No practice? No problem.

With just four days between games, the Glenvar Highlanders showed no ill effects from a short week as they beat Grayson County last Wednesday. The Highlanders won the battle of unbeatens, 36-12, to improve to 4-0 on the year.

The game was played on Wednesday to beat inclement weather that was predicted as a result of Hurricane Florence. While most schools moved their game from Friday to Thursday, Glenvar moved the Grayson game to Wednesday and indeed it was played on a perfect night for football in west county. “I thought our kids played well,” said Glenvar coach Kevin Clifford. “They played hard and stayed focused despite it being a short week.” Grayson came in at 3-0 and the Blue Devils held the Highlanders to their lowest team rushing total of the season with 110 yards on 27 carries.

However, Glenvar countered with their best passing night of the season. Landry Gerbers was right on target with 14 completions on 16 attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns. “Their defense against the run was as good as anyone we’ve played,” said Clifford. Glenvar got 70 of its 110 rushing yards on the very first series as Brady Loder busted off the right side for a 70 yard touchdown. Kaid Fuhrman’s 31 yard field goal gave the Highlanders at 10-0 lead after one quarter, and Loder’s three yard run put Glenvar up 17-0 early in the second quarter. The Highlanders put two more scores on the board before the half to pull away. On the first one Gerbers found Nick Sebolt in the end zone with a perfect 16 yard pass, then Landry hit Billy Alexander for a five yard TD. Alexander bobbled the ball but cradled it as he fell to the ground to hold on for the score. Up 29-0 at the half, Glenvar then scored on an 11 yard run by Loder to start the clock moving continuously at 36-0. Grayson scored two fourth quarter TDs after Clifford cleared the bench in the third quarter.

Loder finished with 113 yards on 14 carries with three touchdowns. Justice Forster had five catches for 83 yards, Sebolt had four for 130 and Alexander had five for 52. The Highlanders had little inexperience at receiver to start the season but Clifford felt he had the talent, and it looks like he was correct. “We have three really good receivers,” he said. “Tony (assistant coach Spradlin) does a good job with them and Tyler(assistant coach Brown) does a good job with Landry. They’ve steadily improved each week.” Colby Street led the Highlanders in tackles with 14, including a forced fumble and a recovered fumble. Maxx Philpott had three tackles for losses and 12 overall and Alexander also had a dozen. Blake Custer had nine tackles. Glenvar will put their unbeaten record on the line this Friday with a trip to Carroll County. The Cavaliers have been weak in football for years, but they’re starting to turn it around under former Pulaski County and Auburn coach Jack Turner. They’re 1-3 with a win over Patrick County and losses to Grayson County, Galax and Pulaski County. Glenvar has beaten both Grayson and Galax. “They’re a little better,” said Clifford of Carroll. “They come off the ball hard.”