I decided to place this thread in the Class 3A forum because this year the 'Doah will have four 3A teams (Fort Defiance, Staunton, newcomer Waynesboro, and Wilson Memorial; as compared to two 1A teams (Riverheads and Buffalo Gap); leaving only Stuarts Draft as a Class 2-A team. As always the regular season race will not be as important as the playoff point system, but it is still fun to compare how they stack up against each other and of course the papers will occasionally run standings so they can declare (on paper at least) a "district champion." So to get us started, here is my take on how the 7 teams might stack up by season's end........
1) Riverheads: Once again the Gladiators are absolutely LOADED at the running back position as they just keep bringing them up through the system. They will have two strong and experienced fullbacks, and right off the top of my head I can think of five or six other backs capable of going the distance. That includes a few that will be moving up from the undefeated JV team and should be ready for varsity competition. Also the Big Red will have its best passing combination back in the form of Dunlap to Lightner. Place-kicking should be solid again with Peyton Skillman returning. That assessment of course does not address the defensive side of the ball but the Big Red just seems to reload there every year as well. All things considered, it will be tough to pick against RHS, even though they are facing probably their most challenging schedule ever.
2) Stuarts Draft: The Cougars gave both RHS and Appomattox fits last year in their only two losses of the season and you can bet that they will be setting their sights this year on avenging either or both of those defeats. To make matters even more exciting, they will meet Riverheads TWICE in order to fill a scheduling gap. Only one will count toward the district standings but you can bet that both will be SRO crowds and major media events. I will let some of their fans come on here and tout their returning players, since I am of course not familiar with them. I do know that they lost that great defensive stud (Formby I think?) but like Riverheads, they have learned how to re-stock over there.
The above seem to be pretty obvious in those two spots and if they switch places, that won't shock too many people, but the rest of the standings could go any number of directions. I will go out on a limb with the following order without having too much to go on to support any of it......
3) Wilson: The Hornets had been down for a few years, but the new coach most definitely instilled some confidence last year and got them off on the right foot. If my memory serves, they ended the season on something like a 3 or 4 game win streak. They are probably not ready yet to knock off either of the big boys, but they will be the most confident of the remaining five teams heading into the season.
4) Buffalo Gap: As mentioned above, the Bison step down to Class 1-A this year, which will of course give them a much better chance at advancing in most playoff scenarios. Maybe not football unless they can break a longgg losing streak to Riverheads, but in other sports you can count on consistent playoff runs. As for football, expect about a 6-4 or 7-3 season, followed by a playoff win or two.
5) Fort Defiance: I personally had high hopes last season for the Indians but it did not come to pass, so I guess I will have no such expectations this year. I do remember a rather odd JV season in which they took undefeated Riverheads into overtime in Greenville but then were destroyed at home by Buffalo Gap. So their success or lack of it this year may depend on how well those younger players can step up and contribute.
6) Waynesboro: The Giants have been down for so long that any kind of improvement at all will generate excitement and start them back on the track to respectability. Last year, they got the monkey off their backs with a road win over East Rockingham, but realistically I don't see many more wins for them this year. They will have at least a fighting chance in maybe 3 or 4 of their district games but their non-district schedule will consist of all former Valley District foes. The Little Giants will have no choice but to toughen up or get pounded more often than not.
7) Staunton: It is hard to believe that this team was in the state title game only 3 or 4 seasons ago. But the past couple of seasons they have looked out of sync, appeared to lack discipline, and just looked like a team that has plenty of material and potential but just cannot put it all together. I have not looked at their non-district schedule but within the 'Doah I would think one or two wins will be the most they can hope for.
1) Riverheads: Once again the Gladiators are absolutely LOADED at the running back position as they just keep bringing them up through the system. They will have two strong and experienced fullbacks, and right off the top of my head I can think of five or six other backs capable of going the distance. That includes a few that will be moving up from the undefeated JV team and should be ready for varsity competition. Also the Big Red will have its best passing combination back in the form of Dunlap to Lightner. Place-kicking should be solid again with Peyton Skillman returning. That assessment of course does not address the defensive side of the ball but the Big Red just seems to reload there every year as well. All things considered, it will be tough to pick against RHS, even though they are facing probably their most challenging schedule ever.
2) Stuarts Draft: The Cougars gave both RHS and Appomattox fits last year in their only two losses of the season and you can bet that they will be setting their sights this year on avenging either or both of those defeats. To make matters even more exciting, they will meet Riverheads TWICE in order to fill a scheduling gap. Only one will count toward the district standings but you can bet that both will be SRO crowds and major media events. I will let some of their fans come on here and tout their returning players, since I am of course not familiar with them. I do know that they lost that great defensive stud (Formby I think?) but like Riverheads, they have learned how to re-stock over there.
The above seem to be pretty obvious in those two spots and if they switch places, that won't shock too many people, but the rest of the standings could go any number of directions. I will go out on a limb with the following order without having too much to go on to support any of it......
3) Wilson: The Hornets had been down for a few years, but the new coach most definitely instilled some confidence last year and got them off on the right foot. If my memory serves, they ended the season on something like a 3 or 4 game win streak. They are probably not ready yet to knock off either of the big boys, but they will be the most confident of the remaining five teams heading into the season.
4) Buffalo Gap: As mentioned above, the Bison step down to Class 1-A this year, which will of course give them a much better chance at advancing in most playoff scenarios. Maybe not football unless they can break a longgg losing streak to Riverheads, but in other sports you can count on consistent playoff runs. As for football, expect about a 6-4 or 7-3 season, followed by a playoff win or two.
5) Fort Defiance: I personally had high hopes last season for the Indians but it did not come to pass, so I guess I will have no such expectations this year. I do remember a rather odd JV season in which they took undefeated Riverheads into overtime in Greenville but then were destroyed at home by Buffalo Gap. So their success or lack of it this year may depend on how well those younger players can step up and contribute.
6) Waynesboro: The Giants have been down for so long that any kind of improvement at all will generate excitement and start them back on the track to respectability. Last year, they got the monkey off their backs with a road win over East Rockingham, but realistically I don't see many more wins for them this year. They will have at least a fighting chance in maybe 3 or 4 of their district games but their non-district schedule will consist of all former Valley District foes. The Little Giants will have no choice but to toughen up or get pounded more often than not.
7) Staunton: It is hard to believe that this team was in the state title game only 3 or 4 seasons ago. But the past couple of seasons they have looked out of sync, appeared to lack discipline, and just looked like a team that has plenty of material and potential but just cannot put it all together. I have not looked at their non-district schedule but within the 'Doah I would think one or two wins will be the most they can hope for.
