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Parry McCluer (4-1) at Narrows (4-1) WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Narrows High School in Narrows LAST YEAR: Narrows used a 25-point onslaught in the third quarter to pull away for a 32-0 victory in Buena Vista. The Green Wave’s Carson Crigger had an early puntreturn touchdown, and he then caught three TD passes from quarterback Aidan McGlothlin in the penultimate period. John Snider led the Blues’ offense with 139 rushing yards, but PM was unable to find the end zone.
THE SCOOP: Friday’s bus breakdown provided more of a challenge for the Blues than the Fort Chiswell offense could muster, as PM limited the Pioneers to a paltry 104 yards of total offense in a 22-7 road win. The Blues’ go side did its job as well, with Nathan Glass throwing two touchdown passes to Landon Catlett and both Jackson Brockenbrough and JJ Jones providing solid efforts on the ground. Even with the week three defeat at James River, PM is off to its best start since 2016, when the Blues went 9-1 in the regular season and advanced to the state quarterfinals.
Narrows, which went 5-0 in the district last season, also enters Friday’s Pioneer opener with a 4-1 record. The Green Wave started off the season with four straight wins – including nailbiters at Holston (31-30) and Giles (29-28) – before a 21-6 setback against James Monroe (W.Va.) on Sept. 22. Narrows has also had an extra week to prepare for the Blues.
THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: Based on non-district results, it looks like a three-team race for the Pioneer title – Bath County is currently 5-0 – so Friday’s game has major postseason implications. We hope for a smoother journey for PM, but either way we see another good result. The Blues will make a statement with a 28-20 road win.
Harrisonburg (2-3) at Rockbridge County (0-6) WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Prasnicki-Ross Field at Veterans Stadium in Lexington LAST YEAR: Garrett Claytor and Daronde’ Stores combined for six touchdowns as RC secured a 44-23 home win. Stores racked up 203 yards and a pair of scores on the ground, while Claytor, the ’Cats’ QB, added an even 100 yards and four rushing TDs. VJ Bullard ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Blue Streaks.
THE SCOOP: It may be too late in the season for moral victories, but RC made some big strides in a 47-35 Valley District defeat at East Rockingham last Friday. The Wildcats started the game with a bang, courtesy of Simon Emore’s 82-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff, and they later led 15-7 on an Elijah Fox TD run. Turnovers and other mistakes ultimately doomed RC, but – unlike in the first five games of the year – the ’Cats were still in the hunt in the second half.
The Blue Streaks, meanwhile, now have a win streak to boast about. After losing 14 straight games dating back to the end of the 2021 campaign, Harrisonburg has strung together back-to-back victories, slipping past East Rock 12-9 on a late touchdown pass two weeks ago and following that up with a 23-15 victory over visiting Amherst County on Friday. Defense has propelled both wins: Harrisonburg allowed just 151 yards against the Eagles and then forced the Lancers into five turnovers.
THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: After a long run of losses, the Blue Streaks are trending in the right direction. Given how the first half of the season unfolded, the Wildcats will also find plenty of reasons for encouragement after last week’s game. We see another competitive battle for RC, but defense will fuel Harrisonburg to a 20-14 road victory.
