The smell of pigskin is in the air. Salem and Glenvar High School football seasons are just a week away, Andrew Lewis and Glenvar both have middle school games this week, recreation games start for real this Saturday and Roanoke College is practicing for the Maroons’ varsity debut on September 6.
Salem and Glenvar had their first scrimmages of the preseason last Friday. The Spartans were at Fork Union Military Academy to take on Class 5 powerhouse Maury and the Salemites hung tough.
“I saw some good things and some things we need to work on,” said Salem coach Don Holter. “I thought we matched up pretty well defensively and we were physical. We could have tackled better, but we’ll get that taken care of.”
Salem scrimmaged at mid-day and it was a hot one at Fork Union.
“It got hotter as the day went on but our kids are in this weather every day,” said Holter. “We start our workouts at 11 o’clock and our conditioning level is outstanding. We pride ourselves in not letting the environment influence us. We need to be prepared to handle all conditions.”
The Spartans have a benefit game at Amherst tonight, Thursday, following a 5:30 pm jayvee scrimmage. Salem will open August 29 at home against E.C. Glass.
Glenvar participated in their annual scrimmage with William Byrd last Friday in Vinton. The Highlanders scored once in the 10 plays each session and kept the Terriers out of the end zone.
“I thought it went pretty well,” said Clifford. “We went over there with eight healthy linemen and only one who had played varsity football before this year.”
Glenvar will host Blacksburg in a benefit game this Friday at 7 pm. The Highlanders open the season at home against Galax on August 29.
The Glenvar middle school football team opened their season last week with an exciting game against Northside. The Highlanders lost a heartbreaker, 30-28, and will tee it up again today at Floyd Middle School at 5:30 pm.
Andrew Lewis hosted a middle school jamboree with William Fleming, Patrick Henry and Franklin County teams last Thursday at Salem Stadium. The Wolverines have their first real game today at Salem Stadium at 5:30 pm against Cave Spring. The Lewis seventh grade team is also home today, hosting Eastern Montgomery at Spartan Field, in front of Salem High, at 5 pm.
Recreation games open this week, including game this Saturday at Salem High School.
Roanoke College opened practice last Thursday. The Maroons have their first varsity game since 1942 on Saturday, September 6th, at Salem Stadium at 2 pm with Virginia University of Lynchburg.
Don’t miss a special section, “TOUCHDOWN XLIX” in next week’s Salem Times-Register. Also, the weekly football contest returns in next week’s ST-R sports section.
