I think before the season most thought the finals would be Salem and Dinwiddie and that's exactly what we got. Now in 3a I don't think anyone picked Blacksburg.
More times than that...that's the way it goes. The cream normally rises to the top in the postseason. A few teams like LT, and maybe Byrd and Amherst were really good, and on any given day could maybe knock those teams off, as LT and Bryd played those two VERY tough, and Amherst actually knocked off Salem. But I don't think anyone can argue that the 2 best teams in 4A will meet for the title.
Blacksburg is one of those situations you may get a times where a team starts slow, and suddenly seems to find something mid season and turns it around. It's a great story, and fun for the fans because some fans may not be sure what to expect from them. When they started 2-4, I certainly don't think many expected them to be sitting where they are now. There last 4 wins were against Lord Botetourt, Brookville, Heritage and Phoebus, so that's a pretty impressive run, and they've certainly proved that they deserve to be where they are. Don't forget(although it was a long time ago) back in 1989, a 4 loss Blacksburg team slayed mighty Salem and Courtland on their way to a state title...so it wouldn't be the first time the Bruins have done it.
I think a 5-5 Appalachia Bulldog team won it in Div. AI think three or four teams (possibly more) with four losses have won state championships in the playoff era, '89 Blacksburg being one of them. Not to jinx them, but if this year's Bruins were to prevail next Saturday, they would become Virginia's first five-loss state champs, in any division. If the info on VHSL-Reference.com is correct.
I think a 5-5 Appalachia Bulldog team won it in Div. A
15-20 years ago.