GW Danville getting a lot of love

CountyBoyGeneral

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Seeing some reports that they are favored to come out of the West this year. Hard for me to buy stock but maybe someone in the know could inform me on what the Eagles are looking like? I know they have a couple of linemen with SEC offers and should have some solid skill guys, they always do.
 

lyhsports_rivals

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May 17, 2017
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A lot of their love is from Danville area centric groups. They are definitely the best team in the southside (along with MV). They had a great record last year, but a few close wins against good/decent teams(Glass, MV, LB), When they got to JF they got blown away. If they can stay around and make Reidsville competitive and dominate the rest of the schedule, then I'd say they have a shot. Otherwise, I'd go with JF. They bring mostly everyone back and will be loaded.
 
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mikesalem

All-American
Nov 2, 2009
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Seeing some reports that they are favored to come out of the West this year. Hard for me to buy stock but maybe someone in the know could inform me on what the Eagles are looking like? I know they have a couple of linemen with SEC offers and should have some solid skill guys, they always do.
A post by Sixth Man Sports on Facebook asks if it's GW's year to win the state. I like their content and coverage of high school sports, but the real question should be, "can GW win the region"? They haven't won a region since 1996. They haven't won the state since 1982.

GW may very well win the region, but JF made a big step up last year, and I would think they would be the frontrunner. Handley played JF tough in the playoffs, only losing by 4. If I'm not mistaken, JF and Handley both have Sr QB's that have started since they were freshmen.

Sherando wasn't as strong last year as the 3 teams mentioned above, but they are usually in the mix. I have no idea what Glass returns, but I won't overlook their potential. Salem had an uncharacteristically poor season last year. At one point early in the season I counted 10 Sophomores starting. With the QB's injury and the other turmoil they had to deal with early, they were effectively playing a Varsity schedule with a JV team.

If GW makes it to the region final they will have to step up in that game. Their performance in finals since dropping to C4 has been lackluster.

2014 L 49-28
2020 L 35-21
2021 L 48-14
2025 L 49-7
 

CountyBoyGeneral

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I like JF to come out of the West and play in the state championship if they do reseeding again. I think you’ll see
1. Region B champion
2. Region D champion- JF
3. Region C
4. Region A- Lafayette
Varina/JF was the state championship as far as I’m concerned and would’ve been the game had it been the old format. JF played Varina better than any team (including Huguenot, they were terrified of Varina) this past December.
 

WP02alum

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Nov 22, 2009
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Is it safe to say that the casino did not stall the population decline enough? (wasn’t there a casino that was supposed to be potentially saving that area’s economy?)
 

CountyBoyGeneral

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Is it safe to say that the casino did not stall the population decline enough? (wasn’t there a casino that was supposed to be potentially saving that area’s economy?)
Goodyear is about gone, Dan River Mills been gone for 20 years this year. GW was a Class 6 school until 2008 and 18 years later has dropped 3 classifications. Some of it does have to do with Galileo Magnet (VHSL C1 school in Danville) who now has all sports except football and baseball. Wouldn’t be shocked if they added those sports in the next 5 years.


Oh yeah, Glass is dropping to C3 too. Crazy thinking that at one time, both schools had 2000+ students.
 

numb3rs2

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Jan 14, 2026
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Is it safe to say that the casino did not stall the population decline enough? (wasn’t there a casino that was supposed to be potentially saving that area’s economy?)
Goodyear aside, the Danville/Pittsylvania area has several big economic development projects underway. Lithium-ion battery plant with 1,800 jobs, rocket plant with 1,500 jobs, and data center. Big projects have claimed most of the industrial land in Danville and Pittsylvania. The region is preparing for more growth. - Cardinal News

Whether that'll reverse the enrollment decline at GW Danville is uncertain. There's the magnet school and private schools, and there are just fewer kids now. Any growth also might more likely go to non-city schools.
 

edwinanderson2nd

Sophomore
Aug 20, 2019
372
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I like JF to come out of the West and play in the state championship if they do reseeding again. I think you’ll see
1. Region B champion
2. Region D champion- JF
3. Region C
4. Region A- Lafayette
Varina/JF was the state championship as far as I’m concerned and would’ve been the game had it been the old format. JF played Varina better than any team (including Huguenot, they were terrified of Varina) this past December.
They did not play Varina better than Huguenot whatsoever. And Varina’s coaching staff themselves said the same.
 

CountyBoyGeneral

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Sep 23, 2014
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They did not play Varina better than Huguenot whatsoever. And Varina’s coaching staff themselves said the same.
Most of Varina’s staff are on Facebook minimizing every opponent they face, so I take that for face value. Biggest difference for me was Huguenot actually had the talent to win Class 4, JF didn’t. Huguenot had 5 players on the offensive side of the ball who will play ACC/SEC/Big 10 ball and only put up 12 points. The team from Forest were much better coached, more prepared and did not play scared against a much superior Varina team, in comparison to Huguenot.
 

CountyBoyGeneral

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You guys are going to have to trust me on this one. GW will be much better than last year.
GW has two SEC caliber OL, Stanford Lipscomb is a top 3 RB in C4, and they have some nice looking skill guys (got EJ Linder from Chatham who’s an absolute stud). I think they’ll be really good.
 

tommythecpa

Senior
Jun 19, 2001
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The casino money allowed major upgrades to the DPS. GW has more coaches and improved facilities across the athletic program.
In addition to the above, a large data center is coming to Berry Hill. The economic development will help the whole area.
GW should have as stout O and D lines as they have ever had including 68, 82, and 94.
 

CountyBoyGeneral

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GW has enough backs to stock the Piedmont District.
Piedmont will be down this year aside from GW and Magna Vista who may have the best QB west of Richmond (and they added Martinsville’s D1 bound WR). GW’s OOD schedule is impressive. Wish they were playing Dinwiddie instead of Fleming.
 

rawacopaea

Junior
Aug 26, 2021
277
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Piedmont will be down this year aside from GW and Magna Vista who may have the best QB west of Richmond (and they added Martinsville’s D1 bound WR). GW’s OOD schedule is impressive. Wish they were playing Dinwiddie instead of Fleming.
MV will always be in the hunt because they are well coached. If Bam is there he is a good pickup. Did a QB transfer in? If you are referencing the JV QB from last year he is good but he ain't as good as what they graduated. Simeon Moore was a beast. Many in the Piedmont are glad he graduated. :)
 
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Hales Bottom

Sophomore
Jan 12, 2025
156
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MV will always be in the hunt because they are well coached. If Bam is there he is a good pickup. Did a QB transfer in? If you are referencing the JV QB from last year he is good but he ain't as good as what they graduated. Simeon Moore was a beast. Many in the Piedmont are glad he graduated. :)
None of them, especially GW will ever be in the hunt unless they stop bleeding kids down to Reidsville, N, for the the last 25 years.
 
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CountyBoyGeneral

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MV will always be in the hunt because they are well coached. If Bam is there he is a good pickup. Did a QB transfer in? If you are referencing the JV QB from last year he is good but he ain't as good as what they graduated. Simeon Moore was a beast. Many in the Piedmont are glad he graduated. :)
Hunter Willard is the young man. Hard to replace a talent like Sim and E Dukes, but Hunter reminds me a lot of Hunter Brynes who was the QB at GW over 10 years ago. 6’2, 215, makes tough throws, very smart, can run, and is just a tough kid overall. He’ll be a D1 college baseball player but it’ll be fun to watch him play football these next two years. I like this MV team a lot.
 
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rawacopaea

Junior
Aug 26, 2021
277
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Don't think GW has lost many to R'ville. One I know of about 8 years ago. Not many difference makers have left.

GW's problem as someone pointed out has been the regional round. To say Salem has been a thorn in the Eagles side would be an understatement and this past year they were just outplayed by JF. Getting past that round would do a lot for GW mentally.
 
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CountyBoyGeneral

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Don't think GW has lost many to R'ville. One I know of about 8 years ago. Not many difference makers have left.

GW's problem as someone pointed out has been the regional round. To say Salem has been a thorn in the Eagles side would be an understatement and this past year they were just outplayed by JF. Getting past that round would do a lot for GW mentally.
Kendre is a Danville kid. Not sure when he moved to Reidsville but his mom is GW Danville class of 96. Will miss watching him and Dionte play ball at Reidsville. You’re probably referring to Khalil Hairston who started at QB for GW as a freshman and then played at Reidsville his last two years. I think he ended up being a better basketball player for the Rams. He was in that time period after Houghton and before Breon Pass. Rams were still dang good during that stretch.
 
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rams10

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Don't think GW has lost many to R'ville. One I know of about 8 years ago. Not many difference makers have left.

GW's problem as someone pointed out has been the regional round. To say Salem has been a thorn in the Eagles side would be an understatement and this past year they were just outplayed by JF. Getting past that round would do a lot for GW mentally.

Rams got shyheim watlington from gw. His dad played at reidsville. He was a baller. Khalil Hairston would’ve been better at reidsville if he moved to wr. We also didn’t have a great receiving core during that time period.
 
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rawacopaea

Junior
Aug 26, 2021
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Actually Watlington is who I was thinking about. I forgot about Hairston. So two guys over the last 20+ years doesn't seem to qualify as "bleeding" kids. This especially true when one considers Watlington's dad played at R'ville and probably still lives there.

Kendre, to my knowledge, was never considered a GW kid. He never took a snap here unless it was pop warner. He was long gone before he entered 9th grade.
 
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MaroonDude

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Aug 19, 2018
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They were supposed to beat Salem in 24 at their place. My cousin told me the visitor's locker room was trash and it motivated Sparty to dog walk them. My niece told me several players were crying cause "This was supposed to be our year..."

I also remember Cam Leftwich b!tch slapping one of there defenders at a Home Salem Playoff game.
 

M Honcho

Redshirt
Jul 25, 2025
48
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Great Win over Reidsville last week for GW the Eagles OL and DL are legit and returning 2000 yard rusher Stanford Lipscomb was outstanding Tervon Glass Nose Guard has multiple SEC offers as well as Kyan Reaves OL with multiple Power 5 offers the Eagles are big and fast this year
 
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Caraxes

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Nov 2, 2010
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That seems like an impressive win for GW. Long way to go, but I don't see anyone on their schedule who should be favored over them.
 

Anon1751575478

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Jul 3, 2025
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Hopefully it is the year for them but regardless no one in 4A is 28 points close to Varina & Huguenot. That’s the State Title game (4B Championship) after that it’ll be more of the same (Blowouts). Next year should be an even playing field around 4A unless Varina finds a way to get another 8 transfers
 
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CountyBoyGeneral

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Hopefully it is the year for them but regardless no one in 4A is 28 points close to Varina & Huguenot. That’s the State Title game (4B Championship) after that it’ll be more of the same (Blowouts). Next year should be an even playing field around 4A unless Varina finds a way to get another 8 transfers
I don’t think the gap is as big as you think this year. Salem, JF and GW Danville will all have a say come November. GW Danville is hands down a stronger team than Varina and Huguenot in the trenches. If we’re looking at strictly skill guys, Varina and Huguenot are probably the two strongest teams in the state out of all classifications.
 
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Anon1751575478

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Jul 3, 2025
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I’d have to see it to believe it. GW has had huge lines almost every year this decade I just don’t trust them. Salem is the only team out west I trust because they always find a way. I’m very interested to see them vs that young Dinwiddie team in a few weeks.
 

CountyBoyGeneral

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I’d have to see it to believe it. GW has had huge lines almost every year this decade I just don’t trust them. Salem is the only team out west I trust because they always find a way. I’m very interested to see them vs that young Dinwiddie team in a few weeks.
The trenches have historically been GW’s weak spot. Salem is what? 5/6-0 against GW since 2014 and the biggest difference was Salem’s offensive and defensive lines. None of those games were close. GW has two 4 stars on their defensive and offensive lines (both are headlined with Georgia offers) plus some guys who will play at least D2 ball. I’m not fully drinking the kool aid but that win over Reidsville was pretty big. Reidsville would 100% be in the same category as Varina and Huguenot if they were a Virginia team.

I am also looking forward to watching Dinwiddie and Salem. Dinwiddie has a big game next Friday night against Highland Springs that should prepare them for the big lights at Salem Stadium. IMO, Salem will and should be favored in the Dinwiddie game especially with the way McCadden is playing. It will be a very good football game.
 

lyhsports_rivals

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GW and Salem have the lines to compete this year. I'm sure JF does as well. Salem's line wore Glass out all game long.
 

GoBlue2109

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Jul 26, 2022
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The trenches have historically been GW’s weak spot. Salem is what? 5/6-0 against GW since 2014 and the biggest difference was Salem’s offensive and defensive lines. None of those games were close. GW has two 4 stars on their defensive and offensive lines (both are headlined with Georgia offers) plus some guys who will play at least D2 ball. I’m not fully drinking the kool aid but that win over Reidsville was pretty big. Reidsville would 100% be in the same category as Varina and Huguenot if they were a Virginia team.

I am also looking forward to watching Dinwiddie and Salem. Dinwiddie has a big game next Friday night against Highland Springs that should prepare them for the big lights at Salem Stadium. IMO, Salem will and should be favored in the Dinwiddie game especially with the way McCadden is playing. It will be a very good football game.
GW honestly looks massive all around. Line and skill guys are big. From what I can tell, Varina looks about the same. They will miss some of those lineman and the 2 D1 linebackers they had. For sure the favorite, but it might not be as clear cut as what I thought before the season.
 
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Anon1751575478

Redshirt
Jul 3, 2025
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I think that game with Dinwiddie could, COULD scream Salem -14. A young team on the road coming off what could be a blowout loss to Highland Springs. Plus I had the chance to watch a little of that Dinwiddie v Colonial Heights game last week and idk if Colonial Heights is that much improved but boy they were manhandling dinwiddie’s DLine. I know they have bigger kids to put on the line than that. Any team with size shouldn’t have a problem with Dinwiddie’s defense at all.
 
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Anon1751575478

Redshirt
Jul 3, 2025
19
21
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GW honestly looks massive all around. Line and skill guys are big. From what I can tell, Varina looks about the same. They will miss some of those lineman and the 2 D1 linebackers they had. For sure the favorite, but it might not be as clear cut as what I thought before the season.
I think you’re underestimating the pressure Varina can put on a team especially if they’re playing at home. Reidsville is a good win but if Varina played them I’d have Varina -21. The Blue Devils honestly shouldn’t have lost a game last year and I think with the added additions they have they will learn from those mistakes and go 15-0 this year. The only team that will come within 28 points of Varina in Class 4 is Huguenot. I’m telling you we are a year away from the playing field in Class 4 being completely leveled across the board.
 
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