It will be Glenvar against Galax to open the high school football season for the 14th time in the last 15 years. The two have played each other in game one every year since 2011 with the exception of the spring 2021 season after the fall season was suspended by COVID.
Glenvar holds an 8-5 edge over that time, and the Highlanders have won three of the past four games, including a 34-0 thumping in Galax last year. The Maroon Tide won the state championship with a 7-6 win over Essex at Salem Stadium in December of 2023, but last year they were winless in eight games and struggle to field a team.
“They still have the DNA,” said Glenvar coach Kevin Clifford. “Their seniors were freshmen when they won the state championship. They have a really good quarterback, whose a third year starter, and they’re fast and big. They’ll be tough.”
Glenvar wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 26-13 win over Blacksburg in a benefit game at Highlander Stadium last Friday. The Bruins scored first on a long pass and their second TD came on a “pick six” when the jayvees were in.
“The biggest thing is we came out unscathed,” said Clifford. “We ran a very vanilla offense and no one got hurt. Overall I was pleased, the kids competed.”
