2023 Playoff Picture?

[CRF4Dan]

We have months to debate and think about the 2023 football universe in Class 6 but why wait? With the changes to regions and classifications with the latest alignment cycle things will be mighty interesting. The obvious being a potential state championship game being played in the state semifinals between Freedom and Highland Springs... your Class 6 & 5 champions from 2022.

Region 6A retains 5 playoff teams from 2022 in Cosby, Manchester, Oscar Smith, Thomas Dale & Western Branch.

• Exit stage right is Franklin Co., James River and Floyd Kellam.
  • None of these teams made it past the first round this past season.
  • Franklin & James River make the drop to 5C while Kellam falls to 4A.
• Entering the picture is Glen Allen who reached the region final in 5C this past season and obviously Highland Springs, the 2022 Class 5 champion.
• Can you say juggernaut?

Region 6B will see 7 of their 8 playoff teams return in Battlefield, Colonial Forge, Forest Park, Freedom, GAr-Field, Patriot & Unity Reed.

• The one team that is out is John Champe who falls to 4C.
• Mountain View who reached the region finals in 5D this past season will now reside in 6B.

Region 6C will have all 8 playoff participants back with Alexandria City, Fairfax, Hayfield, Robinson, Lake Braddock, South Co., Thomas Edison and West Springfield.

• Region 6C sees no addition of teams from the playoffs in 2022.

Region 6D sees all 8 teams return just as was the case in 6; Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon, James Madison, Langley, Washington-Liberty, Westfield and Yorktown.

• Like Region 6C, 6D sees no addition of teams from the playoffs in 2022.

6A is treacherous with Highland Springs, Manchester, Thomas Dale, Western Branch & Oscar Smith all in the same region. Then that champion will matchup with Freedom? The teams that come out of the regions and make the Class 6 final will either be battle tested to the point they win it all or so banged up they are easy picking for whoever comes out of 6C & 6D.

 

[falcettik]

Danny, thanks for laying it all out but you could have condensed this to just one sentence, unless something unexpected happens in Fairfax County. Being from Fairfax County it does pain me to say this but the state title almost assuredly passes through the Region A/B side of the bracket. This scenario is similar to what happened in 2007 when Westfield played Oscar Smith in the semis, back when the regions rotated in the semis. That was one of the best games I have witnessed and whichever team won that game was by far the favorite to win it all.