Most experts and people I have talked with are saying that Dinwiddie County is the odds on favorite for 2017 4a state champion. Of course, it is a long season so anything can happen.
Dinwiddie the big favorite for 2017?
- Thread starter freeatlast2013
- Start date
Can't count anyone out. Dinwiddie losses so much, but that won't stop them. Of course, there's always Salem and Lake Taylor, and Lafayette should be back, not to mention all the normally strong teams like Eastern View, Chancellor, Sherando, Charlottesville, Amherst, etc...I think it'll be a tight year.
Last edited:
Dinwiddie is certainly one of the favorites, but there are too many contenders to have a real concensus favorite most years. Briar Woods '12, Dinwiddie '13, and Lake Taylor '14 won the championship game by wide margins and they were prohibitive favorites going in. The last 2 years with close championship games, showed there is parity in 4A right now. Dinwiddie is a top 3 team preseason, along with Lake Taylor and Salem. Since the changes in '13, Dinwiddie and Lake Taylor have been to 2 championship games, with Salem in 3. So of 8 slots the last 4 years these 3 teams have filled 7 of them. Sherando is the other representative in the championship game over that period.
What experts? Salem is two-time defending state champ with plenty sitting in the cupboard. Dinwiddie might be losing more than Salem IMO. On what planet is a two-time defending state champ and 3-time state finalist not the favorite? Dinwiddie should get Tyree back at some point which will be huge for them but if you guys get Ramsey back it's a push. Neither title was a fluke, y'all are the team to beat period!
Well it looked like it worked as I stimulated a little enthusiasm. To be honest it will be hard to predict. Salem lost a very steady QB in Noah Beckley and I believe Dinwiddie lost there QB too. That is big. Especially when it comes to playoff time. What I have seen in Salem the last two years is steady improvement where they needed it . Two years ago I saw Salem lose to a very good Jefferson forest squad in a benefit game but the defense gradually got better. Last year in the first two games I did not recognize the Salem team I saw and nothing against Amherst and Byrd as they were very good teams but the defense was porous against Amherst and against Byrd the defense was better but at least two bad snaps contributed to Byrd being there at the end. Three years ago Salem was right there but finished 14-1 as injuries contributed to Lake Taylor winning that one 41-16 along with a dominant Lake Taylor defense. You never know but the last four years the talk as started with Lake Taylor, Dinwiddie and now Salem. I would not be surprised to see a emerging team from the north.
I'm not a psychic by any means but I've got an opinion, albeit maybe not the most informed.
With the old 4 region system returning, I'll bet the house the winner of that region will be Woodgrove, Sherando or Millbrook. Dominion loses some serious talent but they, along with Heritage-Leesburg would be the two sleepers up North. Loudoun Valley is traditionally pretty good, not sure what they bring back.
Got first hand look at Woodgrove and they are fundamentally sound football team. Not superior athletically or size wise but much like Salem, they don't beat themselves very often and they will take what you give them. Very well coached. They lose some big time senior talent as well, QB, RB and top WR but their JV and 9th grade teams were undefeated and they had 80+ kids on the sideline. I'd bet they're the program up North that will be a regular contender. Great Coach, who has the community behind him and kids believing.
Sherando was young last year and hammy has spoken highly of their sophomore class who will juniors this fall. They may still be young again in some spots based on grade level but most of those guys got some experience last year. They are the top "Program" in that region based on past history and consistency. Woodgrove is so new, it's tough to give them that nod as "top program" but they are certainly lurking there. I'm banking on Sherando-Woodgrove being a regular playoff matchup with this new alignment.
Millbrook is quietly putting together a nice run the past two years after a few tough years. Interested to see if they can keep the ball rolling. Great coach there, usually has at least a few very good athletes. The Martinsburg transfer paired with Smith should make for tough 1-2 punch. Having their butts handed to them by the state champ was probably humbling and will make those kids hungry, all those ingredients lead me to believe they'll be part of the conversation in the North Region.
I think again the favorites are Dinwiddie and Salem. Bc of the Dinwiddie brand of football there is more of a wow factor with the big plays fast pace. Salem is sort of that guy that drives the truck and is at work every day so they go under the radar as much as possible for a team with like 8 championships. It is way to early to tell but at this point it is those 2 and everyone else. I'd like it better if they both played a D5 or D6 power house for OOD instead of each other and save it for a potential state championship match up. But I won't complain too much with such a good early season 4A match up.
The rest of the 4A I think maybe more competitive this year. I also think the 2 favorites might not be as far ahead of the field as they were a year ago.
The East should be very interesting this year. Wildcards for me are Patrick henry ashland, Smithfield, Heritage NN.
Lake Taylor, Lafayette, Monacan, Louisa, EV, Chancellor, Powhatan, King George will all be battling for playoff seeding / playoff births.
QB play is going to determine a lot. It is what can make an average team good and a good team elite. I think there is a lot of unknowns state-wide in 4A with regard to QB play. How will the newcomers do? The answer to this will shape the season.
The rest of the 4A I think maybe more competitive this year. I also think the 2 favorites might not be as far ahead of the field as they were a year ago.
The East should be very interesting this year. Wildcards for me are Patrick henry ashland, Smithfield, Heritage NN.
Lake Taylor, Lafayette, Monacan, Louisa, EV, Chancellor, Powhatan, King George will all be battling for playoff seeding / playoff births.
QB play is going to determine a lot. It is what can make an average team good and a good team elite. I think there is a lot of unknowns state-wide in 4A with regard to QB play. How will the newcomers do? The answer to this will shape the season.
Patrick Henry slips a little in my prediction now, since their HC resigned a few weeks ago.
Laf is still going to be in the playoff picture. I think PH will be as well.
Surprized the Laf job hasn't been filled. Seems like a good job
Yeah, I figured that job was filled "in theory" a long while back. I think Coach Linn (?), made it known about a year ago that this was his last year. Isn't that because he is the AD also? And maybe it has been filled, and it's just being kept quiet until the school year ends. I wonder if the PH coach will be the new Lafayette coach???
I agree, it's almost beyond belief that either of these teams could miss the playoffs.
Word is that the new HC at Lafayette will be publicly announced on Tuesday April 18. My source wouldn't divulge except to say this old follower of 19 years will be happy. Must be a good one as I can get cranky over Lafayette football.
Great job guys. I really don't have a clue about the West/North, but please don't put Dinwiddie on a pedestal. One Man is correct, the Generals lost a lot including three starting qb, Ty Freeland, several o-lineman and three very good d lineman. A lot of new faces and several very good returnees should make things interesting in the first three weeks of the season (Denbigh, Smithfield, and Salem). I was able to catch some of their 7-7 scrimmage with Hermitage (Richmond) and the Generals looked very sound on defense. The offense played fairly well with two different guys operating at qb.
I look for the normal playoff teams to rise to the top in the east (Lafayette, Lake Taylor, Kings Fork, Heritage, Monacan, and Louisa). Will Courtland re-emerge after a down season? Will Fludd finally carry Monacan to the promise land? With sound athletes will Smithfield get over the hump? Will Eastern View flex their muscles and Just how good will PH-Ashland (formerly 5a) be with a new HC and some solid talent? I know Hart is a bruising playmaker. Just a few scenarios I am curious about.
The playoff format should be interesting this season and I would not count anyone out. My top eight from the two east regions include: A- Eastern View, Louisa, Dinwiddie and Monacan. Lord I hope we don't have to play Monacan again. B-Lake Taylor, Lafayette, Smithfield and Kings Fork.
Just my two cents and that's about what its worth. lol.
I look for the normal playoff teams to rise to the top in the east (Lafayette, Lake Taylor, Kings Fork, Heritage, Monacan, and Louisa). Will Courtland re-emerge after a down season? Will Fludd finally carry Monacan to the promise land? With sound athletes will Smithfield get over the hump? Will Eastern View flex their muscles and Just how good will PH-Ashland (formerly 5a) be with a new HC and some solid talent? I know Hart is a bruising playmaker. Just a few scenarios I am curious about.
The playoff format should be interesting this season and I would not count anyone out. My top eight from the two east regions include: A- Eastern View, Louisa, Dinwiddie and Monacan. Lord I hope we don't have to play Monacan again. B-Lake Taylor, Lafayette, Smithfield and Kings Fork.
Just my two cents and that's about what its worth. lol.
Nope Navy, Jim isn't going to the Rams. He announced today that he is returning to Dinwiddie to help out Coach Mills!
JUST KIDDING, MBONAPE1!
JUST KIDDING!Nope Navy, Jim isn't going to the Rams. He announced today that he is returning to Dinwiddie to help out Coach Mills!
JUST KIDDING, MBONAPE1!
Mills doesnt need any help. Henderson is waiting for Mills to retire. I believe that all the way. Or to take the reins at Hopewell.