Marty Gordon
Three area teams picked up wins (Radford, Blacksburg and Christiansburg) in week four of the high school football schedule.
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) is one week out of releasing its first points standings. Radford should be number two in the points, while Christiansburg hangs around the number seven spot.
Former Gretna and Brookville head coach and Radford alum Kevin Saunders was part of history this past week in Georgia. Kevin Saunders is the defensive coordinator at Duluth High School, who won 90-0.
Player of the week back in our area: Running back Jaxon Keys rushed for 266 yards and four touchdowns in Blacksburg’s 44-20 win over Rockbridge. He also caught a pass for another score.
Games this week:
Cave Spring (1-3) at Blacksburg (2-2)
Cave Spring was held under 50 yards of total offense through three quarters in a loss against Christiansburg. So far this season, Cave has been outscored 115 to 44.
Blacksburg is looking for its third win for the first time in four years. As a team this past week, Blacksburg tallied 335 yards on the ground.
Pulaski (0-4) at Christiansburg (2-2)
Pulaski was shutout 62-0 this past week by Princeton (W.Va.) Trevor Gallimore picked up 44 yards on 16 carries.
Christiansburg’s Xavier Joplin and Izaiah combined for six scores and over 300 yards in a win over Cave Spring.
Radford (3-1) at Alleghany (4-0)
Alleghany rolled 42-7 in a win against another West Virginia opponent. Des Jordan threw three touchdowns and rushed for another. Jordan finished the game nine of 13 for 124 yards. The school merged with Covington last year and is undefeated for first time since 2010.
Jordan three TD passes to Hunter Knighton, Sarge Persinger and Xavier Hayslett.
Carter Nicely added 79 yards on 11 carries.
Radford moved to 3-1 on the season with a 34-0 win over last year’s Class 1 state champ Galax. Luke Gaither threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns, finishing the night 20 of 31. Louis Webster kicked two field goals and Sincere Taylor had seven catches for 94 yards in the receiving side of the game.
Ft. Chiswell (0-4) at Eastern Montgomery (0-3)
This will be a game of winless teams with both finding trouble on the offensive side of the ball. The Fort, who has been outscored 190-26, fell 51-7 this past week to Tazewell.
Eastern Montgomery was idle this past week after losing a game when Auburn cancelled its 2024 season.
Predictions:
Christiansburg 30, Pulaski 28
Blacksburg 40, Cave Spring 38
Radford 42, Alleghany 30
Ft. Chiswell 32, Eastern Montgomery 12
