This week, the River View football team is the second-rated Class A football team in the WVSSAC and one of three unbeaten high school football teams remaining among the local West Virginia and Virginia schools we keep on our radar.
Kudos to head football coach Gary Roach. This kind of altitude in the polls is a program first for the Raiders (4-0) who boast an 8.5 rating behind front-running Tug Valley (11.0 rating), which travels to Tolsia (3-1) this week
Unbeaten Princeton Senior High is, of course, the highest-rated of all our area programs, ranked No. 3 in the Class AAA poll (13.6 rating) behind top-ranked Fairmont Senior (5-0, 14.6.) and Bridgeport (5-0, 14.2). Herbert Hoover is No. 4 (4-0, 13.0) and Ripley is No. 5 (4-0, 11.5).
On the road again this week will be our local behemoth on the Virginia side: unbeaten Graham (5-0), which looks to further consolidate its stranglehold on Southwest District football championships.
Heading up the Class AA poll is Frankfort (4-0, 13.0). As familiar faces go, Independence (3-1, 9.35) is at No. 5 this week while Westside (4-0, 9.25) is breathing down the Patriots’ necks at No. 6.
Of more interest to us: Bluefield sits at No. 17 (1-3, 5.73) after having been forced to scratch its meeting with Independence. James Monroe (2-2, 5.68) rates right behind the Beavers at No 18 — without Tuesday’s weather-delayed win factored in. Friday’s outcome could also propel the Mavericks up several more rungs by next week.
There’s been enough meteorological abnormality affecting high school football over the last several weeks. Let’s hope for more of what the historical Herbert Hoover called ‘normalcy.’
Friday Football Games
Princeton (5-0) at Winfield (3-2)
The Tigers are coming off a 70-13 win over Tazewell. Winfield is coming off a 47-6 win over Logan.
PikeView (0-5) at Sissonville (0-5)
The Panthers are coming off a 41-7 loss at Shady Spring. Sissonville lost 63-19 to Herbert Hoover on Sept. 20.
Mount View (1-3) at Wyoming East (0-4)
The Golden Knights game with Sherman was postponed and will be played on Oct. 21. The Warriors are coming off a 46-10 loss to Summers County on Sept. 20.
Roanoke Catholic (2-2) at Montcalm (3-1)
The Generals are coming off an open date, having beaten Paden City 37-8 on Sept. 21. Catholic lost to Fredricksburg Christian 49-12 on Sept. 20.
River View (4-0) at Sherman (2-1)
The Raiders 54-14 win versus Van on Monday. The Tide’s game with Mount View was postponed until Oct. 21. Their last game was a 34-20 win at Pocahontas County on Sept. 14.
Graham (5-0) at Marion (0-4)
The G-Men are coming off a 27-14 win at Virginia High. Marion lost to Gate City 34-0 on September 20.
Tazewell (2-2) at Grundy (1-3)
The Bulldogs are coming off a 70-13 loss at Princeton. The Golden Wave is coming off a 42-8 win over Honaker.
Richlands (0-4) at Ridgeview (5-0)
The Blue Tornado is coming off a postponed meeting with Lebanon. Ridgeview is coming off a 52-0 win over Lee High on Saturday.
James Monroe (3-2) at Summers County (2-3)
The Mavericks are coming off a 34-6 win over the Narrows on Tuesday night. The Bobcats are coming off a 46-20 loss to Midland Trail.
Twin Valley (0-3) at Bland County (1-3)
The Bears are coming off an open date. The Panthers’ play date with Craig County was postponed to Monday, Oct. 7.
Eastern Montgomery (0-4) at Giles (0-4)
The Spartans are coming off a 28-7 to Grayson County on Tuesday night. The Mustangs are coming off of a 36-14 loss to Fort Chiswell.
Narrows (2-2) is open following a 34-6 loss to James Monroe on Tuesday night. The Green Wave will travel to Buena Vista, Va. to take on Parry McCluer on Oct. 11.
Bluefield (1-3) is open this week. The Beavers are coming off getting washed out in a highly anticipated game with Independence at Coal City.
Bluefield’s open date might’ve facilitated a reschedule, but Independence travels to Oak Hill on Friday. The game will stand as a no-contest.
The Beavers return to action Oct. 11 at PikeView.
