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This fall’s Virginia high school football slate features long-standing rivalries, high-profile interstate matchups and clashes between teams that finished 2025 as state champions — games that will influence conference standings and playoff seeding well before Thanksgiving. If you plan to see only a handful of nights under the lights, these 25 regular-season showdowns should be at the top of your list.
Nos. 25–16: Early-season tests that set the tone
25. Woodberry Forest at St. Mary’s Ryken (MD), Sept. 11
A cross-border opener for Jackson Matteo’s program; St. Mary’s Ryken arrives off a WCAC Metro title and will be a stiff early barometer.
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24. Trinity Episcopal at Hermitage, Sept. 11
Sam Mickens’ Titans — perennial VISAA contenders — travel to face Timothy Jean-Pierre’s Panthers in a city matchup that pits private-school pedigree against local public-school depth.
23. Trinity Episcopal at Woodberry Forest, Sept. 19
A week later the Titans meet another private-school powerhouse. Trinity dominated last year’s meeting and will try to repeat against Matteo’s Bengals.
22. James Madison at West Springfield, Sept. 10
Nonconference rivalry renewed: Justin Counts’ Falcons make the trip to face Anthony Parker’s Spartans after a 2025 meeting that favored Madison.
21. Lake Braddock at James Madison, Sept. 3
A rematch of the 2024 VHSL Class 6 semifinal; Madison will host Mike Daugherty’s Bruins in an early test with playoff implications.
20. Mallard Creek (NC) at Maury, Aug. 28
Maury, coming off a third straight VHSL title, opens with a tough interstate opponent in the North Carolina Mavericks — a quick exam of championship mettle.
19. Highland Springs at Dinwiddie, Sept. 11
Loren Johnson’s Springers, fresh from a Class 5 title game appearance, travel for a matchup with Billy Mills’ Generals, a program that started 2025 undefeated before a late playoff exit.
18. Huguenot at Highland Springs, Sept. 4
Season opener that features Charles Scott Jr. — now a committed Alabama prospect — leading the Falcons into a showdown with the Springers.
17. James Madison at Stone Bridge, Aug. 28
A traditional early-week meeting between two programs that have kicked off the year against each other for seasons; the Falcons eked out a 7-0 win in 2025.
16. Quince Orchard (MD) at Stone Bridge, Sept. 18
Stone Bridge’s annual test against a Maryland champion: Quince Orchard arrives as a repeat state winner and a recent shutout victor.
Nos. 15–6: Rivalries and playoff-caliber matchups
15. Heritage at Liberty Christian, Oct. 30
Lynchburg rivalry renewed late in the season; Liberty Christian has a first-year head coach in Josh Martin after the Frank Rocco era, and the teams met in last year’s Class 3 playoffs.
14. St. Christopher’s at Trinity Episcopal, Oct. 24
A private-school Richmond clash that frequently decides local bragging rights — St. Christopher’s edged the Titans in 2025.
13. Colonial Forge at North Stafford, Sept. 25
Stafford County rivalry with new leadership on both sidelines: Colonial Forge has a new coach while North Stafford replaces its head coach after a run to the Class 6 title game.
12. Riverbend at Colonial Forge, Oct. 16
Late-season rematch between two high-performing programs; last year Riverbend spoiled an undefeated Colonial Forge with a 41-27 victory.
11. Riverbend at North Stafford, Nov. 6
A season-ender that could influence playoff seeding — these teams split tense contests recently, with Riverbend taking last year’s late-game finish.
10. Indian River at King’s Fork, Oct. 30
Southeastern District heavyweight meeting; King’s Fork has won recent battles, including a double-overtime thriller in 2023.
9. Oscar Smith at Indian River, Sept. 18
A Chesapeake rivalry with state-championship pedigree: Oscar Smith has been a Class 6 standard, while Indian River counters with its own offensive leaders.
8. Benedictine at McDonogh (MD), Sept. 18
Defending VISAA Division I champion Benedictine travels to Maryland; senior leader Ralphie Puccinelli anchors an offense that will be tested against another private-school program.
7. Maury at Bishop McNamara (MD), Sept. 12
Another interstate private-school matchup — the Commodores visit a WCAC opponent that routinely competes with Virginia’s top Catholic schools.
6. Grimsley (NC) at Varina, Oct. 2
Varina, fresh off the Class 4 crown, hosts a North Carolina opponent coming off dominant seasons; a measuring stick for Marcus Lewis’ Blue Devils.
Top Five: The games most likely to define the fall
| Rank | Matchup | Date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | St. James Performance Academy at IMG Academy (FL) | Oct. 3 | St. James’ breakthrough 2025 season earns a national test against IMG — a rare interstate exposure that will gauge the program’s trajectory. |
| 4 | St. Frances Academy (MD) at St. James Performance Academy | Oct. 9 | St. Frances, a Maryland powerhouse, visits — a heavyweight matchup that will test St. James after a lopsided meeting last year. |
| 3 | Highland Springs at Varina | Oct. 30 | Part of the Great American Rivalry Series; recent history favors Varina but both schools expect to be in the playoff mix. |
| 2 | Varina at Maury | Sept. 4 | Two defending VHSL champions meet: Varina (Class 4) vs. Maury (Class 5). Also billed as a significant quarterback duel. |
| 1 | Varina at Oscar Smith | Sept. 11 | Top-ranked Oscar Smith faces Varina in what promises to be the state’s most consequential regular-season game — title implications and elite quarterbacks on both sides. |
Beyond the top five, several recurring storylines thread through this schedule: the strength of Virginia’s private-school circuit against WCAC opponents, emerging interstate challenges from North Carolina and Maryland, and a concentration of high-stakes district games in October that will sort playoff contenders.
- Interstate tests: Maryland and North Carolina opponents appear frequently, giving programs a chance to benchmark against different styles.
- Quarterback matchups: Multiple contests feature high-end signal-callers whose performances could alter statewide rankings.
- Late-season stakes: October and early November games will likely decide division titles and playoff seedings.
Expect several of these matchups to carry ripple effects — coaches scouting for playoff adjustments, colleges monitoring prospects in high-visibility games, and local communities rallying behind rivalry weeks. Check individual school schedules and local outlets for any last-minute changes, but plan now: the early weeks already include contests that could reshape the postseason map.
