2026 VHSL Class 4 Football Playoff Preview

Jefferson Forest and Varina lead both models in their regions from the No. 2 seed. In Region 4A, three of the top four seeds are packed within three-tenths of a power-rating point.

Power ratings, Elo and records come from the Beyond the Standings Week 11 rankings. The ranks below are recalculated among each region’s playoff teams. Pairings follow the published opening-round schedule.

Highest-rated teams outside the bracket

Dinwiddie (2-8) ranked 19th in Class 4 power and sixth in Region 4B, where it was ninth in Elo. Atlee (4-6) had the eighth-best Elo and ninth-best power rating in that same region. Blacksburg (5-5) was eighth in Region 4D Elo and tenth in power. These Week 11 ranks include every team in the referenced class or region.

Region 4A

Lafayette is first by a clear margin in both models. Warhill, Smithfield and Phoebus are within three-tenths of a power-rating point, with Warhill also leading that group in Elo.

Seed differences of two or more places. No. 2 Phoebus (power #4, Elo #3), No. 5 Denbigh (power #7, Elo #7), No. 7 Hampton (power #5, Elo #5).

First round

No. 8 Grafton vs. No. 1 Lafayette

No. 7 Hampton vs. No. 2 Phoebus

No. 6 Churchland vs. No. 3 Warhill

No. 5 Denbigh vs. No. 4 Smithfield

Region 4B

Varina and Huguenot outrank unbeaten No. 1 seed Louisa County in both models. Farther down the bracket, No. 8 Hanover sits fifth in power and draws Louisa in the opening round.

Seed differences of two or more places. No. 8 Hanover (power #5, Elo #7), No. 1 Louisa County (power #3, Elo #3).

First round

No. 8 Hanover vs. No. 1 Louisa County

No. 7 King George vs. No. 2 Varina

No. 6 Spotsylvania vs. No. 3 Huguenot

No. 5 Mechanicsville vs. No. 4 Courtland

Region 4C

Woodgrove and Loudoun Valley earn byes and lead both ratings in that order. The models split on the next two teams, with a narrow power edge for Heritage and a substantially higher Elo for Loudoun County.

First round

First-round byes. No. 1 Woodgrove and No. 2 Loudoun Valley.

No. 6 Tuscarora vs. No. 3 Loudoun County

No. 5 Broad Run vs. No. 4 Heritage-Leesburg

Region 4D

Three unbeaten teams enter the bracket. Jefferson Forest leads both models, Sherando sits second in both, and top-seeded George Washington is third in Elo and fifth in power.

Seed differences of two or more places. No. 1 George Washington (power #5, Elo #3), No. 5 Salem (power #3, Elo #5).

First round

No. 8 E.C. Glass vs. No. 1 George Washington

No. 7 John Handley vs. No. 2 Jefferson Forest

No. 6 Millbrook vs. No. 3 Sherando

No. 5 Salem vs. No. 4 James Wood