All 4 teams left in 1A did what?

[60minuteMan]

I think all 4 won rematches, in round 3 playoff games, from regular season losses. Interesting. 

[swvavol]

And there are three 3 seeds and one 5 seed left.  No region had a 1 or 2 seed advance.

14 hours ago, 60minuteMan said:

I think all 4 won rematches, in round 3 playoff games, from regular season losses. Interesting. 

 

[S10SQUAREBODY4LIFE]

Sos perhaps, or just not play well enough down the final stretch? Thinking the revenge teams just played better this time around. Most regions had rematches throughout.  Go back to east and west divisions.

[Liam McPoyle]

Two old adages fit here.
First, we learn more from losing — it exposes weaknesses, tests character, and forces adjustments.
And that leads straight to the second: it’s hard to beat a good team twice.

[Observer]

3 minutes ago, Liam McPoyle said:

Two old adages fit here.
First, we learn more from losing — it exposes weaknesses, tests character, and forces adjustments.
And that leads straight to the second: it’s hard to beat a good team twice.

Eastside may have looked like a better team on paper than Rye Cove, but I think back to two big factors in that situation.  1) Rye Cove playing Lord Botetourt helped them more than it hurt them and 2) they played with a new quarterback that was just getting his footing in the first matchup.  

[swvavol]

2 hours ago, Observer said:

Eastside may have looked like a better team on paper than Rye Cove, but I think back to two big factors in that situation.  1) Rye Cove playing Lord Botetourt helped them more than it hurt them and 2) they played with a new quarterback that was just getting his footing in the first matchup.  

The game Friday was won at the line of scrimmage.  Rye Cove dominated both sides of the line.  

[Observer]

11 minutes ago, swvavol said:

The game Friday was won at the line of scrimmage.  Rye Cove dominated both sides of the line.  

I agree that Rye Cove dominated the LOS

[Gridiron60]

Kind of crazy Rappahannock beat Essex, everyone had basically handed Essex the trophy already. I’d love to see Rye.Cove win it all. If it’s Grayson, I may throw up 😂. 

[Fairlawncat]

If...if Rapp gets by BG and Grayson gets past RC, Rapp will beat Grayson worse this year than what Essex did last year. Rapp is balanced. They pass and throw it. Their passing game will give Grayson fits. 

Essex has the best Defensive Coach in the state in Todd Jones and one of the worst offensive coaches in the state in Todd Jones. Essex has athletes and size all over the field, but the offense will remind you of (Gridiron since you're a Graham fan) Glynn Carlock in 1983. Not a bad O for 1983 and 3 yards in a cloud of dust was a normal thing back then, but in 2025 at Essex, it shouldn't be a normal thing, yet it is. And Essex again bows out of the playoffs with King William, Poquoson, Armstrong like talent across the board, but an offense that looks like a little league team.

All Rapp did was stack the LOS with 8 in the box and a safety over the top, and begged Essex to throw the ball, and Essex continued to run, and Essex is now watching at home this week.

[Bluebird]

I think that none of these 4 teams have won a state championship in football. 

[BobSmith]

15 minutes ago, Bluebird said:

I think that none of these 4 teams have won a state championship in football. 

Buffalo Gap won in 2007 I think.

[44cov3]

14 hours ago, Fairlawncat said:

Essex has the best Defensive Coach in the state in Todd Jones and one of the worst offensive coaches in the state in Todd Jones. Essex has athletes and size all over the field, but the offense will remind you of (Gridiron since you're a Graham fan) Glynn Carlock in 1983. Not a bad O for 1983 and 3 yards in a cloud of dust was a normal thing back then, but in 2025 at Essex, it shouldn't be a normal thing, yet it is. And Essex again bows out of the playoffs with King William, Poquoson, Armstrong like talent across the board, but an offense that looks like a little league team.

All Rapp did was stack the LOS with 8 in the box and a safety over the top, and begged Essex to throw the ball, and Essex continued to run, and Essex is now watching at home this week.

Todd Jones Best Defensive Coach in the State?  He didnt call the defense while he was at Pulaski; I would think if he's the best defensive coach in the state he would've been calling the shots.  Saying the best is a strong statement, I would agree he puts his best athletes in the right position most of the time; but not so sure about a scheme and adjustments guy.   

[Fairlawncat]

24 minutes ago, 44cov3 said:

Todd Jones Best Defensive Coach in the State?  He didnt call the defense while he was at Pulaski; I would think if he's the best defensive coach in the state he would've been calling the shots.  Saying the best is a strong statement, I would agree he puts his best athletes in the right position most of the time; but not so sure about a scheme and adjustments guy.   

I have no idea who calls Essex O or D and dont know Jones involvement. The point i was making is that for Jones as Head Coach, the Essex defenses are always outstanding and their offenses are incredibly sad, not diverse, and far too vanilla considering the talent on their team. What involvement Jones has? I have no idea. What responsibility he has? 100 percent. He's the Head Coach.

[Liam McPoyle]

Don’t sleep on the Bison.

IINM, Buffalo Gap's in a position to do something unheard of — become the first sub-.500 regular-season team (4–6) to win a state title.

• They’re the smallest school in the 9-team, meat-grinder Shenandoah District (Fort Defiance, Riverheads, Staunton, Stuarts Draft, Waynesboro, Wilson Mem, Rockbridge Co, Alleghany… plus OOD games with Broadway and Bath Co). 

• They're battle-tested — by far the toughest schedule in all of Class 1.

• They’re now sitting at 7–6 with impressive road playoff wins at
  • Luray (21–6)
  • Altavista (52–29)
  • Riverheads (48–21)   

This a dangerous team peaking at the right time, not unlike Jonesville '88 and Appy '89

[SWVAgridiron]

4 hours ago, Liam McPoyle said:

Don’t sleep on the Bison.

IINM, Buffalo Gap's in a position to do something unheard of — become the first sub-.500 regular-season team (4–6) to win a state title.

• They’re the smallest school in the 9-team, meat-grinder Shenandoah District (Fort Defiance, Riverheads, Staunton, Stuarts Draft, Waynesboro, Wilson Mem, Rockbridge Co, Alleghany… plus OOD games with Broadway and Bath Co). 

• They're battle-tested — by far the toughest schedule in all of Class 1.

• They’re now sitting at 7–6 with impressive road playoff wins at
  • Luray (21–6)
  • Altavista (52–29)
  • Riverheads (48–21)   

This a dangerous team peaking at the right time, not unlike Jonesville '88 and Appy '89

Seems like the 2016 Blacksburg team. Started the season 1-4 then realized the talent they actually had and started being smart about it. They finished 5-5 and went on the road and destroyed teams in the playoffs which include Heritage, Phoebus, and Staunton River in the championship. 

[Liam McPoyle]

55 minutes ago, SWVAgridiron said:

Seems like the 2016 Blacksburg team. Started the season 1-4 then realized the talent they actually had and started being smart about it. They finished 5-5 and went on the road and destroyed teams in the playoffs which include Heritage, Phoebus, and Staunton River in the championship. 

Yelp, I'd forgotten Blacksburg matched the Jonesville and Appy feat (5-5 to State Title). Even more impressive considering it was in 3A.

Hmm, what was that coach's name?

[Gridiron60]

2 minutes ago, Liam McPoyle said:

Yelp, I'd forgotten Blacksburg matched the Jonesville and Appy feat (5-5 to State Title). Even more impressive considering it was in 3A.

Hmm, what was that coach's name?

Let me check with some of my ole Blue ‘Nado 🌪️ friends 😂 

[tornado99]

6 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

Let me check with some of my ole Blue ‘Nado 🌪️ friends 😂 

I don’t know how fair this is to say, but could be argued that there are sometimes great coaches that never win a title and great teams with possibly average coaches that do.

Hence, my skepticism sometimes that the coaches that win titles don’t always have the superior staff.

[Gridiron60]

1 minute ago, tornado99 said:

I don’t know how fair this is to say, but could be argued that there are sometimes great coaches that never win a title and great teams with possibly average coaches that do.

Hence, my skepticism sometimes that the coaches that win titles don’t always have the superior staff.

I agree with your assertions but my comment was in jest since said coach was a former Blue Tornado player and had a short lived stint as Blue Tornado coach. 

[tornado99]

39 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

I agree with your assertions but my comment was in jest since said coach was a former Blue Tornado player and had a short lived stint as Blue Tornado coach. 

I know, and responded somewhat in jest, but is a real example of my skepticism. The coach and players track record is one in which he didn’t stay anywhere long for a variety of reasons, which makes me question his coaching ability. (He was once a hot commodity, at least what I assumed.) 

However, that 5-5 Blacksburg team was so talented, I can’t believe their record was that poor. They did win a title, and I’m sure it raised his stock. That logic is why I am slow to credit coaches with a wealth of talent. Nothing personal. 
 

The rags to riches coaches are those that usually impress me. It’s also why (bias included) I’m forever impressed by Mance’s staff in the mid-2000s before the transfers. While Richlands had a good run of talent, the coaches really made the most of it. Austin Fuller is the only Division One talent that I recall, yet there’s a state title among 2 other finals appearances, with my being most impressed by the least talented 2008 Regional title. It’s hard for me to compare the job they did.

No slight to the other coaches, but I am impressed by what Collier and Warner have done recently with such small enrollments. 

[tornado99]

52 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

I agree with your assertions but my comment was in jest since said coach was a former Blue Tornado player and had a short lived stint as Blue Tornado coach. 

No ill intent in my response. Well’s Blacksburg team is a real world example that shapes my perception.

As far as Graham and their staff is concerned, I think they do a great job. It’s tough to evaluate with all the talent they have and/or obtained.

Same with the late Phil Robbins. We will never know what other coaches could do with a couple of NFL players and a rich talent base thanks to the feeder program. 

A great coach sometimes just manages resources or gets lucky. Sometimes, they have to make the sum greater than its parts.

[Gridiron60]

1 hour ago, tornado99 said:

I know, and responded somewhat in jest, but is a real example of my skepticism. The coach and players track record is one in which he didn’t stay anywhere long for a variety of reasons, which makes me question his coaching ability. (He was once a hot commodity, at least what I assumed.) 

However, that 5-5 Blacksburg team was so talented, I can’t believe their record was that poor. They did win a title, and I’m sure it raised his stock. That logic is why I am slow to credit coaches with a wealth of talent. Nothing personal. 
 

The rags to riches coaches are those that usually impress me. It’s also why (bias included) I’m forever impressed by Mance’s staff in the mid-2000s before the transfers. While Richlands had a good run of talent, the coaches really made the most of it. Austin Fuller is the only Division One talent that I recall, yet there’s a state title among 2 other finals appearances, with my being most impressed by the least talented 2008 Regional title. It’s hard for me to compare the job they did.

No slight to the other coaches, but I am impressed by what Collier and Warner have done recently with such small enrollments. 

Without Cole Beck, I’m not sure Blacksburg ends up with that title. You can have good coaches but you still need some hardworking and somewhat talented Jimmy & Joes. 

[tornado99]

13 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

Without Cole Beck, I’m not sure Blacksburg ends up with that title. You can have good coaches but you still need some hardworking and somewhat talented Jimmy & Joes. 

True. I can’t remember the names, but the QB was very good, and his dad was a VT QB (King or Johnston?) They also had another speedster, who didn’t have the absolute speed of Beck, but was super quick (Tiquest Terry?)

 

[SWVAgridiron]

47 minutes ago, tornado99 said:

True. I can’t remember the names, but the QB was very good, and his dad was a VT QB (King or Johnston?) They also had another speedster, who didn’t have the absolute speed of Beck, but was super quick (Tiquest Terry?)

 

Johnston was the QB and Tiquest was just a freak of an athlete. Small kid but one of the most elusive players I’ve watched. I would put him in the same tier as the Mossor kid from Princeton. 

[tornado99]

I also think they had a son of former NFL returner Brian Mitchell on the team, who had some wheels. They definitely had speed to burn, more than any team I’ve seen locally. 
Therein, lies the basis of my opinion. 
I try to support my opinion with results and not personal opinion. (I don’t have anything against Wells.) The career pattern and results, which contributed to Richlands descent is what suggests that sometimes it is mostly about talent, though not always.