Home teams are supposed to treat their fans to big victories but that has not exactly been the case this season in Shenandoah District action. I don't have the precise figures but there have been a number of teams that have won on the road this season, including this past Friday night when the visiting teams went 4-0.
The biggest of those road victories was Buffalo Gap's 27-7 win at Alleghany. That was one of those cases where the winner may not have been a huge surprise but the margin was. For Alleghany fans, that loss perhaps stung worse than last year when Wilson pulled off its big road win out there.
Friday's win certainly puts the Bison in the driver's seat, not only for the Shenandoah District title but for the top seed in the Region 1-B playoffs as well. Their schedule is favorable the rest of the way with Stuarts Draft being their most challenging game on paper. But they get that one at home and better yet, will get the final week of the regular season off so they can rest up for the playoffs.
But first things first, so let's look at this week's (October 16th) slate of games. The biggest game is Alleghany at Wilson where we will see if the Cougars can bounce back from the Bison loss. Fort Defiance is this week's team to get the night off.
ALLEGHANY AT WILSON: At the beginning of the season, this might have been one of the games circled as being THE game of the year. But Wilson is now 3-3 overall, and looking at a possible break-even season, which may cause them to miss the playoffs. For Alleghany, Friday's loss was their first of the season in district play, so they still have high hopes for a top two or three finish. Having said all of that, Wilson has serious talent and this one looks dead even on paper. I will go with the Cougars in a close one, based on Wilson's narrow win over Fort Defiance and the road wins Alleghany already has at Staunton and Stuarts Draft.
STAUNTON AT BUFFALO GAP: On the positive side, Staunton is unbeaten on the road this season, both district and overall. Then there is the chance that the Bison might suffer a letdown after the big win at Alleghany. Therefore this one "might" stay close for a while, but I look for the Bison to come out on top by about two or three scores and keep rolling toward that Halloween weekend showdown with Stuarts Draft.
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY AT RIVERHEADS: The amazing thing about this game is that the two schools are only 20 miles apart but until last year, they had never met on the football field. Of course, us old-timers remember some fierce battles with the "original" Rockbridge, the one once located near Fairfield, but that was then and this is now. It will be Homecoming at RHS, so the Gladiators should roll to an easy win and set the stage for their trip to Alleghany next week.
WAYNESBORO AT STUARTS DRAFT: Located just five miles apart, this one is a natural rivalry and they have a ceremonial cup they play for each year. But whether it is a cup, glass, bowl, bag, box, carton, or jar, this one will go the way of the home team. Waynesboro plays hard, no question about it, but they are still a year or two away from making the big step some of us thought they might make this season.
The biggest of those road victories was Buffalo Gap's 27-7 win at Alleghany. That was one of those cases where the winner may not have been a huge surprise but the margin was. For Alleghany fans, that loss perhaps stung worse than last year when Wilson pulled off its big road win out there.
Friday's win certainly puts the Bison in the driver's seat, not only for the Shenandoah District title but for the top seed in the Region 1-B playoffs as well. Their schedule is favorable the rest of the way with Stuarts Draft being their most challenging game on paper. But they get that one at home and better yet, will get the final week of the regular season off so they can rest up for the playoffs.
But first things first, so let's look at this week's (October 16th) slate of games. The biggest game is Alleghany at Wilson where we will see if the Cougars can bounce back from the Bison loss. Fort Defiance is this week's team to get the night off.
ALLEGHANY AT WILSON: At the beginning of the season, this might have been one of the games circled as being THE game of the year. But Wilson is now 3-3 overall, and looking at a possible break-even season, which may cause them to miss the playoffs. For Alleghany, Friday's loss was their first of the season in district play, so they still have high hopes for a top two or three finish. Having said all of that, Wilson has serious talent and this one looks dead even on paper. I will go with the Cougars in a close one, based on Wilson's narrow win over Fort Defiance and the road wins Alleghany already has at Staunton and Stuarts Draft.
STAUNTON AT BUFFALO GAP: On the positive side, Staunton is unbeaten on the road this season, both district and overall. Then there is the chance that the Bison might suffer a letdown after the big win at Alleghany. Therefore this one "might" stay close for a while, but I look for the Bison to come out on top by about two or three scores and keep rolling toward that Halloween weekend showdown with Stuarts Draft.
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY AT RIVERHEADS: The amazing thing about this game is that the two schools are only 20 miles apart but until last year, they had never met on the football field. Of course, us old-timers remember some fierce battles with the "original" Rockbridge, the one once located near Fairfield, but that was then and this is now. It will be Homecoming at RHS, so the Gladiators should roll to an easy win and set the stage for their trip to Alleghany next week.
WAYNESBORO AT STUARTS DRAFT: Located just five miles apart, this one is a natural rivalry and they have a ceremonial cup they play for each year. But whether it is a cup, glass, bowl, bag, box, carton, or jar, this one will go the way of the home team. Waynesboro plays hard, no question about it, but they are still a year or two away from making the big step some of us thought they might make this season.
