Two Suffolk football teams improved their rankings in the region, one took a minor hit and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy has a clear task in front of it.

The Saints dropped to fourth in the state among Division II teams in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association rankings after they lost 48-36 on Friday night to visiting Trinity Episcopal School. However, they enter this week with their destiny firmly in their own control.

NSA will be in the playoffs if it defeats host Hampton Roads Academy on Friday. The Navigators are a VISAA Division IV team that has struggled this year and is currently 2-6.

If the Saints lose, they will need The Potomac School to lose or tie with Randolph-Macon Academy.

Nansemond River High School jumped up to No. 11 from No. 13 in Region 4A South after defeating Group 5A opponent Hickory High School 21-17 on Friday night. More points are rewarded when a win, or even a loss, comes against a team from a higher classification.

The top 16 teams at season’s end reach the playoffs.

The Warriors host Group 6A’s Western Branch High School (6-2) on Friday. With good defense, a win could be in NR’s reach. It visits winless Deep Creek High School to close the season on Nov. 7.

Lakeland High School moved up in the rankings despite losing on Friday, as it fell 35-16 to the host Bruins. The Cavaliers’ schedule gets friendlier in the last two weeks. They host Deep Creek this Friday and visit a weaker-than-usual Grassfield High School (3-5) on Nov. 7.

Host King’s Fork High School lost to Group 6A’s Oscar Smith High School 42-20 on Friday, pushing the Bulldogs back to No. 6 in Region 4A South. The Bulldogs have a decent shot at finishing 8-2, however, as the visit Hickory High School (1-7) on Friday and host Western Branch on Nov. 7.

Virginia High School League weekly football ratings
The top 16 teams at season’s end make the playoffs.
4A South  —  Record  —  Rating
1. Lake Taylor  —  8-0  —  31.25000
2. Heritage (NN)  —  8-1  —  30.33333
3. Phoebus —   7-2  —  28.00000
4. Monacan  —  6-2  —  27.12500
5. I.C. Norcom —  8-1  —  26.77778
6. King’s Fork —  6-2  —  26.12500
7. Powhatan —  7-1  —  25.87500
8. Hanover  —  5-3  —  25.75000
9. Dinwiddie  —  7-1  —  25.50000
10. Grafton —   6-2  —  23.87500
11. Nansemond River  —  4-4  —  23.25000
12. Tabb —   5-3  —  22.87500
13. Churchland  —  4-4  —  22.12500
14. B.T. Washington  —  4-3  —  22.00000
15. Lakeland  —  2-6  —  20.87500
16. Denbigh —   3-6  —  20.66667
17. Smithfield  —  4-4  —  20.25000
18. Woodrow Wilson  —  2-6  —  19.12500
19. Midlothian —   2-7  —  19.11111
20. J. R. Tucker  —  3-5  —  19.00000
21. Deep Creek  —  0-8  —  17.50000
22. Glen Allen  —  1-7  —  17.12500
23. Caroline  —  0-8  —  15.00000
24. Jamestown  —  0-8  —  14.37500

Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association weekly state football ratings
The top four teams at season’s end make the playoffs.
Division II  —  Record  —  Rating
1. St. Anne’s-Belfield  —  8-1  —  11.78
2. Bishop Sullivan  —  7-2  —  10.22
3. Trinity Episcopal  —  5-4  —  7.44
4. Nansemond-Suffolk  —  4-5  —  6.00
5. Potomac  —  3-5  — 5.00
6. Randolph-Macon  —  3-5  —  3.38