vs. 
After a two game skid, the Hurley Rebels retreated home to Smiley Ratliff Field at The Cliff with hopes to return to the win column.
Much to the liking of the Rebels faithful, Hurley opened their home slate with a 16-6 victory over the RiverView Raiders last Thursday.
This game, as many throughout the region, was pushed up a day in order to say ahead of the expected weather of Hurricane Florence.
The Rebels marched out to a quick start as Matthew Blankenship found the end zone on Hurley’s first possession. Blankenship lead the Rebels on offense with 20 carries, 134 yards and a touchdown.
The contest was a defensive battle in the second and third quarters. Jonathan Hurley, who had 16 tackles, and Taylor Justus, who added 15 more, led Hurley on defense.
In the fourth quarter, Rebels quarterback Chad Justice found Hurley on a 14-yard touchdown pass to put Hurley up 16-0.
RiverView responded later in the fourth when Robert Baker took off on a 51-yard dash to pay dirt to put the Raiders on the board. Baker finished with 88 all-purpose yards for the McDowell County brethren.
However, if Hurley wants to find the win column this week, it must cut down on turnovers. The Rebels fumbled the pigskin four times last Thursday. Two of those bounced into the arms of RiverView. The Rebels also accounted for 11 penalties in the contest. Hurley must be more disciplined this week against another interstate foe.
Montcalm will play host for the first time in 2018 as Hurley rolls into Prudich Stadium on Friday.
The Generals were off last week when Hurricane Florence postponed their week three matchup with Craig County until Tuesday, September 25th.
Coach Adam Havens has led the Generals to an 0-2 start so far in his first season as the head coach at Montcalm.
The Generals have fallen to Twin Valley and Narrows to open the season.
Christian Carper scored the lone touchdown for the Generals in their most recent outing against Narrows in which the Generals fell 48-6.
Montcalm hung with Twin Valley in their opener. The Generals were never ahead of the Panthers before falling 22-16. Brendan Warden took off on a 70-yard kickoff return for six in the second quarter of that one.
The Generals look to get in the win column for the first time in 2018, while Hurley hopes to ride on its first winning streak of the season out of Montcalm on Friday.
In a series that dates back to 2003, Hurley holds a 12-1 advantage over Montcalm. The Generals lone win in the series came back in 2006 in a contest Montcalm won at home, 35-6.
I am a graduate of Richlands High School—class of 2014. In May 2018, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Journalism and History with a minor in war and Society from Virginia Tech.
My passions in life are numerous. We don’t have all day. This is not the place to divulge into Hokie Football, so I will shed some light on one of my other favorites.
I was born and raised in the coalfields of southwest Virginia—Richlands to be exact. I remember the first time I ever went to a high school football game (Richlands-Tazewell ’02). Since then, a passion has grown that is stronger than the current in the Clinch River. As a football player in this region, I was able to witness the passion oozing out of the hills firsthand. It was something that when I began college, people had a hard time believing the spectacle that is high school football in the coalfields. Luckily, I was able to go 42-8 in between the white lines on Fridays and Saturdays from 2010-2013. I look forward to having another platform to tell you my stories, your stories and their stories. Here’s to the good times and hoping I don’t leave you like I did Coach Greg Mance numerous times—by saying, “Gosh Durn It!”
Let’s talk, SWVA sports, Hokies, history or maybe even barbecue.
