2023 Champion - William Byrd
LORD BOTETOURT CAVALIERS
Region 3D
2023 Record: 9-3 overall; 4-1 Blue Ridge District
Playoffs: Lost to William Byrd in Region 3D semi-finals
Head Coach: Jamie Harless - 16th season overall; 16th season at Lord Botetourt. Career record 123-55. Record at Lord Botetourt 123-55
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - vs. E.C. Glass
September 6 - vs. Blacksburg
September 13 - at Pulaski County
September 20 - vs. Appomattox
September 27 - vs. Rocktown
October 4 - Open date
October 11 - at Staunton River*
October 18 - vs. William Byrd*
October 25 - at William Fleming*
November 1 - at Northside*
November 8 - vs. Franklin County*
*- Blue Ridge District Game
NOTES: Working on a streak of 12 straight playoff appearances. Streak of 4 straight district championships was stopped in 2023. Plenty of talent walked across the graduation stage in May including playmaking Quarterback Jakari Nicely and Running back Zion Williamson both now at VMI; Lineman D.J. Toliver who signed with Brown of the Ivy League, and Kendall Howard now at Wake Forest. There's still enough to be competitive but three straight losses in the regionals, two in the finals in 2021 and 2022, and one in the semi-finals last year make this look like a rebuild on paper, but be careful discounting the program Harless has built with the feeder program at Reed Mountain Middle School constantly pumping in quality players.
NORTHSIDE VIKINGS
Region: 3D
2023 Record: 2-8 overall; 0-5 Blue Ridge District
Playoffs: None
Head Coach: Scott Fisher - 9th season overall; 9th season at Northside
Career Record: 32-42. Record at Northside: 32-42
2024 Schedule
August 30 - at Pulaski County
September 6 - vs. Cave Spring
September 13 - vs. Hidden Valley
September 20 - at Salem
September 27 - Open date
October 4 - at Heritage-Lynchburg
October 11 - vs. Franklin County*
October 18 - at William Fleming*
October 25 - vs. Staunton River*
November 1 - vs. Lord Botetourt*
November 8 - at William Byrd*
*-Blue Ridge District Game
NOTES: Northside managed to win 2 games after the disaster of 2022, but were still just 10 points away from back-to-back winless seasons. The Vikings have taken their lumps with youth the last two seasons and now it's time to see if the lessons of youth pay dividends in the form of victories. Vikings lost just 4 seniors and return 17 rising Seniors.
STAUNTON RIVER GOLDEN EAGLES
Region 3D
2023 Record: 3-8 overall; 1-4 Blue Ridge District
Playoffs: Lost in First Round of Region 3D playoffs
Head Coach: Shaun Leonard - 6th Season overall; 6th season at Stanton River. Career record: 14-34. Record at Staunton River: 14-34
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - vs. Magna Vista
September 6 - at Jefferson Forest
September 13 - at Liberty-Bedford
September 20 - vs. Tunstall
September 27 - at George Washington
October 4 - Open date
October 11 - vs. Lord Botetourt*
October 18 - at Franklin County*
October 25 - at Northside*
November 1 - vs. William Byrd*
November 8 - at William Fleming*
*-Blue Ridge District Game
NOTES: With Magna Vista, Jefferson Forest, George Washington and the full district schedule it may be difficult to equal last season's three wins. Eagles lost only 9 seniors and return 33 players from last year's roster. Hard to believe that just 6 years ago, the Golden Eagles were in the State Championship game.
WILLIAM BYRD TERRIERS
Region 3D
District - Blue Ridge
2023 Record: 12-2 overall; 5-0 Blue Ridge District
Playoffs: Lost to Liberty Christian in Class 3 semi-finals
Head Coach: Brad Lutz - 16th season overall; 6th season at William Byrd. Career record: 72-85 overall; 22-29 at William Byrd
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - at Liberty-Bedford
September 6 - at Hidden Valley
September 13 - vs. Christiansburg
September 20 - vs. Bassett
September 27 - Open date
October 3 - at Cave Spring (Thurs.)
October 11 - vs. William Fleming*
October 18 - at Lord Botetourt*
October 25 - vs. Franklin County*
November 1 - at Staunton River*
November 8 - at William Fleming*
*-Blue Ridge District Game
NOTES: A historic season for William Byrd as they won a regional championship for the first time in school history just 2 years after going winless. Three all-state players return from last year's state semi-final team: First team all-state lineman B.J. Chitwood, second team lineman Easton Ware and second team linebacker James Deyo. Lutz took a team to the state semi-finals for the second time last season when Byrd lost to Liberty Christian. His prior state semi-final appearance was as the head coach at Broadway, losing to Christiansburg.
WILLIAM FLEMING COLONELS
Region 5D
2023 Record: 8-5 overall; 3-2 Blue Ridge District
Playoffs: Lost in the Region 5D Championship Game to Matoaca
Head Coach: Nick Leftwich - 4th season overall; 2nd season at William Fleming.
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - at Hidden Valley
September 6 - vs. Albemarle
September 13 - at Salem
September 20 - vs. Patrick Henry
September 27 - Open date
October 4 - at Halifax County
October 11 - at William Byrd*
October 18 - vs. Northside*
October 25 - vs. Lord Botetourt*
November 1 - at Franklin County*
November 8 - vs. Staunton River*
*Blue Ridge District game
NOTES: Fleming was the surprise of the Playoffs going 6-4 in the regular season and then advancing to the Region 5D championship taking out once beaten Patrick Henry in the process. Return dynamic playmaker in Malachi Coleman who made first team all-state as a junior. With him around and Leftwich pulling the strings, Fleming may just ascend to the top of the Blue Ridge. They have the experience to do it as 30 players return from last year's roster.
FRANKLIN COUNTY EAGLES
Region 5D
2023 Record: 4-6 overall; 2-3 Blue Ridge District
Playoffs: None
Head Coach: J.R. Edwards - 16th season overall; 10th season at Franklin County.
Career Record: 72-85 overall; 41-62 at Franklin County
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - vs. Bassett
September 6 - vs. Salem
September 13 - vs. Liberty Christian
September 20 - at Magna Vista
September 27 - Open date
October 4 - at Brookville
October 11 - at Northside*
October 18 - vs. Staunton River*
October 25 - at William Byrd*
November 1 - vs. William Fleming*
November 8 - at Lord Botetourt*
NOTES: In the ultimate irony, Franklin County dropped from Class 6 to Class 5 and missed the playoffs when they were consistently making it as a Class 6 school. This is the poster child for the plight of many county high schools. Too large to play in the classification where they could best compete as Franklin County is really a Class 3 football program and even has trouble beating other Class 3 teams. In 2023 they played 8 Class-3 schools going 4-4. Liberty Christian, Magna Vista and Brookville added to the full district schedule is going to make it difficult for the Eagles to reach last year's 4 wins. You have to give Edwards credit as Franklin County is typically where good coaches go to die. Now entering his 10th season he's just 21 games below .500 but could use a playoff win.
