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To kick or not to kick?
That was a big question Saturday in several Virginia High School League football playoff games across the state.
Making that decision might have been the difference between victory and defeat in two Southwest Virginia semifinals.
Glenvar and Union collided in a matchup of the state’s two remaining undefeated teams in a Class 2 semifinal at Bullitt Park in Big Stone Gap.
The finish lived up to the pregame hype.
Glenvar escaped Wise County with a 21-20 victory but not before the Highlanders’ defense stopped a two-point conversion attempt by Union following a touchdown with two seconds left in the game.
The Bears trailed 21-7 midway through the fourth quarter, but when Brandon Chandler scored on a short pass from Kam Bostic the deficit was a single point.
Union called a timeout and chose to go for the win.
The call went to Chandler on a fullback run up the middle, but Glenvar’s defense stopped the play 1 yard short, earning the Highlanders a trip to the Dec. 13 championship game against Strasburg at Salem Stadium at 11:30 a.m.
Strasburg reached the final for the second year in a row with a 31-10 home victory over Poquoson.
Glenvar’s defense also staged a pair of goal-line stands in the first half, turning Union away without a point on both occasions on a fourth-down stop and a blocked field goal.
Glenvar quarterback Brody Dawyot passed for two TDs and ran for one, raising his VHSL career TD pass record total to 135.
Grayson County faced a similar late-game situation in its Class 1 semifinal against Rye Cove at Gate City High School in Scott County.
The Blue Devils finally solved the Eagles’ defense for a fourth-quarter TD, then Rye Cove jumped offsides as Grayson was lined up to kick the PAT. Grayson brought the offense back on the field and attempted to take the lead. A pass to the corner of the end zone fell incomplete.
Rye Cove stopped one more Grayson possession and ran out the clock for a 7-6 victory, putting the Eagles into their first state championship game and denying Grayson County a return to Salem for a second shot at the title.
Rye Cove (11-3) will play Rappahannock (12-2) for the Class 1 title Saturday at 5 p.m.
Rappahannock advanced with a 38-32 semifinal victory at home against Buffalo Gap, turning away a late drive within the shadow of the goal.
Buffalo Gap reached the Rappahannock 3 in the waning minutes before the Bison were flagged for illegally assisting the ball carrier on a run. Buffalo Gap still had a chance to tie or win the game, but Isaac Goff was tackled after a pass reception at the 5 as time expired.
However, the top finish of the day might have taken place in Norfolk where Lake Taylor welcomed Magna Vista after a long drive from Henry County.
The game was tied at 21-21 as Lake Taylor had the ball on the Magna Vista 27 with time for one more play.
The Titans drew up a miracle finish as quarterback Kevin Adams found Magerald Clark in the end zone for a 27-yard TD to win the game for Lake Taylor.
The other Class 3 semifinal saw Kettle Run advance to its third state final in four years, and the Cougars did it by knocking off two-time defending champion Liberty Christian 29-28 with a second-half comeback.
Kettle Run (13-1) trailed 28-15 before mounting the winning rally, setting up next week’s final at against Lake Taylor (12-2) at Liberty University. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Jefferson Forest saw its bid for a berth in the Class 4 final fall short in a 49-21 loss to a powerful Varina team.
Varina (12-2) will meet Loudoun County, a 25-23 winner over Lafayette. Loudoun County (12-1) will take on Varina in the 11 a.m. championship game at Liberty University.
Reigning Class 6 champion Oscar Smith had to hang on for a 34-28 victory at James Madison High in Vienna in a rematch of the 2024 state final. Oscar Smith led 34-14, but Madison scored twice and had the ball at the Tigers’ 15-yard line when the game ended.
Oscar Smith (12-1) will play North Stafford (11-3) in the Class 6 final Saturday at James Madison University at 11:30 a.m. North Stafford defeated West Springfield 19-7 in their semifinal.
The Class 5 semifinals lacked the level of drama in the other classifications.
Reigning state champion Maury rolled to a 48-27 victory over Stone Bridge, while Region 5C champ Highland Springs posted a 35-8 decision over Indian River.
Maury (13-1) and Highland Springs (11-3) will tangle in the Class 5 final at James Madison University at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Oscar Smith and Maury each has a loss on its schedule, but both teams are undefeated against Virginia competition. Oscar Smith lost to Gonzaga (D.C.) in the season opener in August, while Maury fell to Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.) in its first game.
CLASS 6
State championship
At James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg
Oscar Smith (12-1) vs. North Stafford (11-3), Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
State semifinals
Oscar Smith 34, James Madison 28
North Stafford 19, West Springfield 7
CLASS 5
State championship
At James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg
Highland Springs (11-3) vs. Maury (13-1), Saturday, 5 p.m.
State semifinals
Highland Springs 35, Indian River 8
Maury 48, Stone Bridge 27
CLASS 4
State championship
At Liberty Univ., Lynchburg
Varina (12-2) vs. Loudoun County (12-1), Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
State semifinals
Varina 49, Jefferson Forest 21
Loudoun County 25, Lafayette 23
CLASS 3
State championship
At Liberty Univ., Lynchburg
Lake Taylor (12-2) vs. Kettle Run (13-1), Saturday, 5 p.m.
State semifinals
Lake Taylor 27, Magna Vista 21
Kettle Run 29, Liberty Christian 28
CLASS 2
State championship
At Salem Stadium
Strasburg (12-1) vs. Glenvar (14-0), Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
State semifinals
Strasburg 31, Poquoson 10
Glenvar 21, Union 20
CLASS 1
State championship
At Salem Stadium
Rappahannock (12-2) vs. Rye Cove (11-3), Saturday, 5 p.m.
State semifinals
Rappahannock 38, Buffalo Gap 32
Rye Cove 7, Grayson County 6