VHSL-reference.com has released an online reference simulator that can actually simulate games between high school teams and spit out a score and winner.

While the program obviously only uses statistical data and doesn’t take into account human elements such as improvement by players or additions to a team, it is still fairly accurate in many cases.

For the upcoming 2015 season, VHSL-reference released its predicted order of finish for the James River District in football and also the projected playoff positions for the teams.

Goochland in the top spot is no surprise and will be led by quarterback Reid Chenault.

Goochland is ranked third overall for 2A teams and is projected to be the number two team in the 2A East playoff picture.

Nottoway checks in at number two in the JRD, according to the website, and the Cougars are ranked eighth 2A team in the state. They are projected as the number four seed in the 2A East playoffs.

The Cougars suffered major losses to graduation so this may be overzealous for this year.

Buckingham is the third ranked JRD team and is tenth overall in the state rankings.

The Knights are projected as the number six seed in the 2A West playoff division. Buckingham returns some skillful players including Leon Ragland.

Lunenburg checks in at number four in the district, but is the fifth ranked team in the 1A division. They are also ranked fourth in the 1A East preseason projections.

Amelia is set up as the fifth-ranked team and the Raiders are projected as the 23rd best 2A team in the state.

They are picked as the 11th best team in the 2A East division, which would have them making the playoffs.

PECHS is ranked sixth best. They are the 37th ranked team in 2A and are projected to sneak into the playoffs as the 16th seed in the 2A East division.

Randolph-Henry is ranked 7th in the JRD. RH is ranked 41st in 2A and 24th in 2A East.

Cumberland is ranked 8th in the district, but without playing Buckingham and Goochland this season they may struggle to get enough power points to get into the 1A East playoffs.

The final team in the JRD projections is Bluestone.

This is a corrected/clarified version of the original story, revised on Aug. 23.