WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023
FOOTBALL: VHSL REGION RANKINGS, PLAYOFF PROJECTION FRIDAY PREVIEW
Take a deep breath! And away we go! Who's in, who's out, what's left to be done, and more in our deepest dive of the season into the Virginia High School League (VHSL) football region rankings!
(X--clinched playoff berth)
(Z--clinched #1 seed in region)
CLASS 5, REGION C:
1) X-PH-Roanoke 30.889 (8-1, at Hidden Valley (1-8) Friday)
2) X-Louisa 30.111 (8-1, at Goochland (3-6) Friday)
3) X-Matoaca 30.0 (7-2, vs. Dinwiddie (6-3) Friday)
4) Hermitage 27.111 (5-4, at J.R. Tucker (2-7) Friday)
5) Douglas Freeman 26.8 (7-3, regular season complete)
6) Mills Godwin 26.667 (6-3, vs. Glen Allen (7-2) Friday)
7) L.C. Bird 25.444 (5-4, at Midlothian (5-4) Friday)
8) William Fleming 25.222 (5-4, at Staunton River (3-6) Friday)
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9) Franklin County 24.444 (4-5, vs. Lord Botetourt (7-2) Friday)
10T) Midlothian 24.0 (5-4, vs. L.C. Bird (5-4) Friday)
James River 24.0 (4-5, vs. Clover Hill (1-8) Friday)
12) Albemarle 23.667 (4-5, vs. Western Albemarle (1-8) Friday)
ANALYSIS: Remember when the region in Class 5 here in the area was a cozy, Richmond-only group of schools? Yeah, we do, too. Now, it looks likely that the road to the Class 5 state semifinals could go through....Roanoke. But, as we enter Friday, there are mathematically three teams still alive for the top seed. What would turn everything upside down is a Matoaca victory on Senior Night over the Dinwiddie Generals. If PH-Roanoke, Louisa, and Matoaca all win, it, again, comes down to results of many other games as to how they would shake out and who would get home field through Thanksgiving weekend. Nobody else can enter the top three.
Now here is where it gets crazy. Hermitage plays in the Cat Bowl. If they win, Douglas Freeman, who is idle this week, needs a host of things to happen to flip the standings and get a home game next Friday.
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Mills Godwin has entered the chat*.....
The Eagles host Glen Allen and, with a win, could enter the #4 seed conversation. But be careful Eagles! Four teams mathematically could catch you if you lose, and you may awaken Saturday morning on the outside looking in. Mills Godwin and L.C. Bird fans are rooting for William Fleming to be upset by Staunton River and for Lord Botetourt to, hopefully, in their eyes, eliminate Franklin County.
Then there's Midlothian! They host a Skyhawks team seemingly in free fall. But the Trojans are in the same position, both teams having lost three straight. Now, one is guaranteed to be eliminated Friday, and, depending on other results, both may be out, if William Fleming and Franklin County have their say. Their road to the postseason could be dramatically altered in.....the Roanoke Valley.
James River's late season charge will likely fall just short, as they'll need many other games to end a certain way to have even a mathematical shot at the #8 seed. But they are certainly building for 2024, which is great to see!
Posted by robwitham at 7:12 PM 
