Rye Cove (1-0) at Hurley (1-0)
Both teams are coming off wins over out of state opponents leading into Friday’s matchup at the Cliff.
Rye Cove is coming off its first opening week victory since a 72-62 win over Holston back in 2014. However, the Eagles did not have to work hard for its first victory. The first win came via forfeit after Jenkins, KY notified Cheyenne Osborne and his staff that they did not have enough to play in the opening tilt. The Eagles will hit the road this week for its second scheduled road trip of the season. The Scott County squad will make the 100-mile trip to Buchanan County to take on the Hurley Rebels.
Hurley opened the Austin Cooper era with a 22-14 victory over Tug Valley, WV at The Cliff last Friday. Dustin Stinson shined for the Rebels as he accounted for two touchdowns in the victory. Matthew Blankenship also found the end zone for Hurley. The Rebels are 1-0 for the seventh consecutive season and look to go 2-0 for the first time since 2017. The Rebels will host a familiar foe in Rye Cove on Friday. The 2019 edition of the matchup will be the 24th meeting between the Eagles and the Rebels. Rye Cove leads the series, which dates back to 1965, 13-10. However, Hurley has won the last three contests, including last season’s 18-7 victory at the Eagles Nest.
Twin Valley (0-1) at Montcalm, WV (0-1)
Both teams in this matchup are searching for their first victory of the season after falling to rivals in week one.
Jeremy Ward and the Twin Valley Panthers fell at home to Ward’s alma mater by a score of 22-8 last Friday. The Panthers fell to 1-13 all time against Grundy with the loss. Xzavier Ward scored the lone touchdown for Twin Valley while Isaiah Boyd converted the two-point conversion.
Montcalm opened up the season last Monday in Bradshaw when it fell to River View by a score of 36-6. Brendan Ward scored the lone touchdown for the Generals in the first Little General Kickoff Classic. Second year head coach Adam Havens looks to get his squad into the win column in its home opener on Friday.
Generals Stadium will feature the 14th meeting ever between the intrastate foes. Twin Valley currently holds a 9-4 edge a series that dates back to 2004. The Panthers knocked off Montcalm by a score of 22-16 a season ago.
River View, WV (1-1) at Grundy (1-0)
Craig Plymal and the Grundy Golden Wave are 1-0 for the first time since 2016 after collecting a 28-8 win over Twin Valley in week one. Grundy once again seems to have a workhorse in the backfield. Freshman Ian Scammell rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns for the Golden Wave in its season opener.
Plymal’s posse looks to improve to 2-0 for the first time since that same 2016 season. It just so happens that the 2016 schedule also opened up for the Golden Wave with Twin Valley and then River View.
River View hits the road for the second time this season after a busy five days last week. The Raiders opened the season on Monday against Montcalm in the Little General Kickoff Classic with a 36-6 victory. Raiders quarterback Boo Roberts accounted for three touchdowns in the victory over the Generals.
On Friday, the Raiders dropped to their archrival Mount View in a tight 21-20 contest. River View has not defeated its McDowell County foe in the Battle of the Views since 2014. The Golden Knights victory was the first in the Maurice Gravely era in Welch.
River View seeks its first victory over Grundy in a series that dates back to 2015. The Golden Wave holds a 4-0 advantage over its counterpart from the Mountain State.
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