Draft Moves To No. 2 In Latest Regional Rankings

Week 8 of the high school football season didn't bode well for a trio of high-ranked teams in the three regions involving local teams with a pair of No. 1s and one No. 2 losing.

Top-ranked Alleghany in Region 3C and No. 1 Altavista in Region 1B both went down, while No. 2 Buckingham County lost in Region 2B. The calamity at the top gave big boosts to Wilson Memorial and Stuarts Draft in the new weekly power rankings.

The Green Hornets were the central figure in Region 3C, going to Casey Field in Covington and ending Alleghany's 21-game winning streak during the regular season. Alleghany maintained its No. 1 spot despite the loss, but the win gave Wilson a huge boost, moving it from sixth into a fourth-place tie with Turner Ashby. The top four spots in the region earn a home game in the first round of the playoffs that begin November 14.

The Hornets, who are enjoying a four-game winning streak, have three games left in the regular season, starting Friday with a home game against Staunton.

Broadway, which moved into the No. 2 position behind Alleghany, became the first team in region to clinch a playoff berth.

Buckingham County's first loss of the season to James River District rival Central Lunenburg opened the gate for Stuarts Draft, fresh off its 35-3 rout over Waynesboro, to zoom up from No. 4 to No. 2 in Region 2B. The Cougars have their bye week Friday to rest up before closing out against Buffalo Gap and Staunton.

Fort Defiance, which had its much-needed bye week to get healthy, stayed No. 5 in Region 2B. The Indians return to action Friday at home against winless Rockbridge County.

Altavista's 13-0 loss to Appomattox County cost it the No. 1 position in Region 1B to Sussex Central.

Riverheads kept its No. 4 slot in the region after blowing out Rockbridge County 41-6, while Buffalo Gap is right on the Gladiators' heels at No. 5 after the Bison's impressive 32-0 shutout of Staunton.

Speaking of the Storm, they continued to plummet in Region 3C to No. 14 after their fourth-straight loss. They will have to play the role of spoiler over their last three games.

Waynesboro remained at No. 12 in Region 3C.

Region 3C (Top 8 teams qualify)
1. Alleghany (6-1) 26.00
2. y-Broadway (7-1) 25.75
3. Liberty Christian (5-1) 25.67
T4. Wilson Memorial (6-1) 25.14
T4. Turner Ashby (6-1) 25.14
6. Heritage-Lynchburg (6-1) 24.57
7. Fluvanna County (4-3) 21.29
8. Spotswood (5-3) 20.50
9. Western Albemarle (5-2) 20.14
10. Brookville (4-3) 20.00
11. East Rockingham (5-3) 19.88
12. Waynesboro (3-4) 17.43
13. Rocktown (3-4) 17.00
14. Staunton (3-4) 16.57
15. Monticello (2-5) 15.29
16. Rustburg (0-7) 12.86
17. Rockbridge County (0-8) 12.38
18. Harrisonburg (0-7) 11.57
y-clinched playoff berth

Region 2B (Top 6 teams qualify)
1. Strasburg (6-1) 23.86
2. Stuarts Draft (6-2) 21.50
3. Buckingham County (6-1) 21.29
4. Central Woodstock (4-3) 20.57
5. Fort Defiance (3-4) 16.00
6. Madison County (2-5) 14.00
7. Page County (2-5) 13.29
8. Clarke County (1-6) 12.00

Region 1B (Top 8 teams qualify)
1. y-Sussex Central (6-1) 21.57
2. y-Altavista (5-3) 20.63
3. Luray (4-3) 18.14
4. Riverheads (4-3) 16.71
5. Buffalo Gap (3-5) 16.25
6. Brunswick (2-6) 14.13
7. Franklin (2-5) 12.57
8. Cumberland (3-5) 12.50
9. Surry County (3-5) 12.38
10. William Campbell (0-8) 9.50
y-clinched playoff berth