PLAYOFF FOOTBALL FINALS

4A South Region First Round: Hanover 32, Tabb 14

Clayton Cheatham runs wild again, this time for 257 yards and four scores, including a 97-yard second half touchdown run as the #7 seeded Hawks defeated #10 Tabb. The victory, in which the Hawks led the entire game, propels Hanover into a showdown at #2 Heritage/Newport News next week. Hanover, now 8-3, has won at least one playoff game in each of the last six seasons.

5A North Region First Round: Potomac 31, Patrick Henry 28

A valiant effort in Dumfries falls just short as the Patriots' five-game winning streak, and season, both come to an end. The lead went back and forth the entire game with the Panthers taking the lead for good on a touchdown with 2:45 to play. Patrick Henry finishes 6-5, their first winning season since 2008, and though they will lose key pieces to this year's puzzle, plenty of talent returns, and Bryan Davis has a full off-season to work with them. Patrick Henry will face a much tougher regular season schedule next year moving to the Capital District, but Davis will have the Patriots ready for the challenge.

5A South Central Sub-Region First Round: L.C. Bird 34, Atlee 13

For the second year in a row, the Raiders saw their season end on a frigid night in Chester, and, for the second straight year, it was the Skyhawks rushing attack that did the Raiders in. Atlee, playing without Ricky DeBerry, couldn't stop Stephen Mines, who rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Former Hanover standout Jalen Elliott completed five of eight passes for 143 yards and two scores, both to wideout Tyler Wilkins, who caught all five completions.  Loumond Dandridge was held to 22 yards on 12 carries as Atlee ended its season at 8-3, and still trying to find that signature win that would put them in the same category in Central Region lore with the likes of L.C. Bird, Hermitage, and Varina.

NEXT WEEK: 4A South Region Second Round: #7 Hanover at #2 Heritage/Newport News, Friday, Time TBA