757 football: Everything you need to know about the upcoming season

It’s finally football season in Hampton Roads, and here’s everything you need to know.

Below, find previews, schedules, preseason rankings, predictions and more.

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Preseason predictions

The top two high school football teams in Hampton Roads — both coming off state championship seasons — will travel outside the state for challenging tests in their openers on Friday.

Maury, ranked No. 1 in the 757, goes to Raleigh, North Carolina, to play Cardinal Gibbons, and No. 2 Oscar Smith heads to Washington, D.C., to play Gonzaga College High School.

Cardinal Gibbons, ranked No. 8 in North Carolina by MaxPreps, beat Dudley 34-6 in a season opener. The Crusaders are led by three-star quarterback and Wake Forest commit Gannon Jones, who is rated the No. 45 senior in North Carolina. They also have three-star running back Noah Terry, who is rated the No. 64 senior in North Carolina.

Maury, after posting back-to-back 15-0 seasons, will have a different look after the graduation of quarterback Au’Tori Newkirk, a two-time Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Football Player of the Year.

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757Teamz football predictions: Maury, Oscar Smith visit perennial powers to open season

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757Teamz preseason football Top 15

Can Green Run finally break through after flirting with glory in Class 5? Is King’s Fork ready to make a run in Class 5? Or Warwick?

Does Lafayette have enough firepower to contend with Phoebus in a move up to Class 4?

Here’s a rundown of our first 757Teamz Top 15 football poll

757Teamz preseason football Top 15: Who’s No. 1 after 3 state champs?

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Team-by-team schedules

The full schedule for each team in local districts.

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757Teamz high school football: Team-by-team schedules for public schools

See the full daily schedule

The full schedule for every game featuring public and private schools.

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757Teamz high school football: Daily season schedule for public and private school teams

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Beach District football preview

Green Run is riding a 43-game Beach District regular-season winning streak, and the Stallions have won four consecutive district titles.

On the field last season, the Stallions outscored district opponents 376-42, with five shutouts, and got a forfeit against Princess Anne.

They should have another successful run for a district title as they return plenty of talent, including Virginia Tech commits Thomas Wilder, Kamren Johnson and Zaevion Cleveland.

The district welcomes two new coaches in Tallwood’s Glenwood Ferebee and Princess Anne’s Casey Turner.

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757Teamz Beach District football preview: Green Run’s the favorite for a fifth consecutive title

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Eastern District football preview

Maury has reached four consecutive Class 5 state championship games and five of the last six, winning three titles.

Last season the Commodores became just the third Eastern District team to win back-to-back state football titles — and the first in nearly 80 years — joining Wilson (1926-27) and Granby (1945-46).

The Commodores graduated a lot of talent, including quarterback Au’Tori Newkirk, a two-time Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Football Player of the Year who signed with North Carolina.

But coach Dyrri McCain is looking forward to the challenge.

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757Teamz Eastern District football preview: Maury reloads for another state title run

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Peninsula District football preview

The Peninsula District turns 60 this season and Warwick, one of the original members, has yet to win its football championship.

The Raiders have been excellent the past three seasons, with 33 wins and a (2022) Class 4 Region A title. Phoebus, however, has been an obstacle to a district championship breakthrough, winning closely contested showdowns for the title the past two seasons.

The Raiders are more than just a trendy pick among some to end the Phantoms’ streaks of 66 district victories, eight district titles in a row and 26 victories in their series. Three senior linemen, Division I prospects all, highlight a talented roster.

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757Teamz Peninsula District football preview: Phoebus prepares for Warwick, other challenges

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Bay Rivers District football preview

Changes are afoot in the Bay Rivers District.

With the addition of Gloucester, a Peninsula District team the past 35 seasons, and Bruton’s transition to its first full Bay Rivers schedule since 2017, the district is 11 strong — eclipsed by only one other Virginia high school district. All 10 regular-season games are district games.

As is often the case, Lafayette, the district champ a majority of seasons since 1998, is the favorite, thanks to return of nine starters on both sides of the ball from a team that won all eight BRD games and a second consecutive Class 3 Region A crown. But the Rams, too, will experience change with a move up to Class 4. Perennial state champ Phoebus awaits in what could be a classic Region A final, although Hampton, too, lurks as a challenger.

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757Teamz Bay Rivers District football preview: Lafayette is still the team to beat

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Southeastern District football preview

Oscar Smith is the defending Class 6 state champion and Southeastern District champion, and the Tigers have dominated the league over the past two decades.

Oscar Smith, winner of four of the last five district titles and 18 of the past 20, will be favored again as they return plenty of talent from a team that celebrated a 15-0 season on JMU’s field.

The most likely contenders this year are King’s Fork, which won it 2023, and Nansemond River, which has never won it.

The district welcomes three new coaches in Grassfield’s Mike Biehl, Great Bridge’s Joey Wood and Lakeland’s Reynaldo Pena.

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757Teamz Southeastern District football preview: Oscar Smith ‘focused, motivated’ after state title run

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Private school previews

A look at private schools (and Western Tidewater schools) around Hampton Roads.

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757Teamz private school previews: Norfolk Academy heads Tidewater Conference teams

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/08/28/757-football-need-to-know/