Varina-Chantilly State Semifinal Preview
Sterling, VA - While the Chantilly football program has come full circle since it's winless season of 2004, its opponent in the Group AAA Division 6 state semifinals on Saturday has spent plenty of time in the postseason since the Chargers' last made the playoffs in 1996.
Varina (11-1 overall), which defeated Highland Springs, 21-17, to claim its first Central Region title in six years last Friday, has missed the postseason just once in the past 12 seasons, and that came despite a 9-1 record in 2005. The Blue Devils have long been one of the state's top programs under coach Gary Chilcoat, and that is again the case this year.
Chantilly (9-3), which knocked off previously unbeaten Westfield, 26-21, in the Northern Region championship game last week and is in the postseason for the first time since winning the state title in 1996, plays host on Saturday in what will be the Blue Devils' first contest against a Northern Region team since falling to Centreville, 20-14, in the 2000 state semifinals. It will be the Chargers' first-ever playoff meeting with a Central Region school.
The Blue Devils enter riding an 11-game winning streak since dropping its season-opener, 13-9, to Gar-Field behind a defense that has posted five shutouts and is surrendering just 7.5 points per game. Varina placed six players on the first-team all-district defense and senior linebacker Marell Evans was the district's defensive player of the year. Add to that unit Virginia Tech-signee Davon Morgan, a senior safety who returned for the postseason after breaking his ankle in the season-opener, and the Chargers' offensive unit is facing perhaps its toughest test of the season.
Offensively, Varina is led by senior tailback Trevin Thomas, who has run for 187 yards and two touchdowns in the postseason and along with junior Rodney Roane has helped fill the void left by the graduation of all-state back Brandon Minor. Junior quarterback Justin Thorpe has filled in admirably since the injury to Morgan - the team's quarterback entering the season - and threw for 208 yards and a touchdown in the region final. His top receiving threat is senior wide out Donte Boston.
The Chargers, led by second-year coach Mike Lalli, hope to counter with an offense led by senior quarterback Nate Worek, who was knocked out of the region final and hospitalized with a concussion but expects to play on Saturday, Worek has thrown for 968 yards and 13 touchdowns and run for 426 yards and six more scores this season. If he can't go, junior Austin Decker - who scored the game-winning touchdown with 19 seconds remaining against Westfield - would again step in. Chantilly will also lean heavily on its tailback duo of junior Antonio Cross and sophomore Torrian Pace.
Chantilly's physical defensive unit, led by all-region defensive end Zach Hally, will look to revert to its early-season form and contain the Blue Devils talented group of skill position players. After giving up just 40 points in their first seven games, the Chargers have been exposed a bit in recent weeks, allowing 60 points in regular season-ending losses to Westfield and Centreville.
PLAYOFF HISTORIES: Varina has a 16-12 record in its 13 Virginia High School League (VHSL) playoff appearances and is making its 11th playoff appearance in the last 12 years. The Blue Devils have won five Central Region titles since 1995 and advanced to the state final in 1998 and 1999, losing both times to Hylton. Chantilly, meanwhile, has an 8-6 all-time VHSL postseason mark in eight appearances and is making its first postseason appearance since beating GW-Danville, 14-7, to win the Group AAA Division 6 state title in 1996. The Chargers have won six straight playoff games dating back to a 15-14 loss to Lake Braddock in the 1995 region final.
NOTABLE ALUMNI: Varina has pumped out several well-known players in recent years, including Michael Robinson, who as a quarterback led the Blue Devils to consecutive state finals in 1998 and 1999, led Penn State University to the Big Ten championship last fall and is currently a running back for the San Francisco 49ers. Other former Varina standouts include former Virginia Tech defensive lineman Jonathan Lewis, who is currently a member of the Arizona Cardinals, and 2005 all-state tailback Brandon Minor, who is playing at the University of Michigan. Former Chantilly standout Bhawoh Jue, a key member of the 1996 state championship team, starred at Penn State and with the Green Bay Packers before joining the San Diego Chargers last year. Also, former Charger and Virginia Tech lineman Jimmy Martin is a member of the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Varina senior Davon Morgan, a Virginia Tech signee, returned from a broken ankle suffered in the season opener to give Varina a shot in the arm entering the postseason. Morgan, slated as the team's quarterback entering the season, has played sparingly on offense since his return, but has had an impact already from his safety position, including a key interception in the Blue Devils' win on Friday. Chantilly's 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound senior tight end, Danny Simms, had three catches for 50 yards - including a 23-yard touchdown reception - in Saturday's win over Westfield. Simms' size and route-running ability gives the Chargers a big possession threat in the passing game.
2006 SCHEDULES: Varina - 9/4, Gar-Field, L, 13-9; 9/8, Hopewell, W, 34-0; 9/15, Thomas Dale, W, 9-7; 9/22, Hermitage, W, 42-7; 9/29. Hanover, W, 34-0; 10/9, Henrico, W, 44-20; 10/13, Armstrong, W, 40-12, 10/20, Atlee, W, 41-0; 10/27, Lee-Davis, W, 32-0; 11/10, Highland Springs, W, 30-12; 11/17, Clover Hill, W, 21-0; 11/24, Highland Springs, W, 21-17; Chantilly - 9/4, Annandale, W, 7-6; 9/11, Lake Braddock, L, 14-7; 9/15, Washington-Lee, W, 32-7; 9/21, Madison, W, 19-6; 9/29, Oakton, W, 21-0; 10/13, Fairfax, W, 41-0; 10/20, Herndon, W, 10-7; 10/30, Robinson, W, 27-20; 11/3, Westfield, L, 34-28; 11/10, Centreville, L, 26-23; 11/18, Oakton, W, 23-14; 11/25, Westfield, W, 26-21.
TEAM STATISTICS: Varina - Points Scored: 29.8 (357), Points Allowed: 7.5 (90) ; Chantilly - Points Scored: 22.0 (264), Points Allowed: 12.9 (155)
STATE SEMIFINAL MATCH-UPS:
Group AAA Division 6 Semifinals
Osbourn (12-0) at Salem (12-0) at Virginia Beach Sportsplex
Varina (11-1) at Chantilly (9-3) at 4 p.m.
Group AAA Division 5 Semifinals
Edison (10-2) at Deep Run (10-2)
Phoebus (11-1) at Potomac (11-1)
Group AA Division 4 Semifinals
Powhatan (11-1) at Louisa (12-0)
Amherst (11-1) at Bassett (7-5)
Group AA Division 3 Semifinals
Rockbridge (8-4) at James Monroe (8-4)
Richlands (12-0) at Hidden Valley (10-2)
Group A Division 2 Semifinals
Essex (12-0) at Goochland (12-0)
Powell Valley (9-3) at Giles (11-1)
Group A Division 1 Semifinals
Riverheads (11-1) at Sussex Central (10-2)
Rural Retreat (9-3) at J.I. Burton (12-0)
* All game are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday unless otherwise noted
