By Brian Hoffman
Salem and Glenvar will wrap up their football preseason Friday night when Salem plays host to a benefit game at Salem Stadium and the Highlanders participate in a jamboree in Blacksburg.
The Spartans will play host to Magna Vista, beginning at 7 pm Friday. The Warriors are coming off a 5-6 season but they always have some good athletes.
“I expect them to be good,” said Salem coach Don Holter. “They always have some good size.”
Friday’s Benefit will cost to get in, hence “Benefit,” and it will be played just like a game with coaches on the sidelines and four quarters of play. The only difference is punts and kickoffs will not be live. Field goals and extra point attempts will be executed as usual.
The Spartans had a controlled scrimmage at Brookville last week and Holter saw some things to work on, but overall was pleased.
“Our attitude and effort was outstanding,” he said. “The offensive and defensive lines need to improve greatly, but we’re going to get there. On defense we swarmed to the ball and showed a lot of pursuit. It was a good opportunity to play against a very good football team and there’s some stuff we need to work on, but nothing that can’t be fixed.”
Glenvar had a scrimmage at William Byrd last week and the Highlander offense looked sharp. Sophomore quarterback Eli Taylor hit Jackson Swanson with a short pass on Glenvar’s first offensive series and the speedy senior took it all the way to the house.
“I was pleased at the way our kids competed,” said Glenvar coach Kevin Clifford. “We played with hustle and we played with heart, and the thing I was especially pleased with was that we took 63 kids and they all got in for at least five plays.”
The Byrd Football Booster Club fed the team after the scrimmage and commented to Clifford how polite the Glenvar players were, and that was especially pleasing to the Highlanders’ coach.
“I was proud of how they acted after the scrimmage,” said Clifford. “They showed a lot of character, and that means a lot.”
This week Glenvar will be in Blacksburg for a three team “Jamboree.” The Highlanders will join the host Bruins and Abingdon, rotating in game situation scrimmages.
Andrew Lewis Middle School will open its season today when the Wolverines host William Fleming at 5 pm at Spartan Field. The Lewis 7th grade team opens Monday at Ben Franklin Middle School. Lewis hosted William Byrd, Patrick Henry and William Fleming in a jamboree at Spartan Field last week.
Glenvar’s Middle School team will open with a home game against Blacksburg today at Highlander Stadium, beginning at 6:30 pm. The Glenvar Middle School team participated in a jamboree at Read Mountain Middle School last Saturday.
Recreation games begin on Saturday, August 27, for Salem and Glenvar teams. Northside is hosting a jamboree this Saturday and several Salem and Glenvar teams will be competing. The schedule for Saturday’s jamboree, at Northside High School, is as follows:
9:00 – NR 10U vs Salem 10U (Abbott)
10:15 -NR 8U vs Salem 8U (Johnson)
11:30 -NR 8U vs Glenvar 8U
12:45 -NR 12U vs Glenvar 12U
2:00 – Salem 10U (Sowers) vs CS 10U
3:15 -Salem 10U (Sowers) vs GL 10U
Football Time!!!
Above left, Glenvar’s
Gabe Ford picks up
yards after the catch
in last Friday’s
scrimmage at William
Byrd, and above right
Highlanders stop a
Terrier ballcarrier for
no gain. Right, Andrew
Lewis running back
Kyshead Arrington
gets some good
blocking and runs for
a touchdown against
William Byrd in last
week’s Middle School
Jamboree at Spartan
Field. Far right, Salem
sandlot players
practice tackling as
they prepare for
their openers on
August 27.