Changes on the VHSL website

[mike salem]

Looks like they've decided to play C5/6 championships on Friday Dec 12th, with all of the other classes playing on Saturday Dec 13th. Higher class plays @ 11:30, lower at 5 for both days.

VHSL Football State Championships​

SEMIFINALS | December 6, 2025, at local sites
CLASS 1/2 FINALS | December 13, 2025, at Salem City Stadium
CLASS 3/4 FINALS | December 13, 2025, at Liberty University
CLASS 5/6 FINALS | December 12, 2025, at James Madison University

VHSL Football State Championship Game Times​

CLASS 1/2 FINALS | Class 2 at 11:30 am/Class 1 at 5:00 pm
CLASS 3/4 FINALS | Class 4 at 11:30 am/Class 3 at 5:00 pm
CLASS 5/6 FINALS | Class 6 at 11:30 am/Class 5 at 5:00 pm

 

[EPJr]

Looks like they've decided to play C5/6 championships on Friday Dec 12th, with all of the other classes playing on Saturday Dec 13th. Higher class plays @ 11:30, lower at 5 for both days.

VHSL Football State Championships​

SEMIFINALS | December 6, 2025, at local sites
CLASS 1/2 FINALS | December 13, 2025, at Salem City Stadium
CLASS 3/4 FINALS | December 13, 2025, at Liberty University
CLASS 5/6 FINALS | December 12, 2025, at James Madison University

VHSL Football State Championship Game Times​

CLASS 1/2 FINALS | Class 2 at 11:30 am/Class 1 at 5:00 pm
CLASS 3/4 FINALS | Class 4 at 11:30 am/Class 3 at 5:00 pm
CLASS 5/6 FINALS | Class 6 at 11:30 am/Class 5 at 5:00 pm

so the two most populous divisions are the most inconvenienced. But i guess if folks can get off for state hoops they can also get off for football.

 

[mike salem]

so the two most populous divisions are the most inconvenienced. But i guess if folks can get off for state hoops they can also get off for football.

It might be because of JMU football could be hosting a game on Sat?

 

[kwhs95fan]

It might be because of JMU football could be hosting a game on Sat?

I just looked and JMU doesn't have a football game that day. Even their conference championship game, which the top seed would host, is on December 5th. Definitely curious as to why the change.

 

[2up2downNole]

I just looked and JMU doesn't have a football game that day. Even their conference championship game, which the top seed would host, is on December 5th. Definitely curious as to why the change.

They have winter commencement on the 13th, I'm guessing that has something to do with it. This is a total guess though.

 

[kwhs95fan]

They have winter commencement on the 13th, I'm guessing that has something to do with it. This is a total guess though.

Could possibly be. If so, im surprised that hasn't been and issue in the past.

 

[BoKnowsSports]

Dumb. At least make the games on Friday at 4:30 and 8. Parents just can’t get off to go to an early afternoon game on a Friday. The VHSL don’t care about anything but themselves.

 

[EPJr]

Dumb. At least make the games on Friday at 4:30 and 8. Parents just can’t get off to go to an early afternoon game on a Friday. The VHSL don’t care about anything but themselves.

or
move to another venue

 

[WP02alum]

It’s def a commencement decision. I was curious about JMU hosting as I knew that conflict always there previously. Somebody decided it was the best option, I guess…

 

[Phoebus Fan]

Looks like they've decided to play C5/6 championships on Friday Dec 12th, with all of the other classes playing on Saturday Dec 13th. Higher class plays @ 11:30, lower at 5 for both days.

VHSL Football State Championships​

SEMIFINALS | December 6, 2025, at local sites
CLASS 1/2 FINALS | December 13, 2025, at Salem City Stadium
CLASS 3/4 FINALS | December 13, 2025, at Liberty University
CLASS 5/6 FINALS | December 12, 2025, at James Madison University

VHSL Football State Championship Game Times​

CLASS 1/2 FINALS | Class 2 at 11:30 am/Class 1 at 5:00 pm
CLASS 3/4 FINALS | Class 4 at 11:30 am/Class 3 at 5:00 pm
CLASS 5/6 FINALS | Class 6 at 11:30 am/Class 5 at 5:00 pm

A Friday game at 11:30am? I get schedule conflicts but JMU ain’t the only football field in the state.

 

[edwinanderson2nd]

And it’s still a school day, so I guess whoever makes states will either have no school that day or show the game in class

 

[edwinanderson2nd]

For the 11:30 game ^^^

 

[VHSL-helper]

KY's been doing Friday games for at least a couple of decades.

https://khsaa.org/football/2002/fb02gamenotes.pdf

 

[BoKnowsSports]

KY's been doing Friday games for at least a couple of decades.

https://khsaa.org/football/2002/fb02gamenotes.pdf

NC does too. They normally have 1 game at 7:30 and rotate between Carter Finley (NC State) or Keenan Stadium (UNC Chapel Hill). Covid year they played two games on a Friday and I believe they were at 4 and 8.

Just say Oscar Smith and Maury makes it. JMU is a 4 hour drive to Norfolk/Chesapeake and one of those teams will be expected to play at 11am. 90% of fans will have to take off from work, leave extra early to beat that 64/95 traffic in Richmond (it’s absolutely brutal on a weekday morning) or spend extra money for a hotel. If an old dummy like me can see that, I know people with expertise and experience with planning can too.

I don’t think it’s anything wrong with playing these games on a Friday (I plan on going myself), I would just hope they push the start times back so it’s equitable to all.

 

[kwhs95fan]

NC does too. They normally have 1 game at 7:30 and rotate between Carter Finley (NC State) or Keenan Stadium (UNC Chapel Hill). Covid year they played two games on a Friday and I believe they were at 4 and 8.

Just say Oscar Smith and Maury makes it. JMU is a 4 hour drive to Norfolk/Chesapeake and one of those teams will be expected to play at 11am. 90% of fans will have to take off from work, leave extra early to beat that 64/95 traffic in Richmond (it’s absolutely brutal on a weekday morning) or spend extra money for a hotel. If an old dummy like me can see that, I know people with expertise and experience with planning can too.

I don’t think it’s anything wrong with playing these games on a Friday (I plan on going myself), I would just hope they push the start times back so it’s equitable to all.

Sadly, they probably won't. They just had the state semifinals and finals for baseball and softball at 9am and 10am, respectively. One of my best friends is the head baseball coach for KW, and for the championship game, they had to be at the field by 6:30 am, and were taking batting practice, a little after 7... And back to football, there's no reason they can't make the class 5 and 6 games later, if they must play on Friday. Also, it's been said before, but I will never understand why they have like 3 hours or so in between games

 

[EPJr]

KY's been doing Friday games for at least a couple of decades.

https://khsaa.org/football/2002/fb02gamenotes.pdf

and???????