Richmond Region 3A Playoff Picture

[CRF4Dan]

So the VHSL ratings finally are out and updated and hopefully correct this go around... The Richmond Region would have 4 teams playing in the postseason at this current juncture, in two different brackets.

On one side of the bracket, Colonial Heights as an 8 seed would have the ardeous task of going to the 1 seed Phoebus. Not easy to say the least and other than diehard fans and the players themselves, I don't know that anyone believes the Colonials could pull off the upset.

#3 Hopewell would entertain #6 Spotsylvania in an intriguing matchup that I would like Hopewell in.

#5 Armstrong would go on the road to #4 Culpeper and while Armstrong has some playmakers, I think this one would be a tough task for the Wildcats.

#7 Petersburg would go on the road to #2 Brentsville District. Petersburg is not as bad as their 2-3 record might indicate and I would give them a fighting chance in this one. They have playmakers, they just have faced some tough opponents these last three games.

John Marshall is right there on the cusp of making it in, in fact they are currently tied with Skyline and Petersburg in the ratings and the Justices will most certainly have a say in who ultimately makes it in.

 

[shauntclair]

are you sure this is right? Can this many truly pathetic teams make the playoffs? You realize we're talking about a bevy of squads that won't be above .500 by week 10 so does it matter?

 

[schoolboard]

Without being as negative as Shauntclair, there will be much movement in these rankings in the next few weeks. Brentsville will move down even when winning due to weaker opponents than the other schools, and the lack of victories by teams they have already played(and beat.) 5th though 9th is currently only separated by .4 That is a lot of teams all bunched up into less than half of a point.

 

[VaPrepsRod]

are you sure this is right? Can this many truly pathetic teams make the playoffs? You realize we're talking about a bevy of squads that won't be above .500 by week 10 so does it matter?

One of the big problems with 3A East squads is that that many of them play in districts that are comprised of 4A-6A teams so the records aren't indicative of how well the team might do in the postseason.

In the West, several 3A's play against mostly 1A and 2A squads. It's really a tough class to get a handle on every year.

 

[leftovers2005]

One of the big problems with 3A East squads is that that many of them play in districts that are comprised of 4A-6A teams so the records aren't indicative of how well the team might do in the postseason.

In the West, several 3A's play against mostly 1A and 2A squads. It's really a tough class to get a handle on every year.

I don't believe that statement is true.
The only school in 3A West that plays mostly 2A schools is Abingdon.
3A west schools play many more 4A and 5A schools than they do the smaller classes.

 

[VaPrepsRod]

I don't believe that statement is true.
The only school in 3A West that plays mostly 2A schools is Abingdon.
3A west schools play many more 4A and 5A schools than they do the smaller classes.

Yeah, I completely mis-worded that.

It is more accurate to say that the West mostly plays even with their class or with 4A schools while the East has to play up more often.

My bad.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I wouldn't count out none of these Richmond teams. Marshall almost upset Freeman, one of the undefeated teams in 5A, the other week. They have a very good QB in Anderson who can throw it and decent athletes around him. Armstrong plays in probably one of the best districts in the state (IMO the best this year) so that should help them prepare for the playoffs and Petersburg always finds a way to win one or two playoff games. I wouldn't take any of those 3 teams lightly.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Rod pegged it right, many of these teams play in districts heavy with teams in higher classes so some of these teams take their lumps during the season but have more than what it takes to compete in the playoffs.

In 2013 Hopewell was 5-5 and reached the second round.
In 2014 Hopewell was 4-6 and reached the second round again.
In 2014 Petersburg was 4-6 and went on to reach the third round before bowing out.