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You blinked, didn\u2019t you?
The highschool soccer common season is, certainly, full. Strap in for a five-week dash that\u2019s been 14 weeks within the making. From January lifts earlier than college to seven-on-sevens in Could and scrimmages in mid-August, every part culminates into the last 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 Impartial Colleges Athletic Affiliation (VISAA) Division I.
Hezekiah Anderson, Richmond Excessive College For The Arts:<\/strong> In his last 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 dropping skid.
Stephen Ankiel, Matoaca: <\/strong>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: <\/strong>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: <\/strong>We watched this younger man overcome a gradual begin, passing for 2 touchdowns and speeding for 2 extra with 209 yards of whole offense because the Wildcats blanked Mechanicsville 37-0.
Armstrong QB Anthony Hansom utilizing the bootleg for certainly one of his 4 touchdowns to assist the Wildcats earn their first-ever unbeaten common season through a 37-0 win at Mechanicsville Thursday.<\/span>
Patrick Liptrap, Hanover:<\/strong> Although he actually shouldn\u2019t be \u201cunsung\u201d by now, this senior should seem on anybody\u2019s first-team all-defense within the Metro Richmond area this yr. An absolute ball hawk, the senior compelled a fumble together with seven tackles, two for loss and a sack towards Highland Springs.
The Hanover Playbook: <\/strong>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 faux punt inside their very own 15, a landing go on a fourth and eighteen, and a halfback possibility rating in an effort that fell simply brief 30-27 to Highland Springs.
Hanover’s faux punt<\/span>
The Douglas Freeman Playbook: <\/strong>Their season on the road, and down 15-0, the Mavericks rating on a 90-yard bomb, a flea flicker, drive extra time, then punch their ticket into the Class 5, Area C playoff area when lineman Hank Seashore scores in extra 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.<\/strong>
For the fourth time in 5 years, the Cadets and Titans will resolve the state champion within the highest division of Virginia non-public college 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 yr.
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\u2019s house area?
All of them! So, let\u2019s undergo the regional quarterfinal schedule by class and area and have a look at the matchups. All video games are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.
Class 6, Area A:<\/strong>
#5 Western Department at #4 L.C. Hen:<\/strong> The Skyhawks expertise their first postseason in Class 6 and, due to final week\u2019s 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. Hen to Oscar Smith subsequent week.
#6 Landstown at #3 Manchester: <\/strong>There\u2019s no disgrace in dropping to Huguenot. And, if the Lancers couldn\u2019t seize that second bye (which went to Thomas Dale), at the very least Manchester stayed out of the Oscar Smith aspect 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 best way, 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:<\/strong>
#8 Franklin County at #1 Patrick Henry-Roanoke:<\/strong> The highest-seeded Patriots, the one unbeaten on this area, defeated the Eagles 36-14 on September 12. It will be a shock in the event that they don\u2019t repeat that efficiency.
#5 Hermitage at #4 Midlothian: <\/strong>Arguably probably the most intriguing quarterfinals within the Commonwealth. Two groups that nearly by no means see one another. A Midlothian protection that started robust, then received stung by Huguenot and Manchester in Dominion District play, should discover a method to defend Andre Clarke within the Panther passing sport and decelerate Avery Curtis, the star Hermitage working again.
A technique to try this? Maintain your personal offense on the sector. Time-consuming drives and no turnovers, particularly in your personal territory. They’re important for a Midlothian squad enjoying at house whereas many contemplate them the underdog right here.
#6 Douglas Freeman at #3 William Fleming: <\/strong>With the best way the Mavericks have performed the second half of the season, nobody ought to rely them out of this one. Nevertheless, they will\u2019t get down large 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 last rating very similar to final week\u2019s at Glen Allen, they will pull the upset.
#7 Glen Allen at #2 Highland Springs: <\/strong>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 last two minutes to outlive Hanover 30-27. 4 fumbles given away, an interception, and play that was to not Highland Springs requirements.
Will probably be gorgeous in the event that they don\u2019t elevate their sport, large time, as they welcome the Jaguars, a group that put a scare in them a yr in the past earlier than falling 23-20 within the Class 6, Area A semis. Each groups got here right down to Class 5, and, voila, the rematch.
Class 4, Area B:<\/strong>
#8 Hanover at #1 Dinwiddie: <\/strong>This matchup has a wealthy playoff historical past, with the previous Group AAA, Division 5 Central Area title highway going by these groups within the late 2000\u2019s and early 2010\u2019s. The final day out, 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\u2019 basic, Zion Boisseau. It\u2019s by no means simple 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 develop into an enchanting chess match.
#5 Courtland at #4 Varina:<\/strong> The Blue Devils are enjoying at a championship stage proper now. They\u2019re arguably two or three performs away from being 10-0. The Cougars have had an ideal season, solely dropping 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: <\/strong>Factors allowed by the Falcons to St. Christopher\u2019s 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\u2019s hardest area, it’s going to relaxation on their protection. And it\u2019s laborious to argue that anybody is enjoying higher protection proper now. The Knights should discover a method to create brief fields, and benefit from any Falcon turnovers.
#7 Caroline at #2 Louisa: <\/strong>The Cavaliers have quite a lot of expertise, and many pace. Caroline is an attention-grabbing matchup towards the 10-0 Lions and could possibly go toe-to-toe with them for some time.
However Louisa averages 10.5 yards per speeding try, due to not solely the nation\u2019s high working again recruit, Savion Hiter, but additionally Lavatrell Creasy, who quietly has scored ten touchdowns, speeding for 616 yards in 67 makes an attempt. Caroline might not need this one to show right into a observe meet, however it might be their greatest likelihood to stun the area, and the Lions.
Class 3, Area A:<\/strong>
#8 Colonial Heights at #1 Lake Taylor: <\/strong>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\u2019s a down season for a often 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: <\/strong>A 757 battle that might go both means, with the winner probably heading to Lake Taylor.
#6 Hopewell at #3 New Kent: <\/strong>It\u2019s been one other disappointing season by Hopewell requirements. Nevertheless, they received\u2019t must face Highland Springs, Thomas Dale or Dinwiddie within the area playoffs.
What they must do is cease a gritty, gutsy Trojan squad that started the yr 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 rapidly, and there received\u2019t be any motivation mandatory for a group enjoying at house after their first seven-win common season since 2003.
#7 York at #2 Petersburg: <\/strong>Perhaps the most important really feel good story this season comes from the south. Whereas Meadowbrook took all of the early headlines on this class, the Crimson Wave\u2019s 36-0 pasting of the Monarchs down the stretch was crucial 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 slightly below 20 per contest throughout that point.
Class 3, Area B:<\/strong>
#7 Goochland at #2 Culpeper: <\/strong>The lone space group on this eight-team area area, the Bulldogs are in rebuild mode, however picked up a giant 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:<\/strong>
#8 Nottoway at #1 Armstrong: <\/strong>The Wildcats are recent off their first-ever 10-0 common season. Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt received again to Cool Lane final Thursday night time, went to the white board, and wrote \u201c0-0\u201d throughout it, for positive. Armstrong wants a faster begin on offense than that they had at Mechanicsville, and must be prepared for a Cougar squad that can present physicality from each traces. Nottoway is aware of that they will\u2019t permit Hansom and firm to crank issues up. That\u2019s why the Wildcats have to crank it up early.
#5 King William vs. #4 Thomas Jefferson: <\/strong>This contest shall be held at Hovey Discipline at Virginia Union. The Vikings\u2019 primary precedence is to discover a method to decelerate the Cavalier working again sensation Okay\u2019Sean 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 enjoying nicely, can stymie opponents. Regardless of their loss at Hermitage final week, individuals have been shocked on the 9-7 last rating.
The Vikings can’t (neither can Armstrong) overlook this week\u2019s 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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\u201cI imagine we’ve got the very best protection within the state,\u201d Huguenot head coach Charles Scott to the media following their 27-7 win over Manchester.
\u201c10-0 is an effective feeling, but it surely means nothing. It\u2019s simply apply for the following 5,\u201d Armstrong head coach Jeremy Pruitt on the sector after a 37-0 win at Mechanicsville.
\u201cThe most important factor I noticed tonight was communication on the defensive aspect, and grit on the offensive aspect. We went into an influence set and we punched it, we pounded it,\u201d Pruitt when requested what he noticed out of his Armstrong group 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 crammed over the previous week with images of senior soccer gamers waxing poetic over how rapidly their profession had come, and out of the blue gone.
I used to be a theatre child in highschool. My sports activities profession was as a public deal with announcer. I\u2019ll always remember as we approached the efficiency week of my first main manufacturing, our director warned us of a post-production despair that may happen.
After weeks of 4, typically 5 nights of rehearsal, adopted by the euphoric excessive of precise performances, the week after the curtain closed felt just like the world had led to my then 15-year outdated mind.
Please understand that for nearly each participant who heard their last whistle final week, that they received\u2019t don that uniform that meant a lot to them ever once more, and certain received\u2019t play soccer at an organized stage once more, both.
For these particularly who’ve been enjoying since youth league, it\u2019s a jarring actuality. Soccer teaches so many classes about life, about succeeding in society, as an individual, a partner, a mum or dad, a neighborhood member.
It\u2019s about sacrifice, going to battle, doing issues for others that you just wouldn\u2019t do even for your self. And, perhaps greater than something, soccer reminds us that what we do, our work ethic, when nobody is watching, is simply as vital as what we do on third down.
So, to a senior whose gridiron days simply ended, I counsel a hug, a congratulations for a job nicely accomplished, and, if they’re scuffling with navigating life with out it, nicely, simply sit down, and pay attention.
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