Friday night lights in Virginia are basically a religion. If you grew up here, you know the vibe: the smell of charcoal, the crisp November air, and the absolute madness that is the VHSL power ratings system. Honestly, every year people act shocked when a 9-1 team has to travel three hours for a first-round game, but that’s just the Virginia high school football playoffs for you.
It's messy. It’s loud. It’s perfect.
The 2025 postseason just wrapped up, and it was a total gauntlet that proved once again why some of these programs are basically factories for Division I talent. We saw Oscar Smith re-establish their dominance in Class 6, Maury continue their terrifying run in Class 5, and some serious heartbreak in the smaller classifications. If you weren’t at James Madison University or Liberty University for the finals in mid-December, you missed some of the best football played in the Mid-Atlantic this decade.
The Oscar Smith and Maury Era of Dominance
Look, we have to talk about the 757. The Tigers of Oscar Smith are just different. After a season-opening loss to D.C. powerhouse Gonzaga, they went on a 13-game tear that ended with a 44-0 demolition of North Stafford in the Class 6 state final. Coach Chris Scott has built something in Chesapeake that feels less like a high school team and more like a developmental league for the pros.
Then you’ve got Maury.
The Commodores took down Highland Springs 25-7 to secure their third straight Class 5 state title. People always debate who would win in a head-to-head between Maury and Oscar Smith. Honestly? It's a toss-up. Maury’s defense is a nightmare to prepare for, and seeing them shut down a program as storied as Highland Springs—a team that usually treats the playoffs like a light scrimmage—was eye-opening.
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Class 3 and 4: Where the Wild Things Are
If Class 6 is about the giants, Class 3 and 4 are where the actual drama lives. Varina captured the Class 4 title this year, and they did it in style with a 47-0 win over Loudoun County. Kaleb Wyche, their junior quarterback, is basically a human highlight reel. He became the first player in Varina history to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 in a single season.
That's just video game numbers.
But the real "did that just happen?" game was the Class 3 final. Lake Taylor beat Heritage-Lynchburg 48-42 in double overtime. Hank Sawyer, who has been at Lake Taylor since 1999, basically cemented his legend status with this one. Keon Johnson, their senior back, put up 2,319 rushing yards on the season.
Think about that. Two thousand yards.
Most kids are happy to get 800. Johnson is out there carrying the ball 19 times for 89 yards and three scores in the mud and the cold of the championship game, while also playing linebacker and racking up sacks. It’s exhausting just watching him.
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Small Town Glory in Class 1 and 2
Down in Class 2, Strasburg finally got their moment. They took down Glenvar 49-27 for their first-ever state title. For a community like Strasburg, this isn't just a trophy; it’s a decade of "remember when" conversations at the local diner.
And you can't ignore Rappahannock.
They crushed Rye Cove 49-14 in the Class 1 final. C.J. Kelly is the name you’ll keep hearing from that squad. He’s a dual-threat QB who accounted for 41 touchdowns this year. When you're in Class 1, one kid like that can change the entire trajectory of a program. Rappahannock hadn't reached this height since 1992, and now they’re at the top of the mountain.
Why the Playoffs Feel Different in Virginia
The VHSL doesn't do a simple "win and you're in" bracket based on record alone. They use the Rider System, which is basically a math problem that determines your postseason fate.
- You get points for winning.
- You get points based on the classification of the team you beat.
- You even get "bonus" points for the wins your opponents get.
This is why a team that goes 7-3 against a brutal schedule can sometimes seed higher than a 10-0 team that played a bunch of lightweights. It’s a point of massive contention every November. Fans on the VirginiaPreps forums spend hours arguing over the "points" while most people are still trying to figure out how a forfeit counts toward the average.
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It’s confusing, sure. But it also means every single game in September and October actually matters for December. One slip-up against a Class 3 school when you're a Class 5 team can tank your home-field advantage for the entire regional playoff run.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Postseason
A lot of folks think the "Northern Virginia" schools (the 6A powers like Battlefield or Westfield) are the only ones that matter because of the population density. That’s a mistake. While the private school scene in Alexandria and McLean is strong, the heart of the virginia high school football playoffs is often found in the Richmond suburbs or the Tidewater area.
There's also the "Riverheads" factor. For years, Riverheads was the undisputed king of Class 1, winning seven straight titles. Seeing them fall off the top spot recently has opened the door for teams like Altavista and Essex to reclaim the throne. The power dynamics shift, but the intensity stays exactly the same.
Actionable Insights for Next Season
If you're a fan, a parent, or a student looking to keep up with the chaos next year, here is how you actually stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Power Ratings, not the Record: By mid-October, stop looking at who is 6-0 and start looking at the VHSL Weekly Ratings. That determines who hosts and who travels.
- Follow the Region Finals: In Virginia, the "State Quarterfinals" are actually the Regional Finals. If you want to see the best atmosphere, go to a Region Championship game. Usually, those are the local rivalries that mean more than the actual state final.
- Check the Weather in Salem and Lynchburg: The finals move around between JMU, Liberty, and sometimes Salem City Stadium. If you’re traveling, pack for 30 degrees and wind.
- Keep an eye on the "Reclassification" cycles: Every two years, the VHSL moves schools between classes based on enrollment. This can turn a dominant Class 3 team into a struggling Class 4 team overnight.
The playoffs are over for 2025, but the weight rooms are already full for 2026. That's just how it goes in Virginia. If you want to see where the next NFL stars are coming from, just look at the rosters of the teams that made it to the second week of December.
Keep your eyes on the VHSL website starting in August for the new schedules. By then, the "points" talk will start all over again.