Week four of the high school football season is in the books. It has been an exciting fall so far, and last Friday night was no different. In what was the final week of non-district play for much of our area, several teams earned huge wins, which could springboard into bigger things down the road. Let's take a closer look at the week that was in the Lynchburg/Roanoke area.
Salem Reigns Supreme:
Our game of the week saw the Salem Spartans blank Northside 36-0, in a battle of two of the area's premier programs. Motivated after last year's seven-point loss to the eventual 3A state champs, the Spartans completely shut down the visitors, limiting the Vikings to 137 yards of total offense. The Northside defense held its end of the bargain in the first half, forcing two Salem punts and stopping two Spartan possessions inside the five-yard line. Trailing 16-0 at the break, the Vikings opened the third quarter with a promising drive, only to surrender the ball at midfield. Salem put the Vikings away in the second half, balancing its attack between the final two quarters. Senior Austin Couling had a big night under center, throwing for 157 yards and three touchdowns. Coleman Fox hit the century mark right on the money after carrying the ball 19 times.
Salem dominated the line of scrimmage, holding Northside to just eight rushing yards in the first half, and 68 for the game. The Vikings are 0-2 since Tennessee commit Chance Hall was lost for the season with a torn Achilles. Northside will travel to Staunton River this Friday, while the Spartans will battle Cave Spring on the road as well.
Fleming is For Real:
The Colonels equaled their win total from last season behind the quick feet of running back Jerome Hill. The senior rushed for a career high 342 yards in Fleming's 42-19 win over E.C. Glass. With the score tied at seven early, Hill broke loose for an 82-yard touchdown scamper to put the Colonels in the drivers' seat. Fellow senior Warren Craft made plays on both sides of the ball, catching a 58-yard pass for the Colonels' first touchdown, and recording a huge third-quarter interception on defense, when the Hilltoppers began to cut into the lead. Glass quarterback Donnie Morgan Jr. rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth consecutive contest. The reigning Seminole District Play of the Year did all he could to keep his team in the game, rushing for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Glass has lost two straight, while William Fleming is off to its best start since 2009.
Byrd Goes Down Swinging:
William Byrd dropped to 0-4 but the Terriers turned in their best effort of the season in a 34-24 loss to Magna Vista. Byrd was not intimated by the top ranked team in the 3A West standings, and built a 21-14-halftime lead. The Warriors got their ground game going in the second half and outscored the Terriers 20-3 in the final two quarters. Freshman Larry Basham led William Byrd with 254 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as the Terriers reached their highest point total of the season. Was the close loss a turning point for William Byrd? Only time will tell.
Botetourt Falls:
After demolishing its first two opponents, Lord Botetourt has slipped to 2-2 on the young season. A 21-14 loss at the hands of Richlands was the latest setback in what has been a puzzling two weeks for the Cavaliers. The Blue Tornado jumped on Botetourt early, and would not relinquish the lead. The Cavaliers have a bye before a crucial road game against Alleghany on October 3rd.
Blacksburg Wins Ugly:
Blacksburg started strong and held off a late Radford rally for a 36-22 win, in a game that featured 23 penalties. The Bruins gained 276 yards of total offense, but were penalized 12 times for 146 yards. Blacksburg scored any way that it could in the win, netting three field goals and one defensive touchdown. The Bruins jumped out to a 20-0 lead before the Bobcats got on the board. Quarterback Isaac Johnston eclipsed 200 yards through the air once again. Johnston threw for 214 yards, and a touchdown on the first play of the game. Marcus Finley led Radford with six catches for 117 yards and one touchdown.
Brookville Rolls:
Last season, Brookville needed a fourth-quarter touchdown and a two-point conversion to squeak by Fort Defiance by one. Friday's rematch however was a completely different story, as the Bees steamrolled the Indians 61-6, to improve to 4-0 on the year. Brookville gained 555 yards of total offense, including 311 yards in the first half alone. The stage is set for a battle of the unbeatens this Friday night, with 4-0 Brookville taking on 3-0 Jefferson Forest in what will likely be our game of the week.
New Uniforms Same Result:
Sporting flashy new orange uniforms, Heritage made its triumphant return to City Stadium with a 49-14 romp of Gretna. The Pioneers looked equally impressive on both sides of the ball in the win. As a team, Heritage rushed for 7.3 yards per carry, while gaining 256 yards on the ground. Frankie Hickson led with way with 21 carries for 127 yards, and a trio of first half touchdowns. Heritage went into the locker room with a 35-0 lead at the break, and the starters only surrendered one touchdown in the second half.
First Taste of Victory:
Amherst and Spotswood made the playoffs last year, but both teams opened the 2014 campaign at 0-3. It is still early, and both programs tasted victory for the first time this past week.
After playing three state title contenders in the first three weeks, the Lancers finally pulled it all together in a 34-14 win over Rockbridge County. Tyrus Buford rushed for 211 yards and one touchdown in the victory. Amherst will open Seminole District play this week against last year's champion Heritage.
Spotswood opened the season with two narrow losses, before taking a beating from Wilson Memorial in week three. Last Friday night however, the Trailblazers got their first win of the season with a 21-14 triumph over Central Woodstock. Quarterback Zack Polglase led a late scoring drive and tossed the game-winning touchdown with less than one minute to play. Spotswood will open Valley District play this week against a much-improved Waynesboro squad.
Stopped in Their Tracks:
Covington is another area team that picked up its first win of the season with a 39-6 victory over Eastern Montgomery. The Mustangs came into Friday night's contest averaging 34 points, but the Cougars held the visitors to just one fourth-quarter touchdown. KaShawn Carter rushed for a pair of touchdowns for Covington in the win. The Cougars will continue their tough early-season schedule this week at undefeated Glenvar.
Other Notable Scores:
Altavista 56, Galax 7
Auburn 29, Roanoke Catholic 0
Cave Spring 20, Alleghany 13
Christiansburg 16, Franklin County 14
Giles 62, Narrows 7
Glenvar 51, Graham County 0
Hidden Valley 58, Bassett 21
Liberty 55, Harrisonburg 0
Patrick Henry 30, Albemarle 20
Pulaski 19, Staunton River 16
Salem Reigns Supreme:
Our game of the week saw the Salem Spartans blank Northside 36-0, in a battle of two of the area's premier programs. Motivated after last year's seven-point loss to the eventual 3A state champs, the Spartans completely shut down the visitors, limiting the Vikings to 137 yards of total offense. The Northside defense held its end of the bargain in the first half, forcing two Salem punts and stopping two Spartan possessions inside the five-yard line. Trailing 16-0 at the break, the Vikings opened the third quarter with a promising drive, only to surrender the ball at midfield. Salem put the Vikings away in the second half, balancing its attack between the final two quarters. Senior Austin Couling had a big night under center, throwing for 157 yards and three touchdowns. Coleman Fox hit the century mark right on the money after carrying the ball 19 times.
Salem dominated the line of scrimmage, holding Northside to just eight rushing yards in the first half, and 68 for the game. The Vikings are 0-2 since Tennessee commit Chance Hall was lost for the season with a torn Achilles. Northside will travel to Staunton River this Friday, while the Spartans will battle Cave Spring on the road as well.
Fleming is For Real:
The Colonels equaled their win total from last season behind the quick feet of running back Jerome Hill. The senior rushed for a career high 342 yards in Fleming's 42-19 win over E.C. Glass. With the score tied at seven early, Hill broke loose for an 82-yard touchdown scamper to put the Colonels in the drivers' seat. Fellow senior Warren Craft made plays on both sides of the ball, catching a 58-yard pass for the Colonels' first touchdown, and recording a huge third-quarter interception on defense, when the Hilltoppers began to cut into the lead. Glass quarterback Donnie Morgan Jr. rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth consecutive contest. The reigning Seminole District Play of the Year did all he could to keep his team in the game, rushing for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Glass has lost two straight, while William Fleming is off to its best start since 2009.
Byrd Goes Down Swinging:
William Byrd dropped to 0-4 but the Terriers turned in their best effort of the season in a 34-24 loss to Magna Vista. Byrd was not intimated by the top ranked team in the 3A West standings, and built a 21-14-halftime lead. The Warriors got their ground game going in the second half and outscored the Terriers 20-3 in the final two quarters. Freshman Larry Basham led William Byrd with 254 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as the Terriers reached their highest point total of the season. Was the close loss a turning point for William Byrd? Only time will tell.
Botetourt Falls:
After demolishing its first two opponents, Lord Botetourt has slipped to 2-2 on the young season. A 21-14 loss at the hands of Richlands was the latest setback in what has been a puzzling two weeks for the Cavaliers. The Blue Tornado jumped on Botetourt early, and would not relinquish the lead. The Cavaliers have a bye before a crucial road game against Alleghany on October 3rd.
Blacksburg Wins Ugly:
Blacksburg started strong and held off a late Radford rally for a 36-22 win, in a game that featured 23 penalties. The Bruins gained 276 yards of total offense, but were penalized 12 times for 146 yards. Blacksburg scored any way that it could in the win, netting three field goals and one defensive touchdown. The Bruins jumped out to a 20-0 lead before the Bobcats got on the board. Quarterback Isaac Johnston eclipsed 200 yards through the air once again. Johnston threw for 214 yards, and a touchdown on the first play of the game. Marcus Finley led Radford with six catches for 117 yards and one touchdown.
Brookville Rolls:
Last season, Brookville needed a fourth-quarter touchdown and a two-point conversion to squeak by Fort Defiance by one. Friday's rematch however was a completely different story, as the Bees steamrolled the Indians 61-6, to improve to 4-0 on the year. Brookville gained 555 yards of total offense, including 311 yards in the first half alone. The stage is set for a battle of the unbeatens this Friday night, with 4-0 Brookville taking on 3-0 Jefferson Forest in what will likely be our game of the week.
New Uniforms Same Result:
Sporting flashy new orange uniforms, Heritage made its triumphant return to City Stadium with a 49-14 romp of Gretna. The Pioneers looked equally impressive on both sides of the ball in the win. As a team, Heritage rushed for 7.3 yards per carry, while gaining 256 yards on the ground. Frankie Hickson led with way with 21 carries for 127 yards, and a trio of first half touchdowns. Heritage went into the locker room with a 35-0 lead at the break, and the starters only surrendered one touchdown in the second half.
First Taste of Victory:
Amherst and Spotswood made the playoffs last year, but both teams opened the 2014 campaign at 0-3. It is still early, and both programs tasted victory for the first time this past week.
After playing three state title contenders in the first three weeks, the Lancers finally pulled it all together in a 34-14 win over Rockbridge County. Tyrus Buford rushed for 211 yards and one touchdown in the victory. Amherst will open Seminole District play this week against last year's champion Heritage.
Spotswood opened the season with two narrow losses, before taking a beating from Wilson Memorial in week three. Last Friday night however, the Trailblazers got their first win of the season with a 21-14 triumph over Central Woodstock. Quarterback Zack Polglase led a late scoring drive and tossed the game-winning touchdown with less than one minute to play. Spotswood will open Valley District play this week against a much-improved Waynesboro squad.
Stopped in Their Tracks:
Covington is another area team that picked up its first win of the season with a 39-6 victory over Eastern Montgomery. The Mustangs came into Friday night's contest averaging 34 points, but the Cougars held the visitors to just one fourth-quarter touchdown. KaShawn Carter rushed for a pair of touchdowns for Covington in the win. The Cougars will continue their tough early-season schedule this week at undefeated Glenvar.
Other Notable Scores:
Altavista 56, Galax 7
Auburn 29, Roanoke Catholic 0
Cave Spring 20, Alleghany 13
Christiansburg 16, Franklin County 14
Giles 62, Narrows 7
Glenvar 51, Graham County 0
Hidden Valley 58, Bassett 21
Liberty 55, Harrisonburg 0
Patrick Henry 30, Albemarle 20
Pulaski 19, Staunton River 16
