Predictions

Rockbridge County (0-2) at Alleghany (2-0) WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Alleghany High School in Covington LAST YEAR: Alleghany coasted to a 55-8 win in a game that was called due to lightning with just over a minute left in the third quarter. Led by two touchdowns from Hayden Knighton, the Cougars raced to a 41-0 lead before the game was stopped for 35 minutes for a lightning delay. After play resumed, Alleghany added another touchdown in the third quarter. Elijah Fox scored RC’s lone TD on a 10-yard run late in the third quarter before Alleghany scored once more. Hunter Knighton led the Cougars with 56 rushing yards and scored two TDs. Alleghany quarterback Des Jordan passed for 122 yards and two TDs.

THE SCOOP: Like last year, Alleghany and RC are starting the season by heading in opposite directions. The Cougars defeated both of their opponents, Waynesboro and Fort Defiance, by the same score, 47-13. The Wildcats opened the season with a 33-16 home loss to Parry McCluer before falling at Staunton 42-21 last Friday.

Alleghany got a huge game from Jordan against Fort Defiance last Friday, as the junior quarterback passed for 225 yards and three TDs and rushed for 63 yards and two scores. Gavin Via led Alleghany with 69 rushing yards. The Wildcats had a rough first half against Staunton, but they held the Storm scoreless in the second half while scoring two TDs.

THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: The bright spot of the Wildcats’ loss to Staunton last Friday was scoring two TDs in the fourth quarter. Even though the game was out of reach, it was nice to see the Wildcats continue to battle when they were down. We expect more progress against Alleghany, but the Cougars’ offense will be too tough, and we see Alleghany dealing RC a 41-22 loss.

James River (1-1) at Parry McCluer (1-1) WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Bobby Williams Field in Buena Vista LAST YEAR: Making big plays when needed, James River dealt the Fighting Blues a 41-15 loss in Buchanan. Both teams were 2-0 going into the game, but the Knights scored on their first play when running back Gavin Binns made a 67-yard touchdown run. After scoring on a safety, the Blues took an 8-7 lead when quarterback Nathan Glass found Aaron Pruett for a 20-yard TD pass. JR responded immediately when Maddox Woodyard made a 74-kickoff return for a TD, and the Knights ended the first quarter with a 13-8 lead. The Knights added two more TDs in the second quarter and two more TDs in the second half to extend their lead to 41-8. Glass, who passed for 133 yards, connected with Shaiden Ratcliffe with just over a minute to play for the final TD of the night.

THE SCOOP: After winning its season opener 33-16 at Rockbridge County, PM is coming off a tough 46-38 road loss to Prince Edward County, while JR bounced back from a 41-3 loss to Buffalo Gap with a 20-12 win over Randolph- Henry. A lot of the key players are back for both PM and JR, with Glass and running back Jackson Brockenbrough leading the Blues, while Binns and Woodyard are running the ball again for the Knights. The Blues made an impressive comeback to trim Prince Edward County’s lead last Friday, and we think that momentum will carry into this week.

THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: PM will have its first home game of the season against a longtime rival in the Knights, and we expect the Blues and their fans to be fired up. The Knights will challenge PM to the end, but we see the Blues earning a 36-33 win.