The first cool Friday night in Southwest Virginia usually means one thing: High school football is beginning to heat up.
The VHSL’s first official power rankings are still a couple of weeks away, but the unofficial numbers already give us something to talk about. Southern Gap gave another strong crowd at the Red Robertson Athletic Complex plenty to cheer about Friday, turning a close game at halftime into a 46-19 win over Honaker.
The Eagles led 16-13 at the break, then took control up front. Carson Blankenship ran for 170 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries as Southern Gap improved to 3-2. Gunner Baker and Aidan Baker added rushing touchdowns, and Brayden White connected with Kanan Justice for another score.
Coach Greg Tester said the offensive and defensive lines took over the game. From where I was watching, it was hard to argue.
The young backfield of freshmen Carson Blankenship and Gunner Baker and junior Aidan Baker has the ground game humming. Give plenty of credit to the War Pigs, too. Southern Gap’s offensive line has played extremely well over the past two games, and the Eagles rushed for 307 yards against Honaker.
I enjoyed watching the defense just as much. Aidan Baker was flying off the edge all night. His strip sack of Honaker quarterback Levi Honaker was one of the hardest hits I have seen this season. A Tigers lineman recovered the fumble, but Honaker never saw Baker coming.
Chase Baker and Trever Blankenship kept getting into the backfield, while freshman corner Mason Rife continued to impress me. If Rife keeps playing the way he has, he could become one of Southwest Virginia’s top defensive backs over the next few years. Gunner Baker is another hard-hitting young linebacker who is exciting to watch.
The Eagles drew another great turnout, and I want to thank Keith Ray for sending me his photos from the game.
I have covered a lot of games in my decade as a journalist, and Southern Gap High School is a gem for Southwest Virginia. Our kids have facilities to be proud of. They also have athletic trainer Tim Bane and supervising physician Dr. Dylan Campbell looking after them. Friday nights at the Red Robertson Sports Complex have a college atmosphere. If you have not been yet, Richlands comes to town this Friday.
Southern Gap’s win was one of several results that caught my attention. Graham handed defending West Virginia Class AAA champion Princeton a 27-14 loss, ending the Tigers’ 18-game winning streak. Garrett Palmer, the son of Graham coach Tony Palmer, accounted for three touchdowns, and Cambel Fix sealed the win with a late interception return for a score.
Tazewell gave its fans an unforgettable finish at Giles. The Bulldogs trailed 26-19 in the fourth quarter before forcing overtime. After Giles scored in the extra period, Tazewell answered with a touchdown, and Jayson Hancock added the winning two-point conversion for a 34-33 victory. The Bulldogs have already matched last season’s win total under coach J’me Harris.
Ridgeview answered its loss to Bluefield with a 43-0 shutout of Lee High. Colin Hill did a little bit of everything for the Wolfpack: He ran for two touchdowns, caught one and threw another. Alex Grant added a 94-yard punt return for a score.
Patrick Henry’s Jeb Stewart put together another remarkable night in a 42-6 win over John Battle. Stewart rushed for 341 yards and scored six first-half touchdowns, including one on a reception. Five games into the season, he has more than 1,000 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns. Coach Austin Cooper has the Rebels playing at a high level as they head into the second half of the season.
Not every memorable game was a shootout. Grayson County held Virginia High to 58 yards of offense in a 7-0 win. Backup quarterback Mason Carico’s touchdown pass to Gavin Walker late in the first half supplied all the points the Blue Devils needed.
George Wythe edged Rural Retreat 26-21 behind 255 rushing yards from Caden Golliher. Gate City came painfully close at David Crockett, falling 31-30 in double overtime after taking the lead in the second extra period. J.I. Burton shut out Galax 35-0, while Twin Springs fell to Craig County 44-14 and Thomas Walker lost to Happy Valley 48-6.
So where does everybody stand near the halfway point? In the unofficial power ratings supplied as of Sept. 26, Graham leads Region 2D at 22.50 points, followed by Union at 20.60 and Ridgeview at 19.80. Southern Gap sits sixth at 16.60. That makes Friday’s visit from Richlands another opportunity for the Eagles to build on their momentum.
In Region 1D, unbeaten Chilhowie and Rye Cove are tied at 20.00 points, with Patrick Henry third at 18.80. Honaker sits eighth at 11.80. These are unofficial standings, and the numbers will move as teams play and their opponents add wins.
For readers who like to keep the whole picture handy, here are the Sept. 26 unofficial standings, with each team’s power rating and record:
Region 2D- 1. Graham, 22.50 (3-1); 2. Union, 20.60 (4-1); 3. Ridgeview, 19.80 (4-1); 4. Virginia High, 17.67 (4-2); 5. Gate City, 17.60 (3-2); 6. Southern Gap, 16.60 (3-2); 7. Wise Central, 15.20 (3-2); 8. Lebanon, 15.00 (3-2); 9. Lee High, 14.50 (2-2); 10. Tazewell, 14.25 (2-2); 11. John Battle, 9.60 (0-5); 12. Marion, 9.50 (0-4); 13. Richlands, 9.20 (0-5).
Region 1D- 1. Chilhowie, 20.00 (5-0); 2. Rye Cove, 20.00 (5-0); 3. Patrick Henry, 18.80 (4-1); 4. Northwood, 15.75 (3-1); 5. Holston, 13.80 (3-2); 6. J.I. Burton, 13.40 (3-2); 7. Eastside, 12.67 (1-2); 8. Honaker, 11.80 (1-4); 9. Rural Retreat, 10.80 (2-3); 10. Thomas Walker, 10.80 (1-4); 11. Twin Springs, 8.17 (1-5); 12. Castlewood, 7.25 (0-4).
On Saturday morning, I attended the 26th annual Kiwanis/Tru-Point 5K at Breaks Interstate Park. One of my biggest takeaways was the promising future of Southern Gap cross country. Coach Christina Bane had a large group in the high school race, along with plenty of young runners in the middle school race. It is rewarding to see so many kids committed to the sport.
Pat Chambers and Barb Rife also did a fantastic job organizing a pancake and sausage breakfast. Look for more coverage of the event in next week’s *Mountaineer*.
Thanks for joining me In the Locker Room. Until next week, let’s keep celebrating the victories, learning from the defeats, and always standing behind Buchanan County’s athletes.
