Marty Gordon
High school football officially jumpstarts this Friday night with several individual headlines.
The Christiansburg-Floyd contest will have extra attention as former Christiansburg athletic director and football coach Tim Cromer now roams the Floyd sidelines.
Under Cromer’s leadership at Christiansburg High School, the team secured several notable achievements, including the State Runner-Up title in Division 4 in 2011 and multiple Region Championships in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Despite facing tough competition, they also attained Region Runner-Up titles in 2004, 2006, and 2012. The team’s consistent presence in the VHSL Playoffs from 2003 to 2014, along with an overall record of 98-75.
The contest will also be the first for new Christiansburg head coach Matt Heron, who had spent the past five years as an assistant at the school.
Blacksburg will face a Giles team, which has lost its past glimmer with several state and regional titles. Also, Blacksburg will try to jumpstart their season with a win after only picking up two total in the past two years.
Radford faces a familiar foe in Geroge Wythe. The Bobcats hold a 52-30 record against the former New River District opponents and have won five straight include last year’s 42-7 win.
Eastern Montgomery will host Holston from deep southwest Virginia. Holston has won seven straight meetings from the Mustangs including a 48-8 from last year.
Storylines:
Can Radford put together a winning season after winning the state championship just a year ago?
Will Blacksburg find a way to win more than two games?
Is Eastern Montgomery finally one of the top three teams in Pioneer District?
Christiansburg has a new head coach and can he lead the team to more than eight wins this season?
Predictions for the season:
Christiansburg 6-4
Blacksburg 6-4
Eastern Montgomery 5-5
Radford 8-2
Predictions for Friday night:
Christiansburg 27, Floyd 24
Blacksburg 29, Giles 20
Radford 38, George Wythe 14
Eastern Montgomery 30, Holston 14.
