One of their own leading the way, Varina Blue Devils chase back-to-back state championships

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — For well over a generation, Varina has been one of the preeminent football programs in the entire Commonwealth — but it wasn't always that way.

Before 1990, the Blue Devils had exactly one 10-win season in their history, which dates back to 1940. That changed when coaches like Ed Bullheller and Gary Chilcoat took over the program, and when Michael Robinson guided Varina to three straight regional titles in the late 1990s.

Current Blue Devils head coach Marcus Lewis was on those teams. He has taken what he got out of his high school experience to create the current standard for his program.

"We call it our man walk," Lewis said. "It's bigger than football. It's about teaching them how to be a man, how to go into the community, conduct themselves, how to act in the school, and of course on the football field. So we're just lucky enough we're able to play football, but it's all about teaching these young men how to be men."

Players say the coaching staff's experience is something they lean on.

"We got coaches that been through a lot, so we can learn off their experiences, learn off the stories that they tell us," said senior Sair Rex. "You know, I feel like we got a great staff of coaches that just push us every day and just want us to be successful young men, past football."

The work ethic expected of every player is equally clear.

"I feel like you got to come to work," said senior Joshua Perkins. "Like, every day, we work and we work and we're putting in a whole bunch of work. And it's like, if you ain't coming to work, then it's, like, no reason to come there."

The Blue Devils are coming off their 2nd state championship in the last five seasons and played for a 3rd two years ago. Not much longer ago, Lewis — who grew up dreaming of wearing Varina's blue and gold — worried about today's players having the same kind of neighborhood pride that he did, and whether they might look for what they felt were better opportunities elsewhere.

"I couldn't even tell you why it was a major concern for me. To be honest with you, I guess just people trusting in me when I took over. People that know me know that I bleed blue and gold. I'm in the community. I'm at the rec games. People know who I am, and I think that's what bought into everything else, with student athletes wanting to come here, they see the genuine love that we have for our kids that's beyond football," Lewis said.

Players say the culture at Varina is reason enough to stay.

"I was big on loyalty, big on, like, we've got a great coaching staff. So, and then the staff in the building, even, like, the track coaches, everything. So, I say all around it's just a great program, a great school. I don't see why nobody would want to leave here," Rex said.

Lewis said the program's track record of developing players beyond high school has also helped bring people back to give back.

"We got a tradition on putting people in college, going to the NFL as well, and it's good to get those guys back too. You got a lot of people that been through the program that's back now, that's giving back that I would have never thought would be doing what they're doing. But once they came out here, saw the kids and how well mannered the kids was, 'yes sir, no sir,' and they just want to be a part of it," Lewis said.

Winning a state title last year was the culmination of 12 months of work, coming off the disappointment of losing the state title game the year before. But it also brings higher expectations and the increased resolve of every opponent on the schedule. Dealing with that has become part of the new Varina standard.

"We really want every team's best shot, for real, because we want close games and to have good games with other teams," said senior Kaleb Wyche. "But once we see how they looked on film, they look bad on film. Then they come in the game and look way different. We just adjusted what we do."

"You can win every game, but if you lose the last game, it's considered a losing season. You know, grind day in and day out, no days off. The standard is gonna forever be the standard," Rex said.

Lewis said the focus remains internal.

"Focus on us. Look at the man in the mirror. Are we doing everything we're supposed to be doing to be where we where we trying to go? And if we doing all that, it doesn't matter who we play against at the end of the day," Lewis said.

Like they did last year, the Blue Devils opened the season with 3 opponents from outside the region, including showdowns with Maury and Oscar Smith. We will check back in with them at the midpoint of the year for an update on their quest to repeat as Class 4 state champions.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.