Prediction

Parry McCluer (4-2) at Craig County (5-1)

WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Craig County High School in New Castle LASTYEAR: Led by three rushing touchdowns from Jackson Brockenbrough, the Fighting Blues coasted to a 45-12 home win. With his offensive line blocking well for him, Brockenbrough led all players with 106 rushing yards on 12 carries. JJ Jones and Zavion Dunn each ran for one TD for PM and quarterback Nathan Glass completed a 13-yard TD pass to Landon Catlett. For the game, Glass completed 3-of-10 passes for 55 yards. The Rockets scored all of their points in the fourth quarter, with a 6-yard TD run by quarterback Jaycob Wolfe and a 48-yard TD pass from Wolfe to Joshua Craft. Wolfe had a solid game, completing 8-of-15 passes for 108 yards, but he was intercepted twice by Jones. In total, the Rockets committed three turnovers, with Brockenbrough recovering a fumble. The Blues turned over the ball once on a fumble.

THE SCOOP: PM struggled in its Pioneer District opener at Narrows last Friday, falling 35-13 to see its three-game winning streak snapped, while Craig County cruised to a 58-0 win over Eastern Montgomery in its district opener and is on a threegame winning streak. Against EM, Craig’s Carter Calfee rushed for 215 yards and scored two TDs, while Craft ran for three TDs. Wolfe completed an 18-yard TD pass to Isaac Lucas and had a 77-yard kickoff return TD. Craig is much improved, with an offense that has scored more than 50 points three times this season.

THENEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: After their tough loss last Friday, the Blues will have a great week of practice. PM will have to step up both offensively and defensively against the Rockets, and we see the Blues stepping up to earn a 29-24 road win.