Gladiators Move Up To No. 2 in Region 2B

Monday's release of the Virginia High School League's third edition of the football power ratings reveal six of the seven local teams are in decent to excellent shape in qualifying for the playoffs.

Of the six only Staunton (5-2) and Wilson Memorial (5-3) in Region 3C have reason to still be nervous. The Storm, despite being on their bye week, moved up from No. 6 into a tie for fifth with Rustburg. The Green Hornets, now riding a two-game winning streak following a two-game slide that had put them in serious jeopardy of missing the postseason, remained at No. 7. Wilson has given itself a little breathing room to stay in the top 8.

Staunton has three games left, starting at Buffalo Gap on Friday, home to Fort Defiance before finishing up at Waynesboro. Wilson only has two games on the docket at winless Waynesboro, and then after its bye week, hosts Stuarts Draft in a big regular-season finale.

Riverheads (7-1), Stuarts Draft (6-2) and Fort Defiance (4-4) are locks to make the Region 2B field. It's just of matter of seeding. The Gladiators jumped one spot into the No. 2 slot, while the Cougars and Indians are tied at No. 5.

The Gladiators and Cougars have their annual monster showdown Friday in Stuarts Draft. Riverheads wraps up its regular season Nov. 1 at home to Waynesboro, while Draft, after a bye week, heads to Wilson.

The injury-plagued Indians have lost two straight going into their bye week. Fort head coach Dan Rolfe is hopeful the much-needed break will give some of his banged-up players time to heal and the healthy ones the opportunity to rejuvenate. The biggest injury concern is to lethal wide receiver Talyn Armentrout, who Rolfe said might be able to return by the playoffs.

After the road game at Staunton on Nov. 1, the Indians host county rival Buffalo Gap in the finale.

Speaking of the Bison (4-4), the second half of the season hasn't been kind to them, dropping three straight in their heavily back-loaded schedule after a 4-1 start. Gap slipped one spot to No. 3 in Region 1B where all seven teams qualify for the playoffs. The Bison want to hold onto a top 4 seed in order to get a home game in the first round.

After their final home game of the regular season Friday against Staunton, the Bison have a bye week before closing out at Fort.

VHSL Football Power Ratings (as of Oct. 21)

Region 3C (top 8 teams qualify)

1. Liberty Christian Academy (6-0) 28.33
2. Turner Ashby (7-0) 27.14
3. Alleghany (7-0) 26.57
4. Heritage-Lynchburg (6-1) 26.29
T5. Staunton (5-2) 22.29
T5. Rustburg (4-3) 22.29
7. Wilson Memorial (5-3) 21.88
8. Monticello (5-2) 20.57
9. Broadway (5-3) 20.25
10. Spotswood (5-3) 20.00
11. East Rockingham (5-3) 19.50
12. Brookville (3-4) 18.57
13. Fluvanna County (3-4) 18.00
14. Western Albemarle (2-5) 16.57
15. Rockbridge County (1-6) 14.86
16. Rocktown (1-6) 14.14
17. Waynesboro (0-7) 13.43

Region 2B (top 8 teams qualify)

1. Strasburg (7-0) 24.57
2. Riverheads (7-1) 24.50
3. Clarke County (7-0) 23.71
4. Buckingham County (6-0) 22.67
T5. Stuarts Draft (6-2) 20.13
T5. Fort Defiance (4-4) 20.13
7. Madison County (3-4) 16.14
8. Central Woodstock (2-5) 15.29
9. Page County (2-5) 14.86
10. Luray (1-6) 12.86

Region 1B (all 7 teams qualify)

1. Altavista (7-0) 23.14
2. Brunswick (5-3) 18.75
3. Buffalo Gap (4-4) 17.63
4. Sussex Central (4-3) 15.86
5. Surry County (3-5) 12.88
6. William Campbell (1-6) 12.14
7. Franklin (2-5) 12.00