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Six Virginia High School League football championships will be decided Saturday in games in Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and Salem. Here’s a preview of each:
CLASS 6
OSCAR SMITH (12-1) vs. NORTH STAFFORD (11-3)
At James Madison University, Harrisonburg
Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
School locations: Oscar Smith (Chesapeake); North Stafford (Stafford)
Nicknames: Oscar Smith (Tigers); North Stafford (Wolverines)
Coaches: Oscar Smith (Chris Scott); North Stafford (Marquez Hall)
How they got here: Oscar Smith was seeded No. 1 in Region 6A. The Tigers received a first-round bye and defeated L.C. Bird 50-0 and Thomas Dale 48-7. North Stafford was seeded No. 3 in Region 6B. The Wolverines defeated Independence 52-14, No. 2 Battlefield 21-6 and Woodbridge 49-33.
State semifinals: Oscar Smith defeated James Madison 34-28; North Stafford defeated West Springfield 19-7.
Series history: First meeting
Playoff won-lost records: Oscar Smith 67-17; North Stafford 27-18.
Playoff history: Oscar Smith owns five Class 6 state titles (2024, 2021, 2020, 2011, 2008) and the Tigers had five state runner-up finishes from 2013-2019. North Stafford placed second in Class 5 in 2004 and reached Class 5 state semifinals in 2015 and 2018.
Quick kicks: Oscar Smith High opened in 1954 after the closure of old South Norfolk High. The Tigers had four head coaches in a five-year period from 2015-19. North Stafford opened in 1981. Las Vegas Raiders receivers coach Chris Beatty was the head coach at North Stafford for three seasons from 1998-2000. Smith wide receiver Travis Johnson has signed with Michigan. North Stafford safety Kenaz Sullivan holds a number of Class of 27 offers including Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
CLASS 5
MAURY (13-1) vs. HIGHLAND SPRINGS (11-3)
At James Madison University, Harrisonburg
Saturday, 5 p.m.
School locations: Maury (Norfolk); Highland Springs (Henrico County)
Nicknames: Maury (Commodores); Highland Springs (Springers)
Coaches: Maury (Dyrri McCain); Highland Springs (Loren Johnson)
How they got here: Maury was seeded No. 2 in Region 5B. The Commodores defeated Woodside 64-6, Warwick 42-10 and No. 1 seed King’s Fork 49-6. Highland Springs was seeded No. 2 in Region 5C. The Springers defeated Glen Allen 28-9, William Fleming 37-7 and Hermitage 21-13.
State semifinals: Maury defeated Stone Bridge 48-27; Highland Springs defeated Indian River 35-8.
Series history: Highland Springs leads 4-2
Last meeting: Maury won 38-7 in 2024 regular season.
Playoff won-lost records: Maury 34-19; Highland Springs 62-35.
Playoff history: Maury was the Group AAA runner-up in 1972, long before beginning a run of six Class 5 finals appearances from 2019-24 with championships in ’19, ’23 and ’24 capped by a 46-0 win over Briar Woods. Highland Springs has played in eight state finals, winning Class 5 titles in 2015, ’16, ’17, ’18 and ’22. The Springers were the Class 6 runner-up in 2023 and Group AAA runner-up in 1978.
Quick kicks: Maury will be without linebacker Ike Simmons, a Pittsburgh signee, following an injury in the Region 5B final. Highland Springs coach Johnson was a defensive back at Virginia Tech from 1995-98. He has coached the Springers to 42 of their 62 career postseason victories. This is the only one of the six VHSL finals in which the opponents have played each other previously. Highland Springs defeated Maury 33-19 in the 2022 Class 5 final to complete a 15-0 season.
CLASS 4
VARINA (12-2) vs. LOUDOUN COUNTY (12-1)
At Liberty University, Lynchburg
Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
School locations: Varina (Chesterfield County); Loudoun County (Leesburg)
Nicknames: Varina (Blue Devils); Loudoun County (Captains).
Coaches: Varina (Marcus Lewis); Loudoun County (Matt Reiedenbaugh)
How they got here: Varina was seeded No. 4 in Region 4B. The Blue Devils defeated Courtland 47-6, No. 1 Dinwiddie 34-0 and Huguenot 21-12. Loudoun County was seeded No. 1 in Region 4B. The Captains received a first-round bye and defeated Heritage-Leesburg 14-13 and Loudoun Valley 28-14.
State semifinals: Varina defeated Jefferson Forest 49-21; Loudoun County defeated Lafayette 25-23.
Series history: First meeting
Playoff won-lost records: Varina 42-27; Loudoun County 15-19.
Playoff history: Varina won the 2021 Class 4 title 28-21 over Broad Run. Varina was the Class 6 runner-up in 1998 and 1999, and lost 23-6 to Phoebus in the 2024 Class 4 final. Loudoun County made a Class 4 state semifinal in 2022 and region finals in 1985 and 2012.
Quick kicks: Varina’s lone losses are to Class 5 semifinalist Maury (14-13) and North Carolina Class 7 semifinalist Greensboro Grimsley (21-14). Varina boasts a pair of UVa signees: lineman JaySean Richardson and athlete DaMari Carter, along with West Virginia signee SirPaul Cheeks, a running back. Loudoun County’s offensive line is powered by Clemson recruit Carter Scruggs and Catoctin District offensive player of the year Montez Dyson. Loudoun County also lost out of state, 35-34 to Jefferson (W.Va.).
CLASS 3
LAKE TAYLOR (12-2) vs. KETTLE RUN (13-1)
At Liberty University, Lynchburg
Saturday, 5 p.m.
School locations: Lake Taylor (Norfolk); Kettle Run (Nokesville)
Nicknames: Lake Taylor (Titans); Kettle Run (Cougars).
Coaches: Lake Taylor (Hank Sawyer); Kettle Run (Delmar Christian)
How they got here: Lake Taylor was seeded No. 2 in Region 3A. The Titans defeated Colonial Heights 49-6, I.C. Norcom 20-7 and Petersburg 40-26; Kettle Run was seeded No. 1 in Region 3B. The Cougars defeated Warren County 63-0, Brentsville 35-12 and Skyline 35-14.
State semifinals: Lake Taylor defeated Magna Vista 27-21; Kettle Run defeated Liberty Christian 29-28.
Series history: First meeting
Playoff won-lost records: Lake Taylor 45-27; Kettle Run 22-11.
Playoff history: Lake Taylor owns state titles in 2012 (Class 5), and 2014 and 2019 (Class 4) with runner-up finishes in 2015, 2018 and 2021 (spring). The Titans’ last state final was a 28-20 home loss to Salem. Kettle Run reached a region final in its fourth year as a school in 2011. Kettle Run lost to Dinwiddie 65-20 in the Class 4 state final in 2022 and fell to Liberty Christian 42-6 in the Class 3 final in 2024.
Quick kicks: Lake Taylor has an 8-0 all-time record in state semifinals. Kettle Run’s Christian is a first-year head coach following the departure of Charlie Porterfield after nine seasons. Both teams won semifinals in thrilling fashion. Lake Taylor quarterback Kevin Adams hit Magerald Clark on a 27-yard TD pass to break a tie as time ran out against Magna Vista, while Kettle Run overcame a 28-9 deficit to eliminate two-time defending champion Liberty Christian.
CLASS 2
STRASBURG (12-1) vs. GLENVAR (14-0)
At Salem Stadium, Salem
Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
School locations: Strasburg (Shenandoah County); Glenvar (Roanoke County)
School nicknames: Strasburg (Rams); Glenvar (Highlanders)
Coaches: Strasburg (Tripp Lamb); Glenvar (Kevin Clifford)
How they got here: Strasburg received a first-round bye and defeated Central-Woodstock 35-6 and Stuarts Draft 54-7. Glenvar was seeded No. 1 in Region 2C. The Highlanders defeated Nelson County 50-0, Radford 27-3 and Gretna 41-6.
State semifinals: Strasburg defeated Poquoson 31-10; Glenvar defeated Union 21-20.
Series history: First meeting
Playoff won-lost records: Strasburg 38-31; Glenvar 27-16
Playoff history: Strasburg has lost all five of its state finals: to Parry McCluer (1987), Jonesville (1988), Appalachia (1992) and Bath County (1995) in Division 1; and to Graham 31-8 in Class 2 in 2024. Glenvar won the 2014 Division 2 championship with a 21-20 overtime victory over Wilson Memorial under Clifford in the school’s only previous trip to a state final.
Quick kicks: Strasburg has won 10 games in a row since a 28-20 loss to Class 3 Broadway. The Rams have rushed for 4,725 yards in 13 games including 1,863 yards and 25 TDs by Region 2B offensive player of the year Quincy Williams. Lamb is a graduate of Staunton River High School who has guided Strasburg to state finals in both his seasons as head coach. Glenvar senior quarterback Brody Dawyot, who as returned to the lineup after suffering a shoulder injury in early November, owns the VHSL record for the most career touchdown passes with 135. Dawyot, a UNC Charlotte signee, has passed for 2,557 yards and 37 TDs with just four interceptions this season.
See also: “2 unlikely brothers have led Glenvar to the doorstep of a state championship.”
CLASS 1
RAPPAHANNOCK (12-2) vs. RYE COVE (11-3)
At Salem Stadium, Salem
Saturday, 5 p.m.
School locations: Rappahannock (Warsaw); Rye Cove (Clinchport)
Nicknames: Rappahannock (Raiders); Rye Cove (Eagles)
Coaches: Rappahannock (William West); Rye Cove (Gary Collier)
How they got here: Rappahannock was seeded No. 3 in Region 1A. The Raiders received a forfeit from West Point and defeated Northampton 55-18 and Essex 19-16. Rye Cove was seeded No. 3 in Region 1D. The Eagles defeated Holston 61-14, Chilhowie 21-13 and Eastside 32-12.
State semifinals: Rappahannock defeated Buffalo Gap 38-32; Rye Cove defeated Grayson County 7-6.
Series history: First meeting
Playoff won-lost records: Rappahannock 14-24; Rye Cove 14-17.
Playoff history: Rappahannock reached state semifinals in 1988 and 1992.
Quick kicks: Rappahannock’s Kenneth Madison rushed for 372 yards in a Region 1A semifinal victory over Northumberland and is averaging 13.5 yards per carry this season. Rye Cove’s victory over Grayson County was its first in a state semifinal, having lost to Grayson 40-34 in 2024 and to 42-18 to Bath County 42-18 in 2000. Both teams are seeking their first state championship.
See also: “Rye Cove goes from unable to finish a game to playing for the state championship.”
