Differences between levels 1A-6A

[mikesalem]

I'm no expert on statewide football across all levels, but I thought it would make for an interesting discussion. I generally only keep up with 3A/4A because that's what the majority of the Roanoke Valley schools consist of.

The biggest difference I've noticed is depth. Some of the bigger schools have 120+ on their Fr, JV, and Vars teams. I think the bigger rosters offer competition within the team that makes them better. I think there is a distinction between roster number and depth though.

Depth consists of numbers, but also quality, and cross training. A lot of smaller teams have 2 way starters, a bigger team may not have any. Another difference is quality of backups. Some teams #2 is as good or better than other teams #1. Good teams will rotate a good #2 in to gain experience, bring in fresh legs, and keep guys motivated. By cross training I mean having players that can play multiple positions. It may just boil down to quantity increases the odds of quality?

A good team can play opponents that are considerably bigger and consistently win, but if you look at teams that have moved up after having success at a lower level, in most cases it's difficult to maintain that level of success.

Briar Woods and Broad Run are 2 examples of teams that won at 4A ('08-'12 Champions between the 2) and then moved up and haven't been able to reach that pinnacle. Briar Woods reached the title game and have been 24-14 in the 3 years since they moved up. Broad Run has gone 39-20 since they moved up to 5A in the last 5 years. Neither was bad (BW was 3-8 last year, but their schedule was insanely hard- opponents were 100-40, 2 were runner-ups & 2 were semifinalists) It's just hard to maintain that level of success moving up levels.

So what do you guys think? Give me some opinions and perspective from 1A -6A.

 

[shauntclair]

Each level is numbers. That's it. Coaching and program determines where you are in each level.

But here's a better question. Are there programs that can compete at any level? Especially lower level teams. I used to think that was Phoebus. At least they were for a long time. Gretna was similar. Unexpectedly, not anymore.

Currently, I only see James Monroe and Essex that can be competitive against anybody. There have to be more and ONE SEASON does not a competitor make. Anyone else?

 

[cutnjump]

Each level is numbers. That's it. Coaching and program determines where you are in each level.

But here's a better question. Are there programs that can compete at any level? Especially lower level teams. I used to think that was Phoebus. At least they were for a long time. Gretna was similar. Unexpectedly, not anymore.

Currently, I only see James Monroe and Essex that can be competitive against anybody. There have to be more and ONE SEASON does not a competitor make. Anyone else?

Probably need a working definition of competitive to focus the discussion a little more. I'm not sure Monroe or Essex would fill that bill in the 5A/6A ranks, however, if they are on the list then LT and Salem would certainly be on that list and I am sure there are folks much more knowledgeable than me who would be willing to make the case for a few other programs(Phoebus, Dinwiddie, others?). I am not sure there are any 1A or 2A programs that would be on the list. To explain, I am not saying there are not good 1A and 2A teams just that the level of competition is so vastly different in 5A and 6A. Vic Hall would have been one of, if not the, best players on the field regardless of the classification of the opponent and his Gretna teams were certainly some of the best to ever lace it up in 2A but, they are not within 2TDS of the upper class state title winners in those years, in my opinion, because the superior depth and numbers would have taken their toll over the course of the game.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

Gretna was 3A when Vic Hall was QB. I believe the 03 and 04 Gretna teams could have beat most D4 schools and many D5s and some 6s. The 03/04 teams did not have any full time 2 way starters if my memory is correct.

But today, I think D2 and D1 is weak across the state overall, though Richlands and Appomattox could have beaten a lot of D3/D4 teams last year. The D1 AltaVista team in 2014 could have beaten a lot of bigger schools.

As cutnjump posted above, Lake Taylor and Salem could probably beat a lot of D5/D6 teams.

 

[vman3196]

I think its just a numbers thing. 15 good athletes cant beat 25/30 good athletes when bigger schools most of time don't have a lot of 2 way starters. Over the course of a game, when a team can sub in and not loose much, the smaller school will get wore down.

 

[THEGOATFROMJMU]

Looking at 1A vs. 2A --- once you get to the final 4 (state) --
1A can hang with any 2A program -- its the depth and the opening rounds of regional play that are always ugly and really showcase the weakness.

#5-20 in 2A are pretty solid programs and can play on a night in and night out basis while 1A in that same category gets whipped by 3-4 TD at least