Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Four area teams will be in action this Friday, and they are hoping for friendly road trips.
Auburn took last week’s cross-county game with Eastern Montgomery to hold onto to the “Golden Helmet,” and the Eagles will now begin Mt. Empire District play with a trip down Interstate 81 to George Wythe.
Meanwhile, Radford plays a winless Alleghany squad, and Eastern Montgomery faces Bland County. The biggest game in southwest Virginia will be in Salem where Blacksburg attempts to remain unbeaten against Salem who has lost twice this year.
Christiansburg is off this week after falling 21-0 to Abingdon.
Area Power Five: 1) Blacksburg, 2) Salem, 3) Northside, 4) Glenvar, 5) Pulaski. Teams to watch outside top 5: Auburn, Giles and Radford.
In the latest Region 4D points standings: 1) E.C. Glass (3-0) 25.333 points, 2) Blacksburg (4-0) 25 points, 3) Jefferson Forest (3-0) 24 points, 4) William Byrd (4-0) 23.5 points, 5) Pulaski County (3-1) 22.5 points, 6) GW-Danville (2-1) 19.667 points, 7) Salem (2-2) 19.25 points, 8) Liberty Christian (2-1) 17 points, 9) Carroll County (1-3) 15.75 points, 10) Amherst County (0-3) 12.667 points.
Region 3C: 1) Brookville (3-0) 24.667 points, 2) Liberty-Bedford (3-0) 23.333 points, 3) Heritage (2-1) 20 points, 4) Ft. Defiance (3-1) 19 points, 5) Rustburg (2-1) 18.667 points, 6) Western Albemarle (2-1) 18.333 points 7) Fluvanna County (2-1) and Spotswood (2-1) 18 points, 9) Rockbridge County (2-2) 15.25 points, 10) Turner Ashby (1-3) 14.75 points.
This week’s games:
Auburn (3-1) at George Wythe (2-2)
Last week: Auburn took the Golden Helmet with a 27-0 win over Eastern Montgomery. Payson Kelley rushed 14 times for 151 yards with two touchdowns. Carter Brockman added 134 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns.
George Wythe was shutout by Chilhowie 39-0 as they were held to 162 yards of total offense. Ravib Wells rushed 18 times for 44 yards.
Scouting report: Last season, GW was 6-5 and lost in the Class 1 Region C first round.
Running back Ravvon Wells (5-10, 158) rushed for 930 yards last year, averaging 8.8 per carry, and scored 14 TDs. Cole Simmons (6-0, 160, junior) takes over at QB with some beef up front—Dorrien McMillian (6-0, 216), Weston Gordon (5-10, 270) and Brock Rosenbaum (6-2, 240).
Broadcast: 95.3 FM.
Eastern Montgomery (1-3) at Bland (3-1)
Last week: Eastern Montgomery fell 27-0 to cross-county rival Auburn. Dylan Owens completed 14 of 20 passes for 115 yards. His brother, Devin, rushed for 66 yards on 14 carries.
Bland defeated Northwood 35-0. The Bears have outscored opponents 115-68 this season.
Scouting report: Harris Hart is in his 14th season at the school with a 51-84 record. Last season, the Bears finished 3-8, losing in the Region 1C first round. The team does return nine starters on both sides of the ball from a team that was their eighth losing season in the past nine years. QB Jake Waters is not playing this season, so the team will turn to running back Ethan Cook (5-9, 178, senior) who rushed for 739 yards last season with 11 touchdowns. He will be joined by Ty Ritter (6-1, 219, senior) who returns from an injury. Ethan Buchanan (6-3, 200) and David Coe (6-0, 250) anchor a solid offensive line.
Broadcast: None.
Blacksburg (4-0) at Salem (2-2)
Last week: Salem fell 35-27 to Northside. The Spartans were without QB Jack Gladden. His replacement, sophomore Hunter Chaney was 7-of-14 with 152 yards. Isiah Persinger rushed for 137 yards on 20 carries. Salem is on a two-game losing streak.
Blacksburg rolled over Richlands 49-17 as quarterback Grant Johnston was 20 of 27 for 449 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. Thomas Coffey finished with six receptions for 225 yards, while Tiquest Terry had five receptions for 101 yards. The Bruins was held to minus-15 yards on the ground.
Scouting report: Stephen Magenbauer is his 15th season at Salem with a 162-23 mark. Last season, the Spartans were 13-2 and won the Class 4 state championship. The team scored 492 points in their last 10 wins including a 33-32 third-round playoff victory at Blacksburg.
Gladden (6-2, 186, senior) returns at quarterback, while tight end Avery Close (6-5, 225, senior) has added weight and provides reliable target to throw to. Persinger (5-11, 170, junior) will carry the load from the backfield. On the defensive side of the ball, the team will rely on linebackers Bobby Pinello (6-2, 240) and Chandler Sutphin (6-1, 181). Nose guard Glenn Compton (6-0, 257) will be a run stopper. The school has won three straight state titles.
Broadcast: 97.1/93.1 FM, 810 AM.
Radford (3-1) at Alleghany (0-3)
Last week: Radford slipped by Gretna 7-6 in a defensive struggle. P.J. Prioleau rushed 24 times for 136 yards and a touchdown.
Alleghany lost to Cave Spring 48-19. Brian Broughman rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Christian Allen added 79 yards and a touchdown.
Scouting report: Gary Burdette is in his sixth season at Alleghany with a 19-34 record. Last season, they finished 4-7 and lost in the Region 3C first round playoffs. The Mountaineers went from being the smallest school in the Blue Ridge District to the second largest in the Three Rivers. The team lost 29 players from last season and will move to a Flex-bone offense. Broughman (5-9, 170) takes over at QB. His line up front includes Zach Tucker (6-2, 245), Alexander Harris (6-3, 210) and Zach Sexton (5-10, 190).
Broadcast: 101.7 FM.
