Welcome Back December, or should we say- Welcome Back State Championship Football. Well, almost. Five local 540 high school football programs are looking to punch their ticket to their respective championship game, and only 3 of them will have the ultimate opportunity in being crowned a state champion when it's all said and done. Below is the Fantom Sports Network's VHSL Semifinal Preview for the region including game information, players to know, and more!
With history in the making throughout every semifinal game this year, the 2023 VHSL State Championships are paving a road that this region will always remember. Without further ado, let's break each semifinal game down by classification. Well... after the following announcement...
FANTOM SPORTS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF ROADTRIP ANNOUNCEMENT:
Throughout this year's Virginia High School Football Playoffs, the Fantom Sports Network has had the honor of spotlighting 9 different local programs for the region. As we entered this year's semifinal games, we were faced with a decision that couldn't be made by our team alone. That's when the Semifinal Roadtrip poll was created on the official Fantom Sports Network Twitter, where over 170 accounts voted on our next destination. Over half of those accounts chose our next stop to be our first repeated one. This Saturday, we will be traveling to Christiansburg Football Stadium, for the VHSL Class 2 Semifinal Game between the Radford Bobcats and the Graham G-Men. Expect full coverage throughout the afternoon on all of our platforms! To acceess our 2023 Virginia High School Football Playoff Roadtrip Replays, visit the link below:
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VHSL CLASS 2 SEMIFINAL GAMES (Two 540 Teams Remain)
Saturday, December 2nd | 2:00 PM | Christiansburg Football Stadium- Christiansburg, Virginia
For five years, the Radford Bobcats have been clawing their way back to a spot in the VHSL Class 2 Semifinals, and this Saturday, they will look to continue this historic undefeated season by punching their ticket to the VHSL State Championship Game for the first time since 2009. Just as the semifinals from five years ago, the Bobcats will once again meet the G-Men from Graham as both teams look to continue their road towards a VHSL State Championship. Radford is fighting for their first since 1972, and Graham is fighting to go Back-2-Back. The Bobcats' offense, led by the senior QB/WR duo Landen Clark and Max Kanipe, along with freshman RB JD Grubb and junior ATH Sincere Taylor, is averaging over 45 points per playoff game. They look to match up against a challenging G-Men defensive unit that has only allowed an average of 15 points per game this postseason. On the other side of the ball for the Bobcats is a defensive unit of their own featuring a plethora of two-way athletes, including Radford Senior LB Charlie Davis, who looks to lead his defense towards stopping Graham's average of 39 points per playoff game. The Bobcats' defense has only allowed an average of 18 points per playoff game throughout their run, and Radford looks to continue executing on both sides of the ball this Saturday. Below is Radford's Road Here, and Our 540 Players To Watch.
Radford's Road Here:
-Undefeated 10-0 Regular Seaon Record
-Playoff Wins Over: James River, Appomattox County, Glenvar
540 Players To Watch:
Landen Clark- QB (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2M0L6J
JD Grubb- RB (c/o 2027) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MJd1T
Max Kanipe- WR (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MdURG
Charlie Davis- LB (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MLUj1
Sincere Taylor- ATH (c/o 2025) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MKyTg
Saturday, December 2nd | 2:00 PM | Riverheads Football Stadium- Staunton, Virginia
Riverheads aims to make history as the Gladiators prepare to punch their way to their 9th straight VHSL State Championship appearance. However, before they can focus on winning yet another VHSL State Championship, they face a meeting with the Islanders of Poquoson. The Gladiators' offense, propelled by the monstrous running back duo of senior Cayden Cook-Cash and sophomore Jonathan Talbott, aims to direct their average of 45 points per playoff game against the Poquoson defense, which has allowed an average of 30 points per playoff game this postseason. The Gladiators defense led by senior CB duo of Daniel Heath and Caleb Weston alongside DT Mitchell Winthrow, has only allowed 13 points per game in playoff competition and look to continue their dominance against an Islanders offense that averages 30 points per playoff game. While Poquoson looks for their first trip back to a State Championship since 2010, Riverheads aims to continue writing Gladiator history as they fight for a shot at number eleven on Saturday. Below is Riverheads Road Here, and Our 540 Players To Watch.
Riverheads Road Here:
-Finished Regular Season 9-1 with One Loss To Central Woodstock in August
-Playoff Wins Over: Madison County, Clarke County, and Central Woodstock
540 Players To Watch:
Cayden Cook-Cash- RB (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2KQ55i
Jonathan Talbott- RB (c/o 2026) | https://www.hudl.com/profile/16887850/Jonathan-Talbott
Caleb Weston- CB (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MNXbP
Daniel Heath- CB (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2Mb6vT
Mitchelll Withrow- T (c/o 2024) | https://www.hudl.com/profile/15632826/Mitchell-Withrow
VHSL CLASS 3 SEMIFINAL GAME (One 540 Team Remains)
Saturday, December 2nd | 2:00 PM | Liberty Christian Football Stadium- Lynchburg, Virginia
The William Byrd Terriers continue to stamp an unforgettable season that will live in the history books forever. Since 2019, when William Byrd went 3-8, Coach Brad Lutz has been slowly building a winning culture destined for history in the town of Vinton. Just four seasons later, and for the first time ever, the Terriers are riding into the VHSL State Semifinals. While they're not done yet, their biggest challenge waits ahead. Sitting undefeated are 7-time VISAA State Champions, Liberty Christian Academy, who made the move up to join the VHSL in 2015. Since then, the Bulldogs have been itching for history of their own as they hope to return to the VHSL State Championship for the first time since 2021 with a shot at capturing their first state title—just like the Terriers. While Liberty Christian possesses a defense that has only allowed an average of 11 points per game throughout their playoff run, the Terriers will not shy away. Senior QB Israel Hairston, with senior WR Cooper Minnix by his side, looks to leave it all on the field once again as they lead a William Byrd offense that has averaged 39 points per playoff game. On the other side of the field, William Byrd will unleash a Terriers Defense that features senior LB John Kiker, junior LB Jahdai English, and junior CB Braeden Young, all contributing to a unit that has only allowed an average of 14 points per game this postseason to combat a Bulldogs offense that has averaged 54 points throughout their playoff run. History is in the making, and it's William Byrd looking to continue etching theirs as the Terriers head into Saturday's Semifinal. Below is William Byrd's Road Here, and Our 540 Players To Watch.
William Byrd's Road Here:
-Finished Regular Season 9-1 with One Loss To Christiansburg in Early September
-Playoff Wins Over: Pulaski County, Lord Botetourt, and Magna Vista
540 Players To Watch:
Israel Hairston- ATH (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2LkTsY
Cooper Minnix- WR (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2LtnRm
Jahdai English- LB (c/o 2025) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MUkiU
Braeden Young- CB (c/o 2025) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MSPY8
John Kiker- LB (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MUjJQ
VHSL CLASS 4 SEMIFINAL GAME (Two 540 Teams Remain)
Saturday, December 2nd | 2:00 PM | Darling Stadium- Hampton, Virginia
It's been since 1995 since the King George Foxes have been to a VHSL State Championship Game, and this Saturday, they will have an opportunity to return after a 28-year journey. While a historic undefeated regular season has been crafted by the Foxes, their greatest challenge awaits them in the Phoebus Phantoms. Looking to join an elite tier of Virginia High Schools with a chance to 3-Peat, the undefeated Phoebus Phantoms have shown their dominance throughout their entire playoff run, featuring a 104-0 win over Jamestown in the first round and two other dominant victories. While this seems like an extreme challenge on paper, the Foxes, whose defense is led by junior LB Charles Johnson, have only allowed an average of 23 points per playoff game. They consist of a dominant unit full of talented playmakers determined to stop the Phantoms' lethal offense. King George also possesses an offense averaging 33 points per game, led by a trio of Foxes seniors: QB Jack Pearson, WR Mekhai White, and WR Chanz Wiggins. The two King George wide receivers look to showcase their highly recruited skills and create plenty of opportunities for the Foxes as they prepare to battle a Phoebus defense that is only allowing an average of one touchdown per game. Also, looking to send King George to the next round, over the end zone, and through the uprights is senior kicker Max Lipinski, who aims to display why his leg is one of the best in the state and why Special Teams holds a key to winning championships. Saturday awaits history as King George looks to continue the journey towards capturing their first VHSL State Championship. Below is King George's Road Here, and Our 540 Players To Watch.
King George's Road Here:
-Undefeated 10-0 Regular Season
-Playoff Wins Over: Hanover, Dinwiddie, and Varina
540 Players To Watch:
Mekhai White- WR (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MaV5w
Chanz Wiggins- WR (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2LMVJA
Jack Pearson- QB (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2Makx0
Charles Johnson- LB (c/o 2025) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2LiGSF
Max Lipinski- K (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MgAkT-
Saturday, December 2nd | 2:00 PM | Tuscarora Football Stadium- Tuscarora, Virginia
The Salem Spartans will look to continue their journey towards their 11th VHSL State Championship with a trip to Tuscarora for this Saturday's VHSL Class 4 Semifinal Game. As the Spartans aim to return to the VHSL State Championship for the first time since spring of 2021, the undefeated Huskies of Tuscarora are on the hunt for the first state championship in program history. Featuring senior RB Peyton Lewis and junior QB Eli Taylor alongside a handful of contributing two-way athletes, the Spartans' offense has averaged 46 points per playoff game and looks to test their production against a Huskies defense that has allowed an average of only 19 points per game throughout the postseason. On the other side of the ball for Salem stands the senior LB duo Chris Cole and Jaelyn Allen alongside junior ATH Josiah Persinger, who lead a mighty Spartans Defensive Unit that has allowed an average of only one touchdown per game. Salem aims to showcase some of the nation's top-ranked athletes as they continue their dominance throughout the VHSL Class 4 Playoff Tournament. It will all come down to Saturday as the Spartans prepare to take the next step in what has been an exhilarating playoff run. Below is Salem's Road Here, and Our 540 Players To Watch.
Salem's Road Here:
-Finished Regular Season 9-1 with One Loss To Liberty Christian Academy in August
-Playaoff Wins Over: Liberty, Handley, EC Glass
540 Players To Watch:
Peton Lewis- RB (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MJiLH
Chris Cole- LB (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MeNk6
Jaelyn Allen- LB/TE (c/o 2024) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2Mecc9
Josiah Persinger- ATH (c/o 2025) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2MeJR6
Eli Taylor- QB (c/o 2025) | http://www.hudl.com/v/2Lkc3h
STATE SEMIFINAL POLLS: FOR THE REGION
Who Wins The VHSL Class 2 Semifinal?
Radford
Graham
Who Wins The VHSL Class 2 Semifinal?
Riverheads
Poquoson
Who Wins The VHSL Class 3 Semifinal?
William Byrd
Liberty Christian Academy
Who Wins The VHSL Class 4 Semifinal?
King George
Phoebus
Who Wins The VHSL Class 4 Semifinal?
Salem
Tuscarora
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