By Marty Gordon
The 2018 high school football season had a lot of ups and downs for area teams. All five schools made the state playoffs this year, but some found better luck than others.
Blacksburg finished an undefeated regular season, and topped it off by winning the regional title before falling in the state semi-finals.
Radford made a complete turnaround from two years ago, reversing its loss and win total, marching into the Class 2 playoffs. The Bobcats upset defending state champion Appomattox en route to the state semis, before falling to eventual state champion Graham. Congrats to Coach Saunders and the Bobcats.
Christiansburg picked up their first win under Alex Wilkens and their first in only two years. The school christened a new turf field and the future looks bright. A large number of underclassmen played important roles this season as the team continues to build for next year.
Auburn continues to try and find its groove in the Mt. Empire District and boy did they find it this year. The Eagles showed they will not roll over and play dead against teams like Galax and George Wythe.
Eastern Montgomery picked up a few wins for a program that has seen victories few and far between in the past five years. This comes on the heels of a state playoff run 10 years ago that has not be repeated.
What to watch for 2019:
Blacksburg loses a lot of talent from this year’s squad especially on defense so it will be interesting to see what Eddie Sloss can do in his second season at the helm.
Christiansburg returns eight starters on both sides of the ball, thus opening a new chapter in Blue Demon football.
Auburn has shown it can play with the big boys of the Mt. Empire and could be ready to take the next step this coming year.
Meanwhile in Shawsville, Eastern Montgomery is still trying to find its footing in a Pioneer District that is slim in consistent teams. The Mustangs do lose “Mr. Everything” in Devin Owens and will turn to his brother to lead a team, looking for depth.
Radford is loaded for another run deep into the playoffs, and P.J. Prioleau should be one of the top runners in the state of Virginia.
Elsewhere in the local sports world:
The Blue Demon wrestling team finished 12th, team-wise, at the Beast of the East wrestling tournament that saw more than 100 teams from 15 states compete for the prestigious two-day tournament title. Eight of the top 10 schools were all private academies as Christiansburg finished fourth in public schools. Andy Smith finished fifth overall, while Nate Warden was sixth.
In addition, Smith placed fourth in the Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament the week before the Big East.
Blue Demon wrestling program is building for the future with some outstanding effort in its younger ranks. The Christiansburg Middle School team downed Blacksburg 42-41 recently, and it was a great day for the Virginia Elite K-5 age group as they competed at the Rustburg Youth Open.
Gold medal winners included: Dillinger Collins, Barrett Collins, Kole Brown, Zach Hudson and Carter Hudson.
The Virginia Elite 6-8 graders also competed in the Mt. Empire Junior championship at Rural Retreat High School, bringing home seven silvers and three bronze medals.
Blacksburg High School graduate Chris Martin has been named to the second-team small-college all-state soccer team. Martin had 75 saves in goal this season at Roanoke College.
Blacksburg High School quarterback Grant Johnston has been invited to the Blue-Grey Bowl Game for Jaunary. The event, which will be held at AT&T Stadium home of the Dallas Cowboys in January, will pit outstanding high school football players from around the country.
Two Virginia Tech and Radford University volleyball recruits have received some postseason honors.
Login Williams (Charlotte, N.C.) has been named the Co-I Meck 4A Conference player of the year. Williams, who has signed with RU had 588 assists, 124 kills and 36 aces.
Meanwhile Cierra Huntley from Davidson Day School also in Charlotte has received all-state honors. The Virginia Tech commit had 379 kills, 287 digs, 50 aces and 33 blocks for a high school team that finished as a state 2A semifinalist.
Old Dominion quarterback Blake LaRussa lit up the Virginia Tech defense this past season for 495 yards and four touchdowns. Now, he is giving up his final years of eligibility to attend divinity school.
And finally, Virginia Tech is stepping up to make Pittsburgh ninth grader a deal he can’t refuse. Mehki Flowers is a wide receiver who has yet to play his first year on the varsity level, and this past month, he received a scholarship offer from the Hokies.
The 6-1, 185 pounder also plays defensive back and has received one other offer so far, via Morgan State. Flowers is also a standout on the basketball court.
The Hokies will have a quarterback in its 2019 class after all. Malvern Prep Academy (Pittsburgh, Pa.) signal caller Drew Gunther is headed to Blacksburg as a preferred-walk on. This past season, he threw for more than 2,400 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Gunther, who will enroll at Tech over the summer, has recorded 4,833 yards and 52 touchdowns during his high school career. He also had offers from Tennessee and VMI.
The Virginia Tech women’s track team has landed one of the best student-athletes in southwest Virginia. Pulaski County’s Grace Boone has signed a letter of intent to attend the Blacksburg school.
Last year, she won the state’s 500 and 1,000 meter races while notching the 400 and 800 meter event in the outdoor season. Boone’s 800-meter time last season was the fastest for any female high school senior in the country.