Marty Gordon
The past few years have not been great in the annual “battle of the burgs” when Christiansburg and Blacksburg have met on the gridiron.
Blacksburg has dominated the series as of late, winning four straight and holding a 55-35-6 edge in the series. Christiansburg’s last win was in 2013, capping off four straight wins over the Bruins. This
Friday night, Blacksburg is the heavy weight carrying a 9-0 record into the game with a lot of momentum heading in the playoffs. The Bruins are the top team in the 4D region.
Meanwhile, Christiansburg is still trying to find an identity having only won two games this season under second year coach Alex Wilkins.
On paper, the cross-county contest is a wash as the Bruins have the upper hand. But when it comes to this long-standing rivalry, who knows what the outcome will be.
The game of the week, and maybe of the season, will be played down the mountain on US460 where Glenvar hosts Radford. The two have been 1-2 in the 1D points for the past month. While both are expected to have first round playoff games at home, this contest could decide home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Those playoffs and others seem to have worked themselves out before the kick even takes place.
Blacksburg will have home-field advantage throughout the 4D playoffs, but the question is what the condition of the field could be like. The Bruins have fought sloppy conditions all year, but there could be a gem just down the road as the new Christiansburg turf field could be sitting open for some games.
Carroll County still has an outside shot to make the 4D playoffs. It will come down to them and Liberty Christian for the eighth and final spot.
Of course, if Carroll claims the spot, they would have to face their former coach Eddie Sloss and Blacksburg.
Christiansburg is also grasping for the number eight spot in 3D, but it will come down to the Patrick County and Bassett contests. If Patrick can pull off a win, they would knock the Blue Demons out.
Hidden Valley and Cave Spring are two spots above Christiansburg in the points and face each other on the final Friday, thus also allowing the Blue Demons to possibly make it in with a HV win because of its win last week over Cave Spring.
Christiansburg could define its season and slip into the playoffs with a combination of things—a win over Blacksburg, a Patrick County loss and/or a Cave Spring loss. The points are just too close to call at this moment.
Eastern Montgomery also has an outside shot of making the postseason but will need a win over Craig County this week for any possible chance.
Auburn has completed its schedule and now just awaits its seeding for the 1C playoffs.
Game previews:
Christiansburg (2-7) at Blacksburg (8-0)
Last week: Christiansburg picked up win number two with a 13-0 shutout of Cave Spring. Quarterback Jake Clemons has now become the team’s rushing leader after going for 86 yards last week. He has nearly 400 for the season.
Blacksburg sat out an open date and watched their cross-county rivals pick up the win. Two weeks ago, they downed Hidden Valley 28-7.
Playbook: Eddie Sloss inherited a loaded team in his first year as head coach and rolled over opponents this season.
Brian Mitchell has rushed 91 times for 609 yards, while Grant Johnston has passed for 1,919 yards on a 125 of 196 season with seven interceptions and 26 touchdowns. Receiver Tiquest Terry has been sidelined the past three weeks with a wrist injury but could be back for this game. But while the offense typically gets all the glory, it has been Blacksburg’s defense that dominated the line of scrimmage. They have held their opponents to 115 points while scoring 318 of their own. The Bruins
Last year, Blacksburg beat the Blue Demons 42-14 and the year before 70-7
Broadcast: 100.7 FM/97.1/93.1 FM, 810 AM.
Craig County (2-7) at Eastern Montgomery (2-7)
Last week: Craig County lost to Covington, while Eastern Montgomery lost to Parry McCluer 37-24. EM’s Adam Bahnken threw a 12yard touchdown pass and rushed for 79 yards on 10 carries. The EM offense only managed 52 total yards of offense in the first half of the contest.
Playbook: These two schools have some history. This September, Craig snapped a 30-game losing streak with a win over Twin Valley. Up until that point, the Rockets last win came on Sept. 11, 2015 when they beat Eastern Montgomery.
Craig’s Mark Harrison is in his second season at the helm after going 0-10 last season. The team does return eight starts on offense the question has been how many players are on an active roster, which has fluctuated from 14 to 25 most of the season. The offense is run through QB Dalton McPherson (6’0, 215, sr.) while running back Camron Fisher (6’0, 150) will carry the rock most of the time. Linemen Austin Brookman (5’8, 215) and Chase Huffman (6-2, 290) do provide some size upfront.
Broadcast: None.
Radford (8-1) at Glenvar (9-0)
Last week: Radford took to the air as QB Zane Rupe continued his hot hand, throwing for two scores and running for another. He is 67 of 103 for over 800 yards with nine touchdowns.
Glenvar took a week off to rest after a 38-6 win two weeks ago over Giles.
Playbook: Glenvar has dominated opponents this season, holding a 302 to 95 advantage. Kevin Clifford’s team graduated the top rusher (Jack Leonard with 2,105 yards) in southwest Virginia, but you would never know it as they simply reloaded and have found a very good running game.
Last season, Glenvar finished 11-2 after losing in the Region 2C third round of the playoffs. They return eight starters on both side of the ball. QB Landry Gerbers (6’6, 235) returns from a separated shoulder after throwing for 872 yards last season. He relies on runningbacks Bradley Loder (5’9, 185) and Colby Street (6’0, 195). The team does have a lot of size in the trenches with Mac Philpott (6’0, 297), Mitch Winters (6’2, 270), Domenick Larosa (5’11, 230) and Brayden Simmons (6’3, 325).
Defensively Philpott is a beast after recording 104 tackles last season as a sophomore.
Last year, they beat Radford 28-0.
Broadcast: 101.7 FM.
