HIGHLAND SPRINGS — Some traces of ice and snow remained on the Highland Springs High football field at kickoff Saturday after a winter storm dumped nearly three inches on the Richmond area earlier this week.

By the fourth quarter, those remnants had mostly melted away, and so had Indian River’s state championship hopes.

The Braves’ offense spun its wheels nearly all day, going scoreless until the fourth quarter, in a 35-8 loss to Highland Springs in a Class 5 state semifinal.

The Springers (11-3) play Maury at 5 p.m. next Saturday at James Madison University in Harrisonburg for the Class 5 championship. Highland Springs will play for its sixth state title after last winning one in 2022.

Indian River (11-3) was vying for its first state championship game berth since winning a crown in 1

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