It was a wild week six, and there's a little bit of movement in our latest rankings.
1) VARINA (4-1-1, was #1, bye week): Yes, the Blue Devils suffered a defeat. But without their starting quarterback, they fought all the way through overtime, falling two yards short in their quest to avenge their loss last year in North Carolina to Grimsley. Now, a week to rest up before returning to action at Hanover next Friday.
2) HIGHLAND SPRINGS (5-1, was #3, bye week): A command performance by the Springers on Wall of Fame Night, destroying Phoebus. Now a break before a quirk in scheduling. You'll recall two different schools scheduled, then dropped, Highland Springs for a mid-October game. But thanks to a no-contest between John Marshall and Petersburg, the Wave became available, so Highland Springs heads down I-295 next Tuesday night for their next action.
3) THOMAS DALE (5-0, was #2, at Matoaca, Thursday 7pm): A rare move down for an undefeated team, and it is definitely no disrespect to the Knights, whose defense did it again in a 7-3 win over Meadowbrook. But the dominance of the Highland Springs victory had to be noted. For Thomas Dale, the top seed in Class 6, Region A is theirs for the taking, but battles with Petersburg and Hopewell loom in the second half of the regular season.
4) TRINITY EPISCOPAL (4-1, was #5, vs North Cross, Saturday 1pm): The Titans just keep rolling. A big second half gave them a fourth consecutive win Saturday at Blue Ridge, now they come home to host North Cross.
5) MIDLOTHIAN (5-1, was #6, at Clover Hill, Friday 7pm): The Trojans have vanquished two unbeatens in Huguenot and Manchester in successive weeks, and will be favored this Friday. Get the victory here, then worry about a Cosby team whose defense raises eyebrows, and surprising 5-1 James River in two weeks.
6) PETERSBURG (4-0, was #7, vs. Dinwiddie, Friday 7pm): The Wave have a brutal next eleven days. First, they'll host depleted Dinwiddie, then host Highland Springs next Tuesday, then go to Meadowbrook next Friday. They spent a couple of weeks on the sideline in September with a bye and the John Marshall no-contest. They'll be no rest for the weary in October.
7) MANCHESTER (5-1, was #4, vs. L.C. Bird, Friday 7pm): This one could get tricky. The Lancers come off an emotional first loss of the season at Midlothian, a game they could have won in the final minute. Now they get a Skyhawks team who scrapped and clawed before falling 24-20 to Huguenot, and, at 3-3, in good shape for a postseason berth in Class 6, Region A, but in desperate need of a win here for a shot at a top two seed and the quarterfinal round bye that comes with it. Of course, Manchester is fighting for that, too.
8) ARMSTRONG (5-0, was #8, vs. Thomas Jefferson Monday (conclusion of game) 6pm): There's a trip to Greensville coming for Jeremy Pruitt's Wildcats on Friday, but first they finally get to settle things with their arch rivals in Class 2, Region A and within the city limits. The Wildcats led the Vikings 17-14 at the half when the game was suspended September 3rd due to heat issues.
9) HUGUENOT (4-1, was #9, vs. Monacan, Friday 7pm): A good night for Charles Scott Jr. in the win at L.C. Bird. They'll be favored in their next three games before facing James River and Manchester to conclude the regular season. Win out, and they make their best case for a top seed in Class 4, Region B. They wouldn't mind a Louisa loss down the stretch, either, and they'll definitely be rooting for Highland Springs to knock off Varina October 30th.
10) HERMITAGE (4-2, was #10, bye week): The Panthers best Mills Godwin 32-13 to hit their break with a 4-2 mark. Also 4-2 are the Glen Allen Jaguars. They're both fighting for playoff position in Class 5, Region C, and they'll face each other next Friday night.
11) DOUGLAS FREEMAN (5-1, was #11, at Thomas Jefferson, Friday 7pm, Hovey Field): One of the best games on paper for week seven pits the Mavericks and the TeeJay Vikings at Virginia Union. The Mavs do have one big advantage here. They rested some starters in their 58-0 win over J.R. Tucker Friday, while the Vikings have to play the second half of their Armstrong game on the road Monday night before turning their attention to Douglas Freeman.
12) HOPEWELL (4-1, NEW, vs. Colonial Heights, Friday 7pm): Again, this is a case of impressive performances, and no disrespect to last week's #12 team, the Hanover Hawks, who are also 4-1. But Ar'King Holloway's offense has rung up 183 points in four straight wins, including defeats of Dinwiddie and Thomas Jefferson by 33 and 40 points respectively. Their defense is making noise, too.
DROPPING OUT (kinda): Hanover (was #12)
CHASING THE DOZEN: Hanover, Collegiate, James River, Mechanicsville, Thomas Jefferson, Glen Allen
