That's all folks! The regular season is officially in the books, and we are several days away from the start of the VHSL playoffs. Before we look ahead however, we will look back on an exciting week 11 under the lights in the Roanoke/Lynchburg area. Perfect seasons were clinched, playoff tickets were punched, and district championships were claimed. Let's take a look back at the week that was in the 434 and the 540.
Game of the Week Recap:
Players come and go, but it is abundantly clear that the River Ridge District sill runs through Salem. Friday's clash between the Spartans and visiting Pulaski County brought together a pair of 9-0 teams, but it was hardly a contest. Salem jumped out to a 21-0 lead, and cruised to a 42-13 triumph over the Cougars to claim the River Ridge District title. The Spartans scored three touchdowns in the first six minutes en route to clinching their second straight perfect regular season.
Alex Ramsey and Donte Clayborne combined to rush for nearly 300 yards, as the powerful Salem offensive line imposed its will on the previously undefeated Cougars.
Pulaski came into Friday's title averaging 32 points per game, but the Cougars could only find the end zone two times in the losing effort. Hunter Thomas was held to 106 yards, while dealing with a sprained ankle in the send half.
The Cougars will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season this Friday against Amherst County. Salem has received a bye in the upcoming 4A West playoffs.
Still Perfect:
Salem was not the only team in our area to wrap up a 10-0 regular season this past week.
Jefferson Forest polished off it second straight undefeated regular season with a 55-23 thumping of Seminole District rival Brookville. Regarded for its wishbone offense, the JF defense shined in the win over the Bees. The Cavaliers forced six turnovers, including five interceptions. The offense? Yeah it was pretty good too. Navy Jones racked up 233 yards and a trio of touchdowns. The Cavaliers managed 405 yards of offense without throwing a single pass. Jefferson Forest is the top seed in the 4A West region, while Brookville finished 5th in 3A West.
Defending 2A State Champion Glenvar won its 15th straight game in style, blanking Floyd County 48-0. Friday's triumph marked the Highlanders' fifth shutout of the season. Glenvar has only given up 58 points all year. Wow!
The Highlanders are the number-three seed in the LOADED 2A West bracket, with a potential rematch with number-six Giles County next week.
Riverheads is 10-0 for the third time sine 2011. The Gladiators secured their seventh straight double-digit win season with a 41-13 win over Stuarts Draft.
Ticket Punched:
After Hidden Valley started the season 0-5, few believed that the Titans would qualify for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Hidden Valley checked in at 18th in the week ten VHSL 3A West poll, and needed a win over #16 Cave Spring in order to be in position for a postseason bid.
Mission accomplished.
Wide receiver/defensive back Ryan Mitchell, who was having a solid night on offense, made his biggest catch of the night as a defender. Mtichell picked off a Cave Spring pass on 4th down with two minutes remaining to secure a 24-21 win over the rival Knights.
With the win, the Titans (3-7) grabbed the final playoff spot in the 3A West bracket. Hidden Valley was the top seed last year, but will enter the postseason as the number-16 seed this time around. The Titans will look to recapture their cinderella persona of two years ago this week against top-ranked Western Albemarle.
Left Out:
Spotswood has lost a game in seemingly every way possible this season, but the Trailblazers suffered perhaps their biggest heartbreaker over the weekend. Spotswood defeated Broadway 35-17 to improve its record to 3-7, and move into a tie with Hidden Valley for the number-16 spot in the final 3A West poll. Unfortunately for the Blazers, the Titans won the long and drawn out tiebreaker, and Spotswood's season has come to an end.
On the bright side, head coach Chris Dodson is also the school's girls basketball coach, and his team should be top notch as always.
Winning the Hard Way:
Blue Ridge District heavyweights Northside and Lord Botetourt were tested on Friday night, but both teams found ways to win.
The Vikings watched visiting William Fleming build a 13-0 lead before turning on the jets. Northside responded with 35 unanswered points and forced three Colonel turnovers to roll to a 35-13 victory in its season finale. Quarterback Josh Hardister and Tailback Corey Williams each shined in their final home regular season games. The Vikings have wrapped up the Blue Ridge District title outright for the second consecutive season.
Meanwhile in Daleville, Lord Botetourt found itself in a close game with Staunton River for the second straight year, but a plethora of Cavaliers did their part to secure a 19-13 win. Noah Fletcher rushed for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Defensively, LB allowed just two big plays, and managed a game-chaning safety in the first half. The special teams came up in the clutch too. Grant Clemmons booted a 45-yard field goal, and the Cavaliers also blocked a Staunton River extra point.
Northside and Lord Botetourt are the number two and three seeds in the 3A West Bracket. The Vikings will face district rival Alleghany in the first round, while the Cavaliers will welcome Liberty to Daleville.
District Champs:
Finishing up in the Valley, where Robert E Lee and Harrisonburg are the 2015 Valley District co Champions.
Lee won its fifth consecutive game, following a 62-14 dismantling of Fort Defiance. The Leeman feasted on several 3A and 4A teams this year, and have been rewarded with the number-three seed in the 2A East playoffs.
Harrisonburg will share the title with Lee. The Blue Streaks wrapped up a 7-3 season in style, blasting Turner Ashby 55-29. Though Harrisonburg will not qualify for the 4A West playoffs, the Blue Streaks enjoyed their most successful season since 2011.
Other Notable Scores:
Blacksburg 14, Christiansburg 13
Patrick Henry 71, Carroll County 24
William Byrd 42, Rockbridge 7
Heritage 62, Liberty 33
Rustburg 42, E.C. Glass 18
East Rockingham 49, Buffalo Gap 39
James River 38, Covington 8
Game of the Week Recap:
Players come and go, but it is abundantly clear that the River Ridge District sill runs through Salem. Friday's clash between the Spartans and visiting Pulaski County brought together a pair of 9-0 teams, but it was hardly a contest. Salem jumped out to a 21-0 lead, and cruised to a 42-13 triumph over the Cougars to claim the River Ridge District title. The Spartans scored three touchdowns in the first six minutes en route to clinching their second straight perfect regular season.
Alex Ramsey and Donte Clayborne combined to rush for nearly 300 yards, as the powerful Salem offensive line imposed its will on the previously undefeated Cougars.
Pulaski came into Friday's title averaging 32 points per game, but the Cougars could only find the end zone two times in the losing effort. Hunter Thomas was held to 106 yards, while dealing with a sprained ankle in the send half.
The Cougars will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season this Friday against Amherst County. Salem has received a bye in the upcoming 4A West playoffs.
Still Perfect:
Salem was not the only team in our area to wrap up a 10-0 regular season this past week.
Jefferson Forest polished off it second straight undefeated regular season with a 55-23 thumping of Seminole District rival Brookville. Regarded for its wishbone offense, the JF defense shined in the win over the Bees. The Cavaliers forced six turnovers, including five interceptions. The offense? Yeah it was pretty good too. Navy Jones racked up 233 yards and a trio of touchdowns. The Cavaliers managed 405 yards of offense without throwing a single pass. Jefferson Forest is the top seed in the 4A West region, while Brookville finished 5th in 3A West.
Defending 2A State Champion Glenvar won its 15th straight game in style, blanking Floyd County 48-0. Friday's triumph marked the Highlanders' fifth shutout of the season. Glenvar has only given up 58 points all year. Wow!
The Highlanders are the number-three seed in the LOADED 2A West bracket, with a potential rematch with number-six Giles County next week.
Riverheads is 10-0 for the third time sine 2011. The Gladiators secured their seventh straight double-digit win season with a 41-13 win over Stuarts Draft.
Ticket Punched:
After Hidden Valley started the season 0-5, few believed that the Titans would qualify for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Hidden Valley checked in at 18th in the week ten VHSL 3A West poll, and needed a win over #16 Cave Spring in order to be in position for a postseason bid.
Mission accomplished.
Wide receiver/defensive back Ryan Mitchell, who was having a solid night on offense, made his biggest catch of the night as a defender. Mtichell picked off a Cave Spring pass on 4th down with two minutes remaining to secure a 24-21 win over the rival Knights.
With the win, the Titans (3-7) grabbed the final playoff spot in the 3A West bracket. Hidden Valley was the top seed last year, but will enter the postseason as the number-16 seed this time around. The Titans will look to recapture their cinderella persona of two years ago this week against top-ranked Western Albemarle.
Left Out:
Spotswood has lost a game in seemingly every way possible this season, but the Trailblazers suffered perhaps their biggest heartbreaker over the weekend. Spotswood defeated Broadway 35-17 to improve its record to 3-7, and move into a tie with Hidden Valley for the number-16 spot in the final 3A West poll. Unfortunately for the Blazers, the Titans won the long and drawn out tiebreaker, and Spotswood's season has come to an end.
On the bright side, head coach Chris Dodson is also the school's girls basketball coach, and his team should be top notch as always.
Winning the Hard Way:
Blue Ridge District heavyweights Northside and Lord Botetourt were tested on Friday night, but both teams found ways to win.
The Vikings watched visiting William Fleming build a 13-0 lead before turning on the jets. Northside responded with 35 unanswered points and forced three Colonel turnovers to roll to a 35-13 victory in its season finale. Quarterback Josh Hardister and Tailback Corey Williams each shined in their final home regular season games. The Vikings have wrapped up the Blue Ridge District title outright for the second consecutive season.
Meanwhile in Daleville, Lord Botetourt found itself in a close game with Staunton River for the second straight year, but a plethora of Cavaliers did their part to secure a 19-13 win. Noah Fletcher rushed for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Defensively, LB allowed just two big plays, and managed a game-chaning safety in the first half. The special teams came up in the clutch too. Grant Clemmons booted a 45-yard field goal, and the Cavaliers also blocked a Staunton River extra point.
Northside and Lord Botetourt are the number two and three seeds in the 3A West Bracket. The Vikings will face district rival Alleghany in the first round, while the Cavaliers will welcome Liberty to Daleville.
District Champs:
Finishing up in the Valley, where Robert E Lee and Harrisonburg are the 2015 Valley District co Champions.
Lee won its fifth consecutive game, following a 62-14 dismantling of Fort Defiance. The Leeman feasted on several 3A and 4A teams this year, and have been rewarded with the number-three seed in the 2A East playoffs.
Harrisonburg will share the title with Lee. The Blue Streaks wrapped up a 7-3 season in style, blasting Turner Ashby 55-29. Though Harrisonburg will not qualify for the 4A West playoffs, the Blue Streaks enjoyed their most successful season since 2011.
Other Notable Scores:
Blacksburg 14, Christiansburg 13
Patrick Henry 71, Carroll County 24
William Byrd 42, Rockbridge 7
Heritage 62, Liberty 33
Rustburg 42, E.C. Glass 18
East Rockingham 49, Buffalo Gap 39
James River 38, Covington 8
