The Shadow
Another Friday night.
Another area high school football rivalry.
This week it’s Mountaineer Field that plays host to an area shindig as Alleghany hosts Bath County, while Covington tries to come back to earth following last Friday’s Brackman Cup win over the Mounties, hosting Riverheads at Casey Field.
Bath County at Alleghany
While Bath County head coach Will Fields called Friday’s trip to Valley Ridge a measuring stick, Alleghany’s Gary Burdette said the match-up with the Chargers is another opportunity to meet a goal.
“We have 10 goals,” said Burdette. “Our week one goal was to be 1-0 and we didn’t make that. Our next goal is to be 1-0 in week two, that goal is still attainable.”
The Mountaineers have to still be smarting from their 18-14 loss to Covington, their first to the Cougars in 18 years.
To make matters more concerning is the loss of senior quarterback Nick Ferrell to an ankle injury late in the third quarter of that defeat.
Burdette said that Ferrell’s status for Friday night’s game in uncertain.
“He’s at the doctor as we speak,” said Burdette Tuesday afternoon. “The x-rays were negative and he’s off crutches already. So we are getting some positive feedback. I don’t know much else right this minute.”
While the Alleghany coach is concerned about Ferrell, his main thoughts are about how to get in the win column Friday night.
It won’t be easy, according to Burdette.
“They have a history of being very successful up there,” he said. “Coach (Will) Fields has carried that tradition on. They are a well-coached football team, they will be sound on both sides of the football. They have kids that play hard.”
The Chargers opened the season last week with a 21-13 victory over Eastern Montgomery.
Fields sees similarities in East Mont and the Mountaineers.
“At times we gave up some big plays here and there against East Mont,” said Fields. “But we did a pretty job of tackling in space. Alleghany is another team that makes you defend the entire field and that is always a challenge. So we are probably in the same mode this week, except we are facing more athletes than we did last week.
“Playing Alleghany is always a good measuring stick for our program,” added Fields, a former Mountaineer assistant coach. “They have more students, more players and usually more athletes. It’s a chance to see what our team is all about.”
Prior to Friday night’s game, the newest class will be inducted into the Alleghany High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Riverheads at Covington
The Gladiators and Cougars haven’t met on the gridiron since 2002.
What has Riverheads been up to since then?
Winning a lot of football games.
Veteran coach Robert Casto, who is beginning his 18th season, has led his bunch to a 95-26 record over the last 10 years and just three regular season losses in the last four seasons.
The Gladiators graduated 22 seniors a year ago, but Cougar coach Rod Tenney said that Riverheads is, well, still Riverheads.
But a little has changed with the crew from Augusta County.
Led by his son Kendall at quarterback, Casto will put the ball in the air more and the Cougars may even see some single-wing from this week’s opponent.
“I saw them in a jamboree and in two halves they passed the ball and passed it very effectively,” said Tenney.
The individual attention-getter for Riverheads is 6-foot-5, 320-pound linebacker Michael Herndon.
Herndon, a two-way starter as an offensive tackle and linebacker, has inked a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh.
“He goes both ways, but he is much more impressive on defense,” said Tenney. “Pitt has signed him as a nose guard. He’s a handful.”
Tenney said that his Cougars enjoyed the Alleghany win over the weekend, but now need to get back to work.
“We have to get right back to work and be ready to play Friday,” he said. “They are a perennial power. If you are not on your A game, they will embarrass you.”
The game is the season opener for the Gladiators.
Keep An Eye On These
• Much like Covington and their win over Alleghany, Parry McCluer opened eyes last week by knocking off Rockbridge County 17-16. The Fighting Blues travel to Buffalo Gap this week with a chance to be 2-0 for the first time since 2004.
• Auburn, who dropped Covington from it’s schedule after the 2012 season, snapped a 39-game losing streak last week with a 27-0 win over Narrows. This Friday, Auburn goes for two in a row in New Castle against Craig County.
• Northside made a laugher out of their season opener against Amherst County, jumping to a 24-3 halftime lead and coasting in the second half of a 33-10 win over the Lancers. The Vikings go to Cave Spring this Friday.
• Before you head out to Mountaineer or Casey field Friday set your DVR. ESPNU will feature an 8 p.m. matchup of Virginia high school football powers as part of its Game of the Week package.
Lake Taylor High School, the defending Group AAA, Division 5 state champion, hosts Oscar Smith High School, who won the Group AAA, Division 6 state title in both 2008 and 2011.
Oscar Smith, ranked 14th nationally by ESPN, features the 5th ranked recruit in the country, defensive tackle Andrew Brown, who has committed to the University of Virginia.
