VHSL Reference Football State Champion List
- Thread starter bowlingref
- Start date
Hmm, I just realized something. Essex and Riverheads have played and had success at both 1A and 2A. Essex won a state championship in 2A. Riverheads never did, despite coming achingly close a few times. Riverheads has won the 1A championship 4 times. Shockingly, Essex never has. The two play each other Saturday. It should be interesting.
Yes, Essex has had similar success in 1A as they had in Division 2. Pretty much every season Essex's last loss is in the championship or to the eventual champs.
Man those were some good battles between Essex and Gretna back in the day for 2A. Everyone knew whoever won that game would go on to win the state title. Still remember Chris Brown and Rihanna showing up to Gretna for that 2008 game.
I didn't make the drive to see the game in 2008 but pretty much everyone said it was probably the best game they'd ever seen.
Essex was the smallest school (or very near) in 2A or Group A - D2 until 2012 (I believe).
Lost D2 state title game to Goochland in '12 in what may have been the best Essex team ever imo (one could argue it for sure but that was the big state record breaking year for the offense).
Of course, the 2008 and 2009 Essex teams that battled Gretna were also awesome.
Both Essex groups were led by fantastic QBs in Garner and Broaddus.
As good as the Trojans are this season, this Essex group is not as strong as those great groups imo. Fortunately, Riverheads is not the unstoppable force as last season (it seems).
Some may disagree...fun to compare different era's teams.
Lost D2 state title game to Goochland in '12 in what may have been the best Essex team ever imo (one could argue it for sure but that was the big state record breaking year for the offense).
Of course, the 2008 and 2009 Essex teams that battled Gretna were also awesome.
Both Essex groups were led by fantastic QBs in Garner and Broaddus.
As good as the Trojans are this season, this Essex group is not as strong as those great groups imo. Fortunately, Riverheads is not the unstoppable force as last season (it seems).
Some may disagree...fun to compare different era's teams.
I would have to argue and say that the best Essex teams were 2009, 2008 and 2003. They had much more size and speed. The 2012 team was exciting to watch but the competition was a little watered down.