It’s a tall order, but the Potomac School Panthers hope to gain a state football playoff berth with a big win in the team’s final regular-season game.
To do so, the Panthers (5-3) have to defeat the host North Cross Raiders (7-1) of Roanoke Nov. 2 at noon, then get some help.
A Potomac School victory would at least put the high-school team in the conversation to earn a berth into the Division I private-school playoffs as the fourth and final seed.
A victory over North Cross would be considered a big upset. The Raiders are ranked No. 2 in the Division II state private-school rankings, are the defending Division II state champs, and blew out the Panthers, 49-0, last fall.
“We are excited and prepared for the game and want to go down there and play the role of spoiler from that loss we suffered last year,” Potomac School coach Dan Wolff said.
The Raiders enter the game against Potomac School averaging 34.8 points per game, allow 9.5 a contest, have three shutouts and have won six straight contests.
“They are pretty balanced on offense and have some big playmakers they get the ball to,” Wolff said. “I think we match up with them well on defense.”
The Panthers’ squad has some wind at its back, coming off a big 33-16 home victory against St. James of Hagerstown, Md., when the offense exploded with multiple big plays.
Potomac School is ranked sixth in the state’s most recent Division I poll. Whether a victory over North Cross would boost its ranking high enough into the top four to earn a state berth is the question. A lot also depends on the outcome of games involving those five higher-ranked Division I teams.
Potomac School opened the 2024 season with a 23-6 road loss to Norfolk Academy (6-2), which is tied for fourth in the most recent Division I state poll with St. Christopher’s of Richmond (4-5). Norfolk Academy is expected to win its final regular-season game against the winless Catholic Crusaders of Virginia Beach.
Potomac School last earned a Division I state berth two seasons ago as the fourth seed. Last fall, the Panthers finished 1-8.
Private schools in Virginia are placed in Division I and Division II based on student enrollment. Inter-division games take place during the regular season, but the playoffs are separate affairs.
