Preseason Jubilee Joints Signal High School Football is coming
North Cross stands out early on
High school football scrimmages launched this week with area teams getting a sampling of hitting someone else besides their own teammates. Coaches will tell you that the most improvement in teams generally happens between the first week and the second week of scrimmages. You need to get in the work, because you only have two “coach on the field” scrimmages until the season starts.
The early skirmishes are not just for the kids to knock the rust off. It also helps coaches, referees, athletic trainers and ball boys get their games down before the lights are turned on and it counts on your record.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14
In what has come to be an annual event as their first scrimmages, Giles squared off against Hidden Valley. Both teams have brand new coaches so hopes are high. Hidden Valley is now led by Bud Tolliver, straight from a head coaching job at Savannah High in Georgia. Tolliver takes over the reigns from HV Athletic Director Scott Weaver, who managed both posts last year. For the Spartans of Giles, Coach Sam Wright takes the head man post from Jeff Williams.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15
Friday Crunch ventured down the Wytheville to take in a scrimmage jubilee extravaganza. Present to show off their squads were George Wythe, Grayson County, Mount Airy NC, Eastern Montgomery, Rural Retreat, Holston, Narrows, and North Cross. On the other side of the hill, a number of JV squads also got in some work.
In the big boy battles, North Cross, highlighted by Penn State signee Senior DB/WR 1 Jaziel Hart, took on George Wythe early on, then Mount Airy-NC (State Champion in NC in 2024). The Raiders looked good. They have small numbers but are a very talented group. North Cross scored twice on Mount Airy, while holding them scoreless on defense. Grayson County looks to have another strong squad, after making it to the state finals last year.
George Wythe, Rural Retreat, Narrows and Holston all showed flashes of having a good season this year. East Mont continues to improve every outing although their roster is pretty young overall.
It’s hard to tell this early in the season, but all the teams looked pretty good for a first scrimmage.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
Saturday found Crunch at Bland County with a five team round robin carousel of teams. Besides Bland County, present was Galax, Montcalm-WV, Auburn, and Roanoke Catholic.
The morning battles were pretty even. Catholic showed their balance throwing and passing. Galax, under new Head Coach Travis Reed, was physical which is their trademark.
Auburn, who didn’t play a varsity schedule in 2024, looked improved, as did Bland County who didn’t play football in 2023. Montcalm-WV made a good showing as well. The squad from West Virginia has made its way onto a number of Virginia high school’s schedules on this side of the state.
It’s early in this new season. Roster’s aren’t even set much less positions on the field, but the ‘want to’ is there in the players and the coaches were doing what they do best – coaching up the squads they have. This season should offer the normal fare of teams coming together and surprises. We are ready to kick it off. – Capt’n Crunch