region 5C.
11) HUGUENOT (0-1, was #11, at Clover Hill Thursday, 7pm): The bye week complete, the Falcons can't wait for Thursday. It may be a very long night for a Cavalier team in rebuilding mode.
12) MIDLOTHIAN (2-0, NEW, vs. Powhatan Friday, 7pm): With last week's #12 team, Thomas Jefferson, in a suspended game with rival Armstrong when the poll was released Sunday, we give love to a Trojan team who has staked their claim early as an excellent defensive squad. First, a rare shutout to L.C. Bird, then, allowing a talented Douglas Freeman team only three points. Powhatan should provide a quality test for the Trojans. After that, Midlothian hosts RSFA next Thursday, then, they wrap September with Huguenot, which will conclude a rare five-game homestand for a high school football team.
DROPPING OUT: Thomas Jefferson (was #12, lost 21-14 to Armstrong Monday)
ON THE CUSP: Hermitage, Armstrong, Caroline, Hanover, Collegiate
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