Area teams are already preparing for their fourth game of the season with Eastern Montgomery, Christiansburg and Radford still winless. Blacksburg was able to rebound Friday night after their first loss in seven games, dating back to last year’s 3A playoffs, and Auburn fell short in loss to Floyd.
The Virginia High School League’s first Region 4D has E.C. Glass leading the way with 26 points, William Byrd second at 22, Salem third with 21 and Pulaski fourth wth 20.667. Blacksburg is up to fifth with 20.333 points. Carroll County is in 10th place.
In Region 3C, Liberty moved to third with a win over Christiansburg with 23 points. Brookville is the top team with 25 points and Heritage second at 24.
Patrick Henry is the top team in the River Ridge with an 1-0 district mark and 2-1 overall. Only Hidden Valley has played another district game after losing to PH.
With a 3-0 mark, Floyd leads the Three River but so far no team has played a district contest. Glenvar is also 3-0 overall, while James River is 2-1.
This week’s games:
Abingdon at Christiansburg
Christiansburg record: 0-3
Abingdon record: 2-1
Last week for Abingdon: Lost to Pulaski County 27-20. Austin Holloway and Gabe Boothe had touchdown runs for Abingdon (2-1), while Boothe also threw a touchdown pass to Caleb Farris. Abingdon’s defense gave up 182 yards through the air to Pulaski.
Scouting report on Abingdon: Coach Darren Reed’s team finished 9-2 last season including a big win over the Blue Demons. The team will have to find a replacement for quarterback Jake Sturgill who threw for 23 touchdowns last season and was named 3A all-state. His replacement is Junior Gabe Booth who saw action in the fourth quarter in last year’s blowout win over the Blue Demons.
The team will also have to find a new workhouse in the backfield after the graduation of all-world Michael Fulton.
Last week for Christiansburg: Lost 27-13 to Liberty. The Blue Demons did manage to produce over 200 yards of offense for the first time this season including
Radio broadcast: 100.7 FM.
Blacksburg at Richlands
Blacksburg record: 2-1
Richlands record: 1-1.
Last week for Blacksburg: Blacksburg defeated Amherst 47-21.
Last week for Richlands: Open. Two weeks ago, lost to Union 16-7. Richlands only had 97 yards total offense in the contest. Richlands quarterback Trey Brown was held to 28 yards rushing on 13 attempts. The defense gave up 290 yards on the ground.
Scouting report on Richlands: The Blue Tornado were 13-2 last season, and Coach Greg Mance is 85-13-0 after taking over the program in 2004. Richlands lost to Appomattox in last year’s state championship game. QB Trey Brown has rushed for 100 yards in both games this season. Blacksburg coach Thad Wells is a Richlands grad and Friday night’s game will be a reunion of sorts. Wells starred as QB while playing at Richlands.
Directions to Richlands High School: Est. time one hour and 50 minutes. Address: 138 Tornado Aly, Richlands, 24641. U.S. 460 West toward Bluefield. 1-77 South ramp toward Wytheville. Merge onto U.S. 460. Take Business 460 exit 1 toward Richlands. Turn right onto Sunny Hills Drive. Take first right onto Cedar Valley Dr. Turn right onto Tornado Aly. School on right.
Radio broadcast: 105.3 FM.
Eastern Montgomery at Auburn
Eastern Montgomery record: 0-3
Auburn record: 1-2
Last week for Eastern Montgomery: Lost 41-6 to Roanoke Catholic. Nick Bahnken threw for 100 yards and a touchdown. Eastern Montgomery allowed 294 yards on the ground in the contest.
Last week for Auburn: Lost 21-0 to Floyd County. Auburn was held to five first downs and 53 yards of total offense.
Scouting reports: Both teams struggling this season with lots of youngsters seeing action.
Radio broadcast: None.
Gretna at Radford
Radford record: 0-3
Gretna record: 3-0
Last week for Gretna: Beat Nottoway 20-14.
Last week for Radford: Lost 26-23 to Ft. Chiswell. Chris Carter returned a 88-yard kickoff for a touchdown as the Bobcats built a 16-0 lead before Ft. Chiswell rallied for the win.
Scouting report on Gretna: Quarterback Tabron Mabins (5-10, 160, Soph.) leads the team this year that is loaded with talent including running back Jaylan Myers (5-9, 155, Jr.). Team was 3-7 last year and failed to make the playoffs. Gretna has five state titles in the last 12 years and returns eight starters on the offensive side of the ball and 10 on defense. The offensive does boast some size with 11 players over 200 pounds and six over 245.
From 2003-2011, Gretna lost just 11 games and claimed five state titles. They were 3-7 last season. Receiver Dajon Hicks (6-3, 170) is one of the team’s top athletes and could pose a problem for the much smaller Bobcats. Last season, Hicks averaged 18.4 yards per reception.
Last season, Gretna allowed opponents to score an average of 39.5 points per game including a 70-pointer versus Atlavista.
Radio broadcast: 101.7 FM.
