The Virginia High School League released its master football schedule this week, and there are plenty of intriguing non district match-ups - especially early.
Of course we knew that Oscar Smith, the defending Group AAA Division 6 state champ, is kicking off its season Aug. 28 in an ESPN game against Venice, Fla. (The Tigers began selling tickets earlier this week).
But here are some other noteworthy happenings:
- Churchland looked across the water for a challenge and found two of them. The Truckers meet Phoebus, the defending Group AAA Division 5 state champion, on Sept. 11. They follow that against another Peninsula District power - Hampton - on Sept. 18.
Churchland coach Cedric Cradle said his team had trouble finding opponents.
"When teams ducked out on us, I just said, 'I don't care who we play,' " Cradle said. "And if I can't control who I get, then I play whoever is on my schedule. So we're going to prepare for Phoebus and Hampton. We're going to prepare for them just like they're Wilson or Norcom. So that's who we play. The players are excited about it."
- Fans get a first glimpse of Oscar Smith star quarterback Phillip Sims, who has committed to Alabama, in the televised game against Venice. Ocean Lakes wide receiver Justin Hunter, another of South Hampton Roads' highly touted recruits, opens his season against Princess Anne on Aug. 28.
- A few Eastern District teams are making trips to open the season: Lake Taylor travels to Haymarket to play Battlefield on Aug. 27 (a Thursday), and Norcom heads south to Elizabeth City, N.C., to play Northeastern.
"It's a good experience to take them out of the state," Norcom coach Larry Archie said. "Nobody really wants the expense of trying to do that, but it's only 45 minutes away."
- Grassfield, coming off a playoff appearance in just the program's second season, opens against Nansemond River and plays a nondistrict game against Maury. Maury's nondistrict slate includes a Sept. 4 game against Petersburg at Powhatan Field.
- Two longtime neighborhood rivals, Western Branch and Churchland, won't play each other next season. While Churchland picked up Hampton and Phoebus, the Bruins' nondistrict game is against Booker T. Washington in a Sept. 4 season-opener.
Jami Frankenberry, (757) 446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com
Larry Rubama contributed to this story.
WEB LINK: For a look at football schedules for each team, visit www.vhsl.org.
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