Playoff teams: Lord Botetourt, William Fleming, Franklin County, Staunton River
LORD BOTETOURT CAVALIERS
2022 RECORD: 11 - 2 OVERALL; 5 - 0 BLUE RIDGE DISTRICT
2022 PLAYOFFS: LOST IN THE REGION 3D CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TO CHRISTIANSBURG
HEAD COACH: JAMIE HARLESS
OVERALL RECORD/YEARS: 114-52/15th season
RECORD AT LORD BOTETOURT/YEARS:114-52/15th season
2022 POINTS SCORED/AVERAGE: 456 (35.1)
2022 POINTS ALLOWED/AVERAGE: 217 (16.7)
2023 Schedule
Date
Opponent
August 25th
at E.C. Glass
September 1st
at Blacksburg
September 8th
vs. Pulaski County
September 15th
at Appomattox County
September 22nd
vs. Olympic (Charlotte, NC)
September 29th
Open date
October 6th
vs. Staunton River
October 13th
at William Byrd
October 20th
vs. William Fleming
October 27th
vs. Northside
November 3rd
at Franklin County
Notes: For a school that didn't win a District Championship until 1984, Lord Botetourt has assumed the power position in the Blue Ridge District as they attempt to win their 5th straight district championship. Botetourt is on a run of 11-straight playoff appearances. Returns a dynamic playmaker at quarterback in Jakari Nicely and a huge offensive line anchored by Senior D.J. Toliver, a second team all-state selection in 2022. Toliver holds offers from Virginia Tech, Virginia, Penn State, Duke and Louisville among others. Harless, who grew up on a tobacco farm in Abingdon, Virginia preaches toughness and he has the feeder program at Reed Mountain pouring players into his program. Cavaliers have played and lost in three (3) state championship games under Harless. After losing back-to-back regional finals, the window isn't closing on the Cavs' chances at that elusive state title, but with powerhouse Phoebus moving up to Class 4, if not now, then when?
NORTHSIDE VIKINGS
2022 RECORD: 0 - 10 OVERALL; 0 - 5 BLUE RIDGE DISTRICT
2022 PLAYOFFS: NONE
HEAD COACH: SCOTT FISHER
OVERALL RECORD/YEARS:30-34/8th Season
RECORD AT NORTHSIDE/YEARS:30-34/8th Season
2022 POINTS SCORED/AVERAGE: 66 (6.6)
2022 POINTS ALLOWED/AVERAGE: 419 (41.9)
2023 Schedule
Date
Opponent
August 25th
vs. Pulaski County
September 1st
at Cave Spring
September 8th
at Hidden Valley
September 15th
vs. Salem
September 22nd
Open date
September 29th
vs. Heritage
October 6th
at Franklin County
October 13th
vs. William Fleming
October 20th
at Staunton River
October 27th
at Lord Botetourt
November 3rd
vs. William Byrd
Notes: The Vikings are coming off a historically bad season that if not the worst season since the school opened in 1960, is close. Vikings needed three weeks just to score a point, and were shut out in 6 of their 10 games. The struggles were due mostly to a roster that included 43 freshmen and sophomores. Those freshman and sophomores are now sophomores and juniors so the experience will help, but competitiveness is probably a year away. Jim Hickam field is undergoing a transition from natural grass to field turf in a move that would make Hickam cringe. Fittingly enough the first game on the field matches Northside and Pulaski County in a year when another old school legend, Pulaski County's Joel Hicks died.
STAUNTON RIVER GOLDEN EAGLES
2022 RECORD: 6-6 OVERALL; 2-3 BLUE RIDGE DISTRICT
2022 PLAYOFFS: LOST TO CHRISTIANSBURG IN THE REGION 3D SEMI-FINALS
HEAD COACH: SHAUN LEONARD
OVERALL RECORD/YEARS:11-26/5th Season
RECORD AT STAUNTON RIVER/YEARS:11-26/5th Season
2022 POINTS SCORED/AVERAGE: 281 (23.4)
2022 POINTS ALLOWED: 266 (22.2)
2023 Schedule
Date
Opponent
August 25th
at Magna Vista
September 1st
vs. Jefferson Forest
September 8th
vs. Liberty
September 15th
at Tunstall
September 22nd
vs. George Washington
September 29th
Open date
October 6th
at Lord Botetourt
October 13th
vs. Franklin County
October 20th
vs. Northside
October 27th
at William Byrd
November 3rd
vs. William Fleming
Notes: Last year was significant progress from the train wreck this program was just a few years ago. The Golden Eagles played in the 2018 Championship game and then underwent a tough transition. The coach resigned, his replacement was fired just three games into the 2019 season and then COVID hit forcing the 2020 season to the spring of 2021. The Golden Eagles doubled the number of wins from 2021 to 2022 and advanced to the Region 3D semi-finals. It is unclear when or even if Staunton River can return to its 2018 form, but with much needed stability there's no reason they cannot be a playoff regular. Schedule has taken on a significant tougher flavor this year. Magna Vista replaces William Campbell and George Washington replaces Alleghany
WILLIAM BYRD TERRIERS
2022 RECORD: 3-7 OVERALL; 1-4 BLUE RIDGE DISTRICT
2022 PLAYOFFS; NONE
HEAD COACH: BRAD LUTZ
OVERALL RECORD/YEARS:60-83/15th Season
RECORD AT WILLIAM BYRD/YEARS:10-27/15th Season
2022 POINTS SCORED/AVERAGE: 229 (22.9)
2022 POINTS ALLOWED/AVERAGE: 224 (22.4)
2023 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
August 25th
vs. Liberty
September 1st
vs. Hidden Valley
September 8th
at Christiansburg
September 15th
at Bassett
September 22nd
Open date
September 29th
vs. Cave Spring
October 6th
at William Fleming
October 13th
vs. Lord Botetourt
October 20th
at Franklin County
October 27th
vs. Staunton River
November 3rd
at Northside
NOTES: Improved from 0-9 to 3-7 from 2021 to 2022. Seems to be a critical year for Lutz and his reprogramming of William Byrd football since the retirement of Jeff Highfill. Under Lutz, Byrd has not made the post-season so a winning record and a post-season appearance would show progress. Play the same schedule as last year, and the first four games are critical to Byrd's post-season chances. The Terriers lost to Hidden Valley, Christiansburg and Bassett after an opening win over Liberty. Figure they need to win at least 2 of those games, repeat last year's win over Cave Spring and win at least 2 district games to make the playoffs.
WILLIAM FLEMING COLONELS
2022 RECORD: 5-6 OVERALL; 4-1 BLUE RIDGE DISTRICT
2022 PLAYOFFS: LOST TO STONE BRIDGE IN REGION 5D FIRST ROUND
HEAD COACH: NICK LEFTWICH
OVERALL RECORD/YEARS: 9-12/3rd Season
RECORD AT WILLIAM FLEMING/YEARS: 0-0 1st year
2022 POINTS SCORED/AVERAGE: 265 (24.1)
2022 POINTS ALLOWED/AVERAGE: 285 (25.8)
2023 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
August 25th
vs. Hidden Valley
September 1st
at Albemarle
September 8th
vs. Salem
September 15th
at Patrick Henry
September 22nd
Open date
September 29th
vs. Halifax County
October 6th
vs. William Byrd
October 13th
at Northside
October 20th
at Lord Botetourt
October 27th
vs. Franklin County
November 3rd
at Staunton River
Notes: Nick Leftwich moves over from Cave Spring to William Fleming after former coach Jamar Lovelace bolted back home to Lynchburg to take the job at E.C. Glass. Leftwich steps up in classification but Lovelace showed that Fleming is capable of success taking the Colonels to the State Semi-Finals in the COVID Spring 2021 season. Schedule is altered slightly with Hidden Valley replacing Heritage and Halifax County replacing Harrisonburg. The Colonels have a critical three game stretch to their post-season hopes in Weeks 2 - 4 when they face Albemarle and Patrick Henry, two Class 5 schools, and Salem a class 4 school.
FRANKLIN COUNTY EAGLES
2022 RECORD: 6-5 OVERALL; 3-2 BLUE RIDGE DISTRICT
2022 PLAYOFFS: LOST TO WESTERN BRANCH IN FIRST ROUND OF REGION 6A
HEAD COACH: J.R. EDWARDS
OVERALL RECORD/YEARS: 68-79/15th Season
RECORD AT FRANKLIN COUNTY/YEARS: 37-56/9th Season
2022 POINTS SCORED/AVERAGE: 325 (29.5)
2022 POINTS ALLOWED/AVERAGE: 255 (23.2)
2023 SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
August 25th
at Bassett
September 1st
at Salem
September 8th
at Liberty Christian
September 15th
vs. Magna Vista
September 22nd
Open date
September 29th
vs. Brookville
October 6th
vs. Northside
October 13th
at Staunton River
October 20th
vs. William Byrd
October 27th
at William Fleming
November 3rd
vs. Lord Botetourt
Notes: After years of trying to make it in Class 6, Franklin County drops down to Class 5. The drop may not help that much as they will now compete with William Fleming, Patrick Henry, and schools in Northern Virginia for playoff spots. Give J.R. Edwards credit. He's not ducking anyone playing Salem, Liberty Christian, and Brookville in the non-district schedule, add -in district games against William Fleming and Lord Botetourt in the district schedule and a winning record is a tall task much less the playoffs.
