The Virginia Media Rocking Chair is back in the Glenvar fieldhouse for another year. The Highlanders kept the chair by defeating James River in football, 42-7, in Buchanan last Friday night.
The rocker goes to the winner of this rivalry every season, and this is the fourth straight time Glenvar has won. Coach Kevin Clifford has kept busy repairing the chair and is looking for a newer, sturdier, chair to replace the current one.
“It keeps breaking,” he said. “The kids like to sit in it, but I might have to move it into the coaches’ office. I glued it good before we left but it broke again on the bus.”
Maybe one of the reasons the rocker doesn’t hold up is because Glenvar’s line likes to lounge in it. The Highlanders have a big, strong group on both sides of the ball and those big boys pressured the line of scrimmage in Friday’s win much like they do to that rocker.
“They have some big boys who move good, and they’re nasty,” said River coach Jake Phillips. “They’re the best line we’ll face in the regular season, and they compare somewhat to Boteourt’s line”
River hung tough for a half. The Knights struck first on a 52 yard pass from Coulter Hodges to Erik Tolley and River Clonch booted the extra point for an early 7-0 lead. That marked the first time Glenvar has trailed all season.
Glenvar answered with the first of Jack Leonard’s five touchdown runs to tie the game. Leonard ran for two more scores in the second quarter, of 20 and 18 yards, but River was threatening late in the half. An apparent touchdown was nullified when River’s Michael Taylor was ruled to be out of bounds, and Glenvar then ended the threat with an interception and it was 21-7 at the half.
Glenvar took over in the second half as Leonard scored two more touchdowns and a 47 yard “pick six” by Josh Clifford in the fourth quarter put it away. Jack now has 10 touchdowns in the past two weeks, five against Carroll County and five against River. He gained 228 yards rushing Friday night on 33 carries.
“He’s a tough kid,” said Clifford. “Pound for pound he’s one of the toughest runners I’ve ever been around. He’s not all that big(5’10”, 175 lb.) but he runs like a big back.”
Landry Gerbers was five for 11 passing for the Highlanders for 84 yards. He hit Josh Clifford three times for 64 yards and Justin Campbell twice for 20 yards.”
On defense Glenvar held James River to just 73 yards rushing. The Knights had 113 yards passing but quarterback Coulter Hodges, their best player, was just nine for 24 with four interceptions.
“I thought our defense played well,” said Clifford. “I was proud of our effort. They hit that bomb right out of the gate but we settled in and played hard. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Their quarterback has a cannon for an arm.”
Colby Street led Glenvar with 23 tackles and Clifford had three more interceptions, including the touchdown. Josh now has eight interceptions in just six games. Logan Williams also had an interception for Glenvar.
Maxx Philpott, Hunter Phlegar and Hunter Stanley had nine tackles each for the Highlanders. Brandon Saunders also had a big game with seven tackles, including two for losses.
Now 6-0, the Highlanders are at Alleghany this week to play the newest member of the Three Rivers District. The Mountaineers are 2-3 after a win over Greenbriar East last week.
“They run the spread and they have some good looking kids,” said Clifford. “We’ll have to play well to beat them.”
The jayvees will host Alleghany tonight following a middle school game against Clifton Middle School.
