Rockbridge County (0-8) at Fort Defiance (3-4)
WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Fort Defiance High School in Fort Defiance. Tickets are $7.
LAST MEETING: These two teams last met in September 2022 in Lexington, when the Wildcats came back from a 26-14 thirdquarter deficit to defeat Fort Defiance 29-26. In their first year under head coach Martin Cox, the Wildcats scored the winning touchdown on a 3-yard run by Daronde’ Stores, and Andreas Poindexter then ran for a two-point conversion. It was the second TD for Stores, who had helped RC tie the game 14-14 with a 3-yard TD run, accompanied by an extra-point kick by Clay Irvine, at the end of the first half. RC overcame two Fort TDs in the third quarter, with Nicholas Oyler scoring on a 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter and then Stores punching in the final TD.
SCOUTING THE INDIANS: Unlike in 2022, Fort and RC are now both in the Shenandoah District, after the Wildcats switched from the Valley District this year. The Indians have had a rollercoaster of a season, trouncing district rivals Waynesboro 41-0 and Buffalo Gap 24-0. In their district losses, the Indians were shut out by Stuarts Draft 24-0 before falling to Wilson Memorial 21-0. Riddled by injuries on Oct. 10, Fort lost to Riverheads 35-0. While Fort has picked up the two district wins and a 33-14 nondistrict victory over Clarke County, the Indians have been inconsistent. They had a bye last week, so they had time to heal those injuries. Fort has a strong wide receiver in Elijah Pultz, who caught two TD passes and also snagged an interception in the win over Buffalo Gap. In their wins, the Indians’ defense has been effective.
SCOUTINGTHEWILDCATS: Despite their record, the Wildcats have made some progress, but injuries and inexperience have hurt them. They willed their way to a score at the end of last Friday’s 41-6 loss to Riverheads, with Andrew Kelly’s strong all-around night that ended with a 4-yard TD, set up by a 34-yard pass from Taylan Tyree to Aiden Meyers.
THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: Both teams have struggled with injuries, but Fort had last Friday night to recover instead of taking the field, and we think that will make a difference. We see the Wildcats showing improvement and making progress offensively, but the Indians will deal the Wildcats a 34-17 loss.
