Prediction

Rockbridge County (0-7) at Spotswood (7-1) WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Spotswood High School in Penn Laird LAST YEAR: The Wildcats suffered a 25-20 loss in a rollercoaster of a Valley District opener at Spotswood. The Trailblazers scored the winning touchdown when Elliott Brown completed a pass to Nicholas Sheets, who ran away from defenders for a 65-yard TD with 2:05 left. Brown passed for 166 yards, while Ryane Dean scored two TDs for Spotswood. Scoring one TD each for the Wildcats were Clay Irvine, Andreas Poindexter and Daronde’ Stores.

THE SCOOP: With a bye last week that followed their best two games of the season, the Wildcats have had extra time to prepare for this showdown. They showed progress in their 47-35 setback at East Rockingham on Sept. 29 and in their 20-14 home loss to Harrisonburg on Oct. 6, only coming a few plays away from victory for the first time this season. After dropping their season opener 28-24 at Rustburg, the Blazers have won seven consecutive games, with only one game, a 14-13 triumph over Wilson Memorial, decided by fewer than 10 points. Last Friday, Spotswood earned a 21-7 road win over Harrisonburg, and the Blazers cruised to a 37-0 home win over East Rockingham a week earlier.

Against Harrisonburg, Parker Constable led the Blazers with 154 rushing yards and scored a touchdown, and Matt Craig scored the other two Spotswood TDs, on 16-yard pass from Brown and then a 65-yard run.

THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: The Wildcats are headed in the right direction, but they have a tough challenge at Spotswood. RC will need strong defense and another big game from quarterback Jayden Layman, who scored both TDs against Harrisonburg, to compete. We expect a solid performance from the Wildcats, but we see the Blazers dealing them a 28-14 loss.