Road to the Title - Week 7
Preface
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The
Road to the Title really hit a pot hole this week. I write this article on a lap
top, transfer it over to my main machine where I shuttle it to Virginia Preps
for everyone to read. The disc I use
for the transfer was damaged and would not reopen once closed. My son who is a
Microsoft Systems Engineer worked diligently this week in order to try to rescue
it from the damaged disc. He was able to retrieve about half of it. For those of
you who don’t know, each weekly segment takes about 13 to 15 hours to produce.
It incorporates about 6 hours of reasearch pouring over scores to games and
looking at district and regional races, at least 3 to 4 hours of typing and the
remainder of the time is spent correcting misspelled words and using proper
sentence structure. When anything happens like this it is terrible. I have taken
steps to correct the condition. What you will see in this article is all of the
material regarding Triple A Football. Most of Double A
normal">and all of Single A was
lost. I will be back next week with a detailed look at Double A and the
interesting games involving Single A. Keep reading and go out and catch a game
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The Road to the Title
Week
#7
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Well, this is the week that we start to look at the
playoff picture. As promised, this week’s examination will key on Triple A
Competition. What I will do is take each region and examine every district
individually. At the end, we will have some idea as to who is involved and the
games that will shape its outcome. I will start with the Central Region. I have
repeatedly said that in this district, Division 6 rules. Now, I will show you
why. In the Capital District there are 3 teams vying for the district title.
Lee-Davis leads the district at 3-0, 4-1 overall. Varina, at 2-0, 5-0 overall,
and Highland Springs 1-1 in district play and 4-1 overall round out the three.
Examining the Blue Devils schedule, Varina should finish their season
undefeated. Highland Springs plays the Confederates next week. The game is
crucial for Lee-Davis but not for Highland Springs. They are going to the
playoffs regardless unless they have a complete collapse which I am positive
will not happen. In the Central District, Thomas Dale, Petersburg, and Hopewell
are battling for the title. Thomas Dale and Petersburg currently lead this
district at 3-0. While Dale is 4-1 overall, Petersburg is 3-3. The future of the
Crimson wave will be determined by their next 2 games against Hopewell and
Thomas Dale. I expect Petersburg to fade. Dale and Hopewell should finish 1 and
2 in this district. The Central District is going to be the only one in the
Central Region that will be won by a Division 5 team. The Patriots of Patrick
Henry of Ashland are currently undefeated and I expect them to finish in that
way. The Patriots are now the only remaining undefeated Division 5 team in the
state. Mills Godwin currently shares the Central District Title with the
Patriots at 3-0. The Division 6 Eagles, 2-3 overall have games remaining with
Patrick Henry and Highland Springs. Their chances with 2 losses are very small.
In the Dominion District, L.C. Bird, James River, and Midlothian are the teams
at the top. Bird is 3-0 while James River and Midlothian are 2-1 in conference
competition. All three are 4-1 overall. The one loss that the Rapids and the
Trojans have is compliments of L.C. Bird. L.C. Bird has finished the toughest
part of their season and should finish at 8-1 and win the district. All three
teams are Division 6. So here is the way this Region looks at this time.
Division 6 will have Varina, Thomas Dale, and L.C. Bird in for sure. You then
have Lee-Davis, Mills Godwin, James River, and Midlothian all battling for the
last spot. In Division 5 competition, we will have Patrick Henry and Highland
Springs for sure with Hopewell, Petersburg, and some others waiting to get in if
anyone falters. Once you get past the District Champion, it is the VHSL power
rating that will determine if you qualify for post season play. At that point it
will be your overall record that becomes important. Crucial games this week in
this district will be Petersburg playing host to Hopewell. It is very probable
that the 4th seeded division 5 team qualifying for post season play
will have a 6-4 or 5-5 record overall.
If all that was confusing, wait until you see the Eastern Region. A
Hollywood writer could not have written a script that would be more spellbinding
than the remainder of the season here. The Southeastern District is awaiting a
final game meeting between 2 Division 6 opponents. Deep Creek is already in and
just waits for their meeting with Western Branch at the end of the season. The
Bruins future hangs on that contest. To put it simply, if the Bruins are
victorious over the Hornets, then they will qualify for post season play. If
they loose, they are out. Salem’s loss last week put the Beach District into a
3 way tie for the lead between Bayside, Salem, and Kellam, all Division 6 teams.
All three won last week and I expect them all to win again this week.
The peninsula District had a similar occurrence. The Phoebus Phantoms
beat the undefeated Hampton Crabbers putting this district into a 3-way tie
between Phoebus, Hampton and the Warwick Raiders. A Division 5 team will win
this district and there is a possibility that the Peninsula District could be
the origin for all 4 Division 5 post season competitors. That scenario depends
upon what happens in the Eastern District. They had one game that changed the
whole playoff picture for this region. Division 5 Lake Taylor, now at 2-3
overall, 0-2 in district play defeated previously unbeaten Division 6 Granby. I
never gave any thought of this happening. This now makes Division 5 Norview at
3-3 overall, 3-0 in district play, the leader. Parity is the best word to
describe play in this district. This District is unpredictable. Here is why the
outcome here is so important. Division 6 has Deep Creek at 6-0. Western Branch,
Bayside, Salem, Lakeland, and Kellam all now at 5-1. In Division 5 play we have
Phoebus, Hampton, and Warwick all at 5-1, with Heritage at 4-2. Now remember,
the District winner gets an automatic berth into post season play regardless of
record or power ratting. Now enters the Eastern District. If Division 6 Granby
wins, they are in and one of the above-mentioned teams in those districts is
bumped. This would more than likely send all 4 Division 5 opponent from the
Peninsula District into post season play. If Norview wins the District, this
will knock out Heritage and put in an extra Division 6 team. One more thing
before I leave the Eastern Region. The Division Races will go all the way to the
final game of the season. Salem plays Bayside in the Beach District. The looser
here will end up with an 8-2 record and that will not be good enough to qualify
for post season play. Western Branch will host Deep Creek. If the Bruins win
they are in. If they loose, they are out. The Warwick Raiders will play host to
Hampton. Win or loose, both will make the post season. What is at steak here is
who will be the host team in the opening rounds. Stick around. This is just
getting started.
The Northern Region presents some interesting situations. I will start
with the Concord District. Looking at competition in this district, the first
thing you will see is that every member in this district doesn’t play every
other member. This is the only district in VHSL competition that this doesn’t
occur. Thomas Jefferson plays only 2 teams in this district. So here, every game
played regardless of the district the opponent belongs, is a conference game.
Overall record rules here. Centerville is currently 5-0 and will more than
likely finish undefeated. Of all the other members, only Herndon has a chance.
They are mired in a 4-way tie for 2nd place but appear to be heading
for a 7-3 finish. It will be tough for a Division 6 opponent to get in with that
record but not impossible. In the Liberty District, Undefeated Mclean leads.
As I see it James Madison is the only likely threat to an unbeaten season
for the Highlanders. W.T. Woodson gave Mclean a scare 2 weeks ago before loosing
by a point. A loss by the Highlanders would not be impossible. The National
District is still up for grabs. Division 5 Mount Vernon currently is 3-0 in
conference play but is tied with 4 other teams with identical 3-2 records.
Remember, the District Champion gets the automatic berth in the regionals. If
the Majors can get by Thomas Edison and Yorktown, they should win the district.
It just so happens that they are the next 2 opponents for Mount Vernon. The
Patriot District is going to boil down to a battle between 2 undefeated Division
6 teams. The match up between James Robinson and Hayfield will take place on the
next to the last week of the regular season. Hayfield has a hurdle however to
get there. They will face a resurgent West Springfield team with its own sights
on the playoff picture. For that to happen they will have to overcome Hayfield.
That game is in 2 weeks. James Robinson will finish undefeated. They very well
may be the best team in the state. Someone is going to have to beat them for me
to change my mind and I do not think that will happen. So here is my review of
the Northern Region. Division 6 will have James Robinson, Centerville, Hayfield,
and either West Springfield or Herndon. In Division 5, we will have Mclean,
Mount Vernon, and then a group of several still vying for the opportunity. I
like James Madison and Falls Church to fill the remaining 2 spots. They are
going to have to work to get there.
Now we will take a look at the Northwestern Region. The Cardinal and
Ceder Run District have an unusual format. Both of these conferences are made up
of only 4 members. There is a lot of distance between schools. To make up for
this, each member plays the other twice. Both games are conference contests. The
Cardinal District has a deep heritage of turning out State Champions. They may
be in the process of doing this again. C.D. Hylton is currently 6-0 and has
handed Garfield, at 5-1, its only loss this year. But remember, they have to
play again. These 2 Division 6 giants play each other again in 2 weeks. Potomac,
in the Cedar Run District, is 5-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Stonewall
Jackson at 2-1 and 3-3 overall is the closest pursuer. The Raiders lost to the
Wolverines last week 21-3. I don’t think they will be any more successful on
the 2nd try. I don’t think anyone else from this district will
qualify for post season play. In the Western Valley District, Cave Spring looked
like they were headed for an unbeaten season until last week when Halifax County
turned the lights out on the Knights handing them their 1st loss
of the season 33-31. Now to complicate matters, this was the 1st
conference game for both. Halifax County, at 3-3 overall, George Washington, and
Franklin County are tied for the lead in the District at 1-0 while 6-1 Cave
Spring is 2th at 2-1. The Eagles of George Washington will be the
catalysis in this drama. The final 4 weeks of the regular season in this
district will be something to watch. Halifax County and Franklin County play
this week. On paper this game doesn’t appear to be much. This will be the most
important game played in the state this year by two 3-3 teams. Go out and see
it.
yes"> In the Commonwealth District, Culpepper County is at the top
and will end up there at the end of the season. The Blue Devils are not as
strong as they have been in the last 2 years but they should hold on for an 8-1
finish and the District Title. Here is an overview of the Northwestern Region.
In Division 6, it should be C.D. Hylton, George Washington, Garfield, and
probably Brook Point getting 4th. The last spot is still up for
grabs. In Division 5, it should be Potomac, Culpepper County, Cave Spring, and
Halifax County if they can win 3 of their last 4 games. This is how Triple a
competition is positioned now. Keep in mind, there are 4 more weeks left in the
season. Anything can happen and most likely will.
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Read Bill's previous 'adventures' on the road...
