By Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Class 2 Region C playoffs will have to go through Radford as the Bobcats are the number 2 seed in the games, which start Friday in New River Valley. All five of our area teams made the playoffs: Blacksburg in Class 4, Christiansburg in Class 3 and both Eastern Montgomery and Auburn in Class 1.
Radford will host Patrick County in one Class 1 Region C quarterfinal game. #1 seeded Appomattox (8-2) will host Chatham (6-4), while #3 seeded Gretna (7-3) is at home versus Dan River (6-4), and Floyd (6-4) travels to Glenvar (6-4).
In Class 1 Region C, #2 seeded Narrows (10-0) hosts Grayson County (3-7), and Parry McCluer (3-7) travels to George Wythe (7-2). Covington is the #4 seed and will host Auburn who rose to the #5 seed. Eastern Montgomery backed into the playoffs after Friday’s win over Craig County and receives the honor of facing the top seeded Galax Maroon Tide.
Christiansburg moved up to the number-five spot in the Class 3 Region D and will face Hidden Valley. #1 seeded Lord Botetourt (10-0) hosts William Byrd (3-7). #2 seeded Northside hosts Abingdon (5-5), and Bassett (6-4) travels to Magna Vista (7-3).
With its loss to Christiansburg, Blacksburg falls to the #6 seed and will face familiar foe Pulaski County. Salem (9-1) beat Pulaski in the final Friday night regular season last week and took home field advantage throughout the regional playoffs and will open against Amherst (2-8).
E.C. Glass (9-1) is the number two seed and will host Jefferson Forest (6-4).
Also, in Class 4 Region D, Halifax (7-3) is the number four seed and will host G.W. Danville (7-3).
Pulaski fell to the number three spot and will host the sixth seeded Blacksburg.
The matchups:
Christiansburg (2-8) at Hidden Valley (6-4)
Last week: Hidden Valley shut out Cave Spring 35-0. Matt Strong rushed 35 times for 195 yards. He also scored twice. QB Grayson Carroll finished 13 of 18 for 189 yards and rushed for two touchdowns.
Christiansburg put together a game of the ages as they downed cross-county rival Blacksburg 21-14.
Last time the two met, Hidden Valley rallied for a 37-24. Christiansburg jumped out to a 16-point lead before the third quarter struck, and Hidden Valley took control. Jovan Wilson had 12 carries for 97, while fellow Titans back Matt Strong dominated the third quarter with 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Strong finished with 155 yards rushing. Hidden Valley quarterback Grayson Carroll completed 11 of 23 pass attempts for 201 yards with two touchdowns.
Christiansburg QB MJ Hunter was eight of 12 for 121 yards. Hunter ran for a score and threw another. Tailback Maston Stanley was held to 66 yards on 24 carries.
Playbook: Hidden Valley’s Scott Weaver enters his 11th season at 48-63 with a 3-8 mark last year. Eight starters return on offense and nine on defense. The key for Hidden Valley is the big turnaround by QB Grayson Carroll (6-3, 178) who has had a monstrous year. He has a big target in tight end Kelly Mitchell (6-4, 222).
Carroll passed for 1,936 yards in 2018. Offensive linemen Silas Fitzgerald (6-4, 293) and Ayden Causey (6-4, 281) provides some size up front. Running back Matt Strong (6-0, 183) has also had a year to remember and will be tough to keep under a 100 yards per game.
Christiansburg’s Stanley had his most productive night of the year last week against Blacksburg as he rushed 22 times for 204 yards, putting him over 1,000 yards for his senior season. He also came into the game with 110 tackles to lead the Blue Demon defense.
Game time: 7 p.m.
Broadcast: 100.7 FM.
Eastern Montgomery (2-8) at Galax (8-1)
Last week: Cole Pickett completed seven of 11 passes for a whopping 202 yards and four touchdowns as Galax shut out Grayson County 57-0. The Maroon Tide defense held Grayson to 90 yards of total offense.
Zach Johnson caught three passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns, including a 90-yarder. Denver Brown rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
Eastern Montgomery picked up their second win of the season and a postseason berth, downing Craig County 35-6. QB Adam Bahnken was responsible for three touchdowns in the win. Dylan Owens also added another score and rushed for 89 yards on 11 carries.
Playbook: Mark Dixon has led Galax to the playoffs every year since he took over the coaching helm 10 years ago. Last year, they finished 11-3, losing in the state semifinals.
Running back Denver Brown (6-0, 255) is the key in the running attack, but this season, the team has also found an outstanding passing game with junior QB Cole Pickett (6-1, 200) at the helm. Last season, Brown rushed for 1,060 yards with 14 touchdowns. This year, he has continued that with another 1,000-plus year. Pickett took over full time at QB this season and has passed for more than 1,000 yards.
Galax has become the king of Region 1C, and Eastern Montgomery will have to play its best game of the year to dethrone them.
Game time: 7 p.m.
Broadcast: 98.1 FM.
Patrick County (5-5) at Radford (8-2)
Last week: Patrick County was idle but lost two weeks ago to Halifax County 27-7.
Radford shut out Carroll County 24-0 with QB Zane Rupe throwing for 112 yards and rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown. Jarel Baylor add 75 yards on 12 carries.
Playbook: Patrick had losses to Magna Vista (41-0), G.W. Danville (55-14), Floyd (13-12), Christiansburg (48-14) and Bassett (25-16). Wins came over Tunstall (30-22), Martinsville (22-19), Halifax (27-7), Carroll County (38-27) and North Stokes, N.C. (28-14).
Patrick has been outscored this season 271 to 206.
The Bobcats have played most of the season without running backs P.J. Prioleau and Justice Marshall with the latter being missed most on the defensive side of the ball. Rupe and running back by committee have picked up the slack.
Placekicker Connor Lytton could play an important role for Radford as they continue through the postseason.
Game time: 7 p.m.
Broadcast: 101.7 FM, 1460 AM.
Blacksburg (6-4) at Pulaski (8-2)
Last week: Pulaski fell to Salem 12-6 as the Cougars could manage only two field goals while Blacksburg was shocked in a 21-14 loss to Christiansburg. Of course, the two teams are no strangers to each other. Last time, they met Pulaski pulled off a 12-3 win.
Playbook: Pulaski has had to overcome injury after injury but seems to be 100 percent as they race into the postseason. Coach Stephen James is his sixth season.
The Cougars lost in the Region 4D second round last year. They do return their top two rushers from last year in Jakari Finley (5-11, 185) and Gage Mannon (6-0, 195). Also, QB A.J. McCloud is back from a nagging injury and is starting to sit in under center. He has plenty of size upfront with tight end Austin Gallimore (5-9, 200), Cooper Dunnigan (6-3, 280), Clay Phillips (6-3, 280) and Logan Fox (6-2, 295).
Blacksburg QB Luke Goforth will have to overcome last week’s six-interception night to pick up a win in the postseason.
Game time: 7 p.m.
Broadcast: 97.1 FM.
