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Week 2: High school football picks 


by
Robert Anderson | 981-3123

Friday, September 6, 2013


Trivia question:

Which visiting quarterbacks have led a team to a regular-season victory at Salem during the nine-year head coaching tenure of the Spartans’ Stephen Magenbauer?

Answer below.

No cheating.

Here’s a hint. You won’t need to count with many fingers.

Salem’s regular-season home record during the past nine seasons is 43-2. The Spartans are 98-16 overall during that span, counting last week’s 38-0 win at Franklin County in the 2013 opener.

Beginning in 2004, Salem has lost four times to Christiansburg; three times to Pulaski County, twice each to Amherst County and Magna Vista; and once apiece to Brookville, Franklin County, Cave Spring, Northside and Heritage.

All three losses to Pulaski County were in Dublin, including two in 2008. Both losses to Amherst County and Magna Vista, and last year’s loss to Heritage were in the playoffs.

Recent losses to Franklin County, Cave Spring and Northside were in the regular-season, but those games were on the road.

There’s the first clue.

Two of the four losses to Christiansburg were River Ridge District games in Montgomery County. One was a playoff loss to the Blue Demons in Salem.

That’s clue No. 2.

You don’t have to look far to find the two QBs who have won a regular-season game in the last nine years in Salem.

They’re both wearing a Virginia Tech uniform.

Logan Thomas quarterbacked Brookville to a 14-0 win over the Spartans in 2008. Brenden Motley led Christiansburg to a 28-14 regular-season victory on the hostile turf two years later.

Motley also was the starting QB when Christiansburg won a 2009 playoff game in Salem. Amherst County’s Peter Rose and Magna Vista’s Harvey Taylor each have two postseason wins over the Spartans with each getting one in Salem. Rose originally signed with Virginia Tech, while Taylor is playing at Old Dominion.

Bottom line, Salem Stadium has been a tough place for opposing quarterbacks during the past decade, and it has taken special athletes to come out with a win.

Logan Thomas and Brenden Motley during the regular season in the last nine years. That’s the short list.

Patrick Henry visits Salem tonight in a much-anticipated game, the first between the two schools since 1995.

Who’s next?

SALEM 21, Patrick Henry 14. Of the opponents that Salem has played 10 or more times, only Patrick Henry holds a lifetime advantage at 9-5.

WILLIAM FLEMING 13, Martinsville 6. William Fleming coach Bobby Martin faces a team coached by his nephew, Orion Martin.

NORTHSIDE 27, Cave Spring 7. Northside QB Dom Dunnaville comes to Bogle Stadium after throwing four TD passes last week.

WILLIAM BYRD 20, Hidden Valley 14. Byrd’s triple-threat backfield vs. Hidden Valley’s defense should make for a good matchup.

FRANKLIN COUNTY 21, Bassett 20. Franklin County and Bassett play each other for the first time as members of the Piedmont District.

CHRISTIANSBURG 28, Giles 14. It’s not a stretch to think Christiansburg might be 6-0 heading into the Salem game.

PULASKI COUNTY 27, Radford 20. The loser of this one will be in an 0-2 hole to begin the season.

FORT CHISWELL 21, George Wythe 20. George Wythe’s run to the 1A state title last year included a 28-7 win over the Pioneers.

MAGNA VISTA 34, Dan River 28. Sophomore Shoalin McGuire displaced returning QB Calin Jamison at Magna Vista and now we see some reasons why.

MARION 20, Northwood 12. Marion hasn’t dropped both ends of the Chilhowie-Northwood opening twin-bill since 2005.

LORD BOTETOURT 28, Rustburg 13. Botetourt showed that the offense has more talent than just running back Chris Thompson.

AUBURN 23, Craig County 14. Auburn has a legit chance to get off to a 4-0 start.

GLENVAR 27, James River 20. Glenvar scored 42 points last week, while James River was shut out. We’ll see what that means.

LIBERTY 30, Rockbridge County 14. Rockbridge QB Trey Merchant will sit this one out after being ejected from last week’s loss to Parry McCluer.

JEFFERSON FOREST 37, Staunton River 28. The Cavaliers put up 55 points last week against Group 5A Halifax County.

RIVERHEADS 30, Covington 23. Riverheads is among several Shenandoah Valley-area teams that did not open the season last week.

PARRY McCLUER 25, Buffalo Gap 19. PM is looking for its first 2-0 start since beginning the 2004 season 4-0.

EASTERN MONTGOMERY 21, Narrows 14. This Week 2 game is almost a must-win if either team has hopes of a postseason bid.

ALLEGHANY 25, Bath County 13. Alleghany looks to avoid an early sweep at the hands of two Group 1A schools.

BLESSED SACRAMENT-HUGUENOT 35, North Cross 32. North Cross will retain fond memories of Powhatan after winning the VIS state title there in 2008.

ROANOKE CATHOLIC 24, Brunswick Academy 21. Brunswick Academy’s scheduled game last week against Randolph-Macon Academy was cancelled.

CHATHAM 34, Patrick County 12. There’s not much left to say after Patrick County gave up 48 points in the first quarter last week at Heritage.

MT. AIRY, N.C., 27 Carroll County 21. The Cavaliers look to avenge one of their early losses from a year ago.

J.I. BURTON 20, Chilhowie 14. These teams haven’t played since a 1972 Group A state semifinal won by the boys from Norton.

RURAL RETREAT 20, Bland County 12. The Indians won this one last year by 36.

GALAX 40, Floyd County 28. With a combined 152 points scored in these two teams’ openers, tonight’s game should be explosive.

GRAYSON COUNTY 24, Johnson County, Tenn., 16. The Blue Devils make a second straight trip out of state.

Last week: 21-6 .778

Saturday, September 14, 2013

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