Alleghany (8-1) at Rockbridge County (0-9) WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Prasnicki-Ross Field at Veterans Stadium in Lexington. Tickets are $7.
LAST YEAR: The Wildcats suffered a 63-14 road loss to Alleghany in the third game of the season. The Cougars jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and stayed comfortably ahead for the rest of the game, racking up 345 yards of offense and forcing three turnovers, while the Wildcats had 212 yards of offense. Alleghany quarterback Des Jordan completed 5-of-5 passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Carter Nicely rushed for 80 yards and a TD on seven carries. RC’s two TDs came on a 1-yard run by Elijah Watkins in the second quarter and on a 3-yard run by Pat Looney in the third quarter. Alleghany went 11-1 last year, going unbeaten before losing in the Region 3C semifinals to Valley District champion Turner Ashby 44-20. The Wildcats went 2-8. Both teams switched to the Shenandoah District this year, with RC moving from the Valley District and Alleghany coming over from the Three Rivers District.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS: It’s been another strong year for Alleghany. After winning their first six games, the Cougars’ only loss was a 17-3 setback on Oct. 17 against Shenandoah District leader Wilson Memorial (8-1 overall, 7-0 district). Alleghany bounced back with a 36-29 win over Riverheads the following week and then beat Fort Defiance 35-21 last Friday, when Jordan, now a senior, completed 10of-15 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 48 yards and two TDs. Wide receiver Austin Greene made five catches for 94 yards and two TDs, while Nicely scored a rushing TD.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: The Wildcats got a much-needed bye last week, giving them time to heal from injuries and recover from their 54-7 loss at Fort Defiance on Oct. 24. After three close losses in the four weeks of the season, RC has been on the wrong end of five lopsided losses and has only scored in double digits once in the last five games. The Wildcats have gotten occasional TDs from freshman quarterback Taylan Tyree and from three seniors: wide receiver Aiden Meyers and running backs Andrew Kelly and Marshall Earhart, who has been out with an injury since late September. Unfortunately, those TDs have usually come after the game has already been decided.
THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: Friday’s game will be the final one of the season for the Wildcats. For their 13 seniors, who will be honored before the game, it will be their last time taking the field as RC football players. It’s been a rebuilding year for the Wildcats, who have made some progress under first-year head coach Zack Rhodenizer, but they face another juggernaut in Alleghany. We see the Wildcats’ seniors finishing strong and getting into the end zone a couple of times, but the Cougars have too many weapons for the Wildcats and will deal RC a 42-17 loss to carry some momentum into the playoffs.
