Linebacker extraordinaire Curtis Grant described the Hermitage defensive effort this way after the Panthers defeated Highland Springs in the Central Region, Division 6 football semifinals: “Excellent. Tremendous. Extravagant. We played phenomenal tonight.“ Whatever superlative Grant wanted to use would be appropriate. The Panthers defeated the Springers 24-12 last night at Hermitage and advanced to the Division 6 championship game Friday against Thomas Dale. Hermitage (10-1) will be the host for the Knights, who defeated L.C. Bird yesterday.

A championship season is the result of talent, skill, preparation, dedication and a bit of luck. Even the best teams have seen championship hopes derailed when the wrong player suffered an injury at the wrong time. And some teams, perhaps not the most talented, had players who made the right moves at the right times in the right games.

The Osbourn Eagles call themselves a football team of destiny. The Varina Blue Devils won’t argue.

MANASSAS—Jerell McFadden ran for 138 yards and five touchdowns as Osbourn overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat Varina 47-28 in the Group AAA Division 6 semifinal Saturday. The Blue Devils took the lead behind Hermon Norrell’s 33-yard scoring pass to Bobby Smith. Norrell finished with 155 yards passing and two touchdown passes to Smith. A T.K. Hester 26-yard touchdown jaunt on the final play of the first quarter to give Varina (12-1) a 14-0 lead.

When: Today, 1:30 p.m.
  Tickets: $8
  Records: Varina is 12-0; Osbourn 8-4
  Players to watch: Varina - Jr. RB Tre Johnson: 229-1,950, 21 TDs; Sr. WR Bobby Smith: 48-901, 11 TDs; Jr. QB Hermon Norrell: 79-166-1,336, 19 TDs, 10 INTs. Jr. LB Addonis Robinson: 7 sacks, 27 tackles for loss. Osbourn - Jr. QB Thomas Keith: 70-154-1,054, 8 TDs, 8 INTs; 151-887, 9 TDs; Sr. RB Jerell McFadden: 189-1,060, 12 TDs. So. WR Timmy Keith: 31-590, 7 TDs.