Salem, Pulaski County are 1-2 in new VHSL football rankings

Salem now leads the way in the Region 4D high school football rankings, according to Virginia High School League ratings released Monday.

The Spartans are 3-0 in the River Ridge District and 3-0 overall for a rating of 24.00.

That’s just ahead of Pulaski County and Jefferson Forest.

The Cougars (3-0, 2-0 River Ridge) are second with a rating of 22.67, followed by the Cavaliers (1-0, 1-0 Seminole) in third at 22.00.

While it’s still early, with this season’s COVID-reduced schedules every game is important – especially considering the top four teams from each region qualify for April’s playoffs.

Right now, George Washington of Danville and Amherst County are deadlocked for the fourth and final playoff spot with 17.00 ratings.

GW is 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the Piedmont, while Amherst is 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the Seminole.

Whichever team comes out of Region 4D as champion will face the Region 4C champ in the State Semi-final. The winner of that game will face the Region 4A and 4B winner for the Class 4 championship.

Right now, Broad Run leads 4C with a 25.00 rating and a 2-0 record. Next is Kettle Run (2-0) at 24.00, followed in third by Tuscarora (2-0) at 23.00.

Loudoun County and Fauquier are tied for fourth with 19.33 ratings. Both teams are 2-1 so far this season.

Elsewhere around the area, Three Rivers power Radford (1-0, 1-0) – which opened its 2021 season last week by thrashing James River – sits atop the Region 2C rankings with a rating of 20.00.

Appomattox (2-0, 2-0) out of the Dogwood District is second at 19.00. Next comes Giles (1-1, 1-1) out of the Three Rivers at 15.50, followed by Mountain Empire member Fort Chiswell (1-1, 1-0) at 13.50.

In Region 3D, Lord Botetourt, Carroll County, Abingdon and William Byrd are the top four.

Lord Botetourt (2-0, 1-0 Blue Ridge) leads at 24.00. Carroll County, out of the Three Rivers, is 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the district for a 22.00 rating.

Abingdon (2-0, 2-0 Mountain 7) is third at 21.00 and Byrd (1-1, 0-1 Blue Ridge) is fourth at 19.00.

In Region 1C Galax (2-0, 2-0 Mtn. Empire) is on top with a 17.00 rating. Next comes Narrows (2-0, 2-0 Pioneer) and George Wythe (1-0, 1-0 Mtn. Empire) both with 16.00 ratings. After that it’s Auburn (1-1, 0-1 Mtn. Empire) in fourth at 13.50.

The VHSL has scheduled the playoffs to begin with the region semi-finals on April 9, followed by the region championship games April 16. State semi-finals will be April 24 followed May 1 with state championship games.

By MIKE WILLIAMS, The Patriot