Lord Botetourt High School and William Byrd High School are separated by just a few miles. The school districts sometimes meet in neighborhoods where literally the kids in one house go to Lord Botetourt while the kids next door go to William Byrd. To show just how intertwined the two programs are, consider that neither had ever made the VHSL football playoffs until they both did it in the same year – in 1984.
There’s a saying that the sun doesn’t shine on the same dog’s ass everyday, but it has shined on William Byrd’s Terriers the past two seasons. Since the modern era of VHSL football which began with a playoff system in 1970, William Byrd had never advanced out of the regionals. The Terriers enter 2025 with back-to-back Region 3D championships. While doing so, their rivals across the county line have been the victim. In 2023, Byrd beat Lord Botetourt in the Region 3D semi-finals. In 2024, it was Byrd over Botetourt in the Region 3D championship game.
For a while it was Botetourt that was the class of Region 3D winning 3 straight from 2018 – 2020. In between Botetourt and Byrd, Abingdon won the Regional Championship in 2021 and Christiansburg won it in 2022 both beating Lord Botetourt in the championship game.
So as we approach 2025, is it Byrd, Botetourt, or someone else like say Piedmont power Magna Vista which hasn’t been in the State Semi-finals since winning the 3A championship in 2015, or Abingdon which won 10 games last year before losing to Byrd in the Regional semi-finals.
There are plenty of other story lines in this Region, including whether the two South Roanoke County schools can pull themselves out of their misery. In 2024, Cave Spring and Hidden Valley combined to win just 2 games and Cave Spring won both of those. Tunstall also enters 2024 after a winless season, and there are a bunch of teams that all hung around .500 in 2024. There are 13 teams and 8 make the playoffs so let’s see whose ass the sun shines on this year and it just might be the same dog.
William Byrd Terriers
Blue Ridge District
2024 Record: 11-3 overall; 3-2 Blue Ridge
Playoffs: Lost in the Class 3 semi-finals to Liberty Christian 49-14
Points Scored/Average: 430 (30.7)
Points Allowed/Average: 226 (16.1)
Head Coach: Brad Lutz - 17th Season overall; 7th at William Byrd
Career Record: 83-88
Record at William Byrd: 33-32
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - vs. Cave Spring
September 5 - vs. Hidden Valley
September 12 - at Christiansburg
September 19 - at Bassett
September 26 - Open date
October 3 - vs. Radford
October 10 - at Northside*
October 17 - at William Fleming*
October 24 - vs. Lord Botetourt*
October 31 - at Franklin County*
November 7 - vs. Staunton River*
*Blue Ridge District game
Notable: Back-to-back regional championships. 7 of 10 games are against Region 3D opponents.
Lord Botetourt Cavaliers
Blue Ridge District
2024 Record: 9-4 overall; 3-2 Blue Ridge District
Playoffs: Lost in the Region 3D championship to William Byrd
Points Scored/Average: 489 (37.6)
Points Allowed/Average: 230 (17.6)
Head Coach: Jamie Harless - 17th season overall; 17th season at LB
Career Record: 132-59
Record at Lord Botetourt: 132-59
2025 Schedule:
August 23 - vs. Rye Cove (Emory and Henry University)
August 29 - at Rustburg
September 5 - Open date
September 12 - vs. Altavista
September 19 - vs. Christiansburg
September 26 - at George Washington
October 3 - Open date
October 10 - at Franklin County*
October 17 - vs. Staunton River*
October 24 - at William Byrd*
October 31 - vs. William Fleming*
November 7 - vs. Northside*
*Blue Ridge District game
Notable: Due to scheduling issues, LB will be playing an early game against Rye Cove at Emory and Henry University's beautiful on campus stadium. Have not won a regional championship since 2020. Game up 11 points per game in 2024 regular season games and then a whopping 37.6 average in the post season when they played 2 overtime games.
Northside Vikings
Blue Ridge District
2024 Record: 5-6 overall; 2-3 Blue Ridge District
Playoffs: Lost in the First Round of the Region 3D playoffs to Lord Botetourt 43-41 in overtime
Points Scored/Average: 245 (22.3)
Points Allowed/Average: 230 (20.9)
Head Coach: Scott Fisher: 10th season overall; 10th season at Northside
Career Record: 37-48
Record at Northside: 37-48
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - vs. Pulaski County
September 5 - at Cave Spring
September 12 - at Hidden Valley
September 19 - vs. Glenvar
September 26 - vs. Galax
October 3 - Open date
October 10 - vs. William Byrd*
October 17 - at Franklin County*
October 24 - vs. William Fleming*
October 31 - at Staunton River*
November 7 - at Lord Botetourt*
*Blue Ridge District game
Notable: Went from 0 wins in 2022 to 2 wins in 2023 to 5 wins and the playoffs in 2024. New opponents include Glenvar which Northside hasn't played since the 1970s and Galax who comes back on the schedule after a few years absence.
Staunton River Golden Eagles
Blue Ridge District
2024 Record: 5-6 overall; 2-3 Blue Ridge District
Playoffs: Lost in first round of the Region 3D playoffs to William Byrd 20-0
Points Scored/Average: 184 (16.7)
Points Allowed/Average: 155 (14.1)
Head Coach: Clay Feazell - 1st season overall; 1st season at Staunton River
Career Record: 0-0
Record at Staunton River: 0-0
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - at Hidden Valley
September 5 - vs. Jefferson Forest
September 12 - vs. Liberty
September 19 - at Pulaski County
September 26 - at Magna Vista
October 3 - Open date
October 10 - vs. William Fleming*
October 17 - at Lord Botetourt*
October 24 - vs. Franklin County*
October 31 - vs. Northside*
November 7 - at William Byrd*
*Blue Ridge District game
Notable: Started 2024 at 3-2 and finished 2-4. Feazell is a 2015 graduate of Staunton River who takes over as head coach after 8 years as an assistant, 2 of which were as Defensive Coordinator. He replaces Shaun Leonard who resigned after 6 seasons with a 19-40 record
Abingdon Falcons
Mountain-7 District
2024 Record: 10-2 overall; 6-0 Mountain-7 District
Playoffs: Lost to William Byrd in the Region 3D semi-finals 28-24
Points Scored/Average: 405 (33.8)
Points Allowed/Average: 160 (13.3)
Head Coach: Garrett Amburgey - 8th season overall; 8th season at Abingdon
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - vs. John Battle*
September 5 - vs. Christiansburg
September 12 - at Gate City*
September 19 - at Richlands
September 26 - at Tennessee, TN.
October 3 - vs. Johnson County, TN.
October 10 - Open date
October 17 - at Central-Wise*
October 24 - at Ridgeview*
October 31 - vs. Union*
November 7 - at Lee*
*Mountain-7 District game
Bassett Bengals
Piedmont District
2024 Record: 5-5 overall; 3-3 Piedmont District
Playoffs: None
Points Scored/Average: 269 (26.9)
Points Allowed/Average: 222 (22.2)
Head Coach: Brandon Johnson - 9th season overall; 9th season at Bassett
Career Record: 41-40
Record at Bassett: 41-40
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - vs. Franklin County
September 5 - at Gretna
September 12 - at Dan River
September 19 - vs. William Byrd
September 26 - vs. Mecklenburg County*
October 3 - vs. Tunstall*
October 10 - at George Washington*
October 17 - vs. Magna Vista*
October 24 - at Martinsville
October 31 - Open date
November 7 - vs. Halifax County*
*Piedmont District game
Magna Vista Warriors
Piedmont District
2024 Record: 9-3 overall; 5-1 Piedmont District
Playoffs: Lost to William Byrd in the Region 3D semi-finals 36-26
Points Scored/Average: 458 (38.2)
Points Allowed/Average: 221 (19.1)
Head Coach: Joe Favero - 17th season overall; 17th season at Magna Vista
Career Record: 141-78
Record at Magna Vista: 141-78
2025 Schedule:
September 29 - at Rockingham County, NC
September 5 - vs. Martinsville
September 12 - vs. Rustburg
September 19 - at Franklin County
September 26 - at Staunton River
October 3 - Open date
October 10 - at Mecklenburg County*
October 17 - at Bassett*
October 24 - vs. Tunstall*
October 31 - vs. Halifax County*
November 7 - at George Washington*
*Piedmont District game
Notable: Scoring points was not a problem as the Warriors eclipsed the 40 point mark 7 times.
Tunstall Trojans
Piedmont District
2024 Record: 0-10 overall; 0-6 Piedmont District
Playoffs: None
Points Scored/Average: 60 (6.0)
Points Allowed/Average: 401 (40.1)
Head Coach: Kirkland Brown - 3rd season overall; 3rd season at Tunstall
Career Record: 1-19
Record at Tunstall: 1-19
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - vs. Dan River
September 5 - at Chatham
September 12 - vs. Gretna
September 19 - at Cave Spring
September 26 - vs. Halifax County*
October 3 - at Bassett*
October 10 - Open date
October 17 - vs. Martinsville
October 24 - at Magna Vista*
October 31 - vs. George Washington*
November 7 - at Mecklenburg County*
*Piedmont District game
Notable: 1-9 in 2023 and 0-10 in 2024. The Trojans failed to score in 5 games and scored in single digits in 4 others. Of the 60 points scored all season, they scored 32 of those in a week two loss to Chatham 36-32.
Cave Spring Knights
River Ridge District
2024 Record: 2-8 overall; 1-5 River Ridge District
Playoffs: None
Points Scored/Average: 136 (13.6)
Points Allowed/Average: 342 (34.2)
Head Coach: Hunter Shepherd - 3rd season overall; 3rd season at Cave Spring
Career Record: 5-15
Record at Cave Spring: 5-15
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - at William Byrd
September 5 - vs. Northside
September 12 - at Glenvar
September 19 - vs. Tunstall
September 26 - vs. Pulaski County*
October 3 - vs. Blacksburg*
October 10 - vs. Salem*
October 17 - at Patrick Henry*
October 24 - at Hidden Valley*
October 31 - at Christiansburg*
November 7 - Open date
*River Ridge District game
Notable: Average margin of loss was 29.6 points per game
Christiansburg Blue Demons
River Ridge District
2024 Record: 5-6 overall; 4-2 River Ridge District
Playoffs: Lost in the first round of the Region 3D playoffs to Magna Vista 28-25
Points Scored/Average: 248 (22.8)
Points Allowed/Average: 235 (21.4)
Head Coach: Matt Herron - 2nd Season overall; 2nd season at Christiansburg
Career Record: 5-6
Record at Christiansburg: 5-6
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - vs. Carroll County
September 5 - at Abingdon
September 12 - vs. William Byrd
September 19 - at Lord Botetourt
September 26 - Open date
October 3 - vs. Pulaski County*
October 10 - at Patrick Henry*
October 17 - at Hidden Valley*
October 23 - at Blacksburg (Thursday)*
October 31 - vs. Cave Spring*
November 7 - vs. Salem*
*River Ridge District game
Hidden Valley Titans
River Ridge District
2024 Record: 0-10 overall; 0-6 River Ridge District
Playoffs: None
Points Scored/Average: 51 (5.1)
Points Allowed/Average: 550 (55.0)
Head Coach: Anthony "Bud" Tolliver - 3rd season overall; 1st at Hidden Valley
Career Record: 0-20
Record at Hidden Valley: 0-0
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - vs. Staunton River
September 5 - at William Byrd
September 12 - vs. Northside
September 19 - at James River
September 26 - at Patrick Henry*
October 3 - Open date
October 10 - at Blacksburg*
October 17 - vs. Christiansburg*
October 24 - vs. Cave Spring*
October 31 - vs. Salem*
November 7 - at Pulaski County*
*River Ridge District game
Notable: Scott Weaver retired to become the fulltime athletic director at Hidden Valley after 16 seasons and a 67-103 record, 11 playoff appearances and 1 regional championship game in 2013. The Titans have lost 19 of their last 20 games. In steps Tolliver, a graduate of Salem, who comes back to Roanoke after serving as a Head Coach in Savannah, Georgia for two years. His first win at Hidden Valley will be his first win as a head coach. His teams in Savannah went 0-20 over his 2 seasons. Titans were outscored in their first 4 games in 2024 316-0. Closest game was a 21-point loss to Blacksburg.
Pulaski County Cougars
River Ridge District
2024 Record: 3-7 overall; 3-3 River Ridge District
Playoffs: None
Points Scored/Average: 232 (23.2)
Points Allowed/Average: 328 (32.8)
Head Coach: Cam Akers - 9th season overall; 4th at Pulaski County
Career Record: 34-50
Record at Pulaski County: 11-16
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - at Northside
September 5 - at Tazwell
September 12 - Open date
September 19 - vs. Staunton River
September 26 - at Cave Spring*
October 3 - at Christiansburg*
October 10 - vs. Graham
October 17 - vs. Blacksburg*
October 24 - at Salem*
October 31 - vs. Patrick Henry*
November 7 - vs. Hidden Valley*
*River Ridge District game
Notable: Finished the year winning 3 of their last 4 after starting 0-6. Schedule is once again difficult with defendant Class 2 state champion Graham and back-to-back games against Salem and Patrick Henry
Carroll County Cavaliers
Three Rivers District
2024 Record: 5-6 overall; 2-4 Three Rivers District
Playoffs: Lost in the first round of Region 3D playoffs to Abingdon.
Points Scored/Average: 175 (23.2)
Points Allowed/Average: 359 (32.6)
Head Coach: Seth Greer - 2nd season overall; 2nd season at Carroll County
Career Record: 5-6
Record at Carroll County: 5-6
2025 Schedule:
August 29 - at Christiansburg
September 5 - vs. Grayson County
September 12 - at Galax
September 19 - at Fort Chiswell
September 26 - vs. Patrick County*
October 3 - at Glenvar*
October 10 - Open date
October 17 - at Floyd County*
October 23 - at Radford (Thursday)*
October 31 - vs. Martinsville*
November 7 - vs. James River*
*Three Rivers District game
Notable: Making the playoffs is about the ceiling for this program. Ended the year on a 5-game losing streak. Of the 5 wins, 3 were over Class 1 teams and 2 were over Class 2 teams.