A Confusing Football Landscape

Weekend of Upsets Does Nothing to Settle Playoff Picture

After a weekend of head-scratching football upsets (including Westfield over Oakton by three touchdowns), the Virginia AAA Northern Region remains an enigma in that no team has owned its division. But Robinson, at 6-0, is starting to build its case as a regional power.

If the playoffs were to begin today, Lee (5-1), Stone Bridge (6-0), South Lakes (5-1), Edison (5-1), McLean (4-2), Hayfield (4-2), Madison (3-3) and Washington-Lee (3-3) would all qualify in Northern Region Division 5, with the teams seeded in the order listed.

Lee's first defeat of the year (a 28-21 loss to Lake Braddock) didn't hurt the Lancers much, because Lake Braddock is a Division 6 power that plays a tough enough schedule. That enabled Lee to have enough rider points to stay atop the Division 5 seedings. McLean and South Lakes, which were a combined 2-18 last season, have turned things around. The Highlanders and Seahawks are a combined 9-3. Meanwhile, Stone Bridge and Edison are quietly making their way into what could be a fifth straight meeting in the Northern Region Division 5 final.

If the playoffs were to begin today in Northern Region Division 6, Robinson, W.T. Woodson (5-1), South County (5-1), Lake Braddock (4-2), Herndon (4-2), West Springfield (3-3), Chantilly (3-3) and Annandale (3-3) would qualify, seeded in that order.

Perennial state power Westfield seemed to be out of this year's playoff mix, but the Bulldogs bounced back Friday and blew out Oakton in a game that has redefined the playoff landscape. That game sent Oakton from a No. 4 seed (and home game) to the outside looking in -- and paved the way for Chantilly to grab a seventh seed.

Westfield (2-4) has lost to teams -- Stone Bridge, Lake Braddock, Lee and W.T. Woodson -- with a combined 20-4 record. Three of the losses were by a combined five points. Before this fall, Westfield had won 78 of its previous 87 games.

"It's tough, actually," said Westfield Coach Tom Verbanic, whose team plays at No. 7 Robinson on Friday. "There is that outside pressure, and they know what's gone on in the past. To say it's not there is just a lie. Every team we had had its own identity, and our job right now is for this team to do what they do best.

"It's not really a secret or anything, but we just feel like although things haven't gone right, if we just continue to do what we do and get better at it . . . we haven't left a lot of room for error, but we still have a chance."

In the latest power rankings, Westfield is 12th. The top eight make the playoffs.

Volleyball Underdog Bares Its Teeth

Chantilly went into its Concorde District volleyball match a week ago with Westfield as the heavy favorite, sporting an eight-match winning streak during which it had lost one game. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, entered with a 4-9 mark, having lost four straight. Throw in the fact that the Chantilly (13-2) swept its hosts in four matches last season and that Westfield lost nine players to graduation, and things looked bleak for the Bulldogs.

With junior outside hitter Emily Kohler (14 kills), senior middle blocker Emma Stewart (10 kills, 8 blocks) and senior setter Gabie DeVincenzo (18 assists) leading the way, the Bulldogs downed the Chargers in four games, 25-23, 25-22, 11-25, 25-16. Chantilly had not lost since a five-game defeat at the hands of No. 3 Flint Hill in the final of the Virginia Volleyball Showcase the first weekend of September.

"A rivalry like that with all the history and the stands full, it just brings out great high school volleyball," Westfield Coach Jim Bour said. "Chantilly beat the heck out of us four times last year. It was just a team effort with everybody stepping up, from the people on the bench to all 16 players. They were unselfish and just had an incredibly high energy level."

Staff writer Preston Williams contributed to this report.