Radford and Glenvar high schools have become familiar rivals every year in high school football.
The two are definitely not strangers to each other, having played 32 times since 1999.
The series is tied 16-16 going into this Friday night. Thus, the game has a little more meaning. In addition, the roles are reversed this season with Radford entering the game with a 5-1 record. Glenvar is 4-3.
Typically, the winner of the regular season contest finishes as the Three Rivers District top dog. But over and over again, they meet a second time in the Class 2 postseason. Then, the regular season winner has won several times over and over.
Last year was an exception as Glenvar took both games, 35-0 in the regular season and 27-3 in the postseason. In 2023, Radford took both the regular season and postseason matchup.
Regional playoff points were released this week.
In 1C, Grayson tops the list with 20.27 points with Craig County second with 19.60. Auburn is third at 16.71 points. Auburn’s opponent this week, George Wythe, is at number five. Eastern Montgomery sits at the eighth spot with 11.71 points.
Floyd leads 2C with 21 points. Radford is second with 20 and Glenvar third at 19.43.
In 3D, William Byrd leads the list with 26 points. Magna Vista is second at 24.33 and Carroll County third at 24 points.
Christiansburg sits at the number 10 spot with 17 points, trailing seventh place Northside, eighth place Lord Botetourt and ninth Staunton River. Cave Spring is sixth at 18.86 points.
In 4D, Sherando tops the numbers with 28 points. George Washington is second at 27.67 and Salem is fourth with 25.43. Blacksburg is seventh at 20.71 points.
In the Max Preps Class 1 state rankings, Auburn is 17th. In Class 2, Graham is number one, Radford ninth and Floyd 12th. The 3D rankings have Carroll County ninth, William Byrd at 11th, Lord Botetourt at 16th and Cave Spring 19th.
Salem is ranked ninth in the Class 4 state poll.
Player of the week: Sam Szefc completed 12 of 17 for 220 yards with five touchdowns in Blacksburg’s win this past week. He also ran for 178 yards on 10 carries with two scores.
Area Top Five: 1) William Byrd, 2) Salem, 3) Carroll County, 4) Radford, 5) Floyd.
This week’s games:
Hidden Valley (0-6) at Christiansburg (2-4)
Hidden Valley is having one of the worst seasons in the history of the program, losing this past week 51-20 to Blacksburg. QB Tanner Bishop did throw for 252 yards on 25 of 36 passing with two touchdowns. Jadyn Sykes had five catches for 83 yards.
A buzz saw would be a great way to describe Christiansburg’s 47-10 loss to Patrick Henry this past week. PH is one of the top teams not only in southwest Virginia but in the state.
Christiansburg only managed 198 yards of total offense with only a touchdown.
Prediction: Christiansburg 38, Hidden Valley 21.
Glenvar (4-3) at Radford (5-1)
Glenvar picked up a 31-7 win over James River. Kiptyn Jones and Haden Henderson connected on two touchdowns. Jones finished 12 of 19 for 121 yards through the air, while Henderson had 56 yards receiving.
Radford’s Trenton Carter is one of the top receivers in the state with 22 catches with 647 yards to lead Class 2 with eight touchdowns.
QB Peyton Robbins now has 1,023 yards on 53 of 85 completions to be second in the state in the passing category and throwing for 11 touchdowns.
Radford picked up an easy 49-14 win last week over Patrick County. Dobbins finished eight of 14 for 164 yards, and Pace Prioleau rushed for 70 yards on nine carries.
Prediction: Radford 30, Glenvar 21.
Auburn (6-1) at George Wythe (2-5)
Auburn’s Cameron Branch has completed 41 passes on 65 attempts for 697 yards, and running back Gavin Neuse has rushed 60 times for 393 yards with 11 touchdowns.
Last week, Auburn won over Northwood.
George Wythe fell to Grayson 33-20 this past week. Isaac Smith completed 13 of 26 passes for 181 yards with two touchdowns.
Prediction: Auburn 27, George Wythe 24.
Eastern Montgomery (2-5) at Bath County (3-3)
Craig County downed Eastern Montgomery 48-6. Landyn Perry had a touchdown run for the Mustangs in the loss.
Bath fell 49-36 last week to Pendleton, W.Va. when they gave up 23 points in the fourth quarter. Ike Phillips ran 28 times for 125 yards with two touchdowns.
Prediction: Eastern Montgomery 32, Bath 30.
Pulaski (0-5) at Blacksburg (4-3)
Pulaski had the week off.
Blacksburg rolled to a 51-20 win over winless Hidden Valley. Mack Strahm caught four passes for 203 yards with four touchdowns, and Luke Mann rushed for 64 yards on eight carries.
Prediction: Blacksburg 40, Pulaski 20.
