VHSL FOOTBALL: Group A football gets a makeover

In 1970, the Virginia High School League introduced the modern football playoff system.

In 1986, the VHSL went to divisional play in postseason football.

This season marks another major makeover in how teams will compete for a state championship – at least in Group A.

The two smallest divisions in the state will implement a new format, which debuts this weekend. Regional championships will no longer be contested, more invites were handed out and five postseason wins are necessary to win a state title.

Thirty-two teams statewide in each division – 16 in the Western Section and 16 in the Eastern Section – will qualify and were seeded via the VHSL rating scale. Cross-bracketing will occur in the semifinal round, with the top-seeded remaining team in the West hosting the lower seed in the East and vice versa.

Twenty area Group A teams are still alive, with seven of those hosting first-round games.

Three Division 1 games involving Southwest Virginia teams are regular season rematches, while in Division 2 some long bus rides are on tap.

Group AA is using the same playoff format as years past and three teams from the area – Richlands, Abingdon and Marion – qualified in Region IV, Division 3. Marion travels to Tunstall, Martinsville hosts Abingdon and Richlands receives a bye in the first round.

Dates and times of playoff games will be made official on Monday by the VHSL. In the meantime, here’s a Group A playoff primer of the probable matchups:

GROUP A, DIVISION 1 WESTERN SECTION

Holston (3-7) at Galax (10-0): Top-seeded Galax is coached by former University of Virginia All-American and Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Mark Dixon.

Twin Springs (4-6) at George Wythe (10-0): Until this season, only the 1983 and 1993 teams had posted unbeaten regular seasons in the history of GW’s program.

Eastside (3-7) at Clintwood (8-2): Clintwood has won seven straight games and the Greenwave has one of the area’s top running back combos in tailback Gavan Meade and fullback Austin Dotson.

Hurley (6-4) at Honaker (8-2): Honaker posted a 49-26 victory over Hurley on Oct. 14 as Jerod Honaker rushed for 175 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Haysi (5-5) at J.I. Burton (8-2): This is the 10^th straight season J.I. Burton has qualified for postseason play.

Chilhowie (5-5) at Rural Retreat (8-2): Touchdown runs by Rural Retreat’s Dominique Epps and Tyler Caudill in the final 4:52 clinched a 28-22 comeback win over Chilhowie back on Oct. 7.

Thomas Walker (6-4) at Radford (7-3): Radford’s lone loss at home this season was Friday’s 21-17 setback to Giles.

Rye Cove (7-3) at Castlewood (7-3): Eight vs. nine matchups are usually the best games in the first round of any postseason tournaments. This one could shape up that way as Castlewood looks to avenge a 20-13 loss to Rye Cove back in September.

GROUP A, DIVISION 2 WESTERN SECTION

Virginia High (5-5) at Riverheads (10-0): The good news for Virginia High is that the Bearcats are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The bad news is they travel to Riverheads, the top seed and a team that boasts a 23-game winning streak.

Graham (5-5) at Grayson County (9-1): Grayson grabbed a 41-3 victory over Graham on Oct. 7.

Grundy (6-4) at Appomattox (9-1): Appomattox claimed its first Dogwood District title since 1999 on Friday with a 23-20 victory at William Campbell.

Glenvar (6-4) at Giles (9-1): The single-wingers from Giles beat Glenvar, 41-28, on Oct. 14.

John Battle (6-4) at Gretna (8-2): John Battle has a 1-2 all-time postseason record with the lone win coming over Floyd County in 1998.

Wise County Central (6-4) at Wilson Memorial (8-2): Wilson Memorial was a Group AA school last season.

Dan River (7-3) at Gate City (6-4): Virginia Tech signee Trey Edmunds of Dan River will look to showcase his skills at Legion Field.

Union (5-5) at Stuarts Draft (7-3): Six of Union’s games this season were decided by six points or less. The Bears were 3-3 in those contests.

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