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

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."

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.

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