Predictions

Alleghany (2-0) at Rockbridge County (0-2)

WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Prasnicki-Ross Field at Veterans Stadium LAST YEAR: The two teams did not meet. THE SCOOP: Alleghany and Rockbridge County are starting the season moving in opposite directions. The Cougars have won by 28 points twice, beating Waynesboro 35-7 in the season opener before cruising past Fort Defiance 34-6 last Friday. The Wildcats have suffered two lopsided losses, a 56-14 drubbing at Parry McCluer in the season opener and a 42-0 home loss to Staunton last Friday. Alleghany has picked up some former Covington players, as Alleghany and Covington high schools merged entering the 2023-24 academic year.

While the Wildcats have struggled with turnovers and generating offense, the Cougars haven’t had trouble with their offense, led by quarterback Des Jordan and wide receiver Purcel Turner, formerly a star for Covington. Last Friday against Fort, Turner caught five passes, including two TD receptions, and Jordan completed 10-of-18 passes for 156 yards and rushed for a 12-yard TD. Also stepping up was Hunter DePriest, who returned a fumble 45 yards for a score. Although the Wildcats managed to hold Staunton to one TD in the second half, when the game was out of reach, RC’s defense will have to step up big time to stop Alleghany’s offensive attack.

THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: As the Wildcats’ tough nondistrict schedule continues, they will have to do a better job of taking care of the ball against Alleghany to be competitive, and they will have to stay on their toes on defense. RC running back Ryan Maxwell battled for 89 rushing yards against Staunton, and we see him and Daniel Grimm making the Wildcats’ running game more effective. We look for improvement from the Wildcats’, but Alleghany’s offense will be too tough to stop. We see the Cougars dealing RC a 42-15 loss.

Parry McCluer (2-0) at James River (2-0) WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: James River High School in Buchanan

LAST YEAR: James River rolled to a 47-7 win over the Fighting Blues in Buena Vista. Conner Church had a monster game for the Knights, racking up more than 200 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. John Snider led PM with 123 yards on 19 rushes, and he scored the Blues’ lone TD.

THE SCOOP: PM is 2-0 for the first time since 2014, and the Blues have manhandled their first two opponents, beating Rockbridge County 56-14 in the season opener and rolling past Cumberland 44-8 last Friday.

The Blues still have room for improvement – they totaled just 191 yards of offense and turned the ball over twice last Friday against the Dukes – as big plays from the defense and special teams units have fueled their two blowout wins. But PM’s cadre of running backs – including starters Jackson Brockenbrough, JJ Jones and Aaron Pruett – and quarterback Nathan Glass have shown flashes of just how good the offense can be.

The Knights are also 2-0, slipping past Buffalo Gap 13-12 in their opener and then dispatching Randolph-Henry 34-16 at home last Friday. Against the Gap, JR came from behind twice in the second half, scoring the winning touchdown in the waning moments. Gavin Binns, who has replaced Church as the Knights’ featured back, ran for 121 yards against Gap, while JR totaled 188 team rushing yards against Randolph-Henry. THENEWS-GAZETTE’SPICK: PMand JR have had some epic battles over the years – and while they’re no longer district foes, this is still a heated rivalry. We see another entertaining chapter unfolding on Friday: the Blues will battle, but ultimately the Knights will prevail in a 26-20 thriller.