ImFromOutEast

After the first week of games in the East I'd say don't sleep on Westmoreland (formerly Washington & Lee). They got their QB back after he suffered a fractured ankle in week one a season ago. Also, Northumberland has a number of athletes who should make them a sleeper. I believe the entire 4X100 state champion relay unit is on the team. Also, Sussex Central isn't quite what most thought they would be as they have 5 players from last year's team who are no longer with the program (I'll let you figure that one out, shouldn't be too difficult). Also, Cenral-Lunenburg is now Class 2. 

I'm going to tell you about the "old" field at King and Queen Central. Before I start let me say the current facility is located on the same property but runs north to south, while the "old" field ran east to west. Central is scheduled to upgrade its lighting system to college level quality in time for the 2023 home opener. Now, Central didn't have a home field the first 2 or 3 years they played football so their "home" games were at West Point. When they finally got a stadium, it was a combo/field with the lighting system supporting the baseball field which had no outfield fence. The football field continuously had mole problems resulting in twisted ankles and turf-monster tackles. One time a running back was en route to a long distance TD run when he tripped over the pitching rubber that had been left on te field! Seating at the stadium was sparse. I'd say it could accommodate no more than 250 so there was a whole lot of standing going on. The scoreboard was just large enough to display the score, the time and had 4 dots below the time to indicate what quarter the game was in. The clock operator sat in a school desk just below the clock. The console was on the desk and had a wire running to the scoreboard. The stadium lighting was equipped with incandescent bulbs which meant the field was dimly lit. I recall a game played there in the rain and you could hear the light bulbs exploding from contact with the rain!

I'm going to tell you about the "old" field at King and Queen Central. Before I start let me say the current facility is located on the same property but runs north to south, while the "old" field ran east to west. Central is scheduled to upgrade its lighting system to college level quality in time for the 2023 home opener. Now, Central didn't have a home field the first 2 or 3 years they played football so their "home" games were at West Point. When they finally got a stadium, it was a combo/field with the lighting system supporting the baseball field which had no outfield fence. The football field continuously had mole problems resulting in twisted ankles and turf-monster tackles. One time a running back was en route to a long distance TD run when he tripped over the pitching rubber that had been left on te field! Seating at the stadium was sparse. I'd say it could accommodate no more than 250 so there was a whole lot of standing going on. The scoreboard was just large enough to display the score, the time and had 4 dots below the time to indicate what quarter the game was in. The clock operator sat in a school desk just below the clock. The console was on the desk and had a wire running to the scoreboard. The stadium lighting was equipped with incandescent bulbs which meant the field was dimly lit. I recall a game played there in the rain and you could hear the light bulbs exploding from contact with the rain!

The ironic parking issue in Class 1 out this way is that the school with the most down-trodden football program is Lancaster. Large parking lot with two access points. Only issue is if you leave and go north on Rt 3 your are on a two-lane highway for 17 miles. Rappahannock has 2 lots with the back lot being larger. But if you happen to park in the front lot (which is in front of the school with single spaces down the length of the building) you can depart right on a four-lane highway. That's the only school out this way that has parking along a 4-lane highway, although King William isn't far from Rt. 360 (about 3/10 or 4/10 of a mile)  and neither is Essex which is about a mile from 4-lane Rt 17.  Middlesex also is about half-a-mile from Rt. 17. But, those distances seem longer when you're backed up in the parking lot or on the two-lane stretch of road leading to the four-lane highways.

I'm going to tell you about the "old" field at King and Queen Central. Before I start let me say the current facility is located on the same property but runs north to south, while the "old" field ran east to west. Central is scheduled to upgrade its lighting system to college level quality in time for the 2023 home opener. Now, Central didn't have a home field the first 2 or 3 years they played football so their "home" games were at West Point. When they finally got a stadium, it was a combo/field with the lighting system supporting the baseball field which had no outfield fence. The football field continuously had mole problems resulting in twisted ankles and turf-monster tackles. One time a running back was en route to a long distance TD run when he tripped over the pitching rubber that had been left on te field! Seating at the stadium was sparse. I'd say it could accommodate no more than 250 so there was a whole lot of standing going on. The scoreboard was just large enough to display the score, the time and had 4 dots below the time to indicate what quarter the game was in. The clock operator sat in a school desk just below the clock. The console was on the desk and had a wire running to the scoreboard. The stadium lighting was equipped with incandescent bulbs which meant the field was dimly lit. I recall a game played there in the rain and you could hear the light bulbs exploding from contact with the rain!

I'm going to tell you about the "old" field at King and Queen Central. Before I start let me say the current facility is located on the same property but runs north to south, while the "old" field ran east to west. Central is scheduled to upgrade its lighting system to college level quality in time for the 2023 home opener. Now, Central didn't have a home field the first 2 or 3 years they played football so their "home" games were at West Point. When they finally got a stadium, it was a combo/field with the lighting system supporting the baseball field which had no outfield fence. The football field continuously had mole problems resulting in twisted ankles and turf-monster tackles. One time a running back was en route to a long distance TD run when he tripped over the pitching rubber that had been left on te field! Seating at the stadium was sparse. I'd say it could accommodate no more than 250 so there was a whole lot of standing going on. The scoreboard was just large enough to display the score, the time and had 4 dots below the time to indicate what quarter the game was in. The clock operator sat in a school desk just below the clock. The console was on the desk and had a wire running to the scoreboard. The stadium lighting was equipped with incandescent bulbs which meant the field was dimly lit. I recall a game played there in the rain and you could hear the light bulbs exploding from contact with the rain!

Some good thoughts and observations right there!

In 1A, everyone seems to pick Essex......well because they are Essex. But, they took a tremendous hit at graduation time. Probably a year away from being a serious state title contender, especially with enrollment shrinking. King & Queen also took a big personnel hiit as they had around 12 seniors on a 22-man football team. Their JV lost to Essex like 76-0 last year. Colonial Beach won just once last year. I'd say look out for West Point and Westmoreland.
In 1B, everything I'm hearing (which isn't much) is that Sussex is the prohibitive favorite. They play Essex in the season opener.
In 2A, I agree that it should be a two-horse race between King William and Poquoson. While not as good as their state champioinship team, I'll predict that KW will field a team that was better than the one that lost to Poquoson in the playoffs last season.

In 1A, everyone seems to pick Essex......well because they are Essex. But, they took a tremendous hit at graduation time. Probably a year away from being a serious state title contender, especially with enrollment shrinking. King & Queen also took a big personnel hiit as they had around 12 seniors on a 22-man football team. Their JV lost to Essex like 76-0 last year. Colonial Beach won just once last year. I'd say look out for West Point and Westmoreland.
In 1B, everything I'm hearing (which isn't much) is that Sussex is the prohibitive favorite. They play Essex in the season opener.
In 2A, I agree that it should be a two-horse race between King William and Poquoson. While not as good as their state champioinship team, I'll predict that KW will field a team that was better than the one that lost to Poquoson in the playoffs last season.

King William was truly upset that their spring season got cut short as they felt they could make a run. They are doing it now. 

Thanks! 

Football – Games postponed due to COVID and the post-season
 
As we prepare for the first release of football power ratings, League staff offers the following reminders:
 
1)      We are conducting the 2021-22 football season as a “normal” season. There is no provision for additional game-weeks, plus-one games, etc. All regular season varsity games must be completed on or before Saturday, November 6.
2)      Regions should have already discussed and resolved matters affecting advancement and seeding, including but not limited to advancement criteria, minimum number of games played (if applicable), etc. 
3)      If a school played or will play an out-of-state school, the VHSL-member school is responsible for reporting any changes to the out-of-state team’s schedule to Lora Bickley (lbickley@vhsl.org). League staff will not monitor the out-of-state team’s schedule over the course of the season.
4)      Schools are encouraged to make every effort to reschedule postponed games. As a reminder, schools have the following options for postponed games:
a)       Reschedule and play the game
b)      Schedule and play other opponents
c)       Declare a “No Contest,” by mutual agreement
d)      Declare forfeiture in favor of the team not affected by COVID
 
We ask schools to determine proactively, by October 15, 2021, if a postponed game will be declared a “no contest” or a forfeit, in the event that the schools are unable to play the game before the end of the season. Again, we encourage schools to make every effort to reschedule and play postponed games, but schools involved in postponed games should discuss and determine if a game will be a forfeit or “no contest” if they remain unable to reschedule. If after October 15 the schools are able to reschedule and play the game, the previously agreed-upon status (forfeit or “no contest”) is voided.

Football – Games postponed due to COVID and the post-season
 
As we prepare for the first release of football power ratings, League staff offers the following reminders:
 
1)      We are conducting the 2021-22 football season as a “normal” season. There is no provision for additional game-weeks, plus-one games, etc. All regular season varsity games must be completed on or before Saturday, November 6.
2)      Regions should have already discussed and resolved matters affecting advancement and seeding, including but not limited to advancement criteria, minimum number of games played (if applicable), etc. 
3)      If a school played or will play an out-of-state school, the VHSL-member school is responsible for reporting any changes to the out-of-state team’s schedule to Lora Bickley (lbickley@vhsl.org). League staff will not monitor the out-of-state team’s schedule over the course of the season.
4)      Schools are encouraged to make every effort to reschedule postponed games. As a reminder, schools have the following options for postponed games:
a)       Reschedule and play the game
b)      Schedule and play other opponents
c)       Declare a “No Contest,” by mutual agreement
d)      Declare forfeiture in favor of the team not affected by COVID
 
We ask schools to determine proactively, by October 15, 2021, if a postponed game will be declared a “no contest” or a forfeit, in the event that the schools are unable to play the game before the end of the season. Again, we encourage schools to make every effort to reschedule and play postponed games, but schools involved in postponed games should discuss and determine if a game will be a forfeit or “no contest” if they remain unable to reschedule. If after October 15 the schools are able to reschedule and play the game, the previously agreed-upon status (forfeit or “no contest”) is voided.

Football – Games postponed due to COVID and the post-season
 
As we prepare for the first release of football power ratings, League staff offers the following reminders:
 
1)      We are conducting the 2021-22 football season as a “normal” season. There is no provision for additional game-weeks, plus-one games, etc. All regular season varsity games must be completed on or before Saturday, November 6.
2)      Regions should have already discussed and resolved matters affecting advancement and seeding, including but not limited to advancement criteria, minimum number of games played (if applicable), etc. 
3)      If a school played or will play an out-of-state school, the VHSL-member school is responsible for reporting any changes to the out-of-state team’s schedule to Lora Bickley (lbickley@vhsl.org). League staff will not monitor the out-of-state team’s schedule over the course of the season.
4)      Schools are encouraged to make every effort to reschedule postponed games. As a reminder, schools have the following options for postponed games:
a)       Reschedule and play the game
b)      Schedule and play other opponents
c)       Declare a “No Contest,” by mutual agreement
d)      Declare forfeiture in favor of the team not affected by COVID
 
We ask schools to determine proactively, by October 15, 2021, if a postponed game will be declared a “no contest” or a forfeit, in the event that the schools are unable to play the game before the end of the season. Again, we encourage schools to make every effort to reschedule and play postponed games, but schools involved in postponed games should discuss and determine if a game will be a forfeit or “no contest” if they remain unable to reschedule. If after October 15 the schools are able to reschedule and play the game, the previously agreed-upon status (forfeit or “no contest”) is voided.