Grayson County capped an epic comeback with a last-minute touchdown as the Blue Devils reached their first VHSL football championship game in school history Saturday with a 40-34 semifinal victory over previously undefeated Rye Cove in a Class 1 semifinal in Clinchport.
Grayson (10-3) will play for the championship at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 14 at Salem Stadium in Salem against 2023 Class 1 runner-up Essex, which defeated Altavista 30-8 on Saturday in its semifinal.
The Blue Devils trailed Rye Cove 28-13 in the second half before scoring three touchdowns for a 33-28 lead.
Rye Cove answered with a TD with 2 minutes, 10 seconds to play before Grayson County responded with the game-winning TD on a 1-yard run by junior quarterback Maverik Goad with 36 seconds on the clock.
The Class 1 final will be the only one of six VHSL championship games that does not include at least one undefeated contender.
Unbeatens Oscar Smith (14-0) and James Madison (14-0) will square off in the Class 6 final at James Madison University in Harrisonburg following the Class 5 final between defending champion Maury (14-0) and Briar Woods (10-3). Maury owns a 29-game win streak.
Phoebus (13-0) will aim for a fourth state championship in a row in the Class 4 final against Varina (12-1) at Liberty University in Lynchburg. Phoebus carries a 48-game win streak into the final.
Also, in Lynchburg, Liberty Christian (13-0) will have the hometown advantage at LU in the Class 3 final against Kettle Run (14-0). LCA scored six first-half touchdowns in a 49-14 semifinal victory Saturday over William Byrd. The Bulldogs have won 27 games in a row.
Graham (14-0) and Strasburg (13-1) will tangle in the Class 2 final at Salem Stadium following the Class 1 final. Graham edged Glenvar 28-24 on Saturday in a game that was tied at 21 at halftime.
VHSL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
CLASS 6
Semifinals
Oscar Smith 42, Colonial Forge 7
James Madison 42, Lake Braddock 19
Championship
Dec. 14
At James Madison University, Harrisonburg
Oscar Smith (14-0) vs. James Madison (14-0), 5 p.m.
CLASS 5
Semifinals
Maury 20, Green Run 14
Briar Woods 28, L.C. Bird 14
Class 5 championship
Dec. 14
At James Madison University, Harrisonburg
Maury (14-0) vs. Briar Woods (10-3), 11:30 a.m.
CLASS 4
Semifinals
Phoebus 34, Sherando 0
Varina 28, Tuscarora 0
Class 4 championship
Dec. 14
At Liberty University, Lynchburg
Phoebus (13-0) vs. Varina (12-1), 5 p.m.
CLASS 3
Semifinals
Kettle Run 27, Lafayette 7
Liberty Christian 49, William Byrd 14
Class 3 championship
Dec. 14
At Liberty University, Lynchburg
Kettle Run (14-0) vs. Liberty Christian (13-0), 11:30 a.m.
CLASS 2
Semifinals
Strasburg 14, Poquoson 13
Graham 28, Glenvar 24
Class 2 championship
Dec. 14
At Salem Stadium, Salem
Strasburg (13-1) vs. Graham (14-0), 5 p.m.
CLASS 1
Semifinals
Essex 30, Altavista 8
Grayson County 40, Rye Cove 34
Class 1 championship
Dec. 14
At Salem Stadium, Salem
Essex (13-1) vs. Grayson County (10-3), 11:30 a.m.
