BoKnowsSports said:

It’s just all about matchups. Huguenot manhandled Bird who beat the (coaches pick) #1 team in the 804, Matoaca last night to advance to the ship. Manhandled a decent Manchester and a good Eastern View team 2x. Any given Friday night. I don’t think their schedule was weak, but I do believe they need a Varina or Dinwiddie or Oscar Smith on it to prepare for the playoffs.

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I think we both know who the best team in the 804 is now…and it looks like Bo may actually know something about sports because you’ve been hyping Varina and I’m a believer now (don’t tell nobody i said this 🤣)

Fairlawncat said:

It would be remarkable if KW were to win 4 road playoff games and play for a state title. Its also very possible. One gsme at a time though. If KW can win at Poquoson, then they know they have the ability/confidence to win it all. I'm not saying KW will win it all, I have no idea, but mentally and confidence wise, a win over Poquoson would be huge.

I didn't think KW would beat Southampton, but had them beating Bruton. KW is now clicking and playing with great confidence. Poquoson will be sky high for KW and they know KW is thr Big Show and Elliot Duty at Poquoson is one of the better coaches in all of Virginia at any level.

Poquoson usually has good talent, but they get maximum efficiency from great coaching. It's a bit different with them this year though. They are loaded with talent this year and for the next 3 to 4 years and have the coaching to go with it. They have more size this year than most years and have guys thst can house it from all over.

This is a year when Poquoson and KW tske the field, Poquoson may actually be the more talented team for 2024, but make no mistake about it, the talent difference isn't close to being a wide margin and KW can win the football game, but KW will need its A game to win.

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I believe Galax won all 5 games on the road last year on their way to a state title. But in regards, to Poquoson, yes they're an extremely talented team and their coaching is always top notch too.

Phoebus Fan said:

When you run up the score on cupcakes it doesn’t translate. I was told they didn’t play much competition

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It’s just all about matchups. Huguenot manhandled Bird who beat the (coaches pick) #1 team in the 804, Matoaca last night to advance to the ship. Manhandled a decent Manchester and a good Eastern View team 2x. Any given Friday night. I don’t think their schedule was weak, but I do believe they need a Varina or Dinwiddie or Oscar Smith on it to prepare for the playoffs.

I actually typed the above around midnight last night but the site went into some sort of maintenance time-out and it did not get posted. At least it did not disappear on me.

I am sure that final thought was going to be something like "put the situation in perspective and realize that many teams would have loved to have a 9-3 season this year or any other." So Riverheads will go back to work in the off-season and next year they should be in the mix again because of how young they are.

I think in my original post, I also congratulated Buffalo Gap and Turner Ashby for still being alive, on the Class 1 and Class 3 levels respectively. However each will have a monster task next week.

As some folks have already inferred, Strasburg was simply the better team tonight in just about every aspect and I imagine Coach Norcross will be enough of a gentleman to admit as much when his comments to the media are publicized.

Sure the fans were making the usual catcalls in the direction of the officials and even sadder there were some negative comments being directed at the players as if to say they were simply not trying their best or words to that effect. But the plain and simple truth is that the Rams were bigger, stronger, and especially faster.

I had read about them having about four or five quality running backs and at times it seemed like twice that many. I believe Coates and Williams (apologies if I have either name wrong) were the two most productive ones. By coincidence I had talked to Williams' grandmother in her place of business a couple of hours before game time and she said he was only a sophomore. So he will be a force to contend with next year. Not sure how many seniors the Rams may have but they sure performed like an experienced and mature team.

They drove easily about 60 yards each time for their first two scores. The first one ate up over half the first quarter clock. They then scored their second TD early in the second quarter.

Riverheads did manage to drive into Rams territory following that second TD but they were sent reeling backwards on back to back penalties and ended up having to punt. Strasburg then committed a penalty of its own on that punt return and had to start its third drive from around its own 20. There were only about three minutes left on the clock but they managed it well and Williams sneaked around left end and inside the pylon with just 10 seconds showing on the clock.

RHS received the second half kickoff and again moved into Rams territory. This time they were stopped just a yard ahort around the 40, and the Rams marched for their fourth touchdown. Coates scored that one on one of the Rams' longest and prettiest run of the night as he faked out several defenders. I believe the same lady mentioned above said he was a senior and he looked good enough tonight to be attracting some college scouts.

With the Rams ahead 28-0, Riverheads finally got on the board, but to show what a tough night it was, they had to score twice to get one touchdown. With Jonathan Talbott, Jackson Fitzgerald and Brady Boehm alternating carries they drove down inside the 10, and Boehm appeared to score from about the five yard line, but a penalty nullified that score. But the Big Red kept plugging away and I think Boehm got the honors a second time and this time the score stood.

The Rams added one more score in the fourth and then in a classy move on Coach Norcross' part, he put in his second string offense to finish out the game. They drove the ball down inside the 10 yard line but instead of a more respectable 35-14 final, they fumbled at the 9 in the final few seconds.

With the win, the Rams will now host Buckingham next week for the Region 2B championship. Whoever wins that one will then have to take care of the Region A champ if they hope to have Region B represented in Salem for a third straight year. Riverheads advanced that far last year and in 2022, Central played for the State Class 2 title.

As for Riverheads, the season comes to an end with a 9-3 record. Yes it would have cool to have kept playing for the chance at a 10th straight state title appearance. To recap, the Big Red lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to Galax in 2015, then won the state 1-A title the next 7 years, before falling short last year against Radford.

With that kind of consistent success, I would hope that the fans who were so hard on the team tonight (and hopefully there were only a few of them) will put the situation in perspec

I’ll go with Rapp. They seem determined this year.

BoKnowsSports said:

49.6 PPG big homie. Technically they were one of the best.. I agree with you 10000% though!

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When you run up the score on cupcakes it doesn’t translate. I was told they didn’t play much competition

Gretna’s Defense was stellar last night. This is exactly why they brought Brian Farrow from EC Glass to coach the defense. He was locked in last night.

I liked Gretna’s wrinkles on offense, but they made it way too complicated in the 2nd half. The team is used to no huddle and slowed the pace down and the offense definitely looked confused last night after having good momentum for the first half.

This matchup is a rematch of last years second round game where Gretna got stopped on the 1 as time ran out. If Gretna can’t get in the backfield to give Dawyot less time in the pocket. It could be a long night.

Lafayette said:

Based on the common opponent , Bruton, and Poquoson at home I don’t see KW pulling off the win.

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Poquoson is definitely the favorite and rightfully so. But KW is playing with a ton of confidence right now and basically playing with house money. No pressure on them. And the game last night could have easily been a 3 score game. They turned it over at the Bruton 30 after the runner was down, yet the ref called it a fumble. Then they were inside the 10 at the end of the game and just kneeled it. But that's also part of the game. I'm not one to really go by common opponents too much. Use today's Ohio State vs Indiana game for example. Common opponent in Nebraska. Indiana demolished them and OSU barely beat them. Yet, I don't see too many giving Indiana a chance today. For the record, I hope Indiana proves everyone wrong 😆. But as for Poquoson and KW, like I mentioned, Poquoson is the favorite, and an extremely well coached team, and their defense is lights out. KW will need to avoid turnovers and costly penalties, while forcing turnovers of their own. I expect a physical game, just like last year, and whether KW wins or Poquoson wins, I'll be pulling for Region A to win it all.

BleedingNavy said:

Just curious other than Sherando faithful @Shruikan and @Scalvinscaliwag who has offered any feedback or doubted Sherando? A lot of people questioned Handleys ability to beat Salem, but I think Sherando has been the favorite in both games thus far.

The Warriors are only giving up 10 points a game and as @Shruikan said they are very stingy against the run. It will be the battle of wills as Salem is going to run it and run it some more. Both teams have sound interior lines so the linebacker and secondary corps are keys. I would say Sherando's linebackers are better and Salem's secondary has a slight edge over the Warriors. It sounds like both teams have a key player nicked up, so that may be a key factor.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the Spartans lead the series 2-1. There has been one lopsided game in this series (2017). Can Sherando's defense rise to the occasion like in 2013 or will Salem take advantage of the possible wet surface and win another mud bowl like in 1996. Not much difference in these two teams, but Salem consistently makes it to the blood round. Slight edge to

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BleedingNavy said:

@Scalvinscaliwag, could this be the year of the Warrior? I have watched several games and I like this Sherando team. Particularly, their offensive scheme. Some really nice wrinkles to go with the physicality.

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This will not be the Year of the State Championship, they are a solid fundamentally sound squad . I give them a punchers chance of being Region Champs though. Salem definitely the favorite. Sherando being at home helps but they give up to many yards on the ground , and don’t have enough dynamic playmakers on offense. Discipline and perseverance might get them one more win.

Based on the common opponent , Bruton, and Poquoson at home I don’t see KW pulling off the win.

Scalvinscaliwag said:

In 2013 , Sherando D held Salem to 109 yards rushing in 7-0 shutout at Arrowhead. This is a good defense but nothing like those guys in 2013. They gave up 175 yards last night, 150 of them to the same pitch out play for 3 quarters. They rose up and made some plays in the 4th. They will have to be much better against Salem next week.

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@Scalvinscaliwag, could this be the year of the Warrior? I have watched several games and I like this Sherando team. Particularly, their offensive scheme. Some really nice wrinkles to go with the physicality.

BleedingNavy said:

Come on @BoKnowsSports. Nobody in this world would believe that. Dinwiddie has failed to contain the KG offense in either of their matchups and they have split the two games. Heck, KG has actually outscored Dinwiddie. I feel good about our secondary play and ability to run the ball, but I expect another great game. It's cold, windy and a little damp here. Anything can happen, but it surely isn't a David and Goliath story. Mad respect for the Foxes. This is becoming a very good rivalry.

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I would agree. KG can score with anyone. If their D has a great day, might be a different outcome. I’m just not expecting it.

BoKnowsSports said:

KG will have to bring it today. If I’m going to put my $ on any coach in this region, I’m gonna put it on Vern Lunsford to make the adjustments. We’ll see real soon. This is David vs Goliath..

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Come on @BoKnowsSports. Nobody in this world would believe that. Dinwiddie has failed to contain the KG offense in either of their matchups and they have split the two games. Heck, KG has actually outscored Dinwiddie. I feel good about our secondary play and ability to run the ball, but I expect another great game. It's cold, windy and a little damp here. Anything can happen, but it surely isn't a David and Goliath story. Mad respect for the Foxes. This is becoming a very good rivalry.

Gridiron1960 said:

You beat me to it! They may be the two best left in the playoffs but I don’t think I can get on board with two best in Class 2A.

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Yeah, hard to find anybody to top Creasy, O' Quinn and Reese.

Hampton Roads 6 said:

I wish VHSL would change playoff format. Go back to format used in 2011. Current format results in too many rematches in playoffs from regular season, and playing mostly the same teams in playoffs every season.

As for Gretna vs Glenvar, it will be a battle of the 2 best QBs in Class 2. Whoever plays best pass defense should win.

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Yes, a format change! I hate all these regular season rematches! I can’t say I necessarily agree with the two best QBs in Class 2, maybe two best left in playoffs.

19GHS87 said:

2 best QBs in class 2 is a highly questionable statement . There were 2 VHSL record setters in region D this year.

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You beat me to it! They may be the two best left in the playoffs but I don’t think I can get on board with two best in Class 2A.

86CulpGrad said:

They gave up 30+ five times this year. Didn’t give up 30 one time last year. Y’all just need a few stops.

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KG will have to bring it today. If I’m going to put my $ on any coach in this region, I’m gonna put it on Vern Lunsford to make the adjustments. We’ll see real soon. This is David vs Goliath..

I saw Sherando play twice last year in person but I haven’t seen them play this year. Can’t say I know much about the team this year. I remember them having some skilled receivers and good size on the line

Phoebus Fan said:

i think Huguenot as a whole was convinced they were going to show up to Varina and Varina was going to lay down like a garden tool and they’d walk all over them. They seemed unprepared and when Varina punched them in the mouth they simply crumbled.

Sidenote: your best choice for best offense in the state definitely didn’t get the memo lol that’s why i called you the king of crazy comments. It’s all good tho

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49.6 PPG big homie. Technically they were one of the best.. I agree with you 10000% though!

CavsGrad said:

I watched a little on the Facebook stream, but my comment was getting at @BoKnowsSports wishful comments earlier this week about the best offense in the state vs the best front 7. I hadn't seen any live or replays of Huguenot this season, but honestly didn't believe they had the best offense considering their schedule and results.

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I was wrong big homie.. At least last night…. The states best offense puts up a better effort, but if you look at the ppg, they came in averaging 49.6. Can’t always go off of the numbers .

After Varina hit them in the mouth, it was over. Think the two on, two off QB series just threw Huguenot’s offense out of rhythm and they just couldn’t recover. Those three times they went for it on 4th down and didn’t get it, you saw their best players just drop their heads and they just never got into the game. I think Huguenot’s hierarchy of needs was 1. Talk a big game 2. Attempt to let Linwood Johnson get revenge on Varina (none of the Varina players cared if we’re being honest) 3. Chuck the ball down the field and pray one of their studs caught it. Thought their defense played the best they could’ve possibly played, just got nothing from their offense. They must’ve read my posts and believed the hype 🤷🏽‍♂️