The Glenvar High football team will have their biggest game of the season to date when they host Radford this Friday night at Highlander Stadium. The Bobcats have become Glenvar’s arch-rival in recent years, having split the last eight games with the Highlanders.
“Giles had been our big rival but we don’t play them anymore since they left the district, so now Radford and Floyd are our two big rivals,” said Glenvar coach Kevin Clifford. “This is a huge game for us. Radford has a really good football team. They have an athletic quarterback and they do a good job getting kids the ball in space.”
Both teams have been to the state Class 2 final four in the past two years. Radford won the state championship in 2023 and Glenvar went to the state semifinals last year. The Highlanders are off to a 7-0 start this year and is top ranked in Region 2C while Radford is fourth behind the Highlanders, Gretna and Floyd.
James River is currently fifth in Region 2C, and last Friday the Highlanders took them to the woodshed with a 42-0 win in Buchanan to keep the Virginia Media Rocking Chair at Glenvar High. The chair goes to the annual winner of this game and Glenvar has now won 14 straight.
Friday was the Highlanders’ fourth shutout of the season and they’ve only allowed double figures once in the seven wins. Glenvar’s defense held James River tailback Gavin Binns to just 35 yards rushing on 30 carries, an average of less than two yards per carry. The week prior Binns rushed for 301 yards against Martinsville.
“Our kids are playing hard,” said Clifford. “We’ve done well at the stats that matter; penalties, turnovers, third down conversions and field possession.”
Brody Dawyot had another big night for Glenvar. He led the Highlanders to touchdowns on their first two possessions of the game, capping them off with an eight yard TD run and a 45 yard TD pass to his brother Tre. He passed to Cooper Mullins for a two yard score with 4:45 left in the half and Glenvar led 20-0 at the half.
The second half was all-Glenvar as Dawyot found Jace Forster three times for scores. He connected with Forster for two 14 yard TD passes in the third quarter then hit him on a 10 yard strike two minutes into the fourth period. By that time it was a running clock and all that was left was posing for a photo with the Rocking Chair.
Dawyot finished 27 for 37 passing for 297 yards and five touchdowns and he ran for 51 yards. Ranger Swanson had 16 carries for 67 yards.
Forster led the receivers with seven catches for 103 yards and three TDs. Mullins had six catches for 40 yards and a score and Tre Dawyot had six catches for 81 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion catch. Cale Vaughan had four catches for 35 yards and Swanson and Haden Henderson had two receptions each.
On defense Vaughan led with 11 tackles. Rawlin Hanks had 10 tackles, with two for losses, and Nick Wilson had 10 tackles with three for losses and a sack. Forster also had an interception.
Glenvar’s jayvees also won, 43-0. The jayvees are at Radford tonight.
