And that is exactly why I made the post about eliminating regions altogether and just seeding the top 32 teams, March Madness style. But that's a different convo LOL...Region D was down this year in terms of talent. I'm not sure any of this year's versions of region D teams would have made the playoffs the last 2-5 years.
VA high school sports are 💩 compared to other states. Just the level of competition itself. Same teams playing every year. Cut out two classifications and you’d see the product improve tremendously.
I wouldn't say football is that bad. We do have 1-2 teams ranked top 100 every year, even if it is same teams. And Virginia had produced as many NFL players as California and Texas per capita. I do think restructuring the classifications would create more parity.
Reread what I said big dawg. Level of competition. It’s watered down due to the 6 classifications. No way should Phoebus get a free pass to the ship, Maury a free pass to the ship, Hayfield was gonna get a free pass to the ship, so will Graham in C2. Same teams every year.
I got you. I misunderstood what you meant. I do agree that the playoffs are watered down.
All good big bro! It’s so much talent in the state. VA is definitely a hot bed of talent.
Ill agree Phoebus road has been easy with the teams in their path so far but Maury beat two good teams in Warwick and Kings Fork…
Yeah but we knew that neither team was beating them though. I think Hayfield, Varina, Phoebus and maybe Oscar Smith are the only teams in VA that could compete with them.
Fully agree with this. I'd personally like to go back to 3 classes.
The last few years that there were 3 classes, they split each into 2 divisions for the state tournament in basketball and football. They had 6 state tournament levels just like now, only grouped into 3 classes.
So what's your solution, champ? You presented every reason as to why class reduction won't work but nothing more.
The solution to what? Having more competitive games? The solution is to realize that the competitive level of play between a class 2 school and a class 6 school is going to be different. Enjoy what you are watching and understand that a school with 500 students is not going to produce the athletes of a school with 1400 students.
You realize Phoebus is in a 10 (soon to be 9) team district, yes? Historically that gave them one game to strengthen their schedule which they've done their best to take advantage of (Highland Springs, Dematha, Oscar Smith).
Please understand I'm not knocking Phoebus in any way, or the schedule that they play, and I was only using them as an example because of the fact that they are so good. I'm just arguing the point that people on here seem to be complaining about the overall competition level of Virginia football and they are trying to say that reducing the classifications will fix the so called problem. I think the exact opposite. The classification keep the competition level higher in each classification. You should in theory get the two best class 1 teams playing each other in the state championship, and the reality is that the winner of that class 1 championship would probably not come close to beating even a mediocre class 6 school.
I totally agree that they should take fewer teams from each classification into the playoffs
What I heard was is that both State semi games are a waste of time, so they were just gonna let Phoebus play Varina this week for the state title and let Sherando and tusky play for 3rd place. Of course based on the commentary on here that would be a waste of time too, because there's no way Sherando could compete with Tusky either. They couldn't compete with Jefferson Forest or Salem either but due to two miracles that rival the immaculate conception and the birth of Christ himself they advanced
Think we're just behind the curve. Maybe we should just start cheering for an area code instead of a particular team, like some here do. That way when we talk up one of our teams and they fall flat on their face we can just pick another that hasn't been eliminated yet and belittle the ones who advanced. 540 has Salem, Sherando, Kettle Run, Handley, Lord Botetourt, William Fleming... the list goes on and on.
We would be arguing about 9-1 teams not making the playoffs
For what it's worth. Salem had no chance of beating Phoebus. Good luck to Sherando. I don't see it being close at all. Varina will have their hands full with Tuscarora. Would not surprise me if the Huskies win.
I see Tuscarora has pretty much blown everyone out they played minus Independence and Lightridge but I’m watching their opponents on film and just feel like they haven’t played anyone with the trench play that Varina has. I could be wrong but i just don’t see them blocking Varina
Didn't Phoebus beat that 2021 LCA team in a game where the defense had 2 pick six tds? I think so if my memory is correct. Gosh that's impressive in a state title gm against a team that can recruit.
Phoebus has a team an hour down the road that’ll love to play them, yearly. The Varina Blue Devils are loaded for the next 4-5 years.
Talk about a game that changed quickly after a holding call. LCA made a 80 yrs run for a TD. Was called back and next play was a pick 6 if I remember it right
Yeah even more impressive is LCA only had one real drive that whole game. Their second TD came on a short field after Phoebus threw a pick with their back to the end zone.
Correct but the lineman clearly grab the defender, which allowed that hold to open. Flag was thrown before Davison broke through.
Yup. The running game was shutdown and they couldn't pass as will. Something they did to All other opponents.
wasn't implying that it wasn't a hold. just shows how quickly a game can change. Sometimes the refs miss that hold.
Yes, that's correct. Take away those 2 pick sixes and the score is 14-7 offense vs offense in favor of LCA. Phoebus played better that night so they deserved the win. Just something interesting to think about.
