Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Blacksburg High School started the season with a big win over Giles High School this past Friday night, while Christiansburg High School has its first win in two years. Auburn High School also gave Narrows High School all it could handle but missed a field goal that would have won the game as time expired.
Meanwhile Radford High School is now 1-0 after a road win over George Wythe High School, and Eastern Montgomery High School fell to Holston High School.
This week, both Christiansburg and Blacksburg will find their opponents a little tougher. Blacksburg hosts Lord Botetourt High School and Christiansburg is at Giles. Auburn and Eastern Montgomery will both stay at home for their second game of the year, and Radford hosts Galax High School.
Game previews:
Christiansburg (1-0) at Giles (0-1)
Game time: 7 p.m.
Last week for Christiansburg: MJ Hunter hit Caleb Henley on a 57-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining to send the game against Floyd into overtime. Both teams would exchange scores in the extra period, but it was the Christiansburg defense that stopped Floyd’s point after attempt to give the home team a chance on their next possession. Matson Stanley would carry the rock in from four yards out, and then Hunter scrambled into the end zone on a bad snap on the ensuring point after for the two-point 14-12 win.
Christiansburg’s Mac Padgett had 21 carries for 127 yards but will be on the sidelines against Giles after being ejected from the game just before Friday night’s OT.
Last week for Giles: The Spartans fell to Blacksburg 50-7. The score was 42-0 at the half as the Bruins cleared the bench in the second half. Giles did manage 169 yards on the ground with most of that coming in the third and fourth quarters. Hunter Williams scored for Giles late in the fourth.
Scouting report: Giles might be thin in numbers but big in size with eight players over 200 pounds including lineman John Ratcliffe at 6-5, 305. Others for the Blue Demons to deal with: Jay Anton (6-4, 255), Bryson Martin (6-7, 356) and tight end Kip Green (6-5, 290).
Broadcast: 100.7 FM.
Galax (0-1) at Radford (1-0)
Game time: 7 p.m.
Last week for Radford: The Bobcats rolled to a 34-13 win over George Wythe as Zane Rupe threw for 153 yards on a 12 of 17 night with two touchdowns. P.J. Prioleau rushed 22 times for 144 yards and a touchdown. Also, Trace Shepherd added two touchdown catches and also ran for another.
Last week for Galax: The Maroon Tide lost 28-24 to Glenvar. QB Gage Cooke was seven of nine for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and Blake Brown rushed for 109 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown. Landon Dickson caught five passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Scouting report: Mark Dixon is 68-25 in eight seasons, going 11-3 last year and losing in the state semi-finals. The coach resigned in the spring, only to change his mind and return to the job. Dougie Peoples (5-9, 175 runningback) was second team all-state last season and finished with 1,970 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns. He set a new state record last season with eight touchdowns against Narrows. Christian Brown (5-8. 215) is a load on the defensive line. He is joined by Tyler Wilson (5-9, 210) and Blake Willis (5-11, 200).
Broadcast: 101.7 FM.
Craig County (0-1) at Auburn (0-1)
Game time: 7 p.m.
Last week for Auburn: The Eagles fell 23-21 to Narrows. Payson Kelley rushed 25 times for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Last week for Craig: The Rockets fell 38-16 to Bland. Dalton McPherson had two touchdowns.
Scouting report: Mark Harrison, fourth head coach in five years, is in his first season at the helm of Craig County who was 0-10 last season. They do return six players on both sides of the ball. They were shutout seven times last season and only scored two offensive touchdowns and have only won five games in four seasons. Harrison was an assistant at Auburn and Eastern Montgomery before taking the Craig job. Craig only has 20 players on the roster and has fought small numbers for the past eight years. QB Dakota Henderson (5-11, 185, soph.) does give the team an athletic player under center.
Broadcast: None.
Hurley (1-0) at Eastern Montgomery (0-1)
Game time: 7 p.m.
Last week for Eastern Montgomery: The Mustangs fell 25-8 to Holston. Devin Owens rushed 28 times for 187 yards and a TD.
Last week for Hurley: Beat Rye Cove 18-7.
Broadcast: None.
Lord Botetrout (1-0) at Blacksburg (1-0)
Game time: 7 p.m.
Last week for Blacksburg: The Bruins rolled to a 50-7 win over Giles. Tiquest Terry rushed once for 77 yards and caught one pass for 57. He also ran a punt back for a TD. Grant Johnston finished seven of nine through the air for 200 yards. Thomas Coffey had three catches for 100 yards, and Brian Mitchell also scored twice including a 59-yard punt return.
Last week for Lord Botetrout: Hunter Rice rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns enroute to a 47-19 win over Harrisonburg. Preston Martin also threw for a touchdown and caught a pass for another.
Scouting report: Lord Botetrout was 8-0 last season before following to William Byrd and Staunton River. They reached the playoffs for the fifth season in a row but lost to Blacksburg in the first round. Rice (6, 200) is coming off a stellar freshman season. They return eight starters on defense led by Noah Overstreet (6-2, 260). The team has lots of size including lineman Jesse Hanson (6-5, 295).
Broadcast: ESPN Blacksburg.