A battle of two unbeaten giants in southwest Virginia will take place this week in the New River Valley as Radford will be tested when they host William Byrd this Friday night.
The Class 3 Terriers had a week off to prepare for this game and studied plenty of Bobcat film. But the key will be stopping an offense Byrd really has not seen all season.
Radford mixes a 60-40 pass to run game and was tested last week in a 31-21 win over a stubborn James River squad.
QB1 Peyton Dobbins leads Radford 42 of 63 with 749 yards with eight touchdowns. His number one target, Trenton Carter, has caught 16 passes for 420 yards with five touchdowns. Throw in running back Pace Prioleau, he has 26 rushes for 217 yards.
Auburn is a surprise in the first part of the season, having put together a 4-1 record as they have yet to open Mt. Empire play. But the Eagles will not see their top returning running back, Isayah Hamann, take the field this season. The 1,000-yard runner from a year ago had foot surgery this past week and will not play this year. Hamann is a junior and has received attention from several college programs.
Co-players of the week: Radford’s Peyton Dobbins was 17 of 26 for 231 yards with three touchdowns in a win over James River, while his receiver Trenton Carter caught six for 119 yards with a touchdown.
Area top five: 1) Salem, 2) Radford, 3) William Byrd, 4) Carroll County, 5) Craig County.
This week’s games:
Christiansburg (1-2) at Pulaski
Christiansburg is still trying to find some offense as they have not topped 60 yards in each of the last two games.
Pulaski is coming off a 36-0 loss to red hot Cave Spring.
Prediction: Christiansburg 29, Pulaski 21
William Byrd (4-0) at Radford (4-0)
In the game of the week and maybe the year, two unbeatens square off in an interesting contest. Radford faces a Byrd team whose last game was a 43-0 win over Bassett. Byrd also beat Christiansburg 41-10.
Byrd running back Gray Matthews is maybe the top player in southwest Virginia. Against Christiansburg, he had 18 carries for 220 yards and three touchdowns with another score on a 97-yard kickoff return.
Prediction: Radford 34, William Byrd 30.
Cave Spring (3-2) at Blacksburg (2-3)
Cave Spring shut out Pulaski 36-0 this past week as Jaylen Wiley ran for 62 yards on 11 carries. Nicholas Matthews added 71 yards on 12 carries.
Blacksburg, who is coming off a 49-13 loss to Salem, has lost three straight.
Prediction: Blacksburg 27, Cave Spring 24.
Auburn (4-1) at Giles (0-5)
Auburn’s Gavin Neuse had an impressive performance in the latest game, rushing for 102 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Auburn took a 56-8 win over Eastern Montgomery.
Giles has lost five straight this season, something the Spartan faithful is not accustomed to. Bryson Atkins scored three touchdowns against Tazewell in an overtime loss.
Prediction: Auburn 40, Giles 14.
Eastern Montgomery (1-4) at Bland (1-3)
This past Friday, Eastern Montgomery lost to Auburn in the battle of cross-county teams.
Bland lost to Northwood 43-12 in their last contest. Their lone win came 34-7 over Castlewood.
Prediction: Eastern Montgomery 27, Bland 21.
