Football: "What If" Look at New Conference Model

(July 9, 2012) - The summer is a great time for "What If" and the VHSL has provided the perfect opportunity with the release last month of how their new proposed playoff model for football would have looked if applied to last fall's football teams.

For the 2013-15 two-year cycle, the VHSL is proposing a new playoff football model that bypasses regional play and places schools into a 16-team Sectional bracket per their classification. The winner of each sectional would then play in the state title game.


For the "What If" scenario, schools are placed in their upcoming classifications. Here is what the new model looked like if applied to last year:

Stone Bridge would have been the top seeded 5A team in the Northern Sectional with Broad Run No. 2 and Briar Woods No. 4. Tuscarora would have been a No. 10 seed.

In 4A, Loudoun County would have been the top seed in the Western Sectional with Heritage No. 4 and Park View No. 14. In 3A, Loudoun Valley would have qualified as a No. 16 seed.

For the 2-year cycle starting in 2013-14, the proposed Loudoun placements for postseason play (teams may play in other districts for regular season):

5A North
Conference 14: Briar Woods, Broad Run, Freedom, Potomac Falls, Stone Bridge, Tuscarora
4A North
Conference 21: Dominion, Heritage, Loudoun County, Park View, Woodgrove with Handley, James Wood, Millbrook and Sherando
3A East
Conference 28: John Champe, Loudoun Valley with Central-Woodstock, Skyline, Warren County and William Monroe

For regular season play, the proposed plan is:
Stone Bridge in Liberty District with Fairfax, Langley, Madison, Marshall, McLean, South Lakes and TJ
Dulles District: Dominion, Heritage, John Champe, Loudoun County, Loudoun Valley, Park View, Woodgrove
Potomac District (new): Briar Woods, Broad Run, Freedom, Potomac Falls and Tuscarora

Schools have until Aug. 1 to advise the VHSL if they want to request a change in their proposed district and/or conference placement. The VHSL R&R committee will meet Aug. 8 to place schools into respective districts based on March 31 attendance figures and also the Ad Hoc Interim Conference Committee will also meet to place schools in their conferences.

The two committees will then meet Sept. 11 to hear appeals based upon the Aug. 8 alignments. Full approval is then expected in the fall. The current district and postseason set-up will continue for the upcoming 2012-13 school year with changed not taking affect until a full year from now.