The 2023 Virginia High School Football Playoffs Run Through The 540

For many years, the heart of high school football in Virginia has pumped through the region known as the 540. Since 1986, the region has celebrated over 50 football state championships. These state championships span across various divisions of both VHSL and VISAA football, and each carries a unique historical significance.

From the dynasties of the Salem Spartans and Riverhead Gladiators to the standalone successes of the Glenvar Highlanders and Woodgrove Wolverines, 20 different high school football programs have achieved the greatest success for the region.

This week, the region's history continues as 43 teams from the 540 look to begin their high school football playoff journey. Eighteen of those 43 teams will find themselves lining up against familiar faces in 540 regional matchups. Six of those 43 teams will enter their respective tournaments ranked as a One Seed. Thirty-one of those 43 teams are on the road to their first state title, and at the end of it all, only 7 of the 43 teams will have the opportunity to call themselves a Virginia High School Football State Champion.

Below is a first round breakdown for all 34 playoff teams in this region featuring matchup previews, game information, and more.

540 Regional Playoff Matchups

As mentioned before, there are 18 teams in the 540 that are slated against one another in the first round of their respective playoff tournaments this year. When it comes to these 9 games, the road to a state championship is for the region.

#1 Central Woodstock Falcons vs #8 Stuarts Draft Cougars

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Central High School Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 2

Records: Central Woodstock: 10-0 | Stuarts Draft: 5-5

#1 Radford Bobcats vs #8 James River Knights

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Bobcat Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 2

Records: Radford: 10-0 | James River: 3-7

#3 Kettle Run Cougars vs #6 Skyline Hawks

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Kettle Run Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 3

Records: Kettle Run: 9-1 | Skyline: 4-6

#2 William Byrd Terriers vs #7 Pulaski County Cougars

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Patterson Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 3

Records: William Byrd: 9-1 | Pulaski County: 4-6

#1 Salem Spartans vs #8 Liberty Eagles

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Salem Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 4

Records: Salem: 9-1 | Liberty: 5-5

#4 Millbrook Pioneers vs #5 Handley Judges

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Millbrook Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 4

Records: Millbrook: 7-3 | Handley: 7-3

#1 Patrick Henry Patriots vs #5 William Fleming Colonels

Friday | 11/10 | 5:30 PM | Patriot Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 5

Records: Patrick Henry: 9-1 | William Fleming: 6-4

The One Seeds

We've taken a look at the first round regional matchups for top ranked Central Woodstock, Radford, Salem, and Patrick Henry. Which other teams in this region enter their playoff tournament as a one seed?

#1 North Cross Raiders vs #4 Nansemond-Suffolk

Saturday | 11/11 | 2 PM | Willis Field

Division: VISAA Division 2

Records: North Cross: 8-2 | Nansemond-Suffolk: 5-5

#1 King George Foxes vs #8 Hanover

Thursday | 11/9 | 7:30 PM | King George Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 4

Records: King George: 10-0 | Hanover: 6-5

Remaining 540 Playoff Teams By Class Order

#4 Bath County Chargers vs #5 Galax Maroon Tide

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Bath County Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 1

Records: Bath County: 9-1 | Galax: 6-4

#7 Buffalo Gap Bison vs #2 Brunswick Bulldogs

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Brunswick Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 1

Records: Buffalo Gap: 1-9 | Brunswick: 8-2

#8 Giles Spartans vs #1 Grayson County Blue Devils

Thursday | 11/9 | 7 PM | Grayson County Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 1

Records: Giles: 3-7 | Grayson County: 9-1

#6 Parry McCluer Fighting Blues vs #3 George Wythe Maroons

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | George Wythe Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 1

Records: Parry McCluer: 6-4 | George Wythe: 7-3

#2 Riverheads Gladiators vs #7 Madison Country Mountaineers

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Riverheads Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 2

Records: Riverheads: 9-1 | Madison County: 5-5

#6 Clarke County Eagles vs #3 Buckingham Knights

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Buckingham Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 2

Records: Clarke County: 8-2 | Buckingham: 9-1

#7 Floyd County Buffloes vs #2 Gretna Hawks

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Gretna Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 2

Records: Floyd County: 3-7 | Gretna: 8-2

#3 Glenvar Highlanders vs #6 Patrick County Cougars

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Highlander Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 2

Records: Glenvar: 8-2 | Patrick County: 5-5

#4 Alleghany Mountaineers vs #5 Rustburg

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Alleghany Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 3

Records: Alleghany: 9-1 | Rustburg: 7-3

#2 Turner Ashby Knights vs #7 Heritage Pioneers

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Turner Ashby Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 3

Records: Turner Ashby: 9-1 | Heritage: 6-4

#3 Spotswood Trailblazers vs #6 Monticello Mustangs

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Spotswood Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 3

Records: Spotswood: 9-1 | Monticello: 8-2

#8 Staunton River Golden Eagles vs #1 Magna Vista Warriors

Thursday | 11/9 | 7 PM | Magna Vista Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 3

Records: Staunton River: 3-7 | Magna Vista: 10-0

#4 Christiansburg Blue Demons vs #5 Abingdon Falcons

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Christiansburg Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 3

Records: Christiansburg: 7-3 | Abingdon: 6-4

#3 Lord Botetourt Cavaliers vs #6 Bassett Bengals

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Lord Botetourt Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 3

Records: Lord Botetourt: 8-2 | Bassett: 5-5

#5 Eastern View Cyclones vs #4 Dinwiddie Generals

Thursday | 11/9 | 7 PM | Dinwiddie Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 4

Records: Eastern View: 9-1 | Dinwiddie: 7-3

#7 Courtland Cougars vs #2 Varina Blue Devils

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Varina Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 4

Records: Courtland: 7-3 | Varina: 7-3

#5 Woodgrove Wolverines vs #4 Loudon County Captains

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Loudon County Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 4

Records: Woodgrove: 4-6 | Loudon County: 6-4

#3 Loudon Valley Vikings vs #6 Broad Run Spartans

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Loudon Valley Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 4

Records: Loudon Valley: 6-4 | Broad Run: 3-7

#6 Sherando Warriors vs #3 EC Glass Hilltoppers

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Lynchburg City Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 4

Records: Sherando: 5-5 | EC Glass: 7-3

#2 Louisa County Lions vs #7 Godwin Eagles

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Louisa Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 5

Records: Louisa County: 9-1 | Godwin: 6-4

#5 Massaponax Panthers vs #4 Lightridge Bolts

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Lightridge Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 5

Records: Massaponax: 5-5 | Lightridge: 6-4

#3 Riverbend Bears vs #6 Independence

Friday | 11/10 | 7 PM | Riverbend Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 5

Records: Riverbend: 6-4 | Independence: 4-6

#4 Colonial Forge Eagles vs #5 Gainesville Cardinals

Friday | 11/10 | 6 PM | Colonial Forge Football Stadium

Division: VHSL Class 6

Records: Colonial Forge: 9-1 | Gainesville: 8-2

#2 Mountain View Wildcats vs #7 Forest Park Bruins

Friday | 11/10 | 6 PM |

Division: VHSL Class 6

Records: Mountain View: 10-0 | Forest Park: 6-4

540 Playoffs By The Stats (1986-2023)

Most State Championships: 10- Salem (1996,1998,1999,2000,2004,2005,2015,2016,2017,2020) and Riverheads (2000,2006,2010,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022)

Longest State Championship Streak: 7- Riverheads (2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022)

Multi-Time State Champions: Salem (10), Riverheads (10), North Cross (5), Giles (3), Blacksburg (2), Northside (2), Bath County (2), Parry McCluer (2)

Single State Champions: Pulaski County, Courtland, Turner Ashby, Handley, Buffalo Gap, Glenvar, Woodgrove

Looking For The First: Central Woodstock, Stuarts Draft, Strasburg, Fort Defiance, Clarke County, Radford, James River, Floyd County, Kettle Run, Skyline, Alleghany, Spotswood, Staunton River, Christiansburg, William Byrd, Lord Botetourt, King George, Eastern View, Loudon Valley, Millbrook, Sherando, Liberty, Patrick Henry, William Fleming, Louisa County, Massaponax, Riverbend, Colonial Forge, Mountain View

Remaining Undefeated Teams: Mountain View, King George, Radford, Central Woodstock (All 10-0)

2023 One Seeds: 6 (Central Woodstock, Radford, King George, Salem, Patrick Henry, North Cross)

2023 Two Seeds: 5 (Mountain View, Louisa County, Turner Ashby, Riverheads, William Byrd)

2023 Three Seeds: 6 (Riverbend, Loudon Valley, Lord Botetourt, Spotswood, Glenvar, Kettle Run)

2023 Four Seeds: 5 (Colonial Forge, Christiansburg, Alleghany, Bath County, Millbrook)

2023 Five Seeds: 5 (Massaponax, Woodgrove, Eastern View, Handley, William Fleming)

2023 Six Seeds: 4 (Sherando, Clarke County, Parry McCluer, Skyline)

2023 Seven Seeds: 4 (Courtland, Floyd County, Buffalo Gap, Pulaski County)

2023 Eight Seeds: 6 (Staunton River, Giles, Hanover, Libery, James River, Stuarts Draft)

Virginia High School Football State Championship Brackets

The Road To A Virginia High School State Championship Runs Through The 540. That Road Starts Now.