Besides the Champs & Riverheads, who are the top contenders in this division. Heck, does anyone have their own preseason poll?
Top Contenders in 1A?
- Thread starter VaSportsJunky
- Start date
I’m sure my buddy kwhs95fan will give you a good preseason Top 10. He seems to know about all the schools from Region A thru D. He always does well in the weekly pick ‘em contest every year.
Bath County/Grundy/Rye Cove out of the west with any of these 3 being a major underdog in the title game.
I would take the field against G.Wythe, Galax, Honaker, Holston, Narrows, or Chilhowie and would be surprised if any of the above got past Bath/Rye Cove/Grundy.
Eastside should be in the mix too. Keldan Hamilton is one of the best RBs in class 1. I know Rye Cove loses Lane at QB, but returns some other key players. Lane was a huge part of their offense though, so whoever takes his spot has some big shoes to fill. Bath is in the same boat as Rye Cove. Wyatt Campbell was most of their offense and he'll be hard to replace. I'm not sure what Grayson loses on the line, but they do return two of the Goad brothers, including the QB. Grundy returns a lot from last year and could very well be the favorite out West. Out East in Region A, it's Essex then Rappahannock, and everyone else. I'd be awfully surprised if they're not playing in the Region A championship. Region B once again will run through Riverheads, although they may not be overwhelming favorites like they were in the past. I'll do a top 10 as we get closer to the season and I get a chance to study the teams a little more. Everything I've written above is just off the top of my head
Buffalo Gap may figure in. Yeah they must play Riverheads but that schedule is a gauntlet year after year.
Essex has to be favorite to repeat. Region B right now I would put Riverheads/Atlavista tie for first and Gap after those two.
I got to go with Essex also, but Riverheads will have that preseason-big-favorite gap with Essex very tight when/if the two meet in the semi's. Not saying Riverheads wins, but based on Riverheads history, I would bet they certainly have a reasonable chance and close that gap from game 1 to game 14.
Altavista had a solid group that had been starting since they were freshmen/sophomores. Lose a lot. On O, they graduated their rb, hb, both TE’s, and 5/6 of their top OL. On D they probably return more with a good defensive backfield coming back, but will graduate those 2 DE’s and their linebacker. If I’m remembering right they’ll bring back 3 starters on O and maybe 7-8 on defense.
A lot of people in the NN are high on Northumberland. That QB is a game changer. Will be tough beating Essex this year if Todd Jones’ squad is healthy. I’m interested in seeing them play Riverheads.
I fully expect Rapp to be a factor again in Region A. Returning 9 Starters on defense and 8 on offense, if healthy they should be one of the Top teams to compete against Essex for the State title! Of those starters, they return the NNK/Region A offensive player of the year Kenneth Maddison and the NNK/Region A defensive player of the year Chase Self. Add CJ Kelly (Region A 1st Team QB) & Kevin Fauntleroy Jr, they have the makings of a title contender.
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