The only Virginia High School League team to finish first the past four seasons — with Class 3 state championships in 2021 and ’22 and Class 4 titles in ’23 and ’24 — Phoebus starts last this season.
Every other VHSL team has played at least once except the Phantoms, whose opener is Friday at Todd Stadium against Denbigh. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
“Time will tell,” Jeremy Blunt, the Phantoms’ 13th-year coach, said. “We took advantage of the time we had.
“There’s some key areas you can focus a little more on, kind of scout ourselves and clean things up.”
Is Blunt concerned the Phantoms’ competitive edge might have atrophied in the three weeks between their most recent scrimmage and Friday’s game? Nada.
“You can create some competition things for the guys” he said. “They really like getting behind that and that will keep the competitive edge in place.”
Blunt prefers not to divulge any competitive drills run of late but says, “Practices are intense. The emotional piece that comes with it is always a good, spirited practice (that makes it) fun to be around.”
While the Phantoms enter the season as Peninsula District favorites — with 66 consecutive district victories and eight titles in a row — the graduation losses were staggering. There were 31 seniors on the 2024 team, 15 named all-district, but Blunt treats reloading as another day at the office.
“Everything is about development for us,” he said. “Every kid who’s come through the program and made a name for themselves had to start somewhere.
“We plan ahead and we prepare for these moments. We make sure when kids face their moments, they’ve received all the support, the backing and the development that are important factors in helping a young man grow into an overall outstanding individual and athlete.
“This is what coaching should look like. We’re excited to see them compete.”
For those who think the defense that graduated 10 all-district players could struggle, Blunt names lineman Troy Solomona, linebacker Kameron Tillery and backs Mhakyi Hill, Jayden Javier and Isaac Parker among a group he expects big things from. Mikhall Georges and Quinlan Hackney will provide quality immediately at linebacker, where the Phantoms lost two first-team all-state selections.
Expectations are as high as ever for a Phoebus program with 49 straight victories — three shy of a VHSL record it already shares. Graduation losses be darned.
“You understand and respect that circumstances are a little unique this year,” he said. “A lot of people are excited to face you because, No. 1, they feel the door is open for them to face you. We embrace that.
“No. 2, people want to have an opportunity to attack the history that we’re looking to, not just create, but solidify. We can’t be nervous about that.
“We wear it as a badge of honor and it’s our duty to go out there and get better.”
Thursday’s games
Bay Rivers District
Gloucester vs. Grafton at Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry Rubama: Gloucester 14-13. Marty O’Brien: Grafton 27-6.
Peninsula District
Heritage vs. Kecoughtan at Darling Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Kecoughtan 20-13. Marty: Kecoughtan 14-13.
Friday’s games
757Teamz Top 15
No. 1 Maury (1-1) vs. Bishop McNamara (2-0) at Powhatan Field, 7 p.m.
Larry: Maury 33-20. Marty: Maury 28-20.
No. 3 Phoebus (14-0 in 2024) vs. Denbigh (1-1) at Todd Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry’s pick: Phoebus 28-0. Marty’s pick Phoebus 35-7.
No. 4 Green Run (2-0) at Princess Anne (0-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Green Run 64-0. Marty: Green Run 59-0.
No. 5 King’s Fork (1-0) vs. Deep Creek (0-1) at Deep Creek Middle, 7 p.m.
Larry: King’s Fork 27-7. Marty: King’s Fork 48-7.
No. 6 Nansemond River (1-0) at Grassfield (0-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Nansemond River 41-13. Marty: Nansemond River 50-6.
No. 7 Indian River (1-0) vs. Great Bridge (0-1) at Great Bridge Middle, 7 p.m.
Larry: Indian River 34-7. Marty: Indian River 49-0.
No. 8 Lafayette (2-0) at New Kent (1-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Lafayette 31-6. Marty: Lafayette 28-0.
Landstown (1-1) at No. 10 Salem (1-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Salem 27-26. Marty: Salem 28-20.
Menchville (0-2) vs. No. 11 Hampton (1-1) at Darling Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Hampton 33-6. Marty: Hampton 24-13.
No. 15 Bayside (2-0) at No. 12 Kempsville (1-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Kempsville 26-20. Marty: Bayside 21-19.
No. 13 Poquoson (2-0) vs. Tabb (2-0) at Bailey Field, 7 p.m.
Larry: Poquoson 27-23. Marty: Poquoson 21-7.
No. 14 Western Branch (2-0) at Hickory (1-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Western Branch 27-20. Marty: Western Branch 35-13.
Bay Rivers District
Bruton (0-1) at Smithfield (0-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Smithfield 27-20. Marty: Smithfield 20-13.
Jamestown (1-1) vs. Warhill (1-1) at Wanner Stadium, 7 p.m.
Larry: Warhill 20-13. Marty: Warhill 28-14.
Beach District
First Colonial (0-2) at Cox (1-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Cox 31-13. Marty: Cox 42-6.
Ocean Lakes (1-1) at Tallwood (0-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Tallwood 21-20. Marty: Ocean Lakes 21-14.
Eastern District
Granby (0-2) at Churchland (2-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Churchland 34-20. Marty: Churchland 28-13.
Nondistrict
Lake Taylor (1-1) at Deep Run (2-0), 7 p.m.
Larry: Lake Taylor 26-20. Marty: Lake Taylor 28-27.
Lakeland (0-2) at Manor (1-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Manor 20-13. Marty: Manor 35-6.
Woodside (1-0) at Norview (1-1), 7 p.m.
Larry: Norview 26-20. Marty: Woodside 21-14.
Varina (1-1) at Norcom (0-2), 7 p.m.
Larry: Varina 37-12. Marty: Varina 42-8.
Private schools
Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot at Greenbrier Christian, 7 p.m.
First Flight at Norfolk Christian, 7 p.m.
Nansemond-Suffolk at Collegiate School, 4:30 p.m.
Norfolk Academy vs. Atlantic Shores Christian at Virginia Beach Sportsplex, 7 p.m.
Roanoke Catholic at Catholic, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Peninsula District
No. 9 Warwick (0-2) vs. Bethel (1-1) at Darling Stadium, noon
Larry: Warwick 27-20. Marty: Warwick 21-17.
Private schools
Isle of Wight at Fredericksburg Christian, 1 p.m.
How they fared
Larry Rubama: 19-6 last week, 36-12 overal (75%)
Marty O’Brien: 20-5 last week, 40-8 overall (83.3%)
