The Heritage varsity football team (Lynchburg, VA) will play a home playoff game against Rustburg (VA) today at 7 p.m.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Virginia High School Football
Who: King George vs Courtland
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00. p.m. ET
“2024 VHSL Football State Brackets (Virginia) – Class 3”
Live stream: Watch on NFHS Network

Rustburg vs. Heritage: A Season Showdown

As the Virginia high school football season progresses into its thrilling playoff rounds, the rivalry between Rustburg and Heritage heats up. With both teams showing strong performances this season, they now face off in a highly anticipated match that could determine who moves forward in the postseason.

Season Records & Standings

• Rustburg: With a 7-3 overall record, Rustburg has had a successful season, finishing 4-3 in their region and 3-2 away from home. Their offense has scored an average of 26.5 points per game, and they have allowed 157 points this season. Despite their solid performance, they come into this matchup with a recent loss to Heritage, falling 31-14 in their last meeting on October 18.
• Heritage: The Heritage team has been dominant with an 8-2 overall record, including a 5-2 region record. Their offensive power has been impressive, averaging 30.1 points per game while allowing just 123 points on the season. Their solid defense and powerful offense were on full display in their previous win against Rustburg.

Head-to-Head: A Close Rivalry

The recent head-to-head matchup between these two teams clearly favored Heritage. In their last meeting, Heritage defeated Rustburg 31-14. Rustburg struggled to match Heritage’s offensive firepower, with the game being decided after a strong second half from Heritage. The score breakdown for that game was as follows:

• Rustburg: 0 points in Q1, 7 in Q2, 7 in Q3, and 0 in Q4 (Final: 14 points)
• Heritage: 0 points in Q1, 14 in Q2, 7 in Q3, and 10 in Q4 (Final: 31 points)

Despite the loss, Rustburg has shown they can put up points, especially in the third quarter where they averaged 10.7 points in their games. However, Heritage’s consistency, especially in the second quarter where they average 12.1 points, has proven difficult to overcome.

Team Strengths: Key Stats

Both teams are led by standout players who could make the difference in this playoff rematch.

• Rustburg’s Key Players:
  • David Bradley: A force in the rushing game, Bradley averages 100 yards per game and contributes 9 points per game, which makes him a key player to watch.
  • Ayden Slash: Slash is the heart of the Rustburg passing game, averaging 97.5 yards per game.
  • Tavion Clark: With 51.3 receiving yards per game, Clark is the main receiving threat for Rustburg.
• Heritage’s Key Players:
  • Ayden Slash (Heritage): As the leading offensive force for Rustburg, it’s interesting to note that Slash is also a key player at Heritage, albeit in a different capacity. Heritage’s offense is built around versatile players who can score from different positions.
  • Defense Leaders: Zaid Rahman has been pivotal on the defensive side for Rustburg with an impressive 12 tackles per game. On the other hand, Heritage’s defense has proven stingy, allowing only 123 points on the season.

Comparison with Common Opponents

Both teams share a number of common opponents, which provides a good insight into how they stack up against similar competition:

• Rustburg defeated teams like Appomattox County (55-20), Brookville (41-7), and Liberty (50-0), but also struggled in losses to Jefferson Forest (28-7) and Liberty Christian (28-7).
• Heritage saw similar success against common opponents, such as Appomattox County (48-0), Brookville (10-7), and Liberty (53-0). However, they too faced tough competition with a narrow loss to Glass (17-13) and a loss to Liberty Christian (34-27).

Both teams had strong performances against mid-tier teams and significant victories, though Heritage displayed a slightly more consistent overall performance across their schedule.

Final Thoughts: Playoff Showdown

With Heritage entering this matchup with the momentum from their earlier win, they are certainly the favorites. However, Rustburg’s potential for explosive plays, led by key players like David Bradley and Ayden Slash, means they cannot be counted out. The key to victory for Rustburg will be to stay competitive in the early quarters, particularly avoiding the slow start they had last month.

Heritage, with their balanced attack and stingy defense, will look to control the pace and exploit Rustburg’s vulnerabilities, particularly on defense. A strong showing from their offensive leaders, combined with their tight defense, could propel them into the next round.

As both teams bring their A-game to the playoffs, fans can expect a thrilling contest that will showcase the best of Virginia high school football.