Pearisburg will look like a ghost town Friday. Why you may ask? All of the Spartan fans will be at Harry Ragsdale Field in Narrows. Giles (1-2) will travel five miles down 460 to face their arch rival, Narrows (3-0). While the series is lopsided, this is always an exciting game with a huge turnout.
2002 was the last time the Green Wave was victorious against the Spartans. Narrows won the contest 28-21, but since then Giles has won fifteen straight. Since 1980, the Green Wave have only conquered Giles four times.
Narrows’ only regular season loss in 2017 was 35-0 shutout at the hands of Giles. Both teams come into this game with same record as last season. While the Wave has a better record, the Spartans play a tougher schedule featuring 4A powerhouse Blacksburg and 2A powerhouse Graham.
Leading the way for the Narrows is senior quarterback Wyatt Freeman. The signal caller led the Wave to a district title and to the Regional Championship game last season where they fell to Galax, 28-27. Narrows finished with a record of 11-2, which is their best record in over two decades.
Narrows QB Wyatt Freeman against Giles in 2017 (photo by Shannon Lowery)
Through three games this season Freeman is 19-of-33 through the air for 370 yards and five touchdowns. Narrows has wins over Auburn, Bland and Montcalm (WV).
The Spartans battled many injuries in last week’s loss to Graham. Kicker Preston Whitlock and tailback Chaston Ratcliffe both left the contest early due to injuries. The extent of their injuries and probability of playing against Narrows is unknown.
Ratcliffe rushed for 144 yards against the G-Men before getting injured. Through three games, the Spartans tailback has rushed for 360 yards and three TDs. Ratcliffe’s back up, Logan Greenway had an impressive showing in last week’s game. Greenway rushed for 126 yards in the second half against the G-Men.
Linebackers Jacoby Wilson and Ty Lowery want to hold their county foes scoreless for the second year in a row. (photo by Shannon Lowery)
The train horn will blare and the cowbells will ring at Ragsdale Field. The game is set for Thursday, September 13th at 6p.m..
Born in Pulaski, Va it only took a few years before I would end up in the beautiful Giles County where I would graduate in 2012 from Giles High School. Since the age of 4, Pearisburg has been my homeplace and I don’t have any plans to leave.
Sports have always been big in my family. My father was fortunate enough to be able to play football for the Spartans in 1978, which was the first year that Coach Steve Ragsdale introduced the single-wing offense which we will still run today.
My high school football career was cut short due to a knee injury that I sustained my junior year, but fortunately I was able to compete in the State Championship my senior year as a shot put thrower on the track and field team.
I now get to enjoy the football games in the stands with my father as we are known as, “them guys with the train horn,” which we take to every football game. GO SPARTANS!
