All season long, VirginiaPreps.com Publisher Matthew Hatfield and his ESPN Radio 94.1 partner Coach Ed Young - who you can hear each Saturday from 10 AM to 12 Noon on 757 Saturday Sports Talk - have gone head-to-head on High School Football, Predictions, most of which are in Tidewater with some outside the '757' area code sprinkled into that equation.
Here, both fellas provide their Picks on ALL 92 first round matchups in the VHSL Football Playoffs. Before that though, let's review how they did during the regular season.
Hatfield's 11/4 Friday & 11/5 Saturday Total - 23-6 (79.3%)
Hatfield's 2022 Season Total - 318-58 (84.6%)
Hatfield's 11/4 Friday & 11/5 Saturday Tidewater Mark - 15-4 (78.9%)
Hatfield's Tidewater Total for 2022 - 217-31 (87.5%)
Coach Young's 11/4 Friday & 11/5 Saturday Total - 17-4 (80.9%)
Coach Young's 2022 Season Total - 216-39 (84.7%)
Coach Young's 11/4 Friday & 11/5 Saturday Tidewater Mark - 15-4 (78.9%)
Coach Young's Tidewater Season Total - 211-37 (85.1%)
VHSL PLAYOFFS
CLASS 6
Region A
No. 8 Floyd Kellam (4-6) at No. 1 Oscar Smith (8-1)
Note - Even though Oscar Smith is coming off a humbling 56-0 loss to Phoebus last Saturday, the Tigers ought to get the offense in better spirits by facing a Kellam defense that gives up 39 points per game, their highest count since 1994. So the Knights will have to play ball-control to have any shot at their first playoff victory since 2008.
Hat - Oscar Smith 42-12
Coach Young - Oscar Smith 50-6
No. 5 Franklin County (6-4) at No. 4 Western Branch (8-2)
Note - Western Branch rallied for a 35-27 playoff win over Franklin County last year on a night when Shimique Blizzard ran for a season-high 244 yards and 3 TD’s.
Hat - Western Branch 26-16
Coach Young - Western Branch 24-20
No. 6 Cosby (5-5) at No. 3 Manchester (9-1)
Note - Manchester has won eight straight meetings, including 14-3 during the regular season this year.
Hat - Manchester 27-10
Coach Young - Manchester 28-20
No. 7 James River-Midlothian (4-6) at No. 2 Thomas Dale (9-1)
Note - It was just last year that James River toppled Dale, 21-19, in the opening round of the playoffs.
Hat - Thomas Dale 46-13
Coach Young - Thomas Dale 48-6
Region B
No. 8 Gar-Field (5-5) at No. 1 Freedom-Woodbridge (10-0)
Note - Freedom won the encounter 61-0 back on September 22nd.
Hat - Freedom-PW 56-6
Coach Young - Freedom-PW 52-0
No. 5 Forest Park (6-4) at No. 5 John Champe (7-3)
Note - Champe QB Patrick Bryan was the Cedar Run Offensive Player of the Year, passing for 2992 yards and a 38-6 TD/Int. ratio to go with 256 yards rushing and 8 TD's.
Hat - John Champe 35-14
Coach Young - John Champe 33-24
No. 6 Unity Reed (6-4) at No. 3 Patriot (9-1)
Note - Ten of the past 11 meetings have gone in favor of Patriot, including a 40-21 triumph during the regular season.
Hat - Patriot 38-20
Coach Young - Patriot 28-20
No. 7 Colonial Forge (5-5) at No. 2 Battlefield (10-0)
Note - While Battlefield won the regional quarterfinal matchup a year ago 36-14, this is a dangerous Colonial Forge team that handed 9-1 Mountain View its lone loss, 12-8, back on October 14th.
Hat - Battlefield 20-14
Coach Young - Battlefield 48-0
Region C
No. 8 Alexandria City (5-5) at No. 1 Fairfax (10-0)
Note - Led by Penn State recruit and four-star prospect Tony Rojas, named both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year in the Patriot District, Fairfax outscored its opponents 442-88 during the regular season.
Hat - Fairfax 42-14
Coach Young - Fairfax 47-0
No. 5 James Robinson (7-3) at No. 4 Lake Braddock (8-2)
Note - Lake Braddock ended a three-game losing skid in the head-to-head series with their 35-20 triumph over the Rams back on October 14th.
Hat - Lake Braddock 40-24
Coach Young - Robinson 24-21
No. 6 Hayfield (7-3) at No. 3 West Springfield (8-2)
Hat - West Springfield 36-18
Coach Young - West Springfield 22-20
No. 7 Thomas Edison (6-4) at No. 2 South County (9-1)
Note - South County's Miles Greer turned in a spectacular regular season with 86 tackles, 5 INT's, a pair of touchdowns on offense and most impressively seven special teams touchdowns on six punt returns and one kickoff return.
Hat - South County 42-7
Coach Young - South County 38-24
Region D
No. 8 Washington-Liberty (5-5) at No. 1 James Madison (7-3)
Note - For the first time in over 20 years, Washington-Liberty had a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in the Liberty District with Elijah Hughes. Meanwhile, Madison comes in off seven straight wins following an 0-3 start and the Warhawks are stingy defensively, limiting foes to 12.7 points per game. The Warhawks are seeking their third regional title in a row.
Hat - Madison 28-10
Coach Young - Madison 42-12
No. 5 Yorktown (7-3) at No. 4 Langley (7-3)
Hat - Yorktown 21-16
Coach Young - Langley 24-23
No. 6 Herndon (6-4) at No. 3 Westfield (6-4)
Note - Liberty District Offensive Player of the Year Liam Wilson rushed for 1657 yards and 27 TD's for Herndon, which will try to knock off a Westfield program used to big playoff games. The Bulldogs have 32 postseason victories under Head Coach Kyle Simmons, highlighted by three consecutive state titles from 2015-17.
Hat - Westfield 20-19
Coach Young - Westfield 26-20
No. 7 Chantilly (5-5) at No. 2 Centreville (8-2)
Note - Centreville, who suffered two losses by a total of 10 points to Madison and Stone Bridge, won the regular season encounter with Chantilly 45-6.
Hat - Centreville 37-14
Coach Young - Centerville 30-0
CLASS 5
Region A
No. 8 Hickory (3-7) at No. 1 Green Run (10-0)
Note - Before their back-to-back wins over Great Bridge and Lakeland to close out the regular season, Hickory was allowing 40.4 points per game. They now face a Green Run offense piling up 48.3 points per game with no less than 27 in any contest to date in 2022.
Hat - Green Run 62-6
Coach Young - Green Run 50-0
No. 5 Indian River (7-3) at No. 4 Salem-Virginia Beach (7-3)
Note - Two of the best pass rushers in the state will be on display with Salem sophomore Ari Watford, who holds well over 20 scholarship offers and has made 12 sacks, and Indian River junior Jordan Harris, a one-man wrecking crew in their narrow loss to Oscar Smith this year with 6.5 tackles for loss.
Hat - Salem-VB 13-7
Coach Young - Salem-VB 22-20
No. 6 Bayside (6-4) at No. 3 Frank Cox (8-2)
Note - Cox has won 11 of the past 12 meetings with Bayside, which includes knocking the Marlins out of the postseason on three occasions. Bayside's lone playoff win over Cox came in the first round in 2010 on their way to a regional title.
Hat - Cox 16-13
Coach Young - Cox 21-12
No. 7 Tallwood (4-6) at No. 2 Kempsville (9-1)
Note - When the Chiefs beat Tallwood 41-6 during the regular season, their punishing ground attack was a big reason why as eight different ball carriers combined for 333 yards and 4 TD's, led by NaiQuan Washington-Pearce.
Hat - Kempsville 34-13
Coach Young - Kempsville 28-14
Region B
No. 1 Maury (7-1) bye
No. 5 Menchville (5-5) at No. 4 Woodside (7-3)
Hat - Woodside 27-7
Coach Young - Woodside 30-16
No. 6 Norview (4-6) at No. 3 Kecoughtan (7-3)
Hat - Kecoughtan 21-15
Coach Young - Kecoughtan 28-20
No. 2 Nansemond River (7-3) bye
Region C
No. 8 Prince George (1-9) at No. 1 Highland Springs (10-0)
Note - In the regular season finale vs. Varina, Highland Springs displayed great balance on offense with 162 yards passing and another 130 yards rushing in holding the reigning Class 4 State Champs out of the end zone for the first time in the series since 1992.
Hat - Highland Springs 48-8
Coach Young - Highland Springs 56-0
No. 5 Mills Godwin (6-4) at No. 4 Douglas Freeman (8-2)
Note - Though Freeman trails the all-time series 28-12, the Mavericks did beat Godwin 28-6 back in September. Godwin led that game 6-0 at half-time, though their confidence is greater this time around thanks to a four-game winning streak to end the season, triggered by the move of Logan Rhoades, son of VCU Head Basketball Coach Mike Rhoades, to starting quarterback.
Hat - Douglas Freeman 23-7
Coach Young - Douglas Freeman 30-21
No. 6 Hermitage (6-4) at No. 3 L.C. Bird (7-3)
Note - All eight meetings between these two programs have come in the playoffs from 2004-16 with L.C. Bird prevailing in five of them. Hermitage arguably has the best player on the field in two-way standout Jeremiah Coney, the reigning Region 5C Offensive Player of the Year and an Appalachian State commit.
Hat - Hermitage 25-19
Coach Young - L.C. Bird 23-18
No. 7 Glen Allen (5-5) at No. 2 Midlothian (9-1)
Note - The only previous meeting was won by Midlothian, 21-17 in 2019. Coach Matt Hutchings not only has a Midlo offense averaging a school-record 34.6 points per game, but the 7 PPG allowed is their fewest since 1968.
Hat - Midlothian 26-14
Coach Young - Midlothian 24-2
Region D
No. 8 William Fleming (5-5) at No. 1 Stone Bridge (9-1)
Note - The fact that Stone Bridge is 253-48 under Coach Mickey Thompson with 11 State Championship game trips in a 17-year span dating back to 2005 is remarkable. Yet, even crazier is that they are 58-17 in the postseason under Thompson with 15 regional titles is even more astonishing.
Hat - Stone Bridge 55-18
Coach Young - Stone Bridge 45-6
No. 5 Woodgrove (7-3) at No. 4 Riverbend (8-2)
Note - In between a 74-0 loss to Freedom and being doubled up by Mountain View 24-12 in the regular season finale, Riverbend, with Penn State recruit Mathias 'Mega' Barnwell starring at tight end, won seven straight games.
Hat - Riverbend 34-21
Coach Young - Riverbend 24-21
No. 6 Briar Woods (7-3) at No. 3 Patrick Henry-Roanoke (8-2)
Note - Patrick Henry is coming off its first win over Salem in 28 years and the Patriots now have to guard against a letdown playing a dangerous Briar Woods team, quarterbacked by 1st Team All-Potomac District QB Brady Carmical and coached by Mike Burnett, who's no playoff neophyte as he led Broad Run and Tuscarora to State Championship games.
Hat - PH-Roanoke 35-28
Coach Young - PH-Roanoke 23-20
No. 7 Albemarle (8-2) at No. 2 Mountain View (9-1)
Note - Albemarle has the task of trying to slow down Mountain View stud running back Ike Daniels, a Syracuse recruit who racked up 162 total yards with a crucial 51-yard TD run in the third quarter during a 24-12 win over Riverbend to close out the regular season.
Hat - Mountain View 30-12
Coach Young - Mountain View 27-14
CLASS 4
Region A
No. 8 Hampton (3-7) vs. No. 1 Warwick (9-1)
Note - These aren’t the Crabbers of Mike Smith that won 12 state titles during his reign and beat Warwick every year from 1966-2008. Instead, this edition of Hampton has been shut out four times this season and that included a 43-0 loss to a Raiders team that is putting up 38.1 points per game during its seven-game winning streak.
Hat - Warwick 45-7
Coach Young - Warwick 27-16
No. 5 Heritage-Newport News (6-4) at No. 4 Churchland (7-3)
Hat - Churchland 35-14
Coach Young - Churchland 28-14
No. 6 Grafton (6-4) at No. 3 Warhill (7-3)
Note - Although they're coming off a 49-7 loss to Lafayette in the regular season finale and Grafton upended Poquoson 14-13, consider the fact that the Lions handled the Clippers 55-14 back on October 20th.
Hat - Warhill 42-16
Coach Young - Warhill 33-12
No. 7 Deep Creek (5-5) at No. 2 King's Fork (8-2)
Note - It remains to be seen if Bulldogs starting QB Cameron Butler, who sustained an injury in last week’s 21-20 overtime loss to Nansemond River, plays in this one. The Hornets will try to avenge the 35-14 loss to King’s Fork back on October 7th behind a strong running game that features two 1000-yard rushers, one of them being highly regarded sophomore Brandon Nesbit.
Hat - Deep Creek 24-21
Coach Young - King’s Fork 21-18
Region B
No. 8 Powhatan (6-4) at No. 1 Dinwiddie (10-0)
Note - Despite breaking in 20 new starters, Powhatan jumped out to a 6-1 start to the season before dropping its final three regular season games. Now they take on a Generals machine that poured on 63 points on previously unbeaten Thomas Dale in the regular season finale and features one of the best dual-threat QB’s in the state in sophomore Harry Dalton (1445Yds. 21 TD’s passing; 111Car. 1026Yds. 16 TD’s).
Hat - Dinwiddie 56-12
Coach Young - Dinwiddie 48-0
No. 5 Eastern View (8-2) at No. 4 Hanover (8-2)
Hat - Eastern View 22-18
Coach Young – Eastern View 22-20
No. 6 Matoaca (6-4) at No. 3 Varina (9-1)
Hat - Varina 27-6
Coach Young - Varina 38-0
No. 7 Patrick Henry-Ashland (6-4) at No. 2 King George (10-0)
Hat - King George 29-21
Coach Young - King George 27-7
Region C
NW 4 John Handley (7-3) at D1 Loudoun County (10-0)
Note - Nine different Captains earned 1st Team All-Dulles District honors, headed up by linebacker Jackson Snyder, chosen the Defensive Player of the Year.
Hat - Loudoun County 31-17
Coach Young - Loudoun County 32-21
D3 Loudoun Valley (6-3) at NW2 Sherando (6-4)
Note - Sherando leads the all-time series 8-0 with the average score being 32-8, so the Vikings will have to perform much better defensively than they have previously in these matchups as well as in the last month of the season when they gave up 104 points over the past three contests.
Hat - Sherando 28-20
Coach Young - Sherando 22-18
NW 3 Millbrook (5-5) at D2 Tuscarora (9-1)
Note - Each of the previous three meetings - all of which took place in 2011 or 2012 - were won by Tuscarora by two or more touchdowns.
Hat - Tuscarora 41-20
Coach Young - Tuscarora 33-12
D4 Heritage-Leesburg (4-6) at NW1 Kettle Run (10-0)
Note - Averaging 42.5 points and 414.2 total yards per game, the Kettle Run offense been quite prolific this year with QB Abram Chumley (128-172 for 2179 yards, 24-3 TD/Int. ratio) and WR Jordan Tapscott (63Rec. 1333Yds. 15TD's), a VMI commit, headlining their attack.
Hat - Kettle Run 48-17
Coach Young - Kettle Run 34-14
Region D
No. 8 Halifax County (5-5) at No. 1 E.C. Glass (9-1)
Note - E.C. Glass re-grouped from the 12-0 loss to Seminole District rival Heritage-Lynchburg in September by reeling off six straight wins, the last two over Brookville and previously unbeaten Liberty Christian by a combined count of 49-35.
Hat - E.C. Glass 49-7
Coach Young - E.C. Glass 30-6
No. 5 Amherst County (6-4) at No. 4 Orange County (8-2)
Note - Amherst is reeling with three straight losses coming into this matchup, but Orange has dropped eight in a row in the playoffs with their last postseason victory coming in 1998 over Poquoson by a count of 28-0.
Hat - Amherst 30-20
Coach Young - Orange County 28-22
No. 6 Western Albemarle (5-5) at No. 3 Salem (8-2)
Note - As recent as May of 2020, the Spartans won their tenth state title as a program and the quarterback on the field of that team is the one they have now in DaRon Wilson, who will try to get them back on the winning track after they saw their eight-game victory streak snapped in a 17-7 loss to Patrick Henry-Roanoke a week ago.
Hat – Salem 32-13
Coach Young - Salem 22-20
No. 7 Jefferson Forest (4-6) at No. 2 Louisa County (10-0)
Note - Over the past two games, Savion Hiter has found the end zone ten times for Jefferson District Champ Louisa, and oh by the way, he’s just a ninth grader.
Hat – Louisa 34-6
Coach Young - Louisa 36-0
CLASS 3
Region A
No. 8 York (7-3) at No. 1 Phoebus (10-0)
Note - As prolific as the trio of QB Nolan James (5 TD passes), RB Ty Taylor and WR Jordan Bass (5 TD’s total with 4 TD catches) were in that 56-0 thumping of Oscar Smith, what makes this Phantoms team a prohibited favorite to repeat as Class 3 State Champs is a defense that gave up just one touchdown all season, which came with backups in during a blowout of Bethel.
Hat - Phoebus 28-0
Coach Young - Phoebus 42-6
No. 5 Southampton (8-2) at No. 4 I.C. Norcom (7-3)
Note - A bye week probably only helped Norcom, which romped to a 48-0 win over Eastern District foe Norview its last time out behind three defensive interceptions by Jaden Ratliff, one of which he ran back for a touchdown.
Hat - Norcom 37-7
Coach Young - Norcom 24-17
No. 6 Hopewell (6-4) at No. 3 Lake Taylor (9-1)
Note - This is probably the best first round matchup in all of Class 3 and could pass for as good as any in the entire Commonwealth considering both programs have combined to win five State Championships since 2012. Just a year ago, Hopewell won their first round playoff encounter in Norfolk, 54-27. But the Blue Devils are averaging 7 fewer PPG this season and the Titans are allowing 21 fewer PPG.
Hat - Lake Taylor 40-31
Coach Young - Lake Taylor 29-12
No. 7 Colonial Heights (6-4) at No. 2 Lafayette (9-1)
Note - Navy commit Jaylen Pretlow, who has 52 TD's over the past two calendar years, put on quite a show with 212 all-purpose yards in the first half as the Rams steamrolled Warhill 49-7 for their ninth straight victory.
Hat - Lafayette 45-14
Coach Young - Lafayette 49-0
Region B
No. 8 James Monroe (2-8) at No. 1 Brentsville (9-1)
Note - Nico Orlando ran for 538 yards and 7 TD's during the month of October for Brentsville. What's in store for this November as his squad seeks a second straight regional crown in 3B?
Hat - Brentsville 36-14
Coach Young - Brentsville 43-0
No. 5 Caroline (4-6) at No. 4 Armstrong (4-6)
Hat - Caroline 30-26
Coach Young - Armstrong 22-17
No. 6 Culpeper County (3-7) at No. 3 Warren County (5-5)
Note - Warren County started just 2-4 before a three-game winning streak got them above the .500 mark. But the Wildcats have lost 11 straight in the head-to-head series vs. Culpeper with their last win coming in 1944 by a count of 20-12.
Hat - Warren County 23-21
Coach Young - Warren County 24-20
No. 7 Goochland (3-7) at No. 2 Skyline (5-5)
Note - It was three years ago that Goochland beat Skyline, 56-22 in the playoffs. This particular Bulldogs outfit has been wildly inconsistent, opening 0-4 before three consecutive wins and then dropping three in a row to close out the regular season.
Hat - Goochland 20-14
Coach Young - Goochland 26-20
Region C
No. 8 Rustburg (5-5) at No. 1 Liberty Christian (9-1)
Hat - Liberty Christian 50-13
Note - Liberty Christian 33-6
No. 5 Turner Ashby (8-2) at No. 4 Spotswood (8-2)
Note - After beating Turner Ashby five straight times, Spotswood has dropped the past three in this series, which includes a 35-28 battle back in October.
Hat - Spotswood 31-27
Coach Young - Turner Ashby 22-21
No. 6 Wilson Memorial (7-3) at No. 3 Brookville (7-3)
Hat - Brookville 35-17
Coach Young - Brookville 20-18
No. 7 Staunton (7-3) at No. 2 Heritage-Lynchburg (8-2)
Hat - Heritage-Lynchburg 28-14
Coach Young - Heritage-Lynchburg 24-21
Region D
No. 8 Hidden Valley (3-7) at No. 1 Lord Botetourt (9-1)
Note - For the seventh time since 2013, the Cavs under Coach Jamie Harless are putting up more than 35 points per game and this team has the makings to go quite far with dual-threat QB Jakari Nicely leading the way behind another hulking o-line.
Hat - Lord Botetourt 41-15
Coach Young - Lord Botetourt 48-0
No. 5 Cave Spring (6-4) at No. 4 Bassett (7-3)
Note - This is the first time these two programs have met on the gridiron since 1964 when Cave Spring escaped with a 13-12 triumph. To prevail again, their defense will have to be able to contain dynamic Bengals QB Ja’Ricous Hairston.
Hat - Bassett 38-36
Coach Young - Bassett 24-18
No. 6 Abingdon (5-5) at No. 3 Christiansburg (7-3)
Note - Abingdon won the first five meetings all-time before Christiansburg broke through last year 32-27 and followed that up with a 22-13 victory this past September.
Hat - Christiansburg 21-14
Coach Young - Christiansburg 30-14
No. 7 Staunton River (5-5) at No. 2 Magna Vista (7-3)
Note - In its regular season finale, Magna Vista rushed for 404 yards in a 55-28 rout of Patrick County, giving Warriors Coach Joe Favero, who led them to back-to-back state titles in 2014 and 2015 at the Class 3 level, plenty to be confident about as they begin this postseason march.
Hat - Magna Vista 40-35
Coach Young - Magna Vista 27-12
CLASS 2
Region A
No. 8 Bruton (5-5) at No. 1 King William (7-3)
Note - Bruton may have the Tidewater area’s leading rusher in Trey Corbin (214Att. 1529Yds. 23 TD’s), but their defense that allowed 27 points per game during the regular season will be hard-pressed to stop the reigning Class 2 State Champs.
Hat - King William 46-19
Coach Young - King William 48-6
No. 5 Brunswick (5-5) at No. 4 Greensville County (8-2)
Note - The regular season finale saw Greensville only beat the Bulldogs by a 22-16 margin, so Brunswick may feel pretty good about notching their third victory in four meetings to reverse course.
Hat - Greensville 17-16
Coach Young – Greensville 30-18
No. 6 Nandua (6-4) at No. 3 Poquoson (6-4)
Hat - Poquoson 36-6
Coach Young - Poquoson 28-20
No. 7 Amelia County (5-5) at No. 2 Thomas Jefferson-Richmond (7-3)
Hat - TJ-Richmond 34-13
Coach Young - TJ-Richmond 30-16
Region B
No. 8 East Rockingham (4-6) at No. 1 Strasburg (9-1)
Hat - Strasburg 27-13
Coach Young - Strasburg 30-20
No. 5 Stuarts Draft (7-3) at No. 4 Clarke County (7-3)
Hat - Clarke County 20-17
Coach Young - Stuarts Draft 24-20
No. 6 Buckingham County (8-2) at No. 3 Central-Woodstock (8-2)
Hat - Central-Woodstock 24-14
Coach Young - Central-Woodstock 20-18
No. 7 Madison County (6-4) at No. 2 Luray (8-2)
Hat - Luray 35-14
Coach Young - Luray 23-16
Region C
No. 8 Gretna (5-5) at No. 1 Radford (9-1)
Hat - Radford 44-8
Coach Young - Radford 28-21
No. 5 Alleghany (6-4) at No. 4 Appomattox County (7-3)
Hat - Appomattox 49-19
Coach Young - Appomattox 28-20
No. 6 Floyd County (7-3) at No. 3 Glenvar (7-3)
Note - What a ballgame it was the last time these two Three Rivers District rivals met with Floyd County outlasting Glenvar 33-27 in triple-overtime. But the Highlanders responded with three straight wins, including stunning Radford 37-34 on a touchdown pass on the final play to beat the Bobcats for the second year in a row as time expired.
Hat - Glenvar 26-21
Coach Young - Glenvar 24-23
No. 7 Dan River (6-4) at No. 2 Martinsville (9-1)
Note - Bobby Martin's Bulldogs won comfortably 50-28 in the regular season after squeaking by, 31-28 a season ago. Ty Coleman, a UVA commit, gives Dan River a playmaking weapon that can make things interesting for the Wildcats if they play with the same focus and intensity shown during their five-game winning streak to finish the regular season where they piled up 34+ points on four occasions.
Hat - Martinsville 28-27 (OT)
Coach Young - Martinsville 30-14
Region D
No. 8 Central-Wise (4-6) at No. 1 Graham (10-0)
Hat - Graham 46-13
Coach Young - Graham 48-0
No. 5 Union (7-3) at No. 4 Gate City (7-3)
Note - Back in September, Gate City scored 17 fourth quarter points to stun their Mountain 7 district rivals by a count of 23-16 with the dagger being a 51-yard TD pass from Luke Bledsoe to Layton Barnett in the fourth period.
Hat - Union 31-14
Coach Young - Union 28-26
No. 6 Lee (6-4) at No. 3 Virginia High (8-2)
Hat - VA High 48-16
Coach Young - VA High 30-12
No. 7 Tazewell (6-4) at No. 2 Ridgeview (9-1)
Hat - Ridgeview 32-23
Coach Young - Ridgeview 38-10
CLASS 1
Region A
No. 8 Colonial Beach (1-9) at No. 1 Essex (10-0)
Hat - Essex 56-6
Coach Young - Essex 52-0
No. 5 Westmoreland (4-5) at No. 4 West Point (6-4)
Hat - Westmoreland 23-14
Coach Young – West Point 28-12
No. 6 Rappahannock (5-5) at No. 3 Northumberland (7-2)
Hat - Northumberland 18-13
Coach Young - Northumberland 32-14
No. 7 Northampton (5-5) at No. 2 King & Queen (8-2)
Hat - King & Queen 49-7
Coach Young - King & Queen 22-19
Region B
No. 1 Riverheads (8-1) bye
No. 5 Franklin (4-6) at No. 4 Sussex Central (6-4)
Hat - Sussex Central 21-14
Coach Young – Sussex Central 30-26
No. 6 William Campbell (3-7) at No. 3 Buffalo Gap (6-4)
Hat - Buffalo Gap 41-16
Coach Young - Buffalo Gap 33-8
No. 2 Central-Lunenburg (10-0) bye
Region C
No. 8 Bath County (4-6) at No. 1 Galax (6-3)
Hat - Galax 42-20
Coach Young - Galax 44-0
No. 5 Giles (4-6) at No. 4 Grayson County (8-2)
Hat - Grayson County 31-23
Coach Young - Grayson County 24-20
No. 6 Covington (3-7) at No. 3 Narrows (8-1)
Hat - Narrows 27-12
Coach Young - Narrows 28-0
No. 7 Parry McCluer (4-6) at No. 2 George Wythe (6-3)
Note - These two have some recent playoff history with Wythe eliminating Parry McCluer both in 2016 and 2019, but the Fighting Blues got the better of the Maroons in the 2017 postseason. Wythe has lost to quality foes in Graham, Grundy and Radford, plus beaten traditional Class 1 contender Galax.
Hat - George Wythe 28-6
Coach Young – George Wythe 28-12
Region D
No. 8 Hurley (5-4) at No. 1 Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (7-3)
Hat - PH-Glade Spring 35-13
Coach Young - PH-Glade Spring 30-12
No. 5 Holston (7-3) at No. 4 Rye Cove (7-2)
Hat - Holston 20-14
Coach Young - Holston 22-19
No. 6 Honaker (7-3) at No. 3 Grundy (5-4)
Hat - Grundy 36-20
Coach Young - Honaker 21-20 (OT)
No. 7 Lebanon (6-4) at No. 2 Twin Springs (7-2)
Hat - Twin Springs 24-16
Coach Young - Twin Springs 32-12
Here, both fellas provide their Picks on ALL 92 first round matchups in the VHSL Football Playoffs. Before that though, let's review how they did during the regular season.
Hatfield's 11/4 Friday & 11/5 Saturday Total - 23-6 (79.3%)
Hatfield's 2022 Season Total - 318-58 (84.6%)
Hatfield's 11/4 Friday & 11/5 Saturday Tidewater Mark - 15-4 (78.9%)
Hatfield's Tidewater Total for 2022 - 217-31 (87.5%)
Coach Young's 11/4 Friday & 11/5 Saturday Total - 17-4 (80.9%)
Coach Young's 2022 Season Total - 216-39 (84.7%)
Coach Young's 11/4 Friday & 11/5 Saturday Tidewater Mark - 15-4 (78.9%)
Coach Young's Tidewater Season Total - 211-37 (85.1%)
VHSL PLAYOFFS
CLASS 6
Region A
No. 8 Floyd Kellam (4-6) at No. 1 Oscar Smith (8-1)
Note - Even though Oscar Smith is coming off a humbling 56-0 loss to Phoebus last Saturday, the Tigers ought to get the offense in better spirits by facing a Kellam defense that gives up 39 points per game, their highest count since 1994. So the Knights will have to play ball-control to have any shot at their first playoff victory since 2008.
Hat - Oscar Smith 42-12
Coach Young - Oscar Smith 50-6
No. 5 Franklin County (6-4) at No. 4 Western Branch (8-2)
Note - Western Branch rallied for a 35-27 playoff win over Franklin County last year on a night when Shimique Blizzard ran for a season-high 244 yards and 3 TD’s.
Hat - Western Branch 26-16
Coach Young - Western Branch 24-20
No. 6 Cosby (5-5) at No. 3 Manchester (9-1)
Note - Manchester has won eight straight meetings, including 14-3 during the regular season this year.
Hat - Manchester 27-10
Coach Young - Manchester 28-20
No. 7 James River-Midlothian (4-6) at No. 2 Thomas Dale (9-1)
Note - It was just last year that James River toppled Dale, 21-19, in the opening round of the playoffs.
Hat - Thomas Dale 46-13
Coach Young - Thomas Dale 48-6
Region B
No. 8 Gar-Field (5-5) at No. 1 Freedom-Woodbridge (10-0)
Note - Freedom won the encounter 61-0 back on September 22nd.
Hat - Freedom-PW 56-6
Coach Young - Freedom-PW 52-0
No. 5 Forest Park (6-4) at No. 5 John Champe (7-3)
Note - Champe QB Patrick Bryan was the Cedar Run Offensive Player of the Year, passing for 2992 yards and a 38-6 TD/Int. ratio to go with 256 yards rushing and 8 TD's.
Hat - John Champe 35-14
Coach Young - John Champe 33-24
No. 6 Unity Reed (6-4) at No. 3 Patriot (9-1)
Note - Ten of the past 11 meetings have gone in favor of Patriot, including a 40-21 triumph during the regular season.
Hat - Patriot 38-20
Coach Young - Patriot 28-20
No. 7 Colonial Forge (5-5) at No. 2 Battlefield (10-0)
Note - While Battlefield won the regional quarterfinal matchup a year ago 36-14, this is a dangerous Colonial Forge team that handed 9-1 Mountain View its lone loss, 12-8, back on October 14th.
Hat - Battlefield 20-14
Coach Young - Battlefield 48-0
Region C
No. 8 Alexandria City (5-5) at No. 1 Fairfax (10-0)
Note - Led by Penn State recruit and four-star prospect Tony Rojas, named both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year in the Patriot District, Fairfax outscored its opponents 442-88 during the regular season.
Hat - Fairfax 42-14
Coach Young - Fairfax 47-0
No. 5 James Robinson (7-3) at No. 4 Lake Braddock (8-2)
Note - Lake Braddock ended a three-game losing skid in the head-to-head series with their 35-20 triumph over the Rams back on October 14th.
Hat - Lake Braddock 40-24
Coach Young - Robinson 24-21
No. 6 Hayfield (7-3) at No. 3 West Springfield (8-2)
Hat - West Springfield 36-18
Coach Young - West Springfield 22-20
No. 7 Thomas Edison (6-4) at No. 2 South County (9-1)
Note - South County's Miles Greer turned in a spectacular regular season with 86 tackles, 5 INT's, a pair of touchdowns on offense and most impressively seven special teams touchdowns on six punt returns and one kickoff return.
Hat - South County 42-7
Coach Young - South County 38-24
Region D
No. 8 Washington-Liberty (5-5) at No. 1 James Madison (7-3)
Note - For the first time in over 20 years, Washington-Liberty had a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in the Liberty District with Elijah Hughes. Meanwhile, Madison comes in off seven straight wins following an 0-3 start and the Warhawks are stingy defensively, limiting foes to 12.7 points per game. The Warhawks are seeking their third regional title in a row.
Hat - Madison 28-10
Coach Young - Madison 42-12
No. 5 Yorktown (7-3) at No. 4 Langley (7-3)
Hat - Yorktown 21-16
Coach Young - Langley 24-23
No. 6 Herndon (6-4) at No. 3 Westfield (6-4)
Note - Liberty District Offensive Player of the Year Liam Wilson rushed for 1657 yards and 27 TD's for Herndon, which will try to knock off a Westfield program used to big playoff games. The Bulldogs have 32 postseason victories under Head Coach Kyle Simmons, highlighted by three consecutive state titles from 2015-17.
Hat - Westfield 20-19
Coach Young - Westfield 26-20
No. 7 Chantilly (5-5) at No. 2 Centreville (8-2)
Note - Centreville, who suffered two losses by a total of 10 points to Madison and Stone Bridge, won the regular season encounter with Chantilly 45-6.
Hat - Centreville 37-14
Coach Young - Centerville 30-0
CLASS 5
Region A
No. 8 Hickory (3-7) at No. 1 Green Run (10-0)
Note - Before their back-to-back wins over Great Bridge and Lakeland to close out the regular season, Hickory was allowing 40.4 points per game. They now face a Green Run offense piling up 48.3 points per game with no less than 27 in any contest to date in 2022.
Hat - Green Run 62-6
Coach Young - Green Run 50-0
No. 5 Indian River (7-3) at No. 4 Salem-Virginia Beach (7-3)
Note - Two of the best pass rushers in the state will be on display with Salem sophomore Ari Watford, who holds well over 20 scholarship offers and has made 12 sacks, and Indian River junior Jordan Harris, a one-man wrecking crew in their narrow loss to Oscar Smith this year with 6.5 tackles for loss.
Hat - Salem-VB 13-7
Coach Young - Salem-VB 22-20
No. 6 Bayside (6-4) at No. 3 Frank Cox (8-2)
Note - Cox has won 11 of the past 12 meetings with Bayside, which includes knocking the Marlins out of the postseason on three occasions. Bayside's lone playoff win over Cox came in the first round in 2010 on their way to a regional title.
Hat - Cox 16-13
Coach Young - Cox 21-12
No. 7 Tallwood (4-6) at No. 2 Kempsville (9-1)
Note - When the Chiefs beat Tallwood 41-6 during the regular season, their punishing ground attack was a big reason why as eight different ball carriers combined for 333 yards and 4 TD's, led by NaiQuan Washington-Pearce.
Hat - Kempsville 34-13
Coach Young - Kempsville 28-14
Region B
No. 1 Maury (7-1) bye
No. 5 Menchville (5-5) at No. 4 Woodside (7-3)
Hat - Woodside 27-7
Coach Young - Woodside 30-16
No. 6 Norview (4-6) at No. 3 Kecoughtan (7-3)
Hat - Kecoughtan 21-15
Coach Young - Kecoughtan 28-20
No. 2 Nansemond River (7-3) bye
Region C
No. 8 Prince George (1-9) at No. 1 Highland Springs (10-0)
Note - In the regular season finale vs. Varina, Highland Springs displayed great balance on offense with 162 yards passing and another 130 yards rushing in holding the reigning Class 4 State Champs out of the end zone for the first time in the series since 1992.
Hat - Highland Springs 48-8
Coach Young - Highland Springs 56-0
No. 5 Mills Godwin (6-4) at No. 4 Douglas Freeman (8-2)
Note - Though Freeman trails the all-time series 28-12, the Mavericks did beat Godwin 28-6 back in September. Godwin led that game 6-0 at half-time, though their confidence is greater this time around thanks to a four-game winning streak to end the season, triggered by the move of Logan Rhoades, son of VCU Head Basketball Coach Mike Rhoades, to starting quarterback.
Hat - Douglas Freeman 23-7
Coach Young - Douglas Freeman 30-21
No. 6 Hermitage (6-4) at No. 3 L.C. Bird (7-3)
Note - All eight meetings between these two programs have come in the playoffs from 2004-16 with L.C. Bird prevailing in five of them. Hermitage arguably has the best player on the field in two-way standout Jeremiah Coney, the reigning Region 5C Offensive Player of the Year and an Appalachian State commit.
Hat - Hermitage 25-19
Coach Young - L.C. Bird 23-18
No. 7 Glen Allen (5-5) at No. 2 Midlothian (9-1)
Note - The only previous meeting was won by Midlothian, 21-17 in 2019. Coach Matt Hutchings not only has a Midlo offense averaging a school-record 34.6 points per game, but the 7 PPG allowed is their fewest since 1968.
Hat - Midlothian 26-14
Coach Young - Midlothian 24-2
Region D
No. 8 William Fleming (5-5) at No. 1 Stone Bridge (9-1)
Note - The fact that Stone Bridge is 253-48 under Coach Mickey Thompson with 11 State Championship game trips in a 17-year span dating back to 2005 is remarkable. Yet, even crazier is that they are 58-17 in the postseason under Thompson with 15 regional titles is even more astonishing.
Hat - Stone Bridge 55-18
Coach Young - Stone Bridge 45-6
No. 5 Woodgrove (7-3) at No. 4 Riverbend (8-2)
Note - In between a 74-0 loss to Freedom and being doubled up by Mountain View 24-12 in the regular season finale, Riverbend, with Penn State recruit Mathias 'Mega' Barnwell starring at tight end, won seven straight games.
Hat - Riverbend 34-21
Coach Young - Riverbend 24-21
No. 6 Briar Woods (7-3) at No. 3 Patrick Henry-Roanoke (8-2)
Note - Patrick Henry is coming off its first win over Salem in 28 years and the Patriots now have to guard against a letdown playing a dangerous Briar Woods team, quarterbacked by 1st Team All-Potomac District QB Brady Carmical and coached by Mike Burnett, who's no playoff neophyte as he led Broad Run and Tuscarora to State Championship games.
Hat - PH-Roanoke 35-28
Coach Young - PH-Roanoke 23-20
No. 7 Albemarle (8-2) at No. 2 Mountain View (9-1)
Note - Albemarle has the task of trying to slow down Mountain View stud running back Ike Daniels, a Syracuse recruit who racked up 162 total yards with a crucial 51-yard TD run in the third quarter during a 24-12 win over Riverbend to close out the regular season.
Hat - Mountain View 30-12
Coach Young - Mountain View 27-14
CLASS 4
Region A
No. 8 Hampton (3-7) vs. No. 1 Warwick (9-1)
Note - These aren’t the Crabbers of Mike Smith that won 12 state titles during his reign and beat Warwick every year from 1966-2008. Instead, this edition of Hampton has been shut out four times this season and that included a 43-0 loss to a Raiders team that is putting up 38.1 points per game during its seven-game winning streak.
Hat - Warwick 45-7
Coach Young - Warwick 27-16
No. 5 Heritage-Newport News (6-4) at No. 4 Churchland (7-3)
Hat - Churchland 35-14
Coach Young - Churchland 28-14
No. 6 Grafton (6-4) at No. 3 Warhill (7-3)
Note - Although they're coming off a 49-7 loss to Lafayette in the regular season finale and Grafton upended Poquoson 14-13, consider the fact that the Lions handled the Clippers 55-14 back on October 20th.
Hat - Warhill 42-16
Coach Young - Warhill 33-12
No. 7 Deep Creek (5-5) at No. 2 King's Fork (8-2)
Note - It remains to be seen if Bulldogs starting QB Cameron Butler, who sustained an injury in last week’s 21-20 overtime loss to Nansemond River, plays in this one. The Hornets will try to avenge the 35-14 loss to King’s Fork back on October 7th behind a strong running game that features two 1000-yard rushers, one of them being highly regarded sophomore Brandon Nesbit.
Hat - Deep Creek 24-21
Coach Young - King’s Fork 21-18
Region B
No. 8 Powhatan (6-4) at No. 1 Dinwiddie (10-0)
Note - Despite breaking in 20 new starters, Powhatan jumped out to a 6-1 start to the season before dropping its final three regular season games. Now they take on a Generals machine that poured on 63 points on previously unbeaten Thomas Dale in the regular season finale and features one of the best dual-threat QB’s in the state in sophomore Harry Dalton (1445Yds. 21 TD’s passing; 111Car. 1026Yds. 16 TD’s).
Hat - Dinwiddie 56-12
Coach Young - Dinwiddie 48-0
No. 5 Eastern View (8-2) at No. 4 Hanover (8-2)
Hat - Eastern View 22-18
Coach Young – Eastern View 22-20
No. 6 Matoaca (6-4) at No. 3 Varina (9-1)
Hat - Varina 27-6
Coach Young - Varina 38-0
No. 7 Patrick Henry-Ashland (6-4) at No. 2 King George (10-0)
Hat - King George 29-21
Coach Young - King George 27-7
Region C
NW 4 John Handley (7-3) at D1 Loudoun County (10-0)
Note - Nine different Captains earned 1st Team All-Dulles District honors, headed up by linebacker Jackson Snyder, chosen the Defensive Player of the Year.
Hat - Loudoun County 31-17
Coach Young - Loudoun County 32-21
D3 Loudoun Valley (6-3) at NW2 Sherando (6-4)
Note - Sherando leads the all-time series 8-0 with the average score being 32-8, so the Vikings will have to perform much better defensively than they have previously in these matchups as well as in the last month of the season when they gave up 104 points over the past three contests.
Hat - Sherando 28-20
Coach Young - Sherando 22-18
NW 3 Millbrook (5-5) at D2 Tuscarora (9-1)
Note - Each of the previous three meetings - all of which took place in 2011 or 2012 - were won by Tuscarora by two or more touchdowns.
Hat - Tuscarora 41-20
Coach Young - Tuscarora 33-12
D4 Heritage-Leesburg (4-6) at NW1 Kettle Run (10-0)
Note - Averaging 42.5 points and 414.2 total yards per game, the Kettle Run offense been quite prolific this year with QB Abram Chumley (128-172 for 2179 yards, 24-3 TD/Int. ratio) and WR Jordan Tapscott (63Rec. 1333Yds. 15TD's), a VMI commit, headlining their attack.
Hat - Kettle Run 48-17
Coach Young - Kettle Run 34-14
Region D
No. 8 Halifax County (5-5) at No. 1 E.C. Glass (9-1)
Note - E.C. Glass re-grouped from the 12-0 loss to Seminole District rival Heritage-Lynchburg in September by reeling off six straight wins, the last two over Brookville and previously unbeaten Liberty Christian by a combined count of 49-35.
Hat - E.C. Glass 49-7
Coach Young - E.C. Glass 30-6
No. 5 Amherst County (6-4) at No. 4 Orange County (8-2)
Note - Amherst is reeling with three straight losses coming into this matchup, but Orange has dropped eight in a row in the playoffs with their last postseason victory coming in 1998 over Poquoson by a count of 28-0.
Hat - Amherst 30-20
Coach Young - Orange County 28-22
No. 6 Western Albemarle (5-5) at No. 3 Salem (8-2)
Note - As recent as May of 2020, the Spartans won their tenth state title as a program and the quarterback on the field of that team is the one they have now in DaRon Wilson, who will try to get them back on the winning track after they saw their eight-game victory streak snapped in a 17-7 loss to Patrick Henry-Roanoke a week ago.
Hat – Salem 32-13
Coach Young - Salem 22-20
No. 7 Jefferson Forest (4-6) at No. 2 Louisa County (10-0)
Note - Over the past two games, Savion Hiter has found the end zone ten times for Jefferson District Champ Louisa, and oh by the way, he’s just a ninth grader.
Hat – Louisa 34-6
Coach Young - Louisa 36-0
CLASS 3
Region A
No. 8 York (7-3) at No. 1 Phoebus (10-0)
Note - As prolific as the trio of QB Nolan James (5 TD passes), RB Ty Taylor and WR Jordan Bass (5 TD’s total with 4 TD catches) were in that 56-0 thumping of Oscar Smith, what makes this Phantoms team a prohibited favorite to repeat as Class 3 State Champs is a defense that gave up just one touchdown all season, which came with backups in during a blowout of Bethel.
Hat - Phoebus 28-0
Coach Young - Phoebus 42-6
No. 5 Southampton (8-2) at No. 4 I.C. Norcom (7-3)
Note - A bye week probably only helped Norcom, which romped to a 48-0 win over Eastern District foe Norview its last time out behind three defensive interceptions by Jaden Ratliff, one of which he ran back for a touchdown.
Hat - Norcom 37-7
Coach Young - Norcom 24-17
No. 6 Hopewell (6-4) at No. 3 Lake Taylor (9-1)
Note - This is probably the best first round matchup in all of Class 3 and could pass for as good as any in the entire Commonwealth considering both programs have combined to win five State Championships since 2012. Just a year ago, Hopewell won their first round playoff encounter in Norfolk, 54-27. But the Blue Devils are averaging 7 fewer PPG this season and the Titans are allowing 21 fewer PPG.
Hat - Lake Taylor 40-31
Coach Young - Lake Taylor 29-12
No. 7 Colonial Heights (6-4) at No. 2 Lafayette (9-1)
Note - Navy commit Jaylen Pretlow, who has 52 TD's over the past two calendar years, put on quite a show with 212 all-purpose yards in the first half as the Rams steamrolled Warhill 49-7 for their ninth straight victory.
Hat - Lafayette 45-14
Coach Young - Lafayette 49-0
Region B
No. 8 James Monroe (2-8) at No. 1 Brentsville (9-1)
Note - Nico Orlando ran for 538 yards and 7 TD's during the month of October for Brentsville. What's in store for this November as his squad seeks a second straight regional crown in 3B?
Hat - Brentsville 36-14
Coach Young - Brentsville 43-0
No. 5 Caroline (4-6) at No. 4 Armstrong (4-6)
Hat - Caroline 30-26
Coach Young - Armstrong 22-17
No. 6 Culpeper County (3-7) at No. 3 Warren County (5-5)
Note - Warren County started just 2-4 before a three-game winning streak got them above the .500 mark. But the Wildcats have lost 11 straight in the head-to-head series vs. Culpeper with their last win coming in 1944 by a count of 20-12.
Hat - Warren County 23-21
Coach Young - Warren County 24-20
No. 7 Goochland (3-7) at No. 2 Skyline (5-5)
Note - It was three years ago that Goochland beat Skyline, 56-22 in the playoffs. This particular Bulldogs outfit has been wildly inconsistent, opening 0-4 before three consecutive wins and then dropping three in a row to close out the regular season.
Hat - Goochland 20-14
Coach Young - Goochland 26-20
Region C
No. 8 Rustburg (5-5) at No. 1 Liberty Christian (9-1)
Hat - Liberty Christian 50-13
Note - Liberty Christian 33-6
No. 5 Turner Ashby (8-2) at No. 4 Spotswood (8-2)
Note - After beating Turner Ashby five straight times, Spotswood has dropped the past three in this series, which includes a 35-28 battle back in October.
Hat - Spotswood 31-27
Coach Young - Turner Ashby 22-21
No. 6 Wilson Memorial (7-3) at No. 3 Brookville (7-3)
Hat - Brookville 35-17
Coach Young - Brookville 20-18
No. 7 Staunton (7-3) at No. 2 Heritage-Lynchburg (8-2)
Hat - Heritage-Lynchburg 28-14
Coach Young - Heritage-Lynchburg 24-21
Region D
No. 8 Hidden Valley (3-7) at No. 1 Lord Botetourt (9-1)
Note - For the seventh time since 2013, the Cavs under Coach Jamie Harless are putting up more than 35 points per game and this team has the makings to go quite far with dual-threat QB Jakari Nicely leading the way behind another hulking o-line.
Hat - Lord Botetourt 41-15
Coach Young - Lord Botetourt 48-0
No. 5 Cave Spring (6-4) at No. 4 Bassett (7-3)
Note - This is the first time these two programs have met on the gridiron since 1964 when Cave Spring escaped with a 13-12 triumph. To prevail again, their defense will have to be able to contain dynamic Bengals QB Ja’Ricous Hairston.
Hat - Bassett 38-36
Coach Young - Bassett 24-18
No. 6 Abingdon (5-5) at No. 3 Christiansburg (7-3)
Note - Abingdon won the first five meetings all-time before Christiansburg broke through last year 32-27 and followed that up with a 22-13 victory this past September.
Hat - Christiansburg 21-14
Coach Young - Christiansburg 30-14
No. 7 Staunton River (5-5) at No. 2 Magna Vista (7-3)
Note - In its regular season finale, Magna Vista rushed for 404 yards in a 55-28 rout of Patrick County, giving Warriors Coach Joe Favero, who led them to back-to-back state titles in 2014 and 2015 at the Class 3 level, plenty to be confident about as they begin this postseason march.
Hat - Magna Vista 40-35
Coach Young - Magna Vista 27-12
CLASS 2
Region A
No. 8 Bruton (5-5) at No. 1 King William (7-3)
Note - Bruton may have the Tidewater area’s leading rusher in Trey Corbin (214Att. 1529Yds. 23 TD’s), but their defense that allowed 27 points per game during the regular season will be hard-pressed to stop the reigning Class 2 State Champs.
Hat - King William 46-19
Coach Young - King William 48-6
No. 5 Brunswick (5-5) at No. 4 Greensville County (8-2)
Note - The regular season finale saw Greensville only beat the Bulldogs by a 22-16 margin, so Brunswick may feel pretty good about notching their third victory in four meetings to reverse course.
Hat - Greensville 17-16
Coach Young – Greensville 30-18
No. 6 Nandua (6-4) at No. 3 Poquoson (6-4)
Hat - Poquoson 36-6
Coach Young - Poquoson 28-20
No. 7 Amelia County (5-5) at No. 2 Thomas Jefferson-Richmond (7-3)
Hat - TJ-Richmond 34-13
Coach Young - TJ-Richmond 30-16
Region B
No. 8 East Rockingham (4-6) at No. 1 Strasburg (9-1)
Hat - Strasburg 27-13
Coach Young - Strasburg 30-20
No. 5 Stuarts Draft (7-3) at No. 4 Clarke County (7-3)
Hat - Clarke County 20-17
Coach Young - Stuarts Draft 24-20
No. 6 Buckingham County (8-2) at No. 3 Central-Woodstock (8-2)
Hat - Central-Woodstock 24-14
Coach Young - Central-Woodstock 20-18
No. 7 Madison County (6-4) at No. 2 Luray (8-2)
Hat - Luray 35-14
Coach Young - Luray 23-16
Region C
No. 8 Gretna (5-5) at No. 1 Radford (9-1)
Hat - Radford 44-8
Coach Young - Radford 28-21
No. 5 Alleghany (6-4) at No. 4 Appomattox County (7-3)
Hat - Appomattox 49-19
Coach Young - Appomattox 28-20
No. 6 Floyd County (7-3) at No. 3 Glenvar (7-3)
Note - What a ballgame it was the last time these two Three Rivers District rivals met with Floyd County outlasting Glenvar 33-27 in triple-overtime. But the Highlanders responded with three straight wins, including stunning Radford 37-34 on a touchdown pass on the final play to beat the Bobcats for the second year in a row as time expired.
Hat - Glenvar 26-21
Coach Young - Glenvar 24-23
No. 7 Dan River (6-4) at No. 2 Martinsville (9-1)
Note - Bobby Martin's Bulldogs won comfortably 50-28 in the regular season after squeaking by, 31-28 a season ago. Ty Coleman, a UVA commit, gives Dan River a playmaking weapon that can make things interesting for the Wildcats if they play with the same focus and intensity shown during their five-game winning streak to finish the regular season where they piled up 34+ points on four occasions.
Hat - Martinsville 28-27 (OT)
Coach Young - Martinsville 30-14
Region D
No. 8 Central-Wise (4-6) at No. 1 Graham (10-0)
Hat - Graham 46-13
Coach Young - Graham 48-0
No. 5 Union (7-3) at No. 4 Gate City (7-3)
Note - Back in September, Gate City scored 17 fourth quarter points to stun their Mountain 7 district rivals by a count of 23-16 with the dagger being a 51-yard TD pass from Luke Bledsoe to Layton Barnett in the fourth period.
Hat - Union 31-14
Coach Young - Union 28-26
No. 6 Lee (6-4) at No. 3 Virginia High (8-2)
Hat - VA High 48-16
Coach Young - VA High 30-12
No. 7 Tazewell (6-4) at No. 2 Ridgeview (9-1)
Hat - Ridgeview 32-23
Coach Young - Ridgeview 38-10
CLASS 1
Region A
No. 8 Colonial Beach (1-9) at No. 1 Essex (10-0)
Hat - Essex 56-6
Coach Young - Essex 52-0
No. 5 Westmoreland (4-5) at No. 4 West Point (6-4)
Hat - Westmoreland 23-14
Coach Young – West Point 28-12
No. 6 Rappahannock (5-5) at No. 3 Northumberland (7-2)
Hat - Northumberland 18-13
Coach Young - Northumberland 32-14
No. 7 Northampton (5-5) at No. 2 King & Queen (8-2)
Hat - King & Queen 49-7
Coach Young - King & Queen 22-19
Region B
No. 1 Riverheads (8-1) bye
No. 5 Franklin (4-6) at No. 4 Sussex Central (6-4)
Hat - Sussex Central 21-14
Coach Young – Sussex Central 30-26
No. 6 William Campbell (3-7) at No. 3 Buffalo Gap (6-4)
Hat - Buffalo Gap 41-16
Coach Young - Buffalo Gap 33-8
No. 2 Central-Lunenburg (10-0) bye
Region C
No. 8 Bath County (4-6) at No. 1 Galax (6-3)
Hat - Galax 42-20
Coach Young - Galax 44-0
No. 5 Giles (4-6) at No. 4 Grayson County (8-2)
Hat - Grayson County 31-23
Coach Young - Grayson County 24-20
No. 6 Covington (3-7) at No. 3 Narrows (8-1)
Hat - Narrows 27-12
Coach Young - Narrows 28-0
No. 7 Parry McCluer (4-6) at No. 2 George Wythe (6-3)
Note - These two have some recent playoff history with Wythe eliminating Parry McCluer both in 2016 and 2019, but the Fighting Blues got the better of the Maroons in the 2017 postseason. Wythe has lost to quality foes in Graham, Grundy and Radford, plus beaten traditional Class 1 contender Galax.
Hat - George Wythe 28-6
Coach Young – George Wythe 28-12
Region D
No. 8 Hurley (5-4) at No. 1 Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (7-3)
Hat - PH-Glade Spring 35-13
Coach Young - PH-Glade Spring 30-12
No. 5 Holston (7-3) at No. 4 Rye Cove (7-2)
Hat - Holston 20-14
Coach Young - Holston 22-19
No. 6 Honaker (7-3) at No. 3 Grundy (5-4)
Hat - Grundy 36-20
Coach Young - Honaker 21-20 (OT)
No. 7 Lebanon (6-4) at No. 2 Twin Springs (7-2)
Hat - Twin Springs 24-16
Coach Young - Twin Springs 32-12
