Marty Gordon
Fans at Thursday’s Radford, Christiansburg benefit game noticed a little difference in Radford’s helmets as every player wore Guardian Caps.
Their usage has surged significantly with over 500,000 athletes wearing them across youth leagues, high schools, colleges and the NFL.
The cap is a lightweight, padded soft-shell cover that attaches over the outside of traditional hard-shell sports helmets and and is primarily used in football to absorb and reduce the severity of impact forces.
Typically, they weigh under a pound and fasten with straps and Velcro.
Last season, Craig County High School wore the caps during the entire season.
Researchers at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab have thoroughly tested these add-on shells and show that a single cap reduces concussion risk roughly 15 to 34 percent, with two colliding caps mutually doubling that protective benefit.
Area media preseason poll comes out with Liberty Christian at the top.
Ranking, followed by team (first-place votes) and points is:
1. Liberty Christian (2)- 69
2. Patrick Henry (1)- 62
3. Jefferson Forest (1)- 50
4. Roanoke Catholic (3)- 43
T-5. Salem- 36
T-5. Magna Vista- 36
7. Heritage-Lynchburg- 30
T-8. William Byrd (1)- 24
T-8. North Cross (1)- 24
10. William Fleming- 22
Other receiving votes: Lord Botetourt- 18, E.C. Glass- 14, Glenvar- 14, Radford- 13, Grayson County- 12, George Wythe- 8, Craig County- 5, Alleghany- 5, Franklin County- 5, Floyd County- 4, Blacksburg- 1
Games for the first week:
Christiansburg at Carroll County:
Last year, Carroll County finished 9-3, including a 35-21 win over Christiansburg. The Cavaliers enter their third season under Seth Greer, after losing to Magna Vista in Region 3D semifinals.
Prediction: Christiansburg 28, Carroll County 21.
Holston at Eastern Montgomery:
Last year, Holston downed EM 49-18 and would finish a 6-5 season.
Prediction: Eastern Montgomery 24, Holston 20.
Giles at Blacksburg:
Last year, Blacksburg took a 40-8 win. Giles would have a 9-3 season en route to the postseason for the first time in three years.
Prediction: Blacksburg 32, Giles 24.
Radford at George Wythe: Instead of Remember the Titans, it will be remembering the ol’ New River District. These two former district foes continue to make the opening game an annual event.
Last year, Radford took the 31-20 win and finished the season 7-5 overall. George Wythe was 8-5.
This one takes on a personal note as I graduated from GW and have been an adopted Bobcat for a long time.
Rising junior Trenton Carter returns for Radford after catching 41 passes for 702 yards with 10 touchdowns.
Coach Brandon Harner is in year number 14 at GW and has compiled a 97-45 overall mark.
Prediction: Radford 31, George Wythe 30.
Auburn at James River:
Auburn would take a 49-12 win over James River to start the 2025 season.
Prediction: Auburn 32, James River 24.
