Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
The 2017 football season has flown by, and it’s looking like only two of our area teams will make this year’s post season play.
For now, it looks like Pulaski County will be left out of the 4D playoffs. With their loss to Patrick Henry last week, they remain in ninth place with only eight going to the postseason. Blacksburg will be the top seed with E.C. Glass at number two and Salem four.
Auburn will make the 1C playoffs and have the final week off to see who they face in two weeks.
The final Friday night of the season means rivalry week for the “Battle of the Burgs.” While it has lost a lot its luster and attention in the past few years, it always provides some excitement. Christiansburg has had an off season while Blacksburg is headed in the opposite direction. A canned food drive might prove to provide more fireworks than on the field action this season.
Each school has been collecting canned food items to give to a local food bank with the winner taking home bragging rights.
In other games this week, Glenvar travels to Radford and Eastern Montgomery hosts Craig County.
Game previews:
Blacksburg (8-1) at Christiansburg (0-9)
Last week for Christiansburg: Lost to Cave Spring 38-14. M.J. Hunter was seven of 17 for 125 yards with four interceptions. The defense gave up 237 yards on the ground.
Last week for Blacksburg. Had the week off.
Scouting report on Blacksburg: Cole Beck (6-1, 200) has rushed for a 1,000 yards, while Grant Johnston (6-5, 220) is pushing another 2,000 yard season through the air. The team won last year’s 3A state title but move up to the 4A classification this season where they are the top ranked team in the West Region. Thad Well is in his third season with an overall mark of 24-11. Johnston has spread the passes around this season with his favorite target being Tiquest Terry (5-9, 165). Thomas Coffey (6-0, 185) has also gotten a lot of the throws. Drew Babcock (6-2, 190) has stepped up on the defensive side of the ball and defensive lineman Gideon Driscoll (6-5, 265) has been a force in the middle for the Bruins this season. Camden Wise (6-1, 160) provides the team with a deadly weapon in the kicking department. Christiansburg leads the series 9-4 since 2004 but lost 70-7 last year. Christiansburg’s last win (34-14) came in 2014.
Radio broadcasts: 105.3 FM, 100.7 FM.
Glenvar (8-1) at Radford (2-7)
Last week for Radford: Beat Carroll County 24-7. Freshman QB Vance Rupe was 10 of 20 for 138 yards with two touchdowns. P.J. Prioleau rushed 10 times for 67 yards. Jaylin Taylor also intercepted a Carroll pass and returned it for a score.
Last week for Glenvar: Lost to Giles 24-14 two weeks ago.
Scouting report on Glenvar: Kevin Clifford is in his 11th season with a 73-40 record including 9-3 last season, losing in the 2A West Region second round. The key in Glenvar’s season is runningback Josh Clifford (6-2, 180) and QB Landry Gerbers (6-5, 210). The line is one of the biggest in southwest Virginia with John Shaffer (6-3, 290), Maxx Philpott (6-0, 295), Brayden Simmons (6-2, 290), Mitch Winters (6-2, 280) and Dominic Larosa (5-10, 220). Defensive end Hunter Stanley (6-2, 190) will also provide trouble on the defensive side.
Radio broadcast: 101.7 FM.
Eastern Montgomery (2-7) at Craig County (0-9)
Last week for Eastern Montgomery: Lost to Parry McCluer 42-6. Devin Owens rushed for 192 yards and a touchdown.
Last week for Craig County: Lost 44-19 to Covington.
Scouting report on Craig County: Mark Harrison is in his first season at the helm of the Rockets who are 0-19 over the past two seasons and have only won five games in four seasons. Harrison has been an assistant at both Auburn and Eastern Montgomery. Numbers have been a problem for the school with as few as 16 healthy players for most of this season. Quarterback Dakota Henderson (5-11, 185) is a sophomore and leads a roster of mainly underclassmen including fullback Kyle Sloss (5-11, 201). Jacob Bradford is one of only four seniors on this year’s squad.
Craig has been outscored 296 to 117 including losing 44-19 to Covington, 54-20 to Narrows, 43-6 to Parry McCluer and 29-0 to Auburn.
Radio broadcast: None.
