Waynesboro (1-2) at Rockbridge County (0-3)
WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Prasnicki-Ross Field at Veterans Stadium in Lexington. Tickets are $7.
LAST YEAR: The teams did not meet. The most recent encounter between the two foes was a 24-7 home win for the Little Giants in October 2022. The last meeting in Lexington came the season before, when the Wildcats defeated Waynesboro 36-10.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: While the Wildcats are still in search of their first victory of the season, there were plenty of positives to pull from last Friday’s 14-7 road loss to Staunton. With the exception of a few long passing plays, the RC defense was solid, causing four three-and-outs and coming up with two other key fourth-down stops. The Wildcats had a good night on special teams as well: Eli Sorrells’ 51-yard kickoff return set up RC’s lone score, and the ’Cats’ kickoff and punt return coverage was impressive. Figure out a way to move the ball consistently on offense – it’s worth noting that the Storm’s defense has allowed just 14 combined points across its first three games – and RC might get in the win column sooner rather than later.
SCOUTING THE LITTLE GIANTS: Waynesboro clipped Monticello 28-27 at home in week two, snapping a 24-game losing streak that dated back to the 2022 win over RC. But the Little Giants have been blanked in their other two contests: 35-0 on the road against Spotswood in the season opener, and 41-0 at home last week in their first Shenandoah District matchup against Fort Defiance. During an 0-10 season in 2024, Waynesboro’s opponents averaged nearly 50 points per game.
THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: Although the Little Giants have a win under their belts, these programs are in similar positions: both have struggled in recent years, and both have rookie head coaches – Zack Rhodenizer for RC and Nathan Bain for Waynesboro – who are alumni and former assistant coaches at their respective institutions. After watching the Wildcats battle a solid Staunton team down to the final possession last week, we see Coach Rhodenizer and RC breaking into the win column with a 14-6 home victory.
