Local wrestlers excel at VHSL tournament; Skyline claims 2nd straight Championship

Congratulations to all our local wrestlers who represented their schools at the VHSL State Championships over the weekend.

Skyline High School’s wrestling team won their second consecutive Class 3 State Wrestling Championship on Saturday.

The team set a school record for individual champions in a year with four including Dylan Luik, Paden Alyea, Jacob Boffum, and Josiah Sykes.

As a team, Skyline finished with 211.5 points, over 60 points higher than second place finisher New Kent.

Strasburg High School finished as State Runner-Up in Class 2 and senior Hutson Conrad earned his third State Championship.

In the Class 4 tournament, Millbrook’s William Potter and James Wood’s Hayden Black also secured individual State Championships for their schools.

Black won his second straight title at 113 pounds and led James Wood to a fourth place finish.

The VHSL girls state wrestling championship announced a delayed start for Tuesday’s matches.

Doors will now open at 12:30 pm with the 1st round starting at 1:30 pm.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

Strasburg State Championship game highlights

Strasburg High School defeated Glenvar in the VHSL Class 2 State Championship game Saturday, 49-27, at Salem Stadium.

The win marked the Rams first football state title in school history after going winless in the first 5 tries including last season.

Coach Tripp Lamb’s team was led all year by a ferocious offensive and defensive line.

The trenches helped Strasburg to a win by tallying over 300 yards rushing and pressuring Glenvar’s quarterback Brody Dawyot, the all time passing touchdown record holder in Virginia.

Listen back to the big win with highlights from the State Championship broadcast team AKA The Sports Dogs by clicking here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Sports Dogs: Strasburg State Championship game highlights

Look back at Strasburg’s Class 2 State Championship win over Glenvar with the Sports Dogs highlights! Coach Tripp Lamb leads the Rams to the first state title in program history, 49-27.

The Duke’s Championship Preview: Strasburg vs Glenvar

12/13/25, Salem, VA- Strasburg heads back to Salem to take on Glenvar in the VHSL Class 2 State Championship for the final Dave’s Diversified Service Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with coverage starting at 10:45 am for the Tana Hoffman-Sager Realty pregame show, 11:30 am kick-off.

The Rams earned the school’s sixth shot at their first title after another great season led by a stellar offensive and defensive line.

Strasburg’s running backs Quincy Williams, Linkyn Bosworth, and Brady Knight have seen massive holes all season long behind an offensive line that returns nearly every piece from last year’s State Championship Runner-Up squad.

Hutson Conrad, Jacob Stickley, Gage Gutierrez, and Jacob Britton have been incredible all year, and after Tadeo Bunch was sidelined due to injury, Cooper Miller has filled the role seamlessly.

Like nearly every game this season, the Rams will have a distinct size advantage in the trenches.

Poquoson attempted to match Strasburg’s strength with 4-Star 6’6″ 280 lb tackle Carter Jones and a few other larger lineman, but the Rams still dominated and seemed to use their opponent’s accolades as fuel to the fire.

Jones made little impact in the stat sheet and Strasburg often used his own aggression against him to force him out of position.

Strasburg’s starting unit averages 6’2″ 257 lbs while Glenvar’s defensive line usually features just three down lineman with the most utilized players averaging 6’0″ 236 lbs.

For comparison, Division-III Shenandoah University’s OL last year averaged 6’0″ 254 lbs.

The Highlanders also only have one player listed over 235 lb (Ryan Harris 6’3″ 300 lb sophomore) while the Rams bring nine players over the same threshold.

Size isn’t everything though and what the Highlanders lack in brute force, they make up for with one of the best passing attacks in Virginia led by the VHSL record holder for passing touchdowns in a career.

Brody Dawyot will be the most talented passer Strasburg has seen this season or the last few combined.

The 6’5″ 225 lb 3-star athlete tallied 2,557 yards and 37 passing touchdowns this season to go with 754 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns.

Believe it or not, those numbers are actually a step-back from his junior season which totaled 2,964 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 701 rushing yards, and 12 rushing touchdowns.

Dawyot’s play on the other hand did not take a step-back as the decrease in stats is due to hardly having to play in the second half this season thanks to some huge leads for the Highlanders.

In a stark contrast from the Strasburg T-formation, Glenvar spreads out the opposition and boasts a talented receiving corps including Brody’s brother Tre, the school’s receptions record holder Cooper Mullins, and multisport stand out Cale Vaughan (Roanoke College baseball commit).

According to WR Jace Forster’s X account, the Highlanders will be without one of their top weapons as he self-reported his injury sustained in the win over Union.

Defensively, Brody Dawyot is a menace setting the edge where he racked up over 30 sacks and 30 TFL the last two seasons.

Joining him along the DL is Nick Wilson, the reigning Regional Defensive Player of the Year and a 1st Team All State selection in 2024.

The Highlanders linebacking corps boasts 1st Team All State LB Vaughan and highlight reel Rawlin Hanks.

Strasburg will need to account for Hanks every play after he racked up 91 tackles, 5 INTs (2 pick sixes), and 8 TFL in the regular season.

While a passing offense is considered a must at the collegiate and professional levels, running the ball and winning at the line of scrimmage is still the recipe in high school football.

Strasburg should be able to do both of those things against Glenvar and the Rams defensive line has the ability to get pressure on Dawyot.

The UNC-Charlotte commit hasn’t lost since the 2024 State Semifinals after Graham’s heavy pressure led to 3 interceptions before their matchup with Strasburg.

I look for the Rams to replicate that gameplan defensively to force some turnovers, win time of possession with the running game, and celebrate the first State Championship in Strasburg history, Rams 28 – Glenvar 20.

Check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast for more on the State Championship game, JMU’s CFP birth, and Regional Players of the Year selection.

The Duke’s Playoff Preview: Strasburg vs Poquoson

12/5/25, Poquoson, VA- Strasburg heads back to the Tidewater to take on Poquoson for the VHSL State Semifinal Saturday at 2 pm with coverage of the Dave’s Diversified Services Game of the Week starting at 1:15 pm for an extended edition of the Tana Hoffman Pregame Show on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app.

This game is a rematch of last year’s State Semifinal which saw Strasburg hold on for a 14-13 win.

The Rams took a 14-7 lead into halftime after Takhi Coates’ 2nd first half touchdown and interception.

Then held off a late Poquoson surge thanks to a Brady Knight tipped pass into the arms of Hunter Williams.

While both teams have a few personnel changes like the graduation of Takhi Coates for Strasburg and Quarterback Eli Tyndall for Poquoson, the nucleus and identity of these teams remains unchanged.

Both the Region 2A and 2B champions build their teams along the trenches and pride themselves on dominating the line of scrimmage.

Strasburg returns every starter from last year’s State Runner-Up offensive line.

Three of the five earned All Region Selections earlier this week (1st Team: Jacob Britton and Gage Gutierrez, 2nd Team: Jacob Stickley).

Along the defensive front, the Rams boast the Region 2B Defensive Player of the Year and game-wrecker Hutson Conrad.

Gutierrez and Britton joined Conrad to make up 75% of the 1st Team All Region selections for the position.

Poquoson echoes those accolades and may have a checkmate with OL/DL 4-star prospect Carter Jones.

Jones (6’6″ 285 lbs) is considered one of the top OL in Virginia and has offers from powerhouse programs like Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, and 32 others.

He most recently took an in-person visit to Texas and left with an offer.

Joining Jones along the jumbo o-line are center Preston Bundy (6’3″ 290 lbs) and RT Gavin Coffman (6’3″ 285 lbs) and two smaller guards in Brayden Agnese and Grayson Powell.

The guards smaller size is by design as their speed makes a huge impact on pulling plays which are prevalent in the Flexbone offense.

What Agnese lacks in D-1 size, he makes up for with his play and outshined Jones for Regional Defensive Player tallying 18 tackles for loss and 4 sacks in regular season play.

Austin Conley is also a force for the Bull Islander defense and earned 1st Team All Region All-Purpose and Linebacker.

Like Strasburg, Poquoson relies on many two-way players, and Conley delivers home-run plays for the offense as well.

In the Regional Semifinal, he led the way with 154 yards and 4 touchdowns on just 9 carries.

Cody Little does the hard-nosed running between the tackles (like Strasburg’s Linkyn Bosworth) and went over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns this year.

While Little and Conley are a talented duo, Strasburg will once again have the best running back on the field in Quincy Williams.

Williams has been lethal behind the Rams line and can turn any run into a big play with his vision, strength, and acceleration.

He should be rested after he played less than two quarters against Stuarts Draft yet still totaled 200 yards and three touchdowns on just five carries.

For Strasburg to win this game on the road in a hostile environment, they will need to play clean football and leave no doubt.

As we saw last year, the Rams can not put the game into the hands of the chain gang, an official, or play looking for calls that may never come.

Coach Lamb and Co. will have to do it on their own.

In previous Duke’s Previews, I haven’t needed to mention QB Brayden Hough, but the senior may need to do more in this game than he’s ever been asked to do in his playing career.

Teams have seen success passing against the Bull Islanders including Armstrong in the Regional Championship game.

Armstrong’s QB Anthony Hasom passed for over 300 yards and two touchdowns to lead Poquoson until a late 4th quarter touchdown provided the game winning score.

Strasburg won’t abandon its identity and start airing it out every play, but the Rams may take a few more shots to Harper Sherman or Williams out of the backfield.

If the Rams can execute a few play action passes, eliminate turnovers while forcing one (or more), and maintain composure when plays go the other way, they will be playing in Salem next week.

Strasburg goes down to Poquoson and knocks off the Bull Islanders in a defensive slugfest, 13-7.

Check out the Sports Dogs Podcast for more on the State Semifinal matchup and a look back at the Regional Championship games for Strasburg and Skyline.

The Duke’s Playoff Preview: Strasburg vs Central

11/21/25, Strasburg, VA– Strasburg High School hosts Central High School in the Region 2B Semifinals for tonight’s Dave’s Diversified Services Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com and The River 95.3 app with the Tana Hoffman Pregame show starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

Central is coming off a first round win over Fort Defiance which eliminated former Head Coach Mike Yew.

Fort took an early 7-0 lead before Central settled in and separated themselves at the beginning of the second half.

The Falcons offense continued to show one of the most balanced attacks in Class 2 led by Noah Moss at QB with 209 yards and two total TDs while Chris Brown went over 75 yards with two TDs.

Central’s defense adjusted to the power run game of Fort Defiance well after the early score and will need a similar performance against Strasburg to knock-off the #1 seed in Region 2B.

The Rams have had the benefit of a first round bye due to the new format of the Region 2B playoffs and will be rested for Round 2 against their Shenandoah County foe.

While Strasburg has looked like a team on a mission since the early loss to Broadway, these two teams always find ways to play each other tight.

Since 2022, the squads have played six times with half of those games played within one possession.

Central and Strasburg have split those recent six games 3-3, but Central is 2-0 in playoff matchups in the stretch.

The most recent addition came just 14 days ago and saw the game go down to the wire before a late Brady Knight touchdown.

Central did not go out quietly as they responded with a Kyle McCabe kick-off return for a touchdown to pause the Strasburg celebrations for a moment.

Strasburg was led in that game by the backfield of Knight with 128 yard and 2 TDs and the Bull Run District Offensive Player of the Year Quincy Williams who added 165 yards and a TD.

The Rams defense is anchored by Williams Player of the Year counterpart in Hutson Conrad and the Strasburg D-Line.

Conrad joins Gage Gutierrez and Jacob Britton as 1st Team All-District selections, and the front has wreaked havoc all season long.

The Rams rode their defense to a trip to Salem and the State Title game in 2024, but this year’s version actually has given up 8 less points during the regular season and allowed 13 less total yards per game.

While Central’s balanced attack and big play potential through WRs Sean Stead and Vincent Charity will make them a tough out for any team in Class 2, Strasburg’s ability to run the football and play elite defense along the frontline is a seemingly winning recipe for playoff football at any level.

The Rams will clean-up some of the mistakes seen in the regular season finale but so will Central.

I predict the game will add to the total of single score contests in recent years but Strasburg will finally tally their first playoff win against the Falcons in over 20 years (according to records available on MaxPreps), Strasburg 14 – Central 8.

For a look back at Round 1 of the playoffs, a preview of all Round 2 matchups and more, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here.

The Duke’s Preview: Warren County vs Strasburg

Strasburg High School (1-1) hosts Warren County High School (0-1) in the Dave’s Diversified Services Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and The River 95.3 app with the Tana Hoffman Pregame Show starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

Both team’s are itching to get back out on the field after an early bye week for the Wildcats and a tight loss to Broadway for the Rams.

Warren County’s Week 1 matchup against Rock Ridge came down to the final play with the opposing kicker draining a 40 yard field goal for the win.

The Wildcat’s offense looked improved in the loss compared to last season and included a 22 point 2nd quarter.

Warren County would not score after that quarter as the offense tapered off so sustaining that success will be key.

WR Nick Harlow stood out in the second quarter with two receiving touchdowns.

Harlow’s second score could have made an appearance on “You Got Mossed” after the Senior rose up over his defender for the contested catch.

Warren County’s offense appears to be a bit more advanced this season with more pre-snap movement and Wildcat formation opportunities for RB Blaise Skube.

Strasburg’s defense led by Sr linebacker Nathaniel Turner and an experienced defensive line will be up to the test and ready to get the taste of last week’s loss out of their mouth in front of the hometown fans.

The 28 point output by Broadway last weekend was not up to typical Strasburg standards as the Rams only opponent to eclipse that mark last season were the State Champions from Graham.

Strasburg seemed to make some good adjustments and allowed just one second half score while limiting star WR Uriah Rutan to just one catch.

The defensive front led by 2nd Team All State Sr. Jacob Stickley and one-man wrecking crew Sr. Hutson Conrad (6’4″ 250 lb.) appear to have the biggest advantage on the field when they go up against Warren County’s inexperienced offensive line.

The Wildcats have great potential, especially Soph OT Aiden Dunseath, but without a single senior, they will have to learn to play at the Varsity level on the fly.

The advantage on the trenches carries over to Strasburg’s offense as well thanks to experience including two All State selections (Britton and Gage Gutierrez).

Coach Josh Breeden’s defense will have to figure out the Strasburg T-formation but did have two weeks to prepare thanks to the bye week.

Leading the rushing attack is Quincy Williams who has over 300 rushing yards in just two games and was the Sports Dogs Podcast Week 1 Player of the Week.

Brady Knight continues to improve at the position after playing TE last season and wracked up 85 yards vs the Gobblers.

Chasing around those backs for Warren County is the Texan Tackling Machine Frank Nelson and Edge Nehemiah Carter.

Nelson looked very aggressive and physical against Rock Ridge while Carter’s versatility and athleticism shine to help him maintain the outside.

I look for both teams to come out fired up after losses and for Warren County to try some trickeration early in the game to try to get Strasburg on their heals.

The Rams have started a bit shaky in two straight weeks before settling down for strong second halves so the Wildcats will look to exploit that.

Strasburg should be able to use their experience and the homefield advantage to weather an early storm and get some momentum.

Coach Lamb and Co. will want to see 4 quarters of football from his squad for the first time this year and I think he will for a big Rams win, 36-14.

For a preview of all the area Week 3 games, a recap of Week 2, and more, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here.

The Duke’s Preview: Strasburg @ Skyline

Skyline High School hosts Strasburg High School in the first Dave’s Diversified Services Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with pregame coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

Strasburg enters Front Royal off one of the best seasons in school history that ended in a State Championship game appearance in Salem.

The Rams started off in a big hole before settling in and eventually falling to State Championship game regulars, Graham.

Coach Lamb and Co. return a lot of talent from that team, especially along the trenches.

Strasburg’s offensive line has elite size for the Class 2 level and returns elite talent in First Team All-State selections Gage Gutierrez and Jacob Britton.

Benefitting from their blocking is returning QB Braden Hough (545 passing yards, 7 touchdowns) and RB Quincy Williams (933 yards, 12 touchdowns).

Defensively, the Rams return linebacker and tackling machine Nate Turner who combined with Williams for nearly 250 tackles last season.

Britton will also be a force on the defensive line again this season along with Hutson Conrad.

Conrad missed time with injury last season but is a game-wrecker for offenses trying to run the ball near his 6’4″ 250 lb frame.

Strasburg will certainly miss the speed of Takhi Coates and Riley Walker against a Skyline squad that also returns talent in the trenches and one of the top skill groups in the Valley.

Skyline’s offense looks dangerous this year with the backfield combination of athletic QB Day’Shawn Haley and dynamic running back Zayden Burks.

Burks is back for his junior season after running around defenses last season to the tune of 1,642 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.

The multi-sport athlete is finally getting D1 attention after contributing at the Varsity level since his freshman year.

Barrett Stephens (6’3″ 260 lb.) will lead the convoy to help open holes for Burks along a deep and experienced offensive line.

Playmakers Andre Ford and Marques Lockhart-Wright can line-up anywhere from TE, WR, H-Back, or take direct snaps in the Wildhawk.

Ford and Lockhart-Wright bring that same energy to the defensive side of the ball to lead the linebacking crew with physicality.

The duo combined for 13 touchdowns and 166 tackles last season for the Hawks.

Along the defensive line, Skyline returns area sack leaders Jonathan Leach (85 tackles and 6 sacks) and Tytus Drake (5.5 sacks).

Like Strasburg, the defensive backfield will have some new faces after the graduation of Isiah Maxwell and Donnell Turner.

When both teams take the field tonight, fans will see experienced teams that have played a lot of football together at this point in their careers and enter the season with high expectations.

Both teams elite line play is a relative push while Skyline appears to have the advantage at skill positions, but Strasburg will be playing for something bigger than themselves as Coach Lamb continues his battle with cancer and is anticipated to be on the sidelines tonight.

Skyline is 1-3 against Strasburg in season openers since 2021 with the lone win coming via forfeit after an off-field incident.

I look for the Rams to continue their hot streak against Skyline and come out with a tight win by controlling the clock, 27-24.

For a look at all of the Week 1 games, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here.

The Duke’s Playoff Preview: Strasburg vs Riverheads ft Coach Lamb

Strasburg hosts Riverheads in the Region 2B Semifinals for tonight’s High School Football Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

Strasburg advanced to the semifinal by defeating Fort Defiance 44-6 at home last week.

The Rams defense excelled and kept the dynamic Fort Defiance offense led by the Shenandoah District’s Offensive Player of the Year Trey Miller scoreless until their final drive of the game.

Hutson Conrad made his return to the trenches after missing the majority of the season due to injury and helped the Rams control the line of scrimmage which will be crucial against Riverheads.

While Riverheads possess a machine like efficiency on offense, they have been slowed down this season by teams who can win at the point-of-attack.

Easier said than done, only two teams have been able to achieve that against the Gladiators this season but one of them is the Fort Defiance squad that Strasburg defeated handedly in the opening round.

That was Fort Defiance’s first win over Riverheads in 40 years and the Gladiators first Shenandoah District loss since 2018.

Riverheads were a juggernaut at the Class 1 level winning seven consecutive state championships before moving to Class 2.

Randy and I were on hand for the most recent championship before our coverage of Central’s State Championship Game and can attest the passion of their fans and the nearly unstoppable “Big Red Machine.”

Since moving up to Class 2, Riverheads has appeared slightly more human, but still reached the State Championship game last season.

The Gladiators are coming off a one point win over Stuarts Draft, the other team they previously lost too this season, that came down to the final seconds.

Riverheads completed just their third pass of the night on a 2 point conversion with under 10 seconds remaining.

The Gladiators no longer have Cayden Cook-Cash (now at UVA), but Jonathan Talbott has stepped up this season and led the way with two touchdowns in the round one win.

Strasburg’s offensive line has been a strength all season long and should have a size advantage over Riverheads, but their 1st-team All Shenandoah District defensive lineman Carson Brooks (5’7″ 150) is used to being undersized for his position and posses his own challenges with his quickness and leverage.

If the offensive line is able to win at the line of scrimmage, Strasburg has multiple backs including Takhi Coates, Quincy Williams, Lucas Martinez and more that can carry the rock effectively and average roughly 9 yards per carry as a team.

In the Rams lone loss this season, they actually more than doubled Clarke County’s total yardage, but a few mistakes cost Strasburg the game including a botched kick and fumble during a drive that was building momentum.

Strasburg also nearly doubled Clarke County’s penalty yardage in that game with 95 on 13 flags to 47 yards on 8 flags.

If the Rams can play clean football by limiting penalties and eliminating turnovers, they will be a very tough out for any team in these VHSL playoffs.

I predict Strasburg will do that and Coach Lamb, one of the best defensive minds in the region, will have the right game plan in place to contain Riverheads and have the D ready to key in on their limited plays.

Rams win in a defensive battle on the frozen tundra of Glenn Proctor Field, 14-6.

To hear my interview with Strasburg’s Coach Lamb, click here.

For a recap of last week’s games, a look ahead to the rest of Friday’s local playoff games, and more, check out the latest episode of the Sports Dogs Podcast here.