Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The lights will be on at stadiums around southwest Virginia beginning this Friday as high school football kicks off.
Two of our area teams will hit the road to begin the season.
Predicted finishes:
Mt. Empire: 1) George Wythe, 2) Ft. Chiswell, 3) Galax, 4) Grayson, 5) Giles, 6) Auburn, 7) Bland.
Three Rivers: 1) Glenvar, 2) Floyd, 3) Carroll County, 4) James River, 5) Martinsville, 6) Radford, 7) Patrick County.
River Ridge: 1) Patrick Henry, 2) Salem, 3) Blacksburg, 4) Hidden Valley, 5) Christiansburg, 6) Cave Spring.
Pioneer: 1) Narrows, 2) Eastern Montgomery, 3) Covington, 4) Highland, 5) Parry McCluer, 6) Bath, 7) Craig County.
The Three Rivers District has seen a shakeup as Alleghany leaves the district, while Martinsville joins the group.
Games this week:
Eastern Montgomery at Holston
The long trip to Damascus begins the season for Eastern Montgomery looking for a break out of the bottom of the Pioneer District. Holston is coming off a 9-2 season that included a trip to the postseason, where they lost to Patrick Henry.
Prediction: Eastern Montgomery 28, Holtson 7.
James River at Auburn
Auburn will be playing its first varsity game in three years. James River was 1-9 last season with the lone win coming over Randolph Henry.
Prediction: James River 30, Auburn 6.
Carroll County at Christiansburg
Carroll is 11-30 in the past four season but is coming off a 5-6 one in 2024. The Cavaliers run a Winged-T offense and is expected to run 80 percent of the time. Prediction: Christiansburg 21, Carroll 20.
George Wythe at Radford
This again is another game that has become an annual rivalry. George Wythe took the 28-7 win last season, and the two originally met in 1916. Radford holds a 1,752 to 1,168 record in the long history of the matchup. Prediction: George Wythe 30, Radford 24.
Blacksburg at Giles
The week one matchup in Pearisburg has become an annual rivalry that dates back to the days of the old New River District. Giles does have a new coach in the form of Sam Wright, who has been assistant at the school for the past 10 years.
Giles continues to run the Single-Wing offense, meaning there will be plenty of plays on the ground. Look for Anthony Wilcoxson to be the feature back this season. The team was 4-7 last season including a 32-12 loss to Blacksburg. Prediction: Blacksburg 40, Giles 14.
