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Week 9: Virginia Top 10 Rankings
As the Virginia high school football season progresses, the excitement and competition have reached a fever pitch. Week 9 Ranking are in and it brings us new insights and developments in the state’s top football programs. Let’s take a closer look at the Virginia Top 10 Rankings:
1.Benedictine College Prep (9-0)
After the big win against Collegiate, Benedictine move up in the State rankings to number one while maintaining their undefeated record. Last year the Cadets ended the season 25th in the state at 8-4 losing to Trinity Episcopal 35-0 in the VISAA Freelance Champion.
2. Maury (9-0)
Following their early season defeat against Highland Springs, the Commanders took steps to strengthen their team by acquiring Sophomore Brandon Nesbit Jr. from Deep Creek and Senior Jaden Rattliff from IC Norcom. These additions have further enhanced their already talented roster. Now, the Commanders are poised to compete for the 6A State Championship.
3. Highland Springs (8-1)
Highland Springs is a dominant force in the 6A Division, with their only loss being to Maury, the current top team in the division. It is possible that there may be a revenge game and a rematch of the 2023 State Championship, where Highland Springs emerged as the champions. The Commanders have been performing well, and we will have to wait and see how things unfold.
4. Freedom (8-0)
The Eagles started the season strong and held the number 1 spot in the State for weeks. However, due to the strength of schedule of other teams and competitive play at the 6A level, they dropped to fourth. Despite a great showing against Dematha Catholic, the State Rankings did not favor them. On the other hand, the Freedom team, with only one loss, secured the fourth spot. Their offense has been explosive and they are determined to dominate in the State Playoffs.
5. Life Christian Academy (8-0)
Despite Life Christian Academy’s impressive record and strong schedule playing schools from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee, the VISAA mandates that teams without a conference, such as Life, play half their schedule against VISAA opponents. As a result, if local peers refuse to play LCA, the team is not eligible to compete for a state title. Furthermore, the VISAA does not require its member programs to schedule specific opponents. This lack of eligibility for a state title is due to the VISAA’s broad rules regarding academics and eligibility. On November 9, Life Christian Academy football coach David Fitzgerald has scheduled a game against the infamous Bishop Sycamore at Virginia State University. Bishop Sycamore gained national attention in August 2021 when its Centurions team played IMG Academy on ESPN, as depicted in the HBO documentary “BS High.
8. Thomas Dale
Thomas Dale enters the playoffs with confidence after narrowly defeating Hopewell. The team is led by Head Coach Kevin Tucker, who guided them to a record-breaking 10 wins last season, the most since their 2009 State Championship year when they won 12 games. With a veteran squad accustomed to winning, Thomas Dale is poised for success in the playoffs.
9. South Lakes
The Seahawks, now part of the Concorde District, have a chance to achieve a flawless 10-0 record after this week. Last Friday, they secured a commanding 45-3 victory over the Centreville Wildcats, resulting in South Lakes claiming their first football district title since departing the Liberty District. This achievement is particularly significant considering the formidable competition within the Concorde District. South Lakes has now made history.
10. Salem
Salem’s football program has consistently relied on a ground and pound offensive strategy, opting not to adopt the RPO or Spread concept. This approach has proven successful, with the team reaching the final four of their state tournament in nine of the last 11 seasons. In that span, they have made five appearances in the title game and secured four championships. However, last year was an exception, as they were unable to advance to the Class 4 semifinals, suffering a 14-point loss to E.C. Glass.
The Virginia high school football landscape is packed with talent, and Week 9’s rankings reflect the fierce competition and determination of these top teams. As the season progresses, the battle for the state championship continues to intensify. Stay tuned for more exciting matchups and developments in the world of Virginia high school football.