By CHAD COOPER
Eagles gaining ground as playoff race heats up
October football has a way of making us look beyond the scoreboard.
A win still feels good, and a loss still stings, but now another question waits when the stadium lights go out: What does it mean for November?
Following this past weekend’s games, Southern Gap has given Buchanan County plenty to feel good about. The Eagles’ 71-34 victory at Tazewell improved their record to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Southwest District, keeping them fifth in the Region 2D playoff standings.
For a program playing its first season, that is an encouraging place to be.
According to the Oct. 10 Harpcrate standings, Southern Gap carries a power-point average of 18.57. The top eight teams qualify for the regional playoffs, with positioning determined by power points per game. There is still football to play before the bracket becomes final, but the Eagles have put themselves firmly in the conversation.
Southern Gap has won four straight, scoring 63 points at Giles, 46 against Honaker, 61 against Richlands and 71 against Tazewell. That is 241 points over the past four games, and it tells us this offense is finding its stride at a good time.
What catches my attention now is the opportunity ahead. Getting into the playoffs would be another milestone for Southern Gap, but moving into the top four would put the Eagles in position to bring a first-round playoff game to Buchanan County.
Fifth place leaves them just outside that group. Gate City, at 5-2, sits fourth with a 19.86 average. The Blue Devils have games against Lee and Wise Central before closing the regular season at Ridgeview.
The Ridgeview Wolfpack, at 4-2, is third with a 20.00 average and has John Battle, Abingdon and Gate City left to play, with the finale at Rose Ridge. Union is second at 5-2 with a 21.00 average, while Graham leads the Oct. 10 rankings at 22.80. Union lost to the G-Men 14-12 on Sept. 11 at Bullitt Park.
There is ground to make up, but the Eagles have given themselves something worth chasing.
Southern Gap now heads into its second bye week of the season, a benefit of opening play in Week 0. The Eagles return Oct. 23 for homecoming, welcoming border rival River View, West Virginia, to town. The Raiders are 2-4.
Then comes a trip to Coeburn to face an Eastside team that has battled injuries throughout the season. The Spartans are 3-3, but they just handed Rye Cove its first loss of the year.
Southern Gap closes the regular season Nov. 6 at Wise Central. The Warriors have Lee, Gate City and Southern Gap remaining, making that finale another game worth watching as the playoff picture takes shape.
This past weekend also featured two games that carried the feel of November: Union against Ridgeview in Region 2D and Eastside against Rye Cove in Region 1D.
Both were rematches of last season’s regional championship games. Union defeated Ridgeview for the 2025 Region 2D title, while Rye Cove beat Eastside for the Region 1D crown. It is easy to see why those meetings drew so much attention Friday night.
Union edged Ridgeview 23-20 this time, improving to 5-2 and taking the No. 2 position in the current rankings. Ridgeview slipped to 4-2, but the Wolfpack remains third.
For our readers in Ridgeview country, that distinction matters. A three-point loss to Union hurts, particularly with district and regional positioning involved, but it leaves Ridgeview very much in contention.
Southern Gap fans already know what the Wolfpack can do. Ridgeview handed the Eagles a 48-8 loss earlier this season. Friday’s close finish against Union gives us another reason to expect the Wolfpack to remain a serious factor when the postseason arrives.
Could Union and Ridgeview meet again for the regional championship? Certainly. But Graham, Gate City, Southern Gap and the rest of the playoff hopefuls will have something to say about that.
Behind Southern Gap, 4-3 Virginia High is sixth at 17.00, Wise Central seventh at 16.50 and Tazewell eighth at 16.00. Lebanon is just outside the field at 15.67, followed by Lee at 14.83.
That small gap between Tazewell and Lebanon is a reminder that the final playoff spots remain unsettled.
Over in Region 1D, Eastside’s 14-12 victory at Rye Cove shook up the top of the standings.
Rye Cove suffered its first loss, falling to 6-1 and moving into second at 19.57. Unbeaten Chilhowie leads the region at 6-0 with a 20.67 average.
Eastside, meanwhile, improved to 3-3 and sits fifth at 16.17. The Spartans’ record may not look as imposing as some others, but beating Rye Cove should get everybody’s attention. That is a team capable of making a November bracket uncomfortable for somebody.
This week also brought a tough result for my nephew, Austin Cooper, and his Patrick Henry Rebels.
Holston defeated Patrick Henry 28-14, leaving the Rebels at 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the Hogoheegee District. As an uncle, I always want to see Austin and his team walk away with a win. This one was a tough loss with potential playoff implications.
But Patrick Henry remains third in Region 1D at 17.86. The Rebels still have a strong position to build on, even as Holston, now fourth at 16.43, draws closer.
One loss can change the outlook without defining the season. The important thing for Patrick Henry now is how it responds.
For our Honaker readers, the Tigers’ situation deserves attention, too.
Honaker is eighth at 12.67 despite a 1-5 record, holding the final qualifying position in the current standings. Rural Retreat and Thomas Walker follow at 11.33.
That is why looking only at wins and losses does not tell the whole playoff story. The power-point system accounts for more than a team’s own record, and Honaker remains in the hunt.
The Tigers have an opportunity, but they also have teams chasing them. Every remaining game matters as Honaker tries to hold that spot and give itself a chance to extend the season.
Northwood is sixth at 15.67, with J.I. Burton seventh at 13.33, rounding out the teams currently ahead of Honaker in the qualifying field.
For Southern Gap, the focus should remain on the next game and the next opportunity to improve. The Eagles have built momentum, earned two district victories and put themselves in position to make more history.
Now comes the work of finishing strong.
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.
