Riverheads should simply be the #1 ranked team

[uvacavs1]

As was discussed a few weeks ago, Riverheads (5-0) should be the current #1 team in 1A (and ranked in 2A as well).

I know many folks think Galax deserves to be #1. I say again Galax should be # 2. They have a good team with a great coach.

Riverheads has destroyed every team they play. They just embarrassed the undefeated #6 2A team 49-7 while playing away. They whipped another undefeated team last week 37-0 and a 3A before that.

Can anyone in the East stop them? How about the West for that matter?

 

[eastspartan]

To be the man you gotta beat the man and Galax is still the man

 

[kwhs95fan]

Riverheads did the same thing last year as well. They are obviously one of the favorites but Galax is the defending champ and has won I believe 15 in a row now. Until they lose then they are still #1 in my book.

 

[Xcross]

To be the man you gotta beat the man and Galax is still the man

I agree ! Riverheads is above average but has played some less than average teams so far .

 

[kwhs95fan]

Luray and Buffalo Gap were also undefeated last year when they played Riverheads.

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

Gotta agree with eastspartan here. Galax beat a very good even if undermanned Giles team. Galax is a handful as well as some others that are being overlooked.

 

[Chilwar25]

I would think when the official VHSL rankings are published next week, Riverheads
Will be number 1, and Galax number 2.
At this point in the season, both teams are playing lights out football. Both teams
Can compete on the A1 or A2 level, and Riverheads can win against A3 teams. Galax
Could probably do so, but I do not think they play A3 schools, unless it is Carroll County.

The way these two teams are playing, I just do not see anyone derailing them before
A match up in Salem......just my thoughts....but it high school ball, and anything can
Happen on any given Friday night.

 

[kwhs95fan]

There is a team down in Sussex that nobody talks much about or thinks they are the real deal. But they are. They returned a good portion of the team from last year that lost to Essex in the 3rd round. Have athletes all over the field and a physical defense. Already holds a win over 2 time defending Private School state champion Trinity Episcopal. Will get another test next week against 5-0 Park View who is 3A. I would not be surprised at all if they are in Salem

 

[Wingo-Dingo]

I would think when the official VHSL rankings are published next week, Riverheads
Will be number 1, and Galax number 2.
At this point in the season, both teams are playing lights out football. Both teams
Can compete on the A1 or A2 level, and Riverheads can win against A3 teams. Galax
Could probably do so, but I do not think they play A3 schools, unless it is Carroll County.

The way these two teams are playing, I just do not see anyone derailing them before
A match up in Salem......just my thoughts....but it high school ball, and anything can
Happen on any given Friday night.

Galax has a very good Graham team yet to play. Having seen Graham and Galax both play, if I were a betting man, I'd take Graham

 

[Chilwar25]

Oh my goodness, I had no idea The GMEN were on Galax schedule, but yah, they
Are in the same District. The way Graham whipped Abingdon, and I mean whipped,
Galax may be in for a dog fight with Graham. Thanks for reminding me about that
Matchup......Wow

 

[Chilwar25]

There are several just darn good teams in A1 this year. You got Riverheads, Galax,
Sussex, Essex, Hurley, George Wythe, and several more than could be in Salem.
Someone said they thought A1 was down this year......not me!
And Parry McCluer

 

[uvacavs1]

All valid and excellent points made.

However, this is the 2016 season. I can understand some fans wanting to down play Riverheads at this point in the season. I wouldn't argue though they have played just below average teams (what does that say about many other teams out there).

For example, Riverheads last two opponents are 8-0 besides losing to the Big Red and were ranked in 1A and 2A (having whipped most other teams from 1 to 3A).

While I'd like to see an East team in the Final, I'd also like to see if Galax coach Dixon could defeat Castro again....

 

[kwhs95fan]

Although not geographically in the East, Riverheads is an East team according to the VHSL. Lol

 

[Keith_Stone33]

As was discussed a few weeks ago, Riverheads (5-0) should be the current #1 team in 1A (and ranked in 2A as well).

I know many folks think Galax deserves to be #1. I say again Galax should be # 2. They have a good team with a great coach.

Riverheads has destroyed every team they play. They just embarrassed the undefeated #6 2A team 49-7 while playing away. They whipped another undefeated team last week 37-0 and a 3A before that.

Can anyone in the East stop them? How about the West for that matter?

I have no issue wth Riverheads being #1 in 1A but I wouldnt go as far as saying they should be #1 in 2A. Gap is not a 2A contender at this point and they could very well drop 2 more district games if they play at the level they've been playing at. Dont let their record fool you as their competition was on the weaker side as a whole. The penalty and turnover problems continue to haunt them, and I don't think they will get that fixed. I believe Riverheads will win the 1A championship this year as they execute very well and are well coached. Their offense is run to perfection and they have a strong defense. Their middle linebacker number 88 is a Man-child. The road to Salem will be through Greenville this year in my opinion.

 

[Keith_Stone33]

I have no issue wth Riverheads being #1 in 1A but I wouldnt go as far as saying they should be #1 in 2A. Gap is not a 2A contender at this point and they could very well drop 2 more district games if they play at the level they've been playing at. Dont let their record fool you as their competition was on the weaker side as a whole. The penalty and turnover problems continue to haunt them, and I don't think they will get that fixed. I believe Riverheads will win the 1A championship this year as they execute very well and are well coached. Their offense is run to perfection and they have a strong defense. Their middle linebacker number 88 is a Man-child. The road to Salem will be through Greenville this year in my opinion.

And I mean dont let Gaps record fool you, Riverheads is legit.

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

There are 5-6 teams that have separated themselves from the pack but records aside maybe 10-12 teams total that could put it all together and win it all. Champions need not go 10-0 on the regular season to make the run to Salem. Peaking during the playoffs is the key. Look to last year with Galax coming in with 4 losses and beating powerhouse Essex and Riverheads in back to back weeks to cap off the season. They got progressively better throughout the season and ultimately played better than any of the teams they faced during the playoffs. The best teams find themselves along the way, and develop their "character". Good luck to all teams, until playoff time then I gotta say RollPride.

 

[FORT89]

Let it play out like last year. I would never beat against Dixon and them boys from Galax. He will find a weakness in every team and pound on it. If RiverHeads has none, you should be fine. I have seen Galax and PM, that is a match up I would love to see in the playoffs. Two big and physical teams that love to pound the rock. Galax couldn't cover a turkey with butter and PM couldn't hit and elephant in the a$$ with a football. So I would give Galax a slight edge in throwing the football.

 

[uvacavs1]

Although not geographically in the East, Riverheads is an East team according to the VHSL. Lol

A Riverheads v Galax matchup is a battle of Western teams to me ha!

The Easternmost 1A team (Northampton) would be an over 5 hour bus trip to Riverheads!

Now to Hurley, Riverheads is certainly in the East, but imagine if the Rebels had to travel to the Eastern Shore!

 

[uvacavs1]

Let it play out like last year. I would never beat against Dixon and them boys from Galax. He will find a weakness in every team and pound on it. If RiverHeads has none, you should be fine. I have seen Galax and PM, that is a match up I would love to see in the playoffs. Two big and physical teams that love to pound the rock. Galax couldn't cover a turkey with butter and PM couldn't hit and elephant in the a$$ with a football. So I would give Galax a slight edge in throwing the football.

Dixon can certainly coach! The fact that he guided Galax from a 1-4 start to a state title (including defeating powers Essex and Riverheads in the final two state battles) was just an outstanding job!

The man can coach, much respect. Glad he is in 1A.

 

[NNDman]

Way back when, when some of you were not even born, Clintwood traveled 8½ hours to the Eastern Shore to play Onancock in a Group A state championship game. Neither of those schools now exist.

 

[uvacavs1]

I have no issue wth Riverheads being #1 in 1A but I wouldnt go as far as saying they should be #1 in 2A. Gap is not a 2A contender at this point and they could very well drop 2 more district games if they play at the level they've been playing at. Dont let their record fool you as their competition was on the weaker side as a whole. The penalty and turnover problems continue to haunt them, and I don't think they will get that fixed. I believe Riverheads will win the 1A championship this year as they execute very well and are well coached. Their offense is run to perfection and they have a strong defense. Their middle linebacker number 88 is a Man-child. The road to Salem will be through Greenville this year in my opinion.

Keith, sorry meant that Riverheads would be ranked somewhere in the 2A Top 10.

I don't follow 2A too closely but it looks like I would put Riverheads in the 2A Top 5. I would have have 2A Appomattox, Richlands, & Goochland in front of them.

2As I pull for are Goochland, King William, and W&L. W&L returns to where they belong, to the NND 1A next year! Goochland is now 6-0. Go Dogs! Coach Fowler is another great coach. I mentioned another Richmond article about them in a previous post, Trinity v Northumberland postponed.

Now Goochland's Fowler v Riverheads' Castro- that would be an interesting one....

 

[Xcross]

Riverheads coach is not from Cuba . His name is Casto ! West Virginia transfer .

 

[uvacavs1]

Riverheads coach is not from Cuba . His name is Casto ! West Virginia transfer .

lol great one Xcross!

While I do indeed love discussing history, I did not mean to imply that the successful coach was a communist general turned longtime dictator ha.

 

[Xcross]

He is a dictator ! When it comes to the score at the end of a game he dictates who wins more times than not ! lol

 

[FORT89]

There are several just darn good teams in A1 this year. You got Riverheads, Galax,
Sussex, Essex, Hurley, George Wythe, and several more than could be in Salem.
Someone said they thought A1 was down this year......not me!
And Parry McCluer

Not sure how everyone's schedule stacks up to GW. You could probably put a half dozen teams in their schedule and go 9-1, 8-2. I know Fort Chiswell would win 7 games. So I wouldn't put them in the conversation of a good team yet. Only time will tell on that one.

 

[Marshall-Dillon]

I would be hesitant to compare Riverheads to the Top 10 in 2A. Everytime they have moved up in classifications to 2A, they have not fared so well in the post season, if memory serves me well.

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

Guess it depends on what fares so well means to you. 7-4 in the playoffs and one of those years losing to eventual state champ Giles in the semi's. I would say for a 4 year stretch, that's at least decent. No titles but at least competitive during that time.

 

[uvacavs1]

I would be hesitant to compare Riverheads to the Top 10 in 2A. Everytime they have moved up in classifications to 2A, they have not fared so well in the post season, if memory serves me well.

Some great debates going on!

When taking a look at the 2A Top 10, I would say that Riverheads would almost certainly be in the Top 10 for 2A.

I would argue they should be in the Top 5 as I wrote above. One could definitely argue where though in the 2A Top Ten they would go. Of course, this is just hypothetical situation, but fun to discuss.

BTW, I am not a Riverheads fan at all. I will be pulling for a number of Eastern teams to defeat them in the playoffs. However, only a few have a legitimate shot to do so imo....

 

[charlie22650]

To be the man you gotta beat the man and Galax is still the man

Not this year my friend.

 

[charlie22650]

Riverheads coach is not from Cuba . His name is Casto ! West Virginia transfer .

I have been watching Riverheads since around 2000 and I think they are the best small team in physical stature that I have ever seen on a year in and year out basis,so I would say they have a great system and coaches.

 

[Marshall-Dillon]

IMHO, there is a bigger difference in 1A v. 2A than there is say 3A v. 4A. Sure there will always be a 1A team or two that could very well compete with any team in 2A (those Altavista teams from a few years ago comes to mind). Say you are a 450 student 1A school. That is a considerable difference (percentage wise) from the 725+ 2A schools.

Saying that, how close is Riverheads to the cutoff? Not trying to start anything about who should be where; just curious about their enrollment. I think they are in close proximity to Stuarts Draft and Wilson? Both of those schools have grown, I think. Will Riverheads be far behind before they are consistently a 2A enrollment school?

 

[RedPrideNation_RollPride]

Both Draft and Wilson hover around the 2A/3A cutoff and we are just under the 1A/2A cutoff. There is a re-districting plan to even things out a little although I haven't seen a projected number yet myself. My thinking is they will do everything they can to keep Wilson at 2A and bring us up to that number. I have no problem with when we played 2A. From 2011 until 2014, four years, we were 45-6 with competitive teams in the playoffs all 4 years. I think most programs would take that but we are usually looked at differently so I get it. RollPride

 

[MT FAN 91]

Galax is 5-0 with two of the teams they beat being 2A( Glenvar and Giles ) and they still have two 2A teams left on their schedule (Graham and Grayson ). Graham should be the toughest game left on their schedule and they will have to play better than last week to beat them. The last time I saw Riverheads was in a loss to Galax in the state championship game so that's all I have to go on. They are both undefeated this year but I still have Galax at #1 because of their win in that game and their 15 game winning streak. I know it was last year but that's all I have to go on since I haven't seen Riverheads this year and I don't know they have beaten this year. With that being said it really doesn't matter what I think and it will come down to points at the end of the year and it will be settled on the field.

 

[Chilwar25]

That is a lot of G' s. Galax has beat 2 G' s
Glenvar and Giles, and Galax has 2 more G' s left,
Graham and Grayson. My Goodness and Goodgollie.
Gee whiz! If you leave out the G' s in these names, you got,
alaxilesrahamrayson.......make prefect since to me, just
Like the Great discussion on who should be # 1. Just
Kidding GUYS. I'm GONE !
Oh my, I left out George!

 

[mmqp]

There are several just darn good teams in A1 this year. You got Riverheads, Galax,
Sussex, Essex, Hurley, George Wythe, and several more than could be in Salem.
Someone said they thought A1 was down this year......not me!
And Parry McCluer

After the crapfest that was the Gap game earlier this season, the only way I'd even begin to mention the Blues and Salem in the same sentence is IF they win out this season, and win out convincingly. Anything less and they wont make it past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

 

[MT FAN 91]

After the crapfest that was the Gap game earlier this season, the only way I'd even begin to mention the Blues and Salem in the same sentence is IF they win out this season, and win out convincingly. Anything less and they wont make it past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

I haven't seen them play but from what I've been told by some people that have they aren't a team you want to see come playoff time.

 

[mmqp]

I haven't seen them play but from what I've been told by some people that have they aren't a team you want to see come playoff time.

They're plenty good. They were hot around this time last year as well and faded fast down the stretch so I'm still a little leary of that.

I think the O-line was having some troubles and it seemed like early in the season there were some issues with how to work all 3 of the monsters in the backfield in. But that seems to have been ironed out, albeit against some pretty weak competition. Though I expected to see Fort play them tougher than they did. The next two opponents will tell us all we need to know.

 

[Bgboy38]

Hey mmqp everyone has a bad night, just ask GW but that don't mean you should already count them out. Let someone sleep on them and see what happens.

 

[mmqp]

I'm not counting them out by any means. But I do think the Blues need to win out and do so in an impressive manner.

 

[mmqp]

Pm has the coaching and talent to go far. Just time to see it all come together and crush some squads down the stretch. That means making Jake Phillips writhe as the blues punish James river for kicking our butts last year, make Chris Jones writhe for the disrespect he showed pm years ago, and ultimately destroy bath. Basically, beat the teams we should beat and beat them hard. That's what I'm looking for.