Highschool soccer report: Breaking down each native playoff sport – The Richmonder

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You blinked, didn’t you?
The highschool soccer common season is, certainly, full. Strap in for a five-week dash that’s been 14 weeks within the making. From January lifts earlier than faculty to seven-on-sevens in Could and scrimmages in mid-August, every little thing culminates into the final word motivator: win or go house.
This week is a deep dive into the area quarterfinal matchups, and a preview of the title sport in Virginia Unbiased Faculties Athletic Affiliation (VISAA) Division I.
Hezekiah Anderson, Richmond Excessive College For The Arts: In his ultimate sport as a Bulldog, Anderson led a tenacious protection with twelve tackles, 4 of them for loss, selecting up their first win 14-12 over Clover Hill, ending an 18-game shedding skid.
Stephen Ankiel, Matoaca: Put this younger man in your 2026 season radar. 335 yards and 4 passing touchdowns helped the Warriors stun rival Meadowbrook, knocking them out of the Class 5, Area C playoffs. Matoaca received three of their final 4 video games after an 0-6 begin.
Ben Whitver, Powhatan: The brand new king of receiving yards in Virginia Excessive College League (VHSL), Whitver racked up a 257-yard efficiency in his highschool finale Friday, breaking the three,500 yard profession mark, 1,004 of them in 2025. Subsequent cease: James Madison.
Anthony Hansom, Armstrong: We watched this younger man overcome a sluggish begin, passing for 2 touchdowns and speeding for 2 extra with 209 yards of complete offense because the Wildcats blanked Mechanicsville 37-0.
Armstrong QB Anthony Hansom utilizing the bootleg for considered one of his 4 touchdowns to assist the Wildcats earn their first-ever unbeaten common season by way of a 37-0 win at Mechanicsville Thursday.
Patrick Liptrap, Hanover: Although he actually shouldn’t be “unsung” by now, this senior should seem on anybody’s first-team all-defense within the Metro Richmond area this 12 months. An absolute ball hawk, the senior pressured a fumble together with seven tackles, two for loss and a sack towards Highland Springs.
The Hanover Playbook: Regardless of understanding they have been within the playoffs, head coach Sam Rogers and his workers pulled out all of the stops, together with a profitable pretend punt inside their very own 15, a landing go on a fourth and eighteen, and a halfback choice rating in an effort that fell simply brief 30-27 to Highland Springs.
Hanover’s pretend punt
The Douglas Freeman Playbook: Their season on the road, and down 15-0, the Mavericks rating on a 90-yard bomb, a flea flicker, drive additional time, then punch their ticket into the Class 5, Area C playoff area when lineman Hank Seashore scores in additional time to stun Glen Allen 21-18.
VISAA Division I Championship: #2 Benedictine (10-1) at #1 Trinity Episcopal (9-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.
For the fourth time in 5 years, the Cadets and Titans will resolve the state champion within the highest division of Virginia personal faculty soccer. The Titans received all of it in 2021 and 2022, whereas the Cadets are two-time defending state champs, exacting some revenge in 2023 by defeating Trinity Episcopal, then besting St. Michael the Archangel final 12 months.
The Titans handed the Cadets their solely loss two weeks in the past within the common season finale, which additionally occurred two years in the past, solely to see Benedictine win the championship sport. Can they do it once more on Trinity’s house area?
All of them! So, let’s undergo the regional quarterfinal schedule by class and area and take a look at the matchups. All video games are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.
Class 6, Area A:
#5 Western Department at #4 L.C. Chicken: The Skyhawks expertise their first postseason in Class 6 and, because of final week’s win over James River, they make the Bruins hit the bus from Chesapeake to Chester. Ball management, no turnovers and limiting penalties are key to getting L.C. Chicken to Oscar Smith subsequent week.
#6 Landstown at #3 Manchester: There’s no disgrace in shedding to Huguenot. And, if the Lancers couldn’t seize that second bye (which went to Thomas Dale), a minimum of Manchester stayed out of the Oscar Smith facet of the bracket. A top quality efficiency, which begins with no hangover from final week, will ship the Lancers to Chester subsequent Friday.
By the way in which, 18-7, 40-21, 38-35. These are the ultimate scores of the final three Thomas Dale postseason losses, all of them to Manchester, all within the final three years.
Class 5, Area C:
#8 Franklin County at #1 Patrick Henry-Roanoke: The highest-seeded Patriots, the one unbeaten on this area, defeated the Eagles 36-14 on September 12. It might be a shock in the event that they don’t repeat that efficiency.
#5 Hermitage at #4 Midlothian: Arguably one of the intriguing quarterfinals within the Commonwealth. Two groups that just about by no means see one another. A Midlothian protection that started sturdy, then acquired stung by Huguenot and Manchester in Dominion District play, should discover a option to defend Andre Clarke within the Panther passing sport and decelerate Avery Curtis, the star Hermitage operating again.
A technique to do this? Preserve your individual offense on the sector. Time-consuming drives and no turnovers, particularly in your individual territory. They’re important for a Midlothian squad taking part in at house whereas many take into account them the underdog right here.
#6 Douglas Freeman at #3 William Fleming: With the way in which the Mavericks have performed the second half of the season, nobody ought to depend them out of this one. Nevertheless, they will’t get down massive early. The Colonels have received 5 straight, giving up simply 28 factors throughout that stretch. If Douglas Freeman could make this sport a grinder, with minimal possessions and a ultimate rating very like final week’s at Glen Allen, they will pull the upset.
#7 Glen Allen at #2 Highland Springs: The Springers enter the postseason in an uncommon place. They regressed a bit final week, needing a 99-yard kickoff return for a landing within the ultimate two minutes to outlive Hanover 30-27. 4 fumbles given away, an interception, and play that was to not Highland Springs requirements.
It will likely be beautiful in the event that they don’t elevate their sport, massive time, as they welcome the Jaguars, a workforce that put a scare in them a 12 months in the past earlier than falling 23-20 within the Class 6, Area A semis. Each groups got here all the way down to Class 5, and, voila, the rematch. 
Class 4, Area B:
#8 Hanover at #1 Dinwiddie: This matchup has a wealthy playoff historical past, with the previous Group AAA, Division 5 Central Area title street going via these groups within the late 2000’s and early 2010’s. The final outing, in 2022, Dinwiddie bested the Hawks 49-12 en path to their second state championship. 
Joel Nicholson threw three landing passes within the Highland Springs sport per week in the past, and now should go toe-to-toe with the Generals’ basic, Zion Boisseau. It’s by no means straightforward to win at Dinwiddie, however Coach Rogers is aware of the historical past, and is aware of how Billy Mills works. However Mills is aware of Rogers, too. This might grow to be an interesting chess match.
#5 Courtland at #4 Varina: The Blue Devils are taking part in at a championship degree proper now. They’re arguably two or three performs away from being 10-0. The Cougars have had a terrific season, solely shedding to Louisa within the common season again in early September. Courtland will want Varina to commit unforced errors and take full benefit of them if they’ve a hope on the upset.
#6 Spotsylvania at #3 Huguenot: Factors allowed by the Falcons to St. Christopher’s of their season opener: 20.
Factors allowed by the Falcons of their final 9 video games: 21.
Whereas Charles Scott, Iveon Lewis and the Huguenot offense is buzzing on all cylinders, for the Falcons to chase the Class 4 crown, and attempt to get out of Virginia’s hardest area, it is going to relaxation on their protection. And it’s arduous to argue that anybody is taking part in higher protection proper now. The Knights should discover a option to create brief fields, and benefit from any Falcon turnovers.
#7 Caroline at #2 Louisa: The Cavaliers have numerous expertise, and plenty of velocity. Caroline is an fascinating matchup towards the 10-0 Lions and might be able to go toe-to-toe with them for some time. 
However Louisa averages 10.5 yards per speeding try, because of not solely the nation’s prime operating again recruit, Savion Hiter, but in addition Lavatrell Creasy, who quietly has scored ten touchdowns, speeding for 616 yards in 67 makes an attempt. Caroline could not need this one to show right into a observe meet, however it could be their greatest likelihood to stun the area, and the Lions.
Class 3, Area A:
#8 Colonial Heights at #1 Lake Taylor: That is exhibit A for individuals who don’t like the present VHSL playoff format, as mentioned final week. The Titans will probably overwhelm the Colonials, who enter this sport at 1-9. It’s a down season for a normally stronger area. Colonial Heights can nonetheless, although, benefit from an additional week of apply, and start constructing for 2026.
#5 Tabb at #4 I.C. Norcom: A 757 battle that would go both approach, with the winner probably heading to Lake Taylor.
#6 Hopewell at #3 New Kent: It’s been one other disappointing season by Hopewell requirements. Nevertheless, they received’t need to face Highland Springs, Thomas Dale or Dinwiddie within the area playoffs. 
What they should do is cease a gritty, gutsy Trojan squad that started the 12 months 1-2 earlier than ripping off six wins of their final seven. Solely a 13-12 heartbreaker to Warhill saved them from being 8-2. First-year head coach Scott Girolmo has molded this group of younger males shortly, and there received’t be any motivation obligatory for a workforce taking part in at house after their first seven-win common season since 2003.
#7 York at #2 Petersburg: Perhaps the largest really feel good story this season comes from the south. Whereas Meadowbrook took all of the early headlines on this class, the Crimson Wave’s 36-0 pasting of the Monarchs down the stretch was important in Petersburg incomes the quantity two seed.
Nevertheless, the Wave will want extra consistency from their offense to make a deep playoff run, breaking the 30-point mark solely as soon as (Meadowbrook) over their final eight video games, averaging just below 20 per contest throughout that point. 
Class 3, Area B:
#7 Goochland at #2 Culpeper: The lone space workforce on this eight-team area area, the Bulldogs are in rebuild mode, however picked up an enormous win of their finale 34-14 over Charlottesville. Culpeper has received two of their final three, each over playoff groups in James Monroe and Caroline.
Class 2, Area A:
#8 Nottoway at #1 Armstrong: The Wildcats are recent off their first-ever 10-0 common season. Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt acquired again to Cool Lane final Thursday night time, went to the white board, and wrote “0-0” throughout it, for certain. Armstrong wants a faster begin on offense than that they had at Mechanicsville, and ought to be prepared for a Cougar squad that can present physicality from each traces. Nottoway is aware of that they will’t enable Hansom and firm to crank issues up. That’s why the Wildcats must crank it up early.
#5 King William vs. #4 Thomas Jefferson: This contest will probably be held at Hovey Discipline at Virginia Union. The Vikings’ primary precedence is to discover a option to decelerate the Cavalier operating again sensation Okay’Sean Hill. Hill completed the common season with 133 carries for 1,437 yards and 21 touchdowns, together with a 417-yard efficiency towards Mecklenburg. 
The Cavaliers have put up 48 factors or extra of their final 5 video games, all victories. The Vikings, nevertheless, does have a protection that, when taking part in effectively, can stymie opponents. Regardless of their loss at Hermitage final week, individuals have been shocked on the 9-7 ultimate rating. 
The Vikings can not (neither can Armstrong) overlook this week’s opponent, pining for a rematch between rivals. Retaining Hill in verify will go a good distance towards doing so.
NOTE: The opposite half of the Area 2A bracket sees #7 Greensville at #2 Poquoson, whereas #6 Southampton journey to #3 Central-Lunenburg.
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“I consider we have now one of the best protection within the state,” Huguenot head coach Charles Scott to the media following their 27-7 win over Manchester.
“10-0 is an efficient feeling, however it means nothing. It’s simply apply for the subsequent 5,” Armstrong head coach Jeremy Pruitt on the sector after a 37-0 win at Mechanicsville.
“The largest factor I noticed tonight was communication on the defensive facet, and grit on the offensive facet. We went into an influence set and we punched it, we pounded it,” Pruitt when requested what he noticed out of his Armstrong workforce within the victory.
For a lot of groups, their hopes of a championship run got here to an finish final Friday night time. Instagram was stuffed over the previous week with images of senior soccer gamers waxing poetic over how shortly their profession had come, and abruptly gone.
I used to be a theatre child in highschool. My sports activities profession was as a public tackle announcer. I’ll always remember as we approached the efficiency week of my first main manufacturing, our director warned us of a post-production melancholy that may happen.
After weeks of 4, generally 5 nights of rehearsal, adopted by the euphoric excessive of precise performances, the week after the curtain closed felt just like the world had resulted in my then 15-year outdated mind.
Please needless to say for nearly each participant who heard their ultimate whistle final week, that they received’t don that uniform that meant a lot to them ever once more, and certain received’t play soccer at an organized degree once more, both.
For these particularly who’ve been taking part in since youth league, it’s a jarring actuality. Soccer teaches so many classes about life, about succeeding in society, as an individual, a partner, a dad or mum, a neighborhood member. 
It’s about sacrifice, going to battle, doing issues for others that you just wouldn’t do even for your self. And, possibly greater than something, soccer reminds us that what we do, our work ethic, when nobody is watching, is simply as necessary as what we do on third down.
So, to a senior whose gridiron days simply ended, I recommend a hug, a congratulations for a job effectively performed, and, if they’re combating navigating life with out it, effectively, simply sit down, and hear. 
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