High school football: Fog clears to reveal playoffs picture

How appropriate!

Mother Nature dominated the early weeks of the regular season with unrelenting heat and humidity. She turned one game into a 33-day odyssey in two acts, ended another in a rare tie that may have cost a team a top seed and then brought the curtain down on the 2026 regular-season campaign in proper fashion Friday night.

Stadiums became “fog bowls”, causing one game (Varina-Patrick Henry) to be called in the third quarter and most others to be concluded under a secretive veil.

Those lucky enough to see all, or portions, of the action saw dominant performances and a crazy ending at Manchester, where a 7-0 slugfest morphed as a scoop and score, a kickoff return and two traded scores in the game’s final 60 seconds gave Huguenot a 19-14 win over the Lancers that cost Manchester a bye week in the Region 6A playoffs.

Huguenot enters Region 4B play as the third seed, behind 10-0 Louisa and the Blue Devils, who led 35-0 in Ashland when officials acquiesced to the fog and called the contest.

Other Week 11 highlights included Glen Allen running away from Douglas Freeman in the second half for a surprising 42-21 victory, Thomas Dale securing their second 10-0 season in four years by besting Hopewell on the road 28-14 and a monster performance by Colonial Heights, which snapped a five-game losing skid by outpacing King William 41-35.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was in Chesterfield where, for the second straight season, Matoaca knocked Meadowbrook out of playoff contention by defeating the Monarchs on the road 20-13. That result handed William Fleming and James River the final two spots in Region 5C.

In private-school action, Benedictine waltzed over North Cross, while Collegiate, which had scored a combined 32 points in their previous five games, all losses, to archrival St. Christopher’s, finally handed the Saints their first loss since 2018 in the storied series with a 24-6 triumph.

Check out the scoreboard from the final week of the regular season below.

Week 11 standouts

Jahiem Jackson, Louisa: Sixteen carries, 193 yards rushing, including touchdown runs of 3, 8 and 71 yards as the Lions wrapped up the top seed in Region 4B by defeating Monticello 49-20.

Jonathan West, Cosby: A name to watch going forward, the sophomore quarterback went 11 for 16 for 217 yards and three touchdowns to spur the Titans to a 29-7 win over Powhatan and their first playoff bid since 2023.

Jamarcus Holland, Richmond High School For The Arts: A command performance, as Holland threw two touchdown passes, then scored on a 39-yard interception return as the Bulldogs got in the win column with a 20-12 victory over Clover Hill.

Midlothian’s offense: With a 69-30 drubbing of Monacan, the Trojans (9-1) finished with their best regular-season record in school history. Gibson Gross threw for 212 yards and four scores, while Jamel Howard had three rushing touchdowns. The most impressive statistic? The Trojans only faced third down twice, converting both.

Stephen Ankiel, Matoaca: In his final game as a Warrior, the Christopher Newport commit threw for 108 yards and two touchdowns and added 96 yards rushing to help Matoaca keep possession for more than 33 minutes in upsetting Meadowbrook 20-13. Ankiel made this list last year in Week 11 as well.

Unsung heroes

The Central Virginia Football Officials Association: Every referee on duty Friday night deserved hazard pay. Making the call accurately is tough enough. Performing those tasks while feeling as if you are in London was ridiculous. Our black-and-white caps are tipped to each of you for a job well done, not just in Friday’s elements, but all season long.

Playoffs game of the week

Class 2, Region A quarterfinals, No. 5 Thomas Jefferson (5-5) at No. 4 Armstrong (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: It’s the third act of a two-game musical. The Wildcats led their regular-season matchup 17-14 at halftime on Sept. 3 when the game was suspended due to extreme heat. When the game resumed Oct. 5, the Vikings were a different team, scoring 20 unanswered points to seize a 34-17 victory. Now the city rivals will meet again, as many thought they would, but the teams are going in different directions. The Wildcats are 3-1 since losing to the Vikings, while Thomas Jefferson has lost four straight.

Other games we’re watching

All of them! So let’s go through the regional quarterfinal schedule by class and region. All games are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Region 6A

No. 5 Landstown (6-4) at No. 4 L.C. Bird (5-5): The Eagles come to Chester having won three of their past four games, including a 22-21 thriller over Bayside last week where junior quarterback Anthony Turner, hobbled by a late-game injury, threw a touchdown pass with 1:23 left, then threw for the 2-point conversion to win. The Skyhawks undoubtedly will look to pressure Turner relentlessly and try to build offensively off their 34-0 performance against James River on Friday. The winner heads to No. 1 Thomas Dale on Nov. 20.

No. 6 Cosby (5-5) at No. 3 Manchester (8-2): The Lancers struggled offensively without Jacory Moore-Carr, scoring one offensive touchdown in their 19-14 loss to Huguenot. The Titans’ defense held Manchester to just 18 points in their regular-season game. Despite Jonathan West passing for 298 yards that night, Cosby mustered just eight points. This game seems destined to be played in the teens, which means you might see a track meet. The victor heads to Chesapeake to face Oscar Smith in the semifinals.

Region 5C

No. 8 James River (6-4) at No. 1 Highland Springs (8-2): The Rapids, who have been shut out in each of their past three games, return to the postseason with a tall order. A stronger strength of schedule gave the Springers the region’s top seed over Midlothian. Should either win the region title, that team would host the Region 5B championship game thanks to a higher power point average.

No. 7 William Fleming (5-5) at No. 2 Midlothian (9-1): The Colonels had to win their final three games and have Matoaca beat Meadowbrook to sneak into the postseason. Perhaps no program is more excited, and has more on the line Friday, than the Trojans, who built their offseason program to prepare for this moment. Midlothian has lost their past five first-round playoff games dating to 2018.

No. 6 Douglas Freeman (7-3) at No. 3 Patrick Henry-Roanoke (9-1): The Mavericks saw the wheels fall off in the second half of their home loss to Glen Allen on Friday. Losers of two straight, they’ll need to right the ship against a Patriots team whose lone loss was in their opener, 30-28 to Southern Alamance of North Carolina.

No. 5 Glen Allen (6-4) at No. 4 Hermitage (7-3): The Jaguars have erased their last trip to Hermitage, a 41-7 rout by the Panthers on Oct. 16, from their database. Hermitage has been playing its best down the stretch, despite falling late at Highland Springs 25-17 in Week 9. A 21-7 win against Douglas Freeman and a 50-6 pasting of Thomas Jefferson has the Panthers primed for another November run.

Region 4B

No. 8 Hanover (5-5) at No. 1 Louisa (10-0), 7:30 p.m.: This will be the second time the Hawks and Lions have met in the playoffs, but the first time in “The Jungle”, one of the best homefield advantages in Virginia. In 2015, Hanover won at home 47-28. Of all the games this weekend, this matchup has the best makings for a surprise. Joel Nicholson and the Hawks’ offense can put up points, but their defense will be tasked with trying to stop Louisa’s two-headed monster of Jahiem Jackson and Darren Nelson, who have combined for 2,299 yards rushing and 38 scores on the ground.

No. 7 King George (6-4) at No. 2 Varina (8-1-1): The Foxes return to the postseason after a one-year absence. In three previous seasons, these two teams collided, with Varina winning in 2021, while King George was victorious in 2022 and 2023. This matchup, though, is much different as the Foxes had to win their final three games to extend their season, while Varina, the defending Class 4 state champion, is in repeat-or-bust mode.

No. 6 Spotsylvania (6-4) at No. 3 Huguenot (9-1): Part of the reason for the King George pothole a year ago was that its coach, Vern Lunsford, took over at his alma mater Spotsylvania. The Knights made the playoffs, traveled to Forest Hill Avenue and fell 52-10. The Falcons have had some worrisome halves offensively in recent weeks, but when they are hitting on all cylinders, they, too, have state-championship aspirations.

No. 5 Mechanicsville (8-2) at No. 4 Courtland (8-2): Easily one of the feel-good stories of 2026 has been the play of the Mechanicsville Mustangs, whose only losses were in the Tomato Bowl to archrival Patrick Henry and a one-point heartbreaker to King William. It’s the first playoff appearance for the school since 2017, when it was known as Lee-Davis. Camden Metzger and Damarion Wiggins have set school records in the passing and receiving game for the Mustangs. The Cougars have lost in the first round each of the past three years and are seeking their first postseason win since 2015, the last time they hosted a playoff game.

Region 3A

No. 8 I.C. Norcom (3-7) at No. 1 Petersburg (9-1): Opponents of the current VHSL playoff format will point to this game as being, well, pointless. Crimson Wave coach Jerome Mathis would beg to differ. Prepare diligently, play aggressively and build another win on the road to what Petersburg hopes will be and appearance in the state-title game at Salem Stadium on Dec. 11.

No. 5 New Kent (7-3) at No. 4 Tabb (7-3): On Sept. 17, the Trojans fell to Tabb at home 26-14 to fall to 1-3. New Kent hasn’t lost since. A complete buy-in from the players into coach Scott Girolmo’s schemes has parlayed into a six-game winning streak as the Trojans have held their past five opponents to a combined 36 points. Tabb has lost back-to-back games to Warhill and Lafayette, two playoff teams, the past two weeks.

Note: No. 2 Hopewell (7-3) will host either Colonial Heights (4-6) or Lake Taylor on Friday. A Monday contest between Woodside and Heritage of Newport News will determine the seeding. If Heritage wins, the Blue Devils get a rematch with their down-the-road rivals in the Colonials, who shocked King William on Friday 41-35. If Woodside wins, Colonial Heights would go to Booker T. Washington (8-2), the third seed, and Hopewell would battle the Titans.

Region 3B

No. 6 Goochland (4-6) at No. 3 Warren County (7-3): An impressive 20-point win over Charlottesville on senior night gives the Bulldogs needed momentum entering their region quarterfinal. The Wildcats shockingly lost to rival Skyline, the region’s fourth seed, by 30 points in their regular-season finale. The winner will play either No. 2 Kettle Run or No. 7 James Monroe in the region semifinals.

Region 2A

No. 6 Southampton (7-3) at No. 3 King William (8-2): The past three weeks have been a rollercoaster ride for coach Scott Moore and the Cavaliers. King William blocked a late extra-point attempt to preserve a 35-34 win at Mechanicsville, pasted Prince Edward, then fell on senior night 41-35 to a Colonial Heights that had lost five straight. Now K’Sean Hill and his teammates prepare for the Indians, whose lone common opponent is, you guessed it, Colonial Heights, which beat Southampton 42-36 back in September.

Other games: No. 8 Randolph-Henry (7-3) at No. 1 Central-Lunenburg (10-0); No. 7 Nottoway (6-4) at No. 2 Poquoson (8-1); No. 5 Thomas Jefferson (5-5) at No. 4 Armstrong (8-2)

Region 1A

No. 8 Colonial Beach (1-8) at No. 1 Essex (8-2); No. 7 West Point (3-6) at No. 2 Rappahannock (8-2); No. 6 Northampton (3-5) at No. 3 Northumberland (6-3); No. 5 Lancaster (5-5) at No. 4 Middlesex (5-4)

Here's the complete playoffs schedule:

Beyond the headlines

– Semifinals set: Richmond Public Schools Flag Football has reached its final four. Top-seeded John Marshall will play Thomas Jefferson, which eliminated Armstrong, on Tuesday at T.B. Smith Community Center at 6 p.m., while Huguenot, which beat RHSA, and Richmond Community, which got past Franklin Military, will meet in the other semifinal at Huguenot at 6:30 p.m. The championship game is set for Nov. 17.

Private-schools showdown: The semifinals in the VISAA are set. The focus in Richmond is on Division I.

Surging Benedictine (7-3) earned the No. 2 seed with its late-season run and will host Collegiate (8-1), which is having its best season since before the pandemic. But the Cougars’ lone loss was a 28-0 pasting by the Cadets at Bobby Ross Stadium, which was the first of five straight wins for Benedictine. Can Collegiate find the secret sauce and finally end the reign of the three-time defending Division I state champions?

The other side of the bracket pits top-seeded Trinity Episcopal (7-2) and fourth-seeded St. Anne’s-Belfield (7-2). These two private-school powers did not meet in the regular season. A Titans win gives them home-field advantage in next Saturday’s state title game.

Eagles win the under-the-radar game: Last week, we directed some focus to a rivalry game with no playoff implications as Deep Run went to Mills Godwin. Both teams have coaches who just completed their first seasons, and both teams were looking for momentum ahead of those 6 a.m. January workouts.

The Eagles were more than ready for the challenge, besting the Wildcats 28-9, as Weldon Bradshaw reports.

Seeking the elite: Don’t forget, we are scanning the area for the elite standouts in the RVA for the 2026 season. We welcome your nominations, with statistics, now. Email robwitham1@gmail.com. And thank you to those who have reached out!

They said it

“Whoever we put back there, we have confidence in those guys to give us something. Shout out to the backs for having the vision to take advantage of the gaps and the holes that the O-line is working to open up.” – Hermitage coach Timothy Jean-Pierre to Chase Myers of Chasing Champions after the Panthers’ 50-6 win over Thomas Jefferson

“All 11, all the time. Winning the moment over and over, with the competitive endurance to go as hard as they can for as long as it takes.” – New Kent coach Scott Girolmo when asked what his Trojans must do to defeat Tabb on Friday

Our final play

Many weeks we wrap up our time together with thoughts about the bigger picture in our area, sometimes optimistic, sometimes while shaking our heads.

But this week, nothing came close to a story we caught out of Oklahoma.

In their “Class A-II”, there was a problem. Three teams were deadlocked with only two postseason bids available. Records, head-to-head results, even point differentials didn’t provide a solution.

So, as KOCO-TV reported, the coaches from Central Sallisaw, Gore and Liberty high schools traveled to the town of Seminole and met at a catfish restaurant parking lot around midnight.

There waiting for them was an official from the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Athletic Association. Once they gathered, each coach was given a coin. There was no livestreaming coverage. The teams themselves were not present.

After instructions, the coins sailed into the air and down to the ground. Nathan McCurley, the coach at Gore, saw his coin land on heads, per the Associated Press. But the other two coins showed tails.

Thus, Central Sallisaw and Liberty are preparing for postseason play this week, while Gore players have seen their season come to a heartbreaking close despite a four-game winning streak down the stretch that brought them achingly close to the playoffs.

On a bigger scale, this is an incredibly refreshing example of how to put a lot about life in perspective.

For those few seconds, in a restaurant parking lot, the fate of dozens of players, coaches, cheerleaders, band members, parents and fans hung in the balance. A reminder, though, that all of them had time to prepare for it.

Some of life’s biggest triumphs, and challenges, come at us in a matter of seconds.

They can be as mundane as finally shooting a hole-in-one after years of playing golf. They can be as consequential as one’s automobile brakes being good enough to avoid a possible tragedy.

As the postseason begins, we will see just eight teams between the VHSL and VISAA win their final game and hoist a championship trophy. Along the way, I hope every team still competing will give their best effort, savor each moment, be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

Of note, Gore was, while very disappointed, thankful even in the moment of disappointment, proud to be a part of it all.

Those are some of the most important lessons playing high school football can impart, and we would all be well advised to allow ourselves to learn, or relearn, them along the way.