From the sidelines
Four of the five area high school football teams seem destined to make a run into the postseason, and a fifth is just .667 points out of the final spot.
Radford will host a home playoff game but fell from the top spot in Region 1C. Appomattox is now the top dog with 24.22 points. Radford is second at 22.778. Gretna is third at 21.556. Glenvar and Floyd are tied at 20.0, while Dan River, Patrick County and Ft. Chiswell, round out the top 8 who will make the postseason.
In Region 1C, Galax is now the top team and holds all the cards for home-field advantage through the playoffs with 23.7 points. Second-place Narrows now has 22.88 points and George Wythe 21.7. Covington is fourth at 17.1111, followed by Auburn at 16.7. A loss by Covington this week could give Auburn a home playoff game.
Parry McCluer has moved up to sixth with 13.443 points with Grayson in tow with 13.333. Bath controls the eighth spot but is only .667 points ahead of Eastern Montgomery for the final playoff spot.
In Region 4D, Salem and Pulaski meet on the gridiron Friday night in a game that could decide home field throughout the playoffs. Salem has 30.0 points to Pulaski’s 29.222. E.C. Glass is third with 28.22 point, followed by Jefferson Forest at 25.5556. G.W. Danville is fifth at 25.5556, only fractions ahead of Blacksburg and Halifax, who are tied at 24.556. As it stands now, Blacksburg would have to hit the road for the post eason. Amherst rounds out the top 8 playoff spots with 17.778 points.
Over in Region 3C, Lord Botetourt has locked down the top spot and home-field advantage with 29.556 points. Magna Vista is in second less than half a point ahead of Northside. Hidden Valley is fourth at 25.00. Bassett and Christiansburg are separated by .111 points in fifth and sixth. An upset win over Blacksburg this Friday night could give Christiansburg a better road contest. The Blue Demons should not fall any lower than sixth even with a loss.
Abingdon remains seventh in 3C and William Byrd is eighth.
Let the games begin.