The high school football season starts tonight in the 757. Here’s everything you need to know.
Summer vacation has been over for high school football players for nearly a month now, and the preseason build up — sweltering-hot daily workouts, film-room sessions, playbook studies, scrimmages — is over. The season begins tonight for most 757 teams.
Here’s a look at everything you’ll need to get ready for kickoff:
Oscar Smith, ranked No. 1 in Hampton Roads and a two-time defending state champion, runs out of its ‘Tiger Cage’ at home tonight in a game against Deep Creek. Elsewhere, Kempsville and Green Run hook up in a Beach District showdown.
Tonight’s games, including predictions from staff writers Larry Rubama and Marty O’Brien.
Who’s No. 1
That’s easy: Oscar Smith has dominated region competition in recent seasons. And did we mention the Tigers are two-time defending state champs?
In the Beach District
Green Run finished the 2021 regular season 10-0 and won its first region title. Who can challenge the Stallions? Maybe Kempsville, a program that not too long ago endured five consecutive winless seasons.
A team-by team Beach District preview
In the Eastern District
Maury lost a heartbreaker of a Class 5 state championship game last season. The Commodores are back and ready for another run. But Lake Taylor and Churchland might be ready to challenge.
A team-by-team Eastern District preview
In the Peninsula District
Phoebus returned to the top of the mountain last season, winning the program’s latest state championship. The Phantoms look ready to contend again, and Woodside has a massive offensive line that could pose problems for defenses. At Hampton, the Crabbers have a new coach for the first time in more than five decades.
A team-by-team Peninsula District preview
In the Southeastern District
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Oscar Smith is the preseason favorite in the Southesatern District. But Western Branch has the 757′s top recruit in the Class of 2023, and King’s Fork is coming off its best season ever.
A team-by-team Southeastern District preview
In private schools
Atlantic Shores went undefeated and won a Virginia Independent Schools Football Association championship, while Portsmouth Christian and Greenbrier Christian also earned state titles. Nansemond-Suffolk advanced to the playoffs. The challenge for those teams and their local rivals will be to continue thriving with a sizable number of new players.
A team-by-team look at private schools
Tonight’s games
Join us on Twitter @757Teamz for live updates from tonight’s games, and visit 757Teamz.com after kickoff for a live scoreboard.
757Teamz Top 15
Deep Creek at #1 Oscar Smith, 7 p.m.
#6 Kempsville at #4 Green Run, 7 p.m.
#5 Western Branch at #10 Churchland, 7 p.m.
Norcom at #8 Lake Taylor, 7 p.m.
#15 Salem at #12 Bayside, 7 p.m.
King George at #14 Lafayette, 7 p.m.
Hickory at #13 Indian River, 7 p.m.
Beach District
First Colonial at Kellam, 7 p.m.
Landstown at Ocean Lakes, 7 p.m.
Cox at Princess Anne, 7 p.m.
Denbigh vs. Heritage at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Non-district
Bruton at Northampton, 7 p.m.
Southampton at Poquoson, 7 p.m.
Petersburg at Booker T. Washington, 7 p.m.
Menchville vs. Granby at Powhatan Field, 7 p.m.
Norview at Grassfield, 7 p.m.
Manor at Lakeland, 7 p.m.
Kecoughtan at Mills E. Godwin, 7 p.m.
Nansemond River vs. Bethel at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Private schools
Nansemond-Suffolk at North Cross, 4 p.m.
Catholic at First Flight (N.C.), 7 p.m.
Isle of Wight vs. Atlantic Shores at VB Sportsplex, 7 p.m.
Norfolk Christian at Hargrave Military, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Peninsula District
Gloucester vs. Hampton at Darling Stadium, noon
Non-district
#11 Warhill vs. Warwick at Todd Stadium, noon
Private schools
Portsmouth Christian at Fredericksburg Christian, 1 p.m.
Greenbrier Christian at Richmond Christian, 4 p.m.
