Virginia High School League teams play their final regular season games this weekend. In five weeks, state champions will be crowned in six different classifications.
Here’s a look a look at each region with local participants, who’s expected to make the playoffs and what seed they will hold. The top eight teams in each region, based on VHSL power rating, qualify for the postseason.
The private school playoffs are already set and begin this weekend.
Class 5, Region B: Highland Springs (9-0) holds the top seed and is likely to keep its hold on to the No. 1 seed even if it loses to Varina on Saturday. The only way Highland Springs loses the top seed is if it loses to Varina and a combination of unlikely upsets occurs Friday night. Barring a major surprise, Highland Springs will be No. 1.
Manchester (8-1) is likely to take the No. 2 seed, though it’s possible it falls to No. 3. Deep Run (9-0) is likely to take the third seed. Varina (8-1) can jump up to the third seed, pushing Deep Run to fourth, if Deep Run loses to Thomas Jefferson on Friday. But if Deep Run wins Friday, Varina is stuck in the No. 4 seed no matter what happens against Highland Springs on Saturday.
Highland Springs, Manchester, Deep Run and Varina have locked up home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Prince George (6-3), Clover Hill (7-2) and Douglas Freeman (7-2) have clinched playoff berths, but what seeds they will take is undetermined. If Clover Hill beats Monacan, Clover Hill will jump to the fifth seed. If it loses, it’ll occupy either the sixth or seventh spot. If Freeman beats Glen Allen, it can jump to sixth if Clover Hill wins or fifth if Clover Hill loses. Prince George will get either the fifth, sixth or seventh seed depending on how its competitors finish.
Henrico (6-4), which is idle this week, is likely to take the eighth seed. Matoaca (5-4) can only surpass Henrico if it beats Hopewell and a number of unlikely upsets occur. L.C. Bird (4-5) is out of contention.
Class 6, Region A: Oscar Smith (8-1) holds the top seed, its only loss to Highland Springs, followed by Ocean Lakes (6-3) second and Thomas Dale (6-3) third. Cosby (5-4) currently holds the sixth seed and would visit Thomas Dale in the first round if the playoffs began today. Dale could fall to the fourth seed if it loses to Dinwiddie but probably can’t move any higher if it beats Dinwiddie. Cosby could slip to seventh if it falls to Manchester.
Class 4, Region B: Louisa (9-0) currently holds the No. 1 seed, but Monacan (8-1) can jump into the top spot with a win over Clover Hill on Friday. Patrick Henry (6-3) currently holds the fifth seed and seems likely to stay there. The Patriots would visit fourth-seeded Spotsylvania (7-2) if the playoffs began today. Dinwiddie (5-4) holds the sixth spot, Huguenot (5-4) is seventh, Chancellor (5-4) eighth and Powhatan (5-4) ninth. Powhatan visits Huguenot on Friday, and Powhatan can make the playoffs with a win. If Chancellor loses to Eastern View, Chancellor could fall out of the playoffs, giving Huguenot an avenue to qualify with a loss Friday. Powhatan can’t make the playoffs without beating Huguenot.
Class 3, Region A: Hopewell (9-0) is tied for first place with York (9-0), but Hopewell should take the No. 1 seed if it beats Matoaca on Friday. Phoebus (8-1) currently holds the third seed, and Lafayette (8-1) is locked into the fourth seed. Petersburg (4-5) shored up its playoff position by beating Matoaca last week and currently holds the seventh spot.
Class 3, Region B: Goochland (8-1), which hasn’t lost since its season opener to Lafayette, owns the No. 1 seed and has a big lead. The Bulldogs appear likely to keep the top seed no matter what happens Friday. The competition at the top of 3A is more fierce than 3B. If Goochland were a member of 3B, it would stand in fourth place, not first.
Class 2, Region A: Thomas Jefferson (8-1) holds the No. 1 seed and appears to have clinched it. Teejay plays undefeated Deep Run on Friday, but whether it wins or loses, it’s likely to keep the top seed. King William (6-3) holds the fifth seed, and John Marshall (5-4) is sixth, followed by Amelia (5-4) seventh.