The Glenvar and James River football teams will be playing for the “Virginia Media Rocking Chair” this week, but this game is much more important than having a comfortable place to sit. You know the story behind the rocker.
Years ago, when Glenvar left the Pioneer District, this newspaper sponsored a rocking chair that would go to the winner of the Glenvar- James River game every season. The Salem Times-Register and Fincastle Herald belong to the same newspaper group, and it was a way of keeping the rivalry alive with Glenvar leaving the district. Well, many years later they’re still playing for the rocker but the two are in the same district once again, only it’s the Three Rivers. This week’s game is the district opener for River and the second Three Rivers game for the Highlanders, who won at Carroll County last week, 27-18. It’s a big game.
The Virginia High School League point standings will be released for the first time next week and the winner of this game figures to be on top in Region 2C. Glenvar is 5-0 and River is 4-0 and coming off a bye week. “It’s a huge game,” said Glenvar coach Kevin Clifford, who has won the last four games against James River since losing, 27-20, in 2013.
“It’s for first in the region, it’s for a lot of points and it’s for the rocking chair. There’s a lot at stake. There’s a reason they’re 4-0, they’re a good football team.” And so is Glenvar, so this should be one of the premier games in the Roanoke Valley this week as the Highlanders come off last week’s win at Carroll.
The nine point win was a lot closer than most folks expected against a team that has struggled for years. “They played tough,” said Clifford. “They slowed the game down and limited our touches, and they didn’t have any turnovers.” The game really wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Although it was just 7-0 at the half the Highlanders had two touchdowns called back by penalties in this game and had two drives stall near the red zone. Glenvar put two scores on the board in the third quarter to go up 21-0 and that was all she wrote in Hillsville.
“It was a tough win but our kids gutted it out,” said Clifford. “They’re improved.”
Colby Street led Glenvar in rushing, subbing for Bradey Loder who left early with an injury. Colby had 138 yards on 10 rushes, including 16 and 73 yard touchdown runs. Loder, who figures to be back this week, had 92 yards on 19 carries and Jordan Alexander had a touchdown run as well.
Landry Gerbers had another good night passing, hitting five of six for 89 yards and a score to Nick Sebolt that covered 37 yards. Billy Alexander and Justice Forster had one catch each.
On defense Street had 14 tackles and Maxx Philpott had nine, four of which were for losses. Blake Custer and Jordan Alexander had nine each.
