I've heard they exist, but haven't seen any specifically named.
Pretty sure LoCo stays crazy, but where else?

Wasn't there but heard starters played scoreless game, then the Central backups went up 14-0 on the TA backups.
Excited for Week 1!

I attended a scrimmage last night. I won't state which one I attended as I watched about forty minutes of it and left out of frustration. It was a scrimmage between two Class 4 teams; hence, I am posting on this board.

This is a Ted Talk type rant, so if you're not into these things, stop now.

However, coaches must go over the scrimmage format with the opposing coaching staffs and officials beforehand. The coaches should also go over the scrimmage format with their players so they know what's going to happen and where to be when it's time for them to step onto the field. Don't make things up as you go. And please have enough chain crew to work the scrimmage.

Also, make sure you know which players are on First/Second Team Offense/Defense beforehand instead of just subbing players out just for the sake of it. Or, if you're going to do this, let the players know that they may be subbed at anytime and need to be ready to step onto the field.

The scrimmages should be streamlined and they should flow. Plus, it makes a school look like they have no clue what they are doing if there are visiting fans driving a good distance to attend.

Some may disagree with my rant stating that it's preseason for everyone. But if you have non-first year coaches (who have had success in the past) running the show, you should have a better grasp on how to conduct things.

But this is scrimmage week and next week is a week of benefit games so at least that will be worth watching. Don't forget, the games next week only benefit the VHSL! They can sit back and collect the gate receipts while doing absolutely nothing in return.

I just hope that next week's games are more palatable compared to train wreck I witnessed last night.

I've heard they exist, but haven't seen any specifically named.
Pretty sure LoCo stays crazy, but where else?

Posting this on the Class 6 board as there are many Richmond-area schools in this class.

But I was just thinking about the start of the regular season next week...and all of the different high school football shows that are on TV on Friday Nights after the late local news. Ken was THE go-to guy in the 1980s when it came to Friday Night high school football shows in the Richmond area. Channel 8 had the best high school football show back then hands down and I think it was better than the stuff that is churned out today. One of the positive memories from my childhood.

My Dad and I would go to a game and then come home to watch Ken's segment. Those were the days.

I will also always remember the scoreboard graphic music as well. Nice smooth sounds. And when the scoreboard graphics would show an occasional score from the Battlefield or Commonwealth, I would remember getting excited seeing that.

Anyways, just feeling nostalgic this morning. If anyone knows him, please let him know that he is well-remembered and definitely was appreciated back then.

Also, others in the Richmond-area tried to follow him at that time. I remembered that Ivan Schwartz on Channel 6 did a semi-scoreboard wrap-up. I would flip over to 6 when 8 went to commercial or when Ken talked about private schools (I didn't care for Benedictine or Collegiate or any of those.) Channel 6 was decent, but it paled in comparison to that of Channel 8. And as for Channel 12? Their coverage was a lost cause.

Gimme the Varina Blue Devils. The Dinwiddie Generals are the best/most complete team in C4 though. Who y’all got?

How’d we look tonight? @Chuck Vipperman (GW) @Mic Honcho @tommythecpa

Region A has some very competitive teams. Will Western Branch repeat, will Oscar Smith make a comeback or will one of the new comers Highland Springs or Glen Allen make a run at the crown. Time to make your call.

Not sure if anyone saw this, but I noticed on the Commonwealth District site that Riverbend will be hosting Martinsburg on this Friday. The time is TBA. It also mentions "Scrimmage", but it could very well be a Benefit Game since this is the normal Benefit Game week before the start of the regular season next week. No game time confirmed on the Riverbend athletics website either.

Posting this because I know some people on this board have an affection for seeing Martinsburg play and because they are traditionally an out-of-state power. Here's a chance to see them and you don't have to travel as far (although you do have to deal with rush hour traffic in northern Spotsylvania but it won't be so bad coming from the west on eastbound Route 3). I also think Riverbend should be decent this year as well and could grab a spot in the Class 5 Region D Playoffs.

THURSDAY, 8/17

Page Co. @ Parry McCluer 5:00
Grayson Co. @ Narrows 5:30
Jeff. Forest @ Lord Botetourt 6:00
Brunswick & Cumberland @ Charles City Co. jam 6:00
Buckingham Co. @ Luray 6:30
Abingdon @ Bluefield, WV n/a

BENEFIT GAMES

Grundy @ Richlands 7:00
Virginia High @ Gate City
William Fleming @ Heritage


FRIDAY, 8/18

Alleghany Co. @ Stuarts Draft tba
North Cross @ Fork Union Mil. 1:00

jam @ JI Burton
4:00 Hurley - JIB
5:00 " - Rye Cove
6:00 Pat. Henry - "
7:00 " - Thomas Walker
8:00 Central - "
9:00 " - JI Burton

Union & Northside @ George Wythe 6:00
Carroll Co. @ Martinsville
Staunton River @ PH-Roanoke
Halifax Co. @ Gretna
E.C. Glass @ Mecklenburg Co.
GW-Danville @ Huguenot (Richmond)
Amherst Co. @ Orange Co.
Rustburg & Fluvanna Co. @ Wilson Mem.
Madison County @ Nelson Co.
William Campbell & Surry Co. @ Prince Edward Co.
Tolsia @ River View, WV
Eastern Montgomery @ Patrick Co. 7:00
James River @ Bassett
Altavista @ Liberty-Bedford
Randolph-Henry @ Dan River
Staunton @ Western Albemarle
Pocahontas Co., WV @ Bath Co. 7:00
unknown : Craig Co.

BENEFIT GAMES

Radford @ Pulaski Co. 6:00
“Battle of the Bridge”
Honaker @ Lee 7:00
Lebanon @ Twin Springs
Twin Valley @ Castlewood
Eastside @ Ridgeview
Chilhowie @ Tazewell
James Monroe (WV) @ Graham
Bland Co. @ Northwood
Fort Chiswell @ John Battle
Marion @ Rural Retreat
Auburn @ Holston
Floyd Co. @ Galax
Christiansburg @ Giles
Blacksburg @ Glenvar
Brookville @ Salem
Cave Spring @ Franklin Co.
Tunstall @ Hidden Valley
William Byrd @ Rockbridge Co.
Chatham @ Magna Vista
LCA @ Appomattox Co.
Staunton @ Western Albemarle

SATURDAY, 8/19

Pikeview @ Mount View, WV 10:30
Fauquier @ Riverheads 1:00 SCRIM

THURSDAY, 8/17

Page Co. @ Parry McCluer 5:00
Grayson Co. @ Narrows 5:30
Jeff. Forest @ Lord Botetourt 6:00
Brunswick & Cumberland @ Charles City Co. jam 6:00
Buckingham Co. @ Luray 6:30
Abingdon @ Bluefield, WV n/a

BENEFIT GAMES

Grundy @ Richlands 7:00
Virginia High @ Gate City
William Fleming @ Heritage


FRIDAY, 8/18

Alleghany Co. @ Stuarts Draft tba
North Cross @ Fork Union Mil. 1:00

jam @ JI Burton
4:00 Hurley - JIB
5:00 " - Rye Cove
6:00 Pat. Henry - "
7:00 " - Thomas Walker
8:00 Central - "
9:00 " - JI Burton

Union & Northside @ George Wythe 6:00
Carroll Co. @ Martinsville
Staunton River @ PH-Roanoke
Halifax Co. @ Gretna
E.C. Glass @ Mecklenburg Co.
GW-Danville @ Huguenot (Richmond)
Amherst Co. @ Orange Co.
Rustburg & Fluvanna Co. @ Wilson Mem.
Madison County @ Nelson Co.
William Campbell & Surry Co. @ Prince Edward Co.
Tolsia @ River View, WV
Eastern Montgomery @ Patrick Co. 7:00
James River @ Bassett
Altavista @ Liberty-Bedford
Randolph-Henry @ Dan River
Staunton @ Western Albemarle
Pocahontas Co., WV @ Bath Co. 7:00
unknown : Craig Co.

BENEFIT GAMES

Radford @ Pulaski Co. 6:00
“Battle of the Bridge”
Honaker @ Lee 7:00
Lebanon @ Twin Springs
Twin Valley @ Castlewood
Eastside @ Ridgeview
Chilhowie @ Tazewell
James Monroe (WV) @ Graham
Bland Co. @ Northwood
Fort Chiswell @ John Battle
Marion @ Rural Retreat
Auburn @ Holston
Floyd Co. @ Galax
Christiansburg @ Giles
Blacksburg @ Glenvar
Brookville @ Salem
Cave Spring @ Franklin Co.
Tunstall @ Hidden Valley
William Byrd @ Rockbridge Co.
Chatham @ Magna Vista
LCA @ Appomattox Co.
Staunton @ Western Albemarle

SATURDAY, 8/19

Pikeview @ Mount View, WV 10:30
Fauquier @ Riverheads 1:00 SCRIM

THURSDAY, 8/17

Page Co. @ Parry McCluer 5:00
Grayson Co. @ Narrows 5:30
Jeff. Forest @ Lord Botetourt 6:00
Brunswick & Cumberland @ Charles City Co. jam 6:00
Buckingham Co. @ Luray 6:30
Abingdon @ Bluefield, WV n/a

BENEFIT GAMES

Grundy @ Richlands 7:00
Virginia High @ Gate City
William Fleming @ Heritage


FRIDAY, 8/18

Alleghany Co. @ Stuarts Draft tba
North Cross @ Fork Union Mil. 1:00

jam @ JI Burton
4:00 Hurley - JIB
5:00 " - Rye Cove
6:00 Pat. Henry - "
7:00 " - Thomas Walker
8:00 Central - "
9:00 " - JI Burton

Union & Northside @ George Wythe 6:00
Carroll Co. @ Martinsville
Staunton River @ PH-Roanoke
Halifax Co. @ Gretna
E.C. Glass @ Mecklenburg Co.
GW-Danville @ Huguenot (Richmond)
Amherst Co. @ Orange Co.
Rustburg & Fluvanna Co. @ Wilson Mem.
Madison County @ Nelson Co.
William Campbell & Surry Co. @ Prince Edward Co.
Tolsia @ River View, WV
Eastern Montgomery @ Patrick Co. 7:00
James River @ Bassett
Altavista @ Liberty-Bedford
Randolph-Henry @ Dan River
Staunton @ Western Albemarle
Pocahontas Co., WV @ Bath Co. 7:00
unknown : Craig Co.

BENEFIT GAMES

Radford @ Pulaski Co. 6:00
“Battle of the Bridge”
Honaker @ Lee 7:00
Lebanon @ Twin Springs
Twin Valley @ Castlewood
Eastside @ Ridgeview
Chilhowie @ Tazewell
James Monroe (WV) @ Graham
Bland Co. @ Northwood
Fort Chiswell @ John Battle
Marion @ Rural Retreat
Auburn @ Holston
Floyd Co. @ Galax
Christiansburg @ Giles
Blacksburg @ Glenvar
Brookville @ Salem
Cave Spring @ Franklin Co.
Tunstall @ Hidden Valley
William Byrd @ Rockbridge Co.
Chatham @ Magna Vista
LCA @ Appomattox Co.
Staunton @ Western Albemarle

SATURDAY, 8/19

Pikeview @ Mount View, WV 10:30
Fauquier @ Riverheads 1:00 SCRIM

Tonight the Big Red unveiled its 2023 squad in front of a sizeable crowd that also featured a respectable contingent of fans from Bridgewater. As is usually the case with scrimmages, it was all about getting to know the players, which is sometimes tougher in scrimmages because they might not necessarily be wearing what will be their ultimate numbers.

Also it seems like no two scrimmages ever have the same format. Tonight the teams played two 12 minute quarters pretty much under game conditions. There was a chain crew, flags were thrown and score was kept. No kicks or punts were contested and the whistle would blow anytime a quarterback was touched.

After a 10 minute break, they played a 10 minute quarter (just one) followed by each team getting 10 untimed downs. The first half was "won" by RHS 21-6 but neither team scored in the remaining sessions.

TA took the field first and you could tell immediately that their game plan was to establish the short passing game. They have a receiver (number 80 tonight) who reportedly has West Virginia interested in him. He caught a number of passes on the evening but another receiver (10) was also impressive. They moved the ball into Gladiator territory but the Big Red D stopped them around the 40.

Riverheads then proceeded to score twice by the end of the first quarter to move ahead 14-0. You might think that CCC scored one or both but actually both TDs were scored by Austin Roberts. He was a receiver last year but had a couple of nice runs tonight, especially his first in which he swept left end, then completely reversed his field and took it around the right side for the score. CCC was of course used a good bit and had a couple of nice runs, but did not score on the evening.

TA scored its only TD in the second quarter, helped along by a Gladiator interception. Riverheads then scored its final TD in the 10- minute third quarter. By that time, it was hard to tell who was playing which string but I was told the TD was scored by Brady Boehm. Apologies if I have the name wrong.

As for the 10 play untimed drives, TA got the better of that as they made it down to about the 10 yard line before running out of downs. Riverheads then advanced only to about midfield on its untimed series.

There was also a JV scrimmage preceding this one but I was late arriving and cannot tell you much about that one. I saw RHS scored a touchdown late in the game but from what I heard in the stands, the Knights pretty much dominated that one.

RHS will host its second scrimmage next Saturday against Fauquier. I can't recall those teams ever having met anytime in any sport. That will then set the stage for the Big Red's much-anticipated season-opening trip to Woodstock, which is set for the 25th.